The Thanksgiving leftover dilemma. What to do with all of that stuff??

Thanksgiving is one of those holidays that is steeped in tradition. I guess, actually most holidays are. At least the ones that are more than a few decades old.

From the dishes served on the day, to the after and pre-meal activities, to what happens with all of those leftovers. We all have things that we do because, well, we’ve always done them.

There are just SO many options when it comes to repurposing all of those Thanksgiving leftovers. Most times it seems like there’s more food leftover than was served at the meal itself. Occasionally, you’ve cut it so close that there’s not much left for your guests to pack up in their to-go Tupperwares.

I know that lots of folks like to make giant “Thanksgiving meal in a sandwich” sandwiches. These hefty concoctions can contain most of the component parts of the original dinner.

A base of white bread (I think this is one of the only real acceptable uses of Wonder Bread, except maybe for a grilled cheese), some mayo, and then, well… the kitchen sink. One of the most popular combos for the sandwich insides are: turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. That hits most of the highlights of the Thanksgiving feast.

Growing up, I remember my mom popping a secret, medium sized casserole into the oven once the turkey came out. The contents were not really obvious. I never remember that casserole being taken out. I know I was busy doing "kid" things after dinner.

One year I stumbled on the answer to the mystery dish... stuffing! She would cook an extra batch of stuffing so she could have it cold the next day for leftovers. She didn't want to take any chances that all of the stuffing would be consumed by a hungry holiday crowd. That is a leftover tradition that I picked up on too. You should really try it if you haven't already.

Of course, leftover pumpkin pie for breakfast reigns supreme in my house. The tradition that started more than twenty years ago is still going strong.

After all of the turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pie has been consumed, it’s time for my Thanksgiving leftover tradition, turkey soup! It’s not something that my mom made or anyone else in my family for that matter. But it seems like a great last taste of the holiday just passed. And it's probably a better alternative than pitching that turkey carcass in the trash.

So, if you’d like to start a new Thanksgiving tradition or just want to take my super easy version of leftover turkey soup for a spin. here’s how to do it.

LARRY'S EASY AFTER THANKSGIVING TURKEY SOUP

INGREDIENTS

1 Turkey carcass

3 Celery stalks, cut into 3-inch pieces

1 Onion, large, quartered

1 Parsnip, peeled and halved

1 Turnip, peeled and halved

6 Garlic cloves, smashed

4 Carrots, peeled and cut into medium size pieces

1 bunch fresh parsley, stems trimmed

Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

In a large stockpot, add the turkey carcass and the rest of the ingredients on top of that.

Fill with water, just enough to cover the contents of the pot. Add salt and pepper. There’s a lot of water, so it’s hard to over season.

Bring to barely simmering over low heat. Skim foam as it rises to the surface. Continue to barely simmer for 1 ½ to 2 hours uncovered. When finished, strain out all the solids. Return the carrots to the pot with any leftover turkey meat that you have in the fridge.

You can also add any cooked pasta or your choice. Spaetzle is really good in this soup! Enjoy with some freshly baked bread!

You might be thinking a little post-Thanksgiving soup sounds delicious on a somewhat cool Florida day. But I really don’t want to go to all the trouble of making my own. Not to worry, I’ve got a few ideas for you. Here are a few places around Sarasota where you can have a nice, warming, and comforting bowl of soup. If you’re lucky, they might even have turkey!

Capt. Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar (1200 Old Stickney Point Rd., (941) 349-3885)

Award wining clam chowder. That’s what a lot of people come for. And I will say, it’s super tasty. If you want to take a stab at making it at home, they sell chowder kits at their store right next to the restaurant.

Knick’s Tavern & Grill (1818 S Osprey Ave., (941) 955-7761)

I’m partial to their fantastic Italian wedding soup (it's semi addicting, take my word for it). But in reality, all their homemade soups are off the charts great. They serve a pretty mean gumbo too! Two soup choices are usually offered daily.

The Lobster Pot (5157 Ocean Blvd., (941) 349-2323)

Located in Siesta Village. They serve some of the best lobster bisque in town here. They also feature a really interesting and delicious Portuguese soup that is made from fresh kale, potatoes, assorted beans, onions, linguica, and Portuguese Chourice sausage. This is worth a try for sure.

Oasis Cafe and Bakery (3542 S Osprey Ave., (941) 957-1214)

Featuring two fantastic homemade soups daily. The good news is you really can't go wrong with either. That really takes the pressure off the decision making process. If you haven't tried Jim's soups, you really should check that off your to-do list.

Phở Cali (1578 Main St., (941) 955-2683)

Now we’re stretching things out a bit! Great pho noodle soups here as you would imagine. I mean it’s in their name after all. They also serve a really great chicken noodle soup.

Yoder’s Amish Restaurant (3434 Bahia Vista St., (941) 955-7771)

Delicious homemade soups every day. These soups run the gamut from Dutch Rivel soup to a chicken noodle that tastes like your mom made it. These will warm you from the inside out!

So, whether you’re going to start a new Thanksgiving leftover tradition and make a batch of homemade turkey soup or just want someone else to do the hard part, it’s the right time of year for soup!

If you've got a Thanksgiving leftover tradition that you'd like to share, leave it in the comments so we can all enjoy!

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