We have a tradition of cutting down a Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We've done it every year we've been married (9 years!). Sometimes we cut down trees in the forest near where we live or we do it with family in Utah.
My husband's grandma would always have turkey noodle soup simmering on the stove when we got back from Christmas tree hunting. It hit the spot after spending hours wandering around trying to find the perfect Christmas tree. I usually make it ahead of time and let it warm in the crockpot while we're "hunting".
Turkey Noodle Soup
recipe by me
1 turkey frame
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped 1" pieces
2 carrots, chopped 1" pieces
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs each fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)
8 - 10 c. water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
additional celery and carrots chopped finely (to add later)
cream of chicken soup (optional)
homemade noodles
Put all ingredients in roasting pan on stove. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Take out turkey frame. Set on cookie sheet and let cool. Strain broth, discarding solids. If there is any fat on the top of the broth skim it off. Put broth back into roaster on stove.
Remove meat from turkey frame and add to soup. If you have any additional leftover turkey then chop it up and add it to the soup if you like extra meat.
Add as many chopped carrots, onions, celery as you'd like. Chop them finely. Cook in broth. When cooked, blend up some of the veggies in the soup with an immersion blender (or you can take some of the soup out and put it in a blender, but I put my immersion blender right into the pan).
Add homemade noodles (I used 1 1/2 batches of Better Homes and Gardens noodle recipe). Add 3 cans of chicken broth (or however many you want to make as much soup as you want). Cook until noodles are done (about 10 minutes or more). (Sometimes I add a can or two of cream of chicken soup to thicken it a bit.)
Salt and pepper to taste. Eat after you find a perfect Christmas tree.
My husband's grandma would always have turkey noodle soup simmering on the stove when we got back from Christmas tree hunting. It hit the spot after spending hours wandering around trying to find the perfect Christmas tree. I usually make it ahead of time and let it warm in the crockpot while we're "hunting".
Turkey Noodle Soup
recipe by me
1 turkey frame
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped 1" pieces
2 carrots, chopped 1" pieces
2 bay leaves
2 sprigs each fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)
8 - 10 c. water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
additional celery and carrots chopped finely (to add later)
cream of chicken soup (optional)
homemade noodles
Put all ingredients in roasting pan on stove. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
Take out turkey frame. Set on cookie sheet and let cool. Strain broth, discarding solids. If there is any fat on the top of the broth skim it off. Put broth back into roaster on stove.
Remove meat from turkey frame and add to soup. If you have any additional leftover turkey then chop it up and add it to the soup if you like extra meat.
Add as many chopped carrots, onions, celery as you'd like. Chop them finely. Cook in broth. When cooked, blend up some of the veggies in the soup with an immersion blender (or you can take some of the soup out and put it in a blender, but I put my immersion blender right into the pan).
Add homemade noodles (I used 1 1/2 batches of Better Homes and Gardens noodle recipe). Add 3 cans of chicken broth (or however many you want to make as much soup as you want). Cook until noodles are done (about 10 minutes or more). (Sometimes I add a can or two of cream of chicken soup to thicken it a bit.)
Salt and pepper to taste. Eat after you find a perfect Christmas tree.