Thanksgiving Preparations or something like that?

Thanksgiving is a few weeks away and the house is a disaster, all the Fall decor (pumpkins) outside have been brought in and there are pumpkins everywhere.

oldnewgreenredo

I plotched the huge ones here and there and there and there. Not only did the pumpkins come in, but the parsley, gourds, squash and other herbs. I have dead flowers drying everywhere and sunflower heads cover my kitchen table.

oldnewgreenredo

Our counter top display....super casual...this and that.

oldnewgreenredo

I love these Tuesday Morning Napkins that have all my favorite tones for Fall. 

I miss that chain and all the other businesses that have bit the dust in the last few years.

oldnewgreenredo

I will have to roast veggies this week to freeze, before they start getting mooshy. We had lots of garden squash this year.

oldnewgreenredo

The last thing I will do is roast the big pumpkin for pies in a week or so. I have 4 large pumpkins to roast this year. I also have a PumpZuchin ??? that I'm curious to see what it looks like inside.

oldnewgreenredo

As long as the oven was going forever---I'll toast my sourdough and oatmeal sunflower nut breads for stuffing. I multi-task, hence the chaos in my kitchen all the time this time of year.

I abhor killing anything GREEN, but some of the plants I'm wintering over need a trim because of space and some I will try and root, but there's not enough room anywhere in the house for another HUGE plant. 

oldnewgreenredo

 Here's the great OLD cookie jar I snagged at Goodwill at one time for $4.00. I have no idea what it is, (unmarked but Ohio Valley clay) but I have been searching for something to use for a cookie jar for the Grand. 

Notice the clever use of wood putty bucket for a pedestal REDO-lol, under another squash, and the large green pumpkin. Another clever enhancement is the wood plane, I really need to some decor arranging...but there is time, isn't there??? I think November moves the FASTEST of any month...so much to do.

oldnewgreenredo

Left over Halloween pumpkin from Grandbaby---she did great on the face---when she was only three. She hates when I use old works of art of hers, but I say, "Replace it with something else, please." 

Our lifestyle at our age is Drs' appointments kept on the IPAD or phone and the few social things we do...I say we have organic planning...taking it as it comes.

oldnewgreenredo

Here's my Parsley, lurking under the front window in the living room, an attractive wad of paper  towel catching the overflow from it's rain-soaked planter.

oldnewgreenredo

We've had so much sunshine and lovely temps...lots of WIND though...I gave up on righting the chairs.

oldnewgreenredo

Marigolds are finally decimated. I will leave the flowers for the birds to chew on over the winter. If marigold seeds are good for Purdue chickens, they will feed our feathered friends. Totally a GREEN thing to do.

oldnewgreenredo

Very Old porch vignette is now devoid of color and dreary---I will have to perk it up, somehow.

oldnewgreenredo

This artificial arrangement looked great by the door, but even weighted down, it blew over at least twice this week. (Note to self, to use bricks next time in the bottom, instead of pebbles.) In front with the leaves is another OLD lantern that has a REDO flame in it.

oldnewgreenredo

This little corner I freshened up last week, and will probably rearrange again.  The OLD lanterns had flicker lights in them and I redid the chalkboard after Halloween.

oldnewgreenredo

Inside, here is one corner of the living room is an old photo that looks finished, gorgeous dried oak leaves in an OLD vintage Royal Copenhagen Vase with a nymph on it. Small collection of porcelain animals reminiscent of pets long gone, all very OLD. (This year it will be chestnut leaves)

oldnewgreenredo

Our chalkboard said it best, "Gather Family Friends and Give Thanks." It doesn't say anything about Thanksgiving Planners, polished silver, table-scapes, or neat houses. Will I make it, since I still have a few weeks? 

Happy Thanksgiving Preparations readers, how ready are you?

Thanks as always for stopping by, I'm loving your comments, questions, and suggestions.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own or I am in possesion of the originals, 

I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or products used. 

Please do not use my photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. 

Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

Sharing at these fine parties...lol, maybe?

Love Your Creativity

Sandi

Delicious, Thrifty Homemade Turkey Soup

 Ad-Free Blog

A repost of an old Favorite...homemade Turkey Soup. Turkeys are plentiful this time of year and mixed with lots of Fall vegetables such a healthy choice.

oldnewgreenredo

Once upon a time, I said I was an awesome cook and yet I seldom write food posts. But, when I think of Fall, I just have to think of a steaming kettle of homemade soup. Fresh turkey legs were in the counter this week and they were huge. So I picked up a package of two with the intention of making soup for our healthy living style.

oldnewgreenredo

If I were going to make a kettle full, I would use a 16 quart large kettle. But for a single turkey leg, I pulled out my trusty 8 quart crock pot. Then I cleaned out the refrigerator of the vegetables we had on hand.

At this stage of my life, I'm a taste cook for many recipes, in other words I don't use a recipe.

I know what I want something to taste like, so I start in my mind and use what I have basically in the house or freezer and go from there. No running to the store ten times a week, not really a GREEN thing to do. I shop when I'm out for other reasons, and avoiding extra carbon emissions by running to the store for a couple of ingredients.

oldnewgreenredo

My Version of 
Crock Pot Homemade Turkey Soup

1 fresh or thawed Turkey leg 1-1/2 to 2#
6-8 quarts of water depending on the size of your crockpot
Seasoning (I use 3 tablespoons of dried chives, 2 bay leaves, pepper to taste 2 tsp. salt, 3 Tblsp of salt free-Garden seasoning, or with fresh chopped or dried garlic)
2-3 small onions, chopped
4 stalks of celery including tops, chopped

Cook on High for 3 hours or more, until meat begins to separate from the bones. Remove turkey to cool. Remove fat, skin, and bones.

oldnewgreenredo

Soup is a great way to utilize what is in the refrigerator or your garden. 

Other great soup vegetables are tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, yellow summer squash, Swiss Chard, Spinach, Broccoli, mushrooms, Potatoes or your own favorites. I've even made Turkey soups with corn and crumbled cornbread to make a tasty hearty soup. 

 Just Take your pick in the amounts you desire. My soups tend to be stew with more vegetables than soup stock. The more vegetables the more flavorful the soup.

oldnewgreenredo

These large carrots have been particularly sweet and tasty.

I rough cut the cabbage also using the outer leaves.

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

today I decide to add a Small head of cabbage and chopped peppers.

Add:
5 large carrots sliced thick
1 1/2  cups of assorted chopped sweet peppers
1/2 small head of cabbage sliced thin

Add chopped parsley or cilantro with vegetables or fresh rosemary or all

Cook on high for 1 hour or until vegetables are all cooked. Taste and add more seasoning if needed. Add all chopped turkey and cook on high for 1-2 more hours.

Finally Squeeze juice of one lemon or 3Tbsp lemon juice as a non-salt enhancer and also to clarify the soup. (We use very little salt in our home, but use as needed for your tastes.)

Hint: if your pot is going to be too full, remove 2 cups of broth. Your vegetables will cook down and you can add the broth back in.

Optional Overnight Method or all day at work method.
Throw everything together in pot and cook on low all day or over night. You can also add 1 cup of: rice, navy beans, barley or wild rice with this method. I squeeze the juice of one lemon into the soup to help clarify it at the very end, when I chop the turkey up and put it back in.

PS Smoked Turkey legs are awesome for bean soups--and healthy and inexpensive choice over ham/pork hocks. Smoked Turkey is not as intense with smoke flavor than other meats, our favorite for navy bean soup.

oldnewgreenredo

oldnewgreenredo

Super Healthy Living

Fresh vegetables and Turkey!

Enjoy!

Thanks always for visiting. 

I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question.

All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own, I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions or posts. Please do not use photos without linking back to this blog without my permission. Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle

I will be sharing at these fine Parties!

Love Your Creativity

Sandi