Turkey Noodle Soup

Sick of turkey but want to stretch it's value? A turkey leftover from the holidays makes a TON of this soup.  I usually put away several quarts in the freezer so that we can enjoy it throughout the winter once our feeling of turkey overload has passed.

Even once you think you've cut all the left over meat from your turkey and there isn't anymore you can do with that big bunch of bones, turkey noodle soup can stretch that holiday bird a lot further.  This can also be easily done with a leftover roast chicken.

• Place your leftover bird (bones, skin, eat, neck and giblets if you saved them... all of it) in a large pot and add water.  You don't need to totally submerge it, 3/4 of the way is fine. 
• Add a teaspoon of salt and pepper as you like. 
• Add a chopped onion, celery, carrots, and a half a head of sliced cabbage.  These are going to add flavor (and vitamins!). 
• I usually add a bit of sage and garlic as well, but any spices are up to your personal taste and what you have available.

• Bring the pot to a boil and then turn it down to simmer until all the meat has fallen off the bones.  The length of time this will take will depend on the size of your bird but an hour isn't unusual.  Just keep an eye on it from time to time and add water if necessary. 
• Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool.  Pour it through a colander and place the liquid stock in the refrigerator. 
• At this time you can pick out the meat from what was collected in the colander and shred it.  More than likely you will have more than enough for your soup and some to set aside for turkey salad (like chicken salad).  This can be put in a freezer bag to use later if you are tired of turkey sandwiches.

• Your stock should have cooled enough that you can skim any excess fat from the top.  You can also strain the stock through cheese cloth or even coffee filters if you wish to clarify it further. 
• Return the stock to the pot and add your collected meat to it.  Bring it back to a boil and add any vegetables that you wish. 
• Add whatever vegetables you like. I once again add sliced carrots, celery, and thinly sliced cabbage.  Anyone that doesn't like cabbage never knows the cabbage is in there because it cooks down but it adds body to the flavor and vitamins.  They swear it helps a cold as much as any chicken soup. If you feel the flavor of your soup needs a little boost, add some Swanson's fat free chicken stock (They even have organic products!). 
• Once the carrots are tender, add your final seasoning and egg noodles.

"These are some of my favorite things"...

Who can argue with a $2 handpainted basket?! This is definitely one of my favorite things that I found recently.  The closest to it I could find online is a blue one on etsy for $12, but mine is larger and nicer.  A Saturday morning out with friends hitting the estate and garage sales can be so much fun and certainly saves a lot money when trying to decorate a new home.  This one is great in the bathroom but can be used in so many ways.

Support artists! This wonderful dragonfly platter is by pottery artist Robbie Bell. It is a present to myself for Christmas.  Robbie and I attended the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!) together and performed in the USC Marching Band. Never once did I have any idea that one day he'd create such wonderful things.  He now lives in Florida and owns The Speckled Dog Pottery.  Check out his website, I'm sure you'll find some of your own favorite things.  I also found this red colender and catch basin for a friend of mine that is an avid cook.  I love how the handles look like leather. Completely handmade and in this great red color for Christmas, I know she'll enjoy using it all year.

Being a "band kid" I had to include the fruit in the picture as well.  The band at the school where I teach sold great fruit this year to raise money. It cost only little more than what I could get at the store but the quality is better and I know it is going to a good cause. The kids also delivered the cases to my car. Works for me!  Being able to buy in bulk I was also able to make some fruit baskets as gifts for family. Supporting arts in the schools AND getting a good deal, THATS VALUE!

Under the platter is an awesome vintage cotton spread with fringe that I found at an estate sale this weekend. It was made by Concord Mills when they manufactured them in the US. The weight is great and a steal for $5.  This one was made in the 60's but is in perfect shape and the weight of it is just right. Bed Bath and Beyond has something similar for $75, but it is imported I like the feel of these older ones so much better.

Christmas dinner is almost here and I didn't have any serving pieces for the table since all of that went up in smoke.  I was lucky to find some cut glass and crystal at the estate sale too.  The two bowls in the front of the picture below were $2 each.  The other pieces I picked up at other sales the past few weeks.  The prices ranged from 0.50 cents to $4.  I'm fairly certain that at least five of the pieces are clear depression glass (see wikipedia entry).  They may be the Miss America pattern but until I can replace my depression glass reference books, I'm just guessing.  Even if they are reproductions, they are a good value and will look good on the table.  I guess one of the only good things to come out of the fire is that I will eventually start replacing my depression glass and plate collection.  I had started when I inherited a few pieces from my grandmother and began adding to them. 

I know there seem like a lot of candle holders, but they are one of my weaknesses.  Plus we came across a family that was moving that had tons of brand new partylite candles (tapers, tea candles, and votives) for sale. I walked away with a bag of at least 40 very nice, scented candles worth probably $60 to $70 for just $7.

This black wrought iron candle stand that I found for $3 needs some pillar candles but the votives that I got a deal on look pretty nice on it when grouped together! The closest to it I could find online is this 5 pillar candle wrought iron candle stand from http://www.tranquilityvalley.com/ for $36.

I guess that is enough of my bargin hunting for now.  I have to get the grocery list together and go through my coupons.  I was VERY disappointed this morning when Ken brought me the Sunday paper.  The coupon section was missing. UGH! If any of you read the Sunday paper and just throw away the coupon inserts, I would love to have them. :-) They are also some of my favorite things!

Holiday values for an outdoor country Christmas

After losing our home to a fire, this Christmas we have had to start over with everything for holiday decorations.  Since most of our budget has gone to replacing essentials for everyday living, I couldn't just go out and spend a lot for decorations that only come out once a year.  However, where there is a will, there is a way... and I was not going to sit around with no holiday spirit!  The wreaths you see on the front of the house I found last weekend at a yard sale. A lovely woman had a huge box of 15 with all the ribbons and I was able to get them for $10. This gathering basket I found for $2 and I look forward to collecting more little natural treasures to fill it with.  It sits by the steps, ready to pick up and use.  I really enjoy my Saturday morning rounds of the yardsales with my friend Maria.  We have a good time together and it's good to have a buddy to bargin hunt with.  We almost always find some great treasures.

So far the only thing I've bought for the outside of the house are some cute little snowmen climbing their ladder to decorate for the holidays.  I say "bought" because it came from CVS but I really didn't pay anything for it. Actually I made money at the store that day.  DONT call the cops. I didn't rob the store! *lol*  I used my reward dollars for part of the transaction.  I also bought some other things that we needed (body wash, toothpaste, etc.) that they had on sale and deals for.  One of the deals were that when you bought cetain items you received $10 gift cards.  I ended up with 3 gift cards that I still have that I can spend on other things.  You can see the snowmen and the basket in this picture of the front steps. So for all of our outdoor decorations this year I spent $12 out of pocket but really I made $18.



In a few days I hope to post some pictures of what we've been able to do so far with the rest of the house for the holidays.  Also, I've always used coupons to some extent.  Since the fire it has become a renewed passion of mine and I hope to blog some about my adventures in that area.  I'm not an "extreme coupon" queen.  I doubt I'll ever have a hundred coupons of one thing and we don't have too many stores that double coupons on a regular basis, but I still save a significant amount at times and will share some of that in the future.  I dont believe in picking up items that we don't need or aren't good value, even if they are cheap... but I also don't like to pay more for things that we do need than we have to.