souper snowday

Last night the thunder and lightning, at our mountain cabin, was astounding.  When I was a kid lightning frightened me. I was told that if I counted between the lightning and the thunder, each second between, indicated the miles between the strike and me.

While half asleep, I found myself counting...one-one thousand, two-one thousand....

because

as much as I love a great storm

...and i really do...

living in the mountains

amongst the trees

in a fire zone

lightning still scares me

a little

but I was comforted by the fact that it was raining

or so i thought

However

to my surprise

when the sun began to show

all i saw was white

a blanket of white

our first snow of the season

I bounded out of bed, and still in my flannels

threw on boots

and grabbed my camera

and started snapping

and then i went to the kitchen

and made soup

from the thanksgiving leftovers

Turkey Broth
(printable recipe)

large pot of cold water

turkey carcass and any bits no one will eat 

(in my family there is always an odd wing or leg left)

1 onion--sliced in half--skin on

2  carrots

2 celery stalks

3 or 4 garlic cloves

salt and pepper

fresh parsley

put the pot on the stove and let simmer for 3-4 hours

use the broth for the soup

Turkey and Vegetable Soup
(printable recipe)

olive oil

1/4 chopped onion

1 carrot--chopped

1 celery stalk--chopped

any leftover veggies

i used

sauteed mushrooms

roasted root vegetables

green beans--chopped

kernels from 2 ears of corn

1 roma tomato--seeded and chopped

broccoli

brussel sprouts w/pancetta

and some spices

i went with cumin and cayenne

1/4 cup white wine

turkey broth

bits of turkey 

shot of tabasco (optional)

heat a small stock pot and add just a bit of olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the pan.  Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook until they begin to soften but not brown.  Add the rest of the vegetables.  Stir and let cook for a couple of minutes.  Add the white wine and let it absorb a bit.  Then add enough broth to make your soup.  Let simmer until all the vegetables soften.  Add turkey bits both from the broth and any other leftovers you may have.  Add seasonings, including any additional salt and pepper needed. Add tabasco if using. Let simmer just a couple more minutes

Freeze the rest of the broth for future use.

I am going to make twice baked potato soup next