Saturday-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Noodle Soup

This recipe yields 16 cups – or around a gallon of soup.  Of course, you can easily halve the ingredients, which would yield around 8 cups of soup.

Few things are more glorious to gaze upon than a perfectly roasted turkey, it’s golden goodness and luscious aroma a precursor of delights to come.  Guests often gather around, oohing and ahhing, their expressions similar to those of grandparents staring at their first grandchild.  Yes indeed, Mr. Turkey is Center Stage – he’s the Big Event in the multi-ring circus called Thanksgiving.

My friend Tina is THE world’s best Turkey Cooker!!

THE TURKEY - 'My Yellow Farmhouse.com"

However, once the feasting has ended, Mr. Turkey’s Glory Days are seemingly over. He sits forlornly on the kitchen counter . .  abandoned, unloved, surrounded by the detritus of what was. Still, what remains of Mr. Turkey can be raised to a whole new level of delish-a-tude.

Today’s post, Turkey Noodle Soup, is certainly not a new concept for left-over turkey but I bet it’ll make your family’s tummies very happy.  Soup, in any form, is just so appreciated when the days are cold and dark, as they always are during this time of year.

 Turkey Strata (Casserole) - Uses Leftover Turkey and Stuffing! - My Yellow Farmhouse.com++ If you happen to have both turkey and stuffing left over you may want to prepare Turkey Strata.  It’s a snap to put together and is just another idea for what to do with all that turkey!!

https://myyellowfarmhouse.com/2012/12/27/turkey-strata-casserole-uses-left-over-turkey-and-stuffing/

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Mr. Turkey – Starring in “Saturday-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Noodle Soup”

Saturday-After-Thanksgiving Turkey Noodle Soup - My Yellow Farmhouse.com

Ingredients and Method

++  You may prefer to add a bit more salt and pepper . . . or even more poultry seasoning.  Or you might like to add (cooked) rice to the turkey broth.  Think of this recipe as a guideline and adapt it to suit your family’s taste.    ; o )
  • turkey (or chicken) carcass    ++ You’ll need 3 cups chopped turkey or chicken
  • 12 cups water
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes     ++  I use Knorr.  If using another brand, use 4 chicken cubes.
  • 1 1/4  to 1 1/2  cups chopped baby carrots
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
  • 1 1/4  to  1 1/2  cups frozen peas  ++  The peas are added towards the end… still frozen.
  • 3 cups COOKED egg noodles     ++  Just measure out 3 cups dry egg noodles to equal 3 cups cooked egg noodles.
  • 1/2 tsp. salt  – –   or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper – –  or to taste

Place 12 cups water, 2 Knorr chicken bouillon cubes (If using another brand, use 4 chicken bouillon cubes.), 1 1/4  to  1 1/2  cups chopped baby carrots, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 large garlic clove, minced and 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning in a very large saucepan or Dutch Oven. Add turkey carcass, breaking carcass apart to make it fit, if necessary.   ++  Remove skin and fat as much as possible.

Bring to a boil, then lower heat to a simmer.  Cover and allow to simmer for about 1 1/2 hours, turning turkey carcass over once or twice.

About 10 minutes before end of cooking time for broth and veggies, cook 3 cups egg noodles according to package directions.  Drain and set noodles aside.

After 1 1/2 hours, turn off heat but leave saucepan containing broth and veggies on burner.  Remove turkey carcass.  Allow carcass to cool a bit, then remove and chop meat.  You’ll need 3 cups.

Add the chopped meat to broth and vegetables.  Add the drained egg noodles, 1 1/4  to  1 1/2 cups frozen peas (still frozen!), 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper or ‘to taste’. Bring soup to a simmer again and serve.  Enjoy!

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++ My son M. jokingly said I need to credit him for 1. use of his kitchen and  2. use of his place mats & bowls for the photos.  So I suppose I should also thank him for his critique of my soup, which he gave a thumbs up.  (And he’s one tough critic..)  I also want to thank Tina and Gary for hosting The Feast and for allowing me to abscond with the turkey carcass!!     Enjoy !

Thai-Inspired Chicken and Noodles

It’s always hard for me to wait until I’ve finished photographing a new recipe before I can enjoy it eating it – I just want to “dive in”.  And that’s what I’m doing right now – happily eating some of my Thai-Inspired Chicken and Noodles. I’m also watching Haunted Collector, so between that and eating so late, I should be having some pretty strange dreams tonight!

I had planned to make Chicken-Ham Roll-Ups today but, instead, posted about our beautiful farm in Quebec. Then, I happened to come across a recipe I had created quite a while ago for Peanut Sesame Noodles, so I decided I’d make it and post the recipe. I’ve added some chicken to the recipe, so now it makes a complete meal. I must say, I’m pretty happy with the results!

Don’t be put off by the addition of peanut butter. Many countries cook with peanuts/peanut butter, so give this recipe I try. I think you’ll like it !!

I call this recipe “Thai-Inspired” because it’s not an authentic Thai recipe. For one thing, a true “Thai” recipe would probably not include this much peanut butter, so feel free to put in less.  This dish is neither overly spicy or hot, so adjust the Cayenne pepper to your taste if you prefer heat. (You could add some red pepper flakes.) That’s the beauty of cooking – you can make this as spicy or peanut-y as you wish!

I highly recommend using Gravy Master because it gives this dish a boost of both flavor and color. (Flavour & colour for my international friends.)  Actually, much of the enjoyment in eating comes down to how food looks, as well as how it tastes, so a bit of extra color can make a difference in a recipe.   Enjoy!!

Ingredients

  • 8 oz (1/2 package) linguine or angel hair pasta – any kind of long pasta or noodles, cooked according to directions and drained.
  • 1 large onion, cut lengthwise into slices
  • 1 Tbs. butter
  • 2 pieces chicken breast, cut into 1″ chunks
  • 1 tsp. Gravy Master – “Seasoning and Browning Sauce”
  • 1/4 tsp. ginger  (I used ground ginger but you could use fresh.)
  • 1 Tbs. butter
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter – (Feel free to use less – I just happen to like LOTS!!)
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 2 – 3 pinches Cayenne pepper – (Add some red pepper flakes if you like.)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Teriyaki sauce (I like Kikkoman’s)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. dark sesame oil
  • 3/4 cup “half ‘n half” (cream)
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp. chopped fresh parsley, plus some for garnish

Melt 1 Tbs. butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove cooked onions to a bowl and set aside.

Melt another 1 Tbs. butter, and add chicken chunks which have been mixed with 1 tsp. Gravy Master and 1/4 tsp. ginger. Cook, stirring, over medium-high heat for 4 minutes. LOWER HEAT TO MEDIUM.

Add 1/2 cup water, 1/3 cup chunky peanut butter (Again – feel free to use less peanut butter), 2 chicken bouillon cubes, 2 – 3 pinches Cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 tsps. Teriyaki sauce, 1 1/2 tsps. dark sesame oil, 3/4 cup “half ‘n half”, 2 tsps. chopped fresh parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

Add cooked onion slices to skillet, and continue cooking and stirring just until everything is heated through. Adjust seasonings and serve.   Enjoy!!USE AS 2N PHOTO - Thai-Inspired