It’s the day after feasting with our families and friends. The last thing we want to do is get back into the kitchen! However, we ask ourselves, “what can I serve all my houseguests besides leftover turkey and ham sandwiches?” Your grandmother, and her grandmother before that has the answer; turkey soup! I hope you didn’t throw the bird carcass away, but if you did, I’m sure you have plenty of bits and pieces of turkey.
I like to put the carcass in the crockpot, cover it with water, leave it to simmer on low overnight for an extra rich soup base. The next morning, remove all the bones and skin and discard leaving the remaining bits of turkey. Add to the stock additional shredded turkey, about 2 cups worth. Mash 5 cloves of garlic with one tablespoon of salt. Finely mince one whole onion. Chop up the green leafy tops of the celery you didn’t use yesterday in your relish tray. What about carrot sticks or discs? Any of that leftover from your dip tray? Raid your dried herbs spice rack for sage, thyme, and oregano. Search your vegetable drawers for leftover salad greens, especially kale, spinach, and chard which you will rough chop. Do you have any leftover parsley garnishes? Chop those up as well. For a binder, recycle some leftover potatoes or rice.
Throw all these goodies in your extra-large crockpot with the rich homemade broth, cover, simmer on low, and forget about it! Serve this wholesome Thanksgiving Hangover Soup with those predictable prized turkey or ham sandwiches. Your guests will be satiated and grateful for a warm bowl of extra hospitality.
How will you recycle, reinvent, repurpose your Thanksgiving leftovers?
8 cups homemade broth
2 cups shredded turkey
5 cloves mashed garlic
1 minced onion
salt and pepper to taste
2 teaspoons each of dried sage, thyme, & oregano
chopped celery tops and parsley
chopped winter greens
rice and/or potatoes (optional)