Turkey Potato Soup

  Thanksgiving has come & gone . . . so now what to do with all those leftovers!  Here's a easy, yummy recipe that you can use a lot of what you already have.  Enjoy!

 

Turkey Potato Soup

1 stick butter

5 stalks of celery, medium diced

2 medium onions, small diced

6-8 small potatoes, large diced

1 large carrot, chopped

8-10 cups Turkey broth

(Can use chicken broth. plus any leftover gravy:)

2-3 cups chopped leftover turkey

2 cups mashed potatoes

seasoned salt & pepper to taste

~ Melt butter in large pot.  

Sauté onions & celery until onions are translucent.

Add potatoes & carrots, & sauté them briefly in the butter. 

Add broth & turkey, bring to a boil. 

Test broth for salt & pepper & add as needed.

Once potatoes are done, dip out about 2 cups of broth

& place in large bowl. 

Then add mashed potatoes & whip/stir/blend

together until all lumps are gone.

Add back to soup.  

Serve with rolls or turkey sandwiches!!

Ten Commitments For Parents

1.  I will always love & respect my child for who he is & not who I want him to be.

2.  I will give my child space - to grow, to dream, to succeed & even sometimes fail.

3.  I will create a loving home environment & show my child that she is loved,

whenever & however I can.

4.  I will, when discipline is necessary, let my child know that I disapprove of what he does,

not who he is.

5.  I will set limits for my child & help her find security in the knowledge of what is expected of her.

6.  I will make time for my child & cherish our moments together, realizing how important, 

 & fleeting, they are.

7.  I will not burden my child with emotions & problems he is not equipped to deal with, remembering that I am the parent & he is the child.

8.  I will encourage my child to experience the world & all it's possibilities, guiding her in its ways & taking pains to leave her careful but not fearful.

9.  I will take care of myself physically & emotionally, so that I can be there for my child

when he needs me.

10.  I will try to be the kind of person I want my child to grow up to be -

loving, fair-minded, moral, giving, & hopeful.

author unknown

Missing Grandma Winward

            As I lie on the couch sick, covered up with one of my Grandma Winward’s blankets, smelling the Vick’s vapor rub on my chest, I can’t help but miss her.  She was the most amazing woman.  Her laugh . . . her hugs . . . her smile . . . her wisdom . . . her listening ear . . . and of course her sharp tongue!  J  There are so many things that remind me of her from day to day, but being sick is making me miss her even more.  I remember the days when she would take care of me when I was sick with a cold or something else.  She would ALWAYS make homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.  Where she would boil the chicken to make her own broth & roll out dough to make her own noodles.  I can still see her standing there in the kitchen, with flour on the counter top, hand prints (made from flour) on her pants, rolling the dough & cutting them into strips.  During this cooking process, she would always make sure that I was on the couch covered up with a blanket, & had Mentholatum on my chest & under my nose.  The smell of any vapor rub takes me back to these days.  I still remember where she kept the vapor rub . . . in her headboard & the canister it came in was a tin, round, short can, & had either pink or greenish-blue writing on the lid.   

After I first met my husband & was living in Salt Lake City, we went up to see her & Grandpa.  We always had fun visiting them.  Staying up until wee hours of the night, playing cards, eating popcorn & laughing until our sides hurt!  Listening to Grandpa's stories at the kitchen table, then Grandma reminding him that he already told us that story!  LOL  Good times, good times!  While we were there, I happened to get sick with a nasty cold.  Grandma swung into gear & started making her soul healing soup.  She sent me home with the whole pot so that I would get feeling better faster.  There was nothing better than sipping on her soup, cuddled up in a blanket, relaxing on my couch & yet still feeling the love & comfort of Grandma even though she was 3 hours away.   

That was the last time I had her homemade soup . . . Grandpa passed away in November of 2001 & soon after, Grandma went into assistant living due to her falling & breaking her hip.  Even though she wasn't in her own home, she was still full of life, love & fun.  She was always making the nurses & everyone she came in contact with, laugh & feel loved.  I can still hear her laugh.  When we all got together, we sounded like a bunch of cackling hens.  Nobody could take a nap when Velma's family came to visit!  My kids & I loved to go visit Grandma & I wish we would have done it more often.  In February 2010, the Lord decided he needed her back home with him.  It hasn’t been a year yet since Grandma passed away, & I am still missing her like crazy.  It saddens me to know that my kids will never know Grandma the way I knew her . . . I guess there’s only one thing I can do about it . . . learn to make homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!  I love & miss you Grandma!!

Mom's & Dad's Do List

  

Mom's & Dad's Do List

Hug Em & Scrub Em

& Feed Em Good Stuff.

Hear Em & Cheer Em

& Don't Be Too Rough.

Squeeze Em & Tease Em

& Share Work & Play.

Whisper I Love You In

Each Ear Each Day.

*Author Unknown

 

  This is a poem that I got from my son's preschool a few years back.  I just came across it & thought I would share.  It's a short, simple poem that makes a lot of sense.  We, as parents, should remember to do these things to make sure our children ALWAYS feel loved!

Hot Artichoke Dip

  With the holiday's fast approaching, I thought I would share some of my favorite recipes that I like to make for social events.  I have two different Artichoke Dip recipes.  One is spicy & has more ingredients, while the other one is just as yummy, without the spice, & easy to make for those times you need a quick appetizer.  Both are absolutely DELICIOUS!!!  I serve with torn pieces of french bread, but you could serve with crackers, chips or toasted baguette bread.

Spicy Artichoke Dip

1 (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 cups real mayo

1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts, slightly chopped

1 can (4 oz) green chilies

1 can (4 oz) diced jalapeno peppers

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup slivered almonds

paprika

~Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Spray a 9 inch baking dish w/Pam cooking spray. 

Combine cream cheese & mayo, stir until smooth.  

Stir in Parmesan cheese, artichokes, chilies, jalapenos, & almonds. 

Spoon into baking dish.  Top with paprika. 

Bake at 325 for 30 minutes. 

OR

Easy Artichoke Dip

1 can artichoke hearts, cut up

1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies

1 cup real mayo

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

~Stir together.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

DO NOT stir while baking.

Andrea's Meatballs

  I took a few different recipes & combined them into this yummy recipe for Meatballs.  This recipe will make 30 big or 60 small.  (If you make 60 small meatballs, freeze half & use later in the Turkey Meatball Soup recipe found on my Monthly Meal Planner:)

  Andrea's Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef

1 lb. ground pork or sausage

1 small onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

3 slices of bread (torn by hand)

1/4 cup FRESH parsley, finely chopped

2 tsp. Italian seasoning

2 eggs

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

~  Preheat oven to 350.  Line cookie sheet w/aluminum foil, spray w/cooking spray.  
In large bowl, mix all ingredients.  Roll into the size of meatball you like.  
Place on baking sheet (can be close together, they won't stick).  
Bake 30 to 35 minutes.