Turkey Leftovers--Turkey Soup

If your family is like mine, the turkey leftovers are the best part of the week after Thanksgiving.

I always cook an extra turkey--it's inexpensive and cooked turkey can be used in any recipe that uses cooked chicken. 

Tonight we ate this soup, a perfect end to a cold Montana day. Yum!

Mediterranean Chicken, Bean & Pasta Soup

2 tsp olive oil
1 large green onion (or a couple of smaller ones), minced
2 medium carrots, cut into thin half-circles
2 large celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 can (28 oz.) whole tomatoes, finely chopped, including juices
5 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 bay leaves
2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (or turkey!)
1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup ditalini (small, short pasta tubes)--tonight I used some leftover wild rice in place of pasta
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley--I used 2 Tablespoons dehydrated parsley
8 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced-I used a scant teaspoon dried basil
Grated Parmesan cheese

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add shallot, carrots, and celery. Saute until the vegetables are beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add chopped tomatoes with juices, chicken broth, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then lower heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Uncover the soup, remove the bay leaves, add cooked chicken, beans, and pasta. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes (I just added my pre-cooked leftover rice at this point). If you are using dried parsley and basil, add for the final 5 minutes.  If you are using fresh, add at the end.

Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve.

Serves 6 to 8.

Thanksgiving Thoughts

May we never let the things we can't have, or don't have, or shouldn't have, spoil

our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. 
As we value our happiness let us not forget it,
for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the

things we cannot or should not have.
 --Richard L. Evans

Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.
 D & C 59:7

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.
~H.U. Westermayer

In nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.
 D&C 59:21

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~William Arthur Ward

 

Live in thanksgiving daily.
Alma 34:38

Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind. It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency. It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief.

Where there is appreciation, there is courtesy, there is concern for the rights and property of others. Without it there is arrogance and evil.
--Gordon B. Hinckley

The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life. Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man.
 --Joseph F. Smith

We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us. Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone."

                                                                                  --Thomas S. Monson

Thanksgiving Activities for Children From Hilltop Ward

At Hilltop's recent monthly activity,  placemats for the dinner were these cute pages of children's activities.  

Hilltop leaders suggested these coloring pages would be a great way to keep kids happy while meals were being prepared or while children were at the Thanksgiving table. 

Hilltop Ward printed them off of this website: http://www.familyfun.com/  Check out this great website for activity and coloring pages, crafts for children, fun family games, and recipes for children to make. 

There are ideas for other holidays too!

       

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Mod Podge

Mod Podge is a product that is versatile and easy enough for children to use.  It is basically a white glue which dries clear.  Mod Podge comes in gloss or satin finish, and clear and tinted colors. It comes in smooth and textured finishes. There is also an outdoor Mod Podge, although I haven't been able to find it locally--you can buy it online. There are more and more kinds and finsihes of Mod Podge on the market all the time.  Mod Podged surfaces are cleanable with a damp cloth, but not dishwasher safe.  Spilled Mod Podge can be cleaned up with water, but wipe up spills before they dry.  You can use Mod Podge on almost anything you can think of to make personalized gifts.  Try Mod Podge on plastic, paper, fabric, cardboard, glass, wooden, painted surfaces--what ever you can imagine.  Mod Podge works both as a glue and a sealer--glue one surface to another, then seal the project with a top layer of Mod Podge.

Project 1: Wooden Box

Time to make (other than drying time) 5 minutes

I bought a $1 wooden box from a craft store and painted it with gold craft paint.

I used 3 coats of paint.



Next I took a piece of craft paper, and using my computer, I printed off some words directly onto the paper and cut it the size of the top of my box.

 

I Mod Podged it on for a simple, but fun seasonal treasure box. You could glue on jewels or other emblishments for a fancier box.



Project 2: Personalized Canister
Time to make (other than drying time) 10 minutes

I washed out a canister that held nuts and gathered scrapbook paper.

I cut a main piece to fit the canister and put a layer of Mod Podge on the wrong side of my paper.

 Wrap this piece around your canister and smooth with your fingers.

Cut more pieces for embellishment and glue them on top of your already glued down paper.

Cut a piece for the plastic lid and glue on.

Cut a ribbon for the edge of the lid and glue on.

 After everything is glued down, paint a layer of glue on the entire project.

Here's the finished project, personalized, and ready to be filled with crayons, hair ribbons, food, or small toys.

Project 3: Luminary from a Glass Jar

Time to make (other than drying time) less than 10 minutes.
This project uses tissue paper and a glass canning jar.  Tear the tissue paper into pieces-
mine were about 2" x 1".

Glue onto jar, overlapping slightly.

Tie or Mod Podge ribbons and decorative items around top.


Add sand and a candle.  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving Things to do With Kids

Do you need a project to keep your children busy while you prepare for the holidays?  Or maybe you are looking for a Thanksgiving-themed FHE treat or activity.
Last year we posted an idea for turkeys made out of candy and cookies easy enough for kids to make.  You can read complete instructions here.

Here are some more to try:
The first decoration/treat is for pilgrim hats. It's very easy--easy enough for small children.

You need fudge strip cookies, large marshmallows, dipping chocolate, orange or yellow frosting, and a few kids willing to make a big mess.

Dip the marshmallows in the chocolate.

Place the marshmallow on the fudge side of the cookie.

Let them set up for awhile and then add a orange or yellow buckle, using tube frosting from the grocery store.

You can use these as place cards at the dinner table or eat them for FHE treats.

The next one is a turkey.  It takes a little more patience and coordination than the pilgrim hats and is more suited for older kids, or for a time you can spend plenty of time helping younger children.

You will need Oreos, Reece's peanut butter cups, candy corn, whoppers, and chocolate, white, and orange frosting.  Those decorating tubes of pre-made frosting in the cooking aisle at the grocery store work well for the white and orange. 

I used double stuff Oreos.  Put layer of chocolate frosting around the middle of the Oreo. 



 Stick five candy corns into the frosting.  Or use starbursts, cut into triangles.

 On a second cookie, put a dab of chocolate frosting toward back.

Set the "feathered" cookie into the dab of frosting and let set up.

Cut one side off of a peanut butter cup.

Frost top and cut edge of cup. 

Turn your turkey and place cup on top this way:

(cut side against plain cookie, top of cup against feathered cookie).

Next, put whopper on using chocolate frosting.  Add a beak--a cut candy corn--with frosting.

Using the white frosting, add two eyes.  Let your turkey set up for awhile at this point.

Now you can sit the turkey up and add a dark spot to eyes--either a dot of black frosting, a miniature chocolate chip, or a cake sprinkle.

Add legs and a waddle with orange frosting.  You can also use shoelace licorice for legs and a red hot for the waddle.

To use as a place card holder, attach a name to a toothpick and stick into the feather area.



Crock Pot Make Ahead Shredded Chicken and a Taco Recipe

The closer I get to the holidays, the harder it is to find time to cook.  Last March, we posted a recipe for make ahead meat mixture.  Read about it here. 

This is a make ahead meat my family likes even more.

Shredded Chicken

3 lbs chicken breasts, frozen
1 1/4 cup Italian salad dressing
1 Tbsp crushed or minced garlic
1-2 Tbsp lemon pepper, or crushed red pepper, or seasoned salt, or a combination, or your favorite seasonings (we like lemon pepper mixed with seasoned salt)
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup of your favorite barbecue sauce



Place chicken in the crock pot. Cover with salad dressing, garlic, and lemon pepper. Cook on low for about 5 hours, until the chicken is cooked through, and shreds easily.



Shred chicken, and place back in the crock pot. Add lemon juice and bbq sauce. Cook for about 30 minutes more. Freeze in portion sizes handy for your family. A doubled recipe makes 7 2 cup baggies for the freezer.  When ready to use, thaw for quick tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos, sandwiches, or other chicken dishes.
Notes:  I always double this recipe.  It needs to cook for around an hour longer when doubled.  If using thawed chicken, cook for less time.

Here is the way we ate this chicken tonight.  This meal is a family favorite and I love it because everything can be done in advance, including the salsa.  It makes a quick meal for a busy night.

Chicken Tacos with Black Bean Salsa

Using hard taco shells, add make ahead chicken, top with black bean salsa, avocado, and sour cream.

Salsa:
1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
4 radishes, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
salt and black pepper to taste
Combine; store in fridge for up to a week.

The New Handbook

By now, you've likely heard the church has a new handbook. 

You can read the ENTIRE handbook  here at lds.org.

If you are an auxillary leader and missed the leadership broadcast, or if you are just interested in learning more, watch the broadcast here.

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Pop Top Can Treats

This is a quick and easy idea for using a recycled tab top can.

You need a can with a tab top.  It can be large or small.

When you open the can, instead of using the tab on top, use a can opener on the bottom.

Peel off the label and wash the can well.

Use either a regular can opener,

or a smooth-edge can opener.  These are great tools.  They leave no sharp edges on your opened can.  These can openers can be purchased for under $20 at kitchen specialty stores or online.  They are well worth the price.

If you use a traditional opener, leave the lid partially attached.

Now fill your can  with candy, pretzels, homemade treats, hot cocoa--what ever you can think of.

Using a hot glue gun, glue the bottom of the can on.

Cover with scrapbook paper or fabric (using your glue gun), or contact paper.  You may have to piece the cover.

Make an "instruction" tag

and decorate the can anyway you wish.  Remember that the tab is the top of the can.

Carefully thread some ribbon through the tab and attach instructions. 
Your can is now ready for gifting

To open, just pop the tab

to find the surprise inside.