R.I.P. (enough about turkey!) ~ TURKEY CARCASS SOUP

TURKEY CARCASS SOUP

" To make a good soup, the pot must only simmer, or 'smile'."

~ French Proverb

Strip the carcass leaving sweet meat close to the bone. The essence of how the turkey was prepared will remain in the pot. (Especially tasty if stuffed). Add only a coarsely chopped onion and a few cloves of garlic, including the skin which will all be discarded. Plop into a large stock pot, cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer gently on the back burner for 4 hours. Drain stock over colander into another large stock pot, discard bits and bones, and begin anew. Chill and skim fat from top. The rest is fun.

Pull out leftover vegetables from Thanksgiving dinner; for example, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, corn, mushrooms, etc. Eye freshness and consider them for the pot. (If you feel you haven't had your fill of 'Holiday Fat', slip in some leftover gravy when no one is looking). Bring stock to a boil. Add 1 large chopped sweet or Spanish onion, 3-4 chopped garlic cloves, 3-4 stalks celery plus leaves, 4-5 large chopped carrots, 1 chopped green onion, 1 chopped red onion, 1 cup white wine, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, 1 heaping tsp. savory, 1 heaping tsp. thyme, heavy dashes of Lawry's Seasoned Pepper, coarse salt & cracked pepper to taste. Return some shredded or chopped roasted turkey back into pot. Simmer on the back burner for 20 minutes. Adjust seasonings and savor the essence of Thanksgiving ... until next year!