Turkey soup with potato and apple

We had some family visit that brought us a turkey carcass (i.e., the leftover bits after carving a cooked turkey). It is not everyone that knows us well enough to know that a turkey carcass would make a lovely host gift. It wasn't half an hour before I had some turkey stock simmering away.

The Stock
In a large pot, pour a little olive oil and over medium heat cook until soft

• One onion hacked up

Then add .. 

• Four ribs of celery coarsely chopped

Meanwhile, use a mighty cleaver (or poultry shears) to cut apart the turkey carcass and cut through the bones exposing the yummy marrow bits inside. Reserve any large hunks of meat for use later in the soup.

• Add the turkey bones and cook until some browning has happened

Add enough hot water to cover (about 8 cups), bring to a boil then simmer until it be enough. 

Strain. Pour into mason jars, cool, then refrigerate. 

It made three mason jars of stock.



The Soup
Look around you– can you construct some sort of rudimentary lathe? No? Ok, what food do you have that might be good in turkey soup. In my case: onions, potatoes, celery, apples, garlic, and of course some turkey. Now we need to cut the pieces small enough for soup (since they aren't being strained out). Chop the onions, carrots, peeled potatoes, and peeled apples. Add them in that order to a large pot with a little olive oil over medium heat cooking each in turn until it is starting to soften. Then add a dollop of minced garlic and the turkey meat. Finally add a mason jar of stock (after removing any fat that rose to the surface -- heated and mixed in with dog food makes for a happy puppy) and crank up the heat. Once it starts to boil add another mason jar or two of water. Spice to taste. Bring to a simmer. Once everything is nice and mellow, serve. Serves 6 (or 2, with leftovers).

The apple worked well.

Next Time: 
Over all the soup was a little on the bland-to-mellow end of the spectrum. Probably could have used a little more spice (at least for me). Would also be good with rice in place of the potato. If I'd have had carrots, I'd have added them too.