Saturday, November 25, 2023

Making Turkey Stock

Do you make stock with your leftover turkey after it has been trimmed of meat?  I had posted my way of making chicken stock and actually it is identical to that--just using the leftover turkey bones.  Any bones from meat would work for stock such as beef or pork.  I am reposting this recipe for any of you interested making it and storing it for future soups, stews or other dishes.  We had a 22 pound turkey this year, so I had to pull out both my large and smaller slow cookers.  After putting them on last night before we went to bed our home was smelling wonderful when we woke up this morning.  Now I have several containers of this gold to pull out of the freezer when I want to use it.  

Making Stock

Do you make stock?  It's the most simple thing you can do to make the most wonderful soups, stews, and sauces.  I prefer to make chicken stock.  If you are vegetarian you can make stock from vegetable peelings.  Today I'd like to show you an easy way to make chicken stock.

There are all sorts of "official" ways of making stock.  I am not a chef, but I'll show you a very easy way to make chicken stock in a crock pot that my daughter taught me how to do. I used to make this stock on top of the stove--but when she told me about using the crock pot it's much easier.

Last week I made roast chicken for our family.



After we enjoyed the roasted chicken for one meal, I removed the remaining chicken from the bones.  I made a chicken pot pie with that meat.  A chicken can give our family many meals.  Be sure to save all the bones from your chicken. Now you are ready to make stock.  It's so easy, it's hardly a recipe.

Put into a crock pot:



All of your bones from your chicken
2-3 washed carrots
1 stalk of washed celery
1 whole onion with skin on that has been washed
1 bay leaf
10- 15 whole peppercorns
Your can also add fresh herbs if you have them, such as parsley, sage, rosemary or thyme.
If you don't have fresh herbs your stock will still be wonderful.
Cover with water and cook overnight on low.  Your home will smell wonderful when you wake up in the morning.





Turn off your crock pot and let cool for an hour or so. Then strain the stock through a colander or sieve into a large bowl.  I always let that cool and put stock into 1 quart containers and then cool completely and then into the freezer. When you are ready to use just pop into microwave to thaw. You can then use them in any recipe you wish.  You can make soup very quickly with this stock. Homemade is so much better than store bought stock! 





Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving

I can't let Thanksgiving come and go without letting my friends here know how thankful I am to have formed ties with you!  I'm grateful for all the good times and the sad times we share together.  


 These little candles have been in my collection for a long time.  The 26 cent price on the bottom of them tells me they weren't bought anytime recently!


I hope your Thanksgiving is full of all the special moments that make you happy.  


Our son and two grandsons will be joining Grayden and Samuel and I tomorrow.  We'll be having all the traditional Thanksgiving foods.  I'm remembering last Thanksgiving when we served a roast beef because of many changes of plans.  It really doesn't matter the food, but the fellowship with family that is important.    


Thanksgivings have changed over the years for us.  How about you?  Have your traditions changed like ours have over the years?



This Thanksgiving I am reminded to be kind, be thoughtful, be genuine, but most of all be thankful!  Have a great time of Thanksgiving, my friends!