I hate turkey soup
I don’t like turkey soup. Every food magazine in America writes about Thanksgiving leftovers and always has a turkey soup recipe. That’s just lame. If I were going to make something with leftover turkey, it would involve cream of mushroom soup and sour cream. But I never do. I always make turkey sandwiches. The proper way: soft white bread, turkey breast, mayonnaise (Duke’s naturally), salt and pepper, iceberg lettuce. It is the sandwich of my forefathers. Or at least my father. He taught me to make them this way and I have never deviated. I don’t like change. Oh, I say I do. But I don’t mean it.
It’s three days after Thanksgiving. As much as I love Thanksgiving food, which I take home in huge Tupperware containers from Bunny’s, it’s starting to look a little sad in the fridge. I have already eaten a lot of Mike Ramsey’s fabulous cornbread dressing. The broccoli, rice and cheese casserole has ridden on several trips through the microwave. Cranberry sauce – the boys always say they’ll eat some, but they never do. I’ve consumed almost all of it.
So this afternoon, I improvised.
Since it’s Sunday afternoon and another school week looms, I started thinking of different things to do with the leftovers to feed Noah for at least a day and a half.
I had a container of deviled eggs. Very good deviled eggs, but how many can you eat? Actually, I’ve found out you can eat a lot but now I’m over them. So I make egg salad. Mash the eggs up with a fork and add mayonnaise. Serve with Triskets. If egg salad is traveling to school, put it in a plastic container and label it “bring me home”. You wouldn’t believe how many plastic containers I lose in a month.
Ham. Bunny makes great ham with this sweet glaze that’s just irresistible. It’s perfect for ham biscuits. Bake some Pillsbury Southern-style biscuits (I am not endorsing any product, but these really are the best). Top with ham and some of the glaze. Put in baggies. Ready to go in the morning.
Mashed potato casserole. Is there anything better? Well, yes there is. You take the potatoes, which are already seasoned with all the good stuff, and form them into patties. Then you melt some butter in a skillet and fry them. (I have to tell you that Max, one of my cats, is sitting on my lap right now as I’m typing this as if he is extremely interested in what I have to say.)
So those are my Thanksgiving leftover ideas. I’m pretty proud of myself. No turkey soup. Not allowed.
My Granny did the same thing with leftover creamed potatoes (that’s the Southern term). She also made creamed turkey to cover them with. SOOOO GOOD! She cooked the turkey with left over turkey gravy and some celery & onion in a skillet. I’m pretty sure she added butter & flour to thicken it. An awesome way to eat leftover turkey or chicken. Happy food memories.
Yummo. You are such a good mom. Noah will have fantastic food memories. My kids will talk about me and my cooking like we do about our mom! Betsy’s turkey and gravy over potatoes sounds so delicious too. Please give us more school lunch packing ideas. Oh, and some pics of Max the cat.
Sorry to say I actually made turkey soup today for the first time ever. See, I had this 19+ pound turkey carcass with a lot of meat that would make ucky sandwiches and I would have felt bad pitching something that would be good food. Considered offering the carcass to the neighbors, but they have less time than I do so they got the soup. All of it:) I actually cracked the bones and packed them tightly in the pan with water and veggies, did the skimming and degreasing things, and added most of the fresh turkey meat still in the fridge. Actually turned out better than good.
Last of the turkey sandwiches tomorrow and on to whatever you are cooking next.
Would make good stock to cook veggies in.