Whole turkey challenge?

[sisteeesmama]

Does anyone else do whole turkeys other than for holidays?

We do around here and really stretch it out for so many things I thought it would be neat to hear about what other people do with theirs and get some new recipe ideas and share some.....

Anyone?

[SuburbanHippie]

I did this a few weeks ago. I wanted to do it again this week, but we have too much going on to commit. Anyway, I roasted the turkey (stuffed with onion, garlic, parsley, celery, and apples). I used the neck and the bag of parts I would have normally throw out (!) and the carcass to make bone broth. I used the drippings to make gravy.

The turkey meat went into 3 containers. The big chunks of white meat went towards lunch meat for me and DH (the kids prefer pb). The smaller pieces of white meat I used for two separate meals of turkey smothered in gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies (the usual Thanksgiving-ish stuff). The dark meat went to make turkey chili, turkey and barley soup, enchiladas and casserole (rice, cheese, veggies etc).

A $10 turkey lasted our household of 7 for a whole week! Plus, I still have a quart of turkey chili in the freezer and I shared with a quart with my mom.

[wife2jason]

I have one in the freezer now. Loving the ideas. Turkey is my favorite day-after-Thanksgiving purchase. Sales are great!

[ruthmg]

Turkey makes a delicious curry. You can either do coconut milk curry or coconut oil curry. Combine it with sweet potatoes. Yum!

[sisteeesmama]

Oh, the curry and the chili(recipe?) are good ideas for sure!

I made stock and then re-used the bones and added new veg. (garlic, onion, carrot and celery) to make broth so I got 6 containers of broth/stock off of one bird. Then I made a soup with mexican-y flavors like cumin, zucchini, corn, sweet potatoe, tomatoes, garlic, onion and then I sqeezed lime into each bowl and put some chopped green onion, that was good.

Then I made a turkey/broccoli gratin(not exactly TF because of the melted cheese, but...) I used heavy cream, parmesan, onion, garlic, white turkey meat, broccoli and finely diced celery and then brown rice and topped it with carmelized onions....it was a hit with a picky toddler.

I have served the turkey and mashed potatoes with gravy all week for lunch and two dinner and still have put away one container of the soup, one container of meat for later(in broth) and have more meat and potatoes with gravy for tonight and some white meat for curry I think, now...dh will love that!.....


This is awesome!

Thanks for the ideas with the curry and chili(recipe please?)

[bwylde]

My favorite way to eat turkey is on a big salad of greens, homemade mayo and cranberry sauce. Also good with nuts and stuffing if you have any leftover (I call it my leftover salad, lol!).

I made a turkey yesterday and a big pot of soup today. I got so much broth I was able to stick an extra 2L container of it in the freezer for a future soup . I also have a container of meat I've been picking at. So yummy

[sisteeesmama]

It's a nice feeling to think of other mamas out there doing the same things I am doing and benefitting from it in such a satisfying way at the same time, too

[SuburbanHippie]

I'm kind of a weirdo when it comes to chili. I just throw stuff in the slow cooker and cross my fingers. I know I used 1 28oz can of diced tomatoes, my homemade turkey stock (I think around 1/2 quart), around 2 c. cooked black beans, 1 chopped onion, 4 cloves of garlic (minced), chili powder, sea salt, cracked pepper, chives, dill, and some cayenne for a little kick. I top it with cheddar cheese typically because I'm from WI and we top everything with cheese.

Side note, I wish I would have used less turkey stock. It was more soupy than I would have liked. But when the stock is like jelly and you're not paying enough attention, it just seems to glop right out of the jar. LOL.

[abharrington]

bump for a letover turkey...any good recipies? i have tons of shredded meat and tons of stock...or is it broth? not sure...i cooked the carcas with vinegar, onion, celery and carrots overnight...then strained.

[abharrington]

Originally Posted by sisteeesmama

Oh, the curry and the chili(recipe?) are good ideas for sure!

I made stock and then re-used the bones and added new veg. (garlic, onion, carrot and celery) to make broth so I got 6 containers of broth/stock off of one bird.

can you please explain how you make both stock and broth...what is the difference? and how do you use them each? thank you so much!!

[CookiePie]

I have one in my freezer just waiting to fed us well for several days! Great ideas! I usually roast it & have it with traditional fixins, mashed potatos, cranberry sauce, veggies, then I split it up into dark & light meats, save some slices for salads & sandwiches. Then figure what meals to make. My favorite is pulled turkey in the crockpot with bbq sauce! I use mostly dakk meat that I shred with my fingers. It is so good on homemeade wheat rolls with coleslaw on the side! I wonder how long it will take to thaw in the fridge??? Maybe I should take it out now, I think it will take at least 3 days...