Seasoned Turkey Stock

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To limit waste after Thanksgiving, I like to use what is left of the turkey to make stock. Last year was my first time, and the frozen stock lasted me a year. Last year I didn’t flavor my stock before it was frozen, and it was a huge shame. This year I seasoned my stock with onion, celery, and garlic. These flavors go well with turkey, and can be used in a variety of dishes throughout the year. I purposely left out herbs because I want a very versatile stock. I also didn’t add salt to this stock, though I would need it if I were to make a soup with it, I didn’t want any future dishes to be too salty as a result of a salty stock. Otherwise this stock is straight forward. Boil, strain, then store.

What You Will Need

  • 1 Cooked Turkey with Meat removed
  • 1/2 Onion, quartered
  • 2 Celery Stalks, cut into 1/3s
  • 2 Garlic cloves, peeled and halved
  • Large Stock Pot and Lid
  • Ladle, Large Wooden Spoon, Small Bowl
  • Strainer
  • Large Dutch Oven
  • Freezer Containers

Directions

1. Place the turkey bones into the stock pot. Soak in water for 10 minutes. Drain. Cover bones with water, leaving about 1-2 inches until the lip of the pot. Place on stove over medium heat. Add in your cut veggies and let simmer uncovered for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Every 10 minutes, skim off bubbles forming on surface and place in a small bowl on the side.

2. Once most bubbles have seemed to stopped settling on top, turn up the heat a little to bring the pot at a gently boil. Boil for 2 hours covered, then remove the lid and boil for another hour uncovered. Remove from heat and let cool for about 1 hour.

3. Once cooled, place your strainer on top of your dutch oven and place in your sink. Pour about 1/2 of the liquid and bones into the strainer. Shake your strainer, then discard what is in your strainer. Place the strainer back on top of the dutch oven, and pour the second half of the stock into the strainer. Shake and discard remaining bones. Use a ladle to transfer broth into freezer safe containers. Label then store.

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Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing

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This year Thanksgiving wasn’t normal, however though we didn’t have any family over, we still did our full spread. Every year Josh gets a free turkey from work. Last year, he got a 20 pound turkey, and this year we got a 21 pound turkey. This year, I also made doubled the stuffing I made last year, because I love stuffing and it goes very fast, so the recipe below is how to make double stuffing, and how to cook the turkey once you are done. I always start with the stuffing to season my roasting pan, then I work on the bird. This was also my first year of not stuffing my turkey, and I have no regrets about that! Stuffing in the bird gets way too moist and almost a weird flavor from all the turkey drippings. Some people also use a roasting rack for their turkey. I don’t find that necessary or helpful. Without the rack, my dark meat always gets done, and with basting, my white meat always stays juicy, and by the time I was done, the wings had already begun to fall apart they were so tender.

What You Will Need

  • 1 1/2 loaf of 3 day old white bread, cubed
  • 3 Onions Diced
  • 8 Celery Stalks, Diced
  • 1 1/2 cup Salted Butter, 3 sticks
  • 2 Tbsp Ground Sage
  • 3 Tbsp Ground Thyme
  • Dutch Oven
  • Thawed Turkey
  • 4 Tbsp Butter
  • Roasting Pan
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Turkey Baster

Directions

1. Place dutch oven over medium heat. Add butter, celery, and onion, and cook until onion is translucent.

2. Add cubed bread to roasting pan. Sprinkle sage and thyme over the top of the bread. Pour butter mixture over bread. Stir together until everything is moistened and coated in seasoning. Transfer stuffing to casserole dishes. Cover and place in the fridge, or enjoy a bowl.

3. Heat oven to 350 F. Clean out your turkey, removing giblets, neck, and make sure you can go straight through the turkey. Rinse gently under cool water, then transfer to roasting pan. Stuff with 1 cup stuffing, or with 1/2 an onion, cut celery stalks, and a sprinkle of sage and thyme. Top turkey with 4 Tbsp butter. Cover with foil then add to oven.

4. Cook Turkey for the first hour without basting. Baste, then cook for remaining time, but basting every 45 minutes. Cook your turkey about 10 minutes per pound of turkey. Make sure internal temperature of the thigh and several other places is over 165 F.

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Thanksgiving 2020

For 2020, we’ll be trying to have as normal of a Thanksgiving as possible. This year will be my second year cooking dinner, and I have many new foods planned for this meal. Last year, was the standard three: turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing, then we also had some crescents and 2 different veggies. This year, I am planning a sweet potato casserole, glazed and roasted beets, crescents again, and frozen green beans from this summer’s garden. This year I also made a pumpkin pie that we’ll be having with our dinner. Once the day is over, Friday, I’ll also be boiling the bones to make stock again this year. This year’s stock will be frozen like before, however this stock will likely be used almost strictly entirely for gravy.

To see recipes for what I’ll be making, you can click a link below!

Click here to see my recipe for Stuffing and Turkey!

Click here to see my recipe for Mashed Potatoes and Gravy!

Click here to see my recipe for Pumpkin Pie!

Click here to see my recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole and Honey Roasted Beets!

Click here to see my recipe for Turkey Stock!

Turkey and Dumpling Soup

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A cold front moved through the area this weekend, and boy was it cold. Causing our first frost to come 2 weeks early, we needed something to warm us up from all the things we were doing before winter. This recipe is a twist on the American classic Chicken and Dumplings. You can make this dish with chicken, and the recipe below allows you to do that, but I used turkey and turkey stock. Last thanksgiving, I saved all my leftover meat and froze it. I also made stock from the bones to have stock for this year. I used frozen and canned vegetables, and I made everything else according to the recipe below. This recipe was very good, and I will make this dish again in the future. Dumplings are surprisingly easy to make. This recipe makes 5-6 adult sized servings.

What You Will Need

Soup
  • 4 Cups Turkey/Chicken Broth/Stock
  • 2 Cups Turkey/Chicken, Cooked and Shredded
  • 2 Tbsp Butter
  • 2 Tbsp Flour
  • 1 Cup Diced Onion
  • 1 Cup Sliced Carrots
  • 1/2 Cups Green Beans
  • 1/2 Cup Sliced Peppers
  • 1-2 Cans Mixed Vegetables, Strained
  • 1/2 Tbsp Dried Thyme
  • 1/2 Tbsp Ground Sage
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • Large Dutch Oven/Stock Pot and Lid
  • Label
Dumplings
  • 1 Cups Flour
  • 2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Sugar
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 Tbsp Cold Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Milk
  • Bowl and Mixer

Directions

  1. Heat your dutch oven/stock pot over medium high heat. Add your butter and flour. Stir constantly until mixture turns golden.
  2. Add your vegetables and 1/4 cup stock, then cook for 5 minutes. Add your remaining stock and spices, then bring to a boil and stir occasionally.
  3. While Soup is heating, Mix together dry dumpling ingredients into a bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly, then add milk. Mix.
  4. Add shredded meat to your soup and return to a boil. Once boiling, add batter a spoonful at a time to boiling soup. Once all batter balls are added, sprinkle with thyme, then cover and boil for 15 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat, and let cool 15 minutes before eating.

Extraordinary Turkey Sandwich

This turkey sandwich is topped with fresh veggies from the garden, and a special sauce to knock your socks off. Apply the special sauce liberally to your sandwich to enjoy it’s flavor with everything else. I used dark turkey meat, but you can feel free to use white meat. I also added lots of lettuce and radishes. This added more flavors and textures, but it also made the sandwich very filling, making two sandwiches more than enough for a single person. I now believe that I am in fact mildly allergic to radishes, however, an allergy pill is more than enough to relieve all effects.

  1. In a small ramekin, add 1/2 cup mayo, 2 Tbsp ketchup, 1 Tbsp dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp dried minced onion, and 1 tsp garlic powder. Stir together.
  2. Toast your bread. Add a smear of dressing on both inside pieces of bread. Layer on top of one piece, add a layer of turkey.
  3. Layer on top of that a slice of cheese, a layer of lettuce, and finally, a layer of sliced radishes. This is a large sandwich, if you prepare 2, you don’t need to serve it with sides.

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