We've just had our Thanksgiving dinner up here in the Great White North and after wolfing down more turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce than is good for us, and the burning question in million of households is "What the heck do we do with all the leftover turkey??"" I don't know about you, but, I hate to just throw it out. There's something just so wrong about discarding perfectly good food! Maybe you hosted your family brood or maybe you and your significant other were lucky enough to be invited somewhere and left with a Ziploc bag loaded with leftovers. Now what?



If you have just the meat, no problems there. Turkey sandwiches are a staple in lunch bags nationwide the day after this gastronomic holiday. Slap it between two pieces of whole grain bread, add some fancy mustard, and a piece of fruit and lunch is served.

If you have the carcass and just can't bear to see it go to waste (and given the current economic climate, waste not want not is becoming our household mantra) here are some tips to make your own stock.

Remove any leftover stuffing from your bird. Put the whole thing, and I mean all of it, the bones, the meat, the skin etc. into a large pot or slow cooker. Add cut up chunks of carrots, celery and onions (these are just for flavor, you'll throw them out later, so use as much or as little as you wish). Add salt and pepper. Add enough water to cover. If using a slow cooker, use the low setting and let it simmer anywhere from 6-8 hours. If you're using the stove, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer at least two hours.

Now comes the fun, and yes, messy part. I always get my boyfriend to help me (you won't believe what you can get up to when you're covered in turkey grease LOL, it makes for an interesting date). Strain the whole mess, reserving the liquid. Discard the vegetables. Pick through the carcass and take out all the meat. Add it to the reserved liquid. You can freeze the stock and use in the future for soup or make your soup right now. Quite frankly, I freeze it and use it later. After stuffing myself with turkey, and having leftovers in the days afterward, turkey based soup can wait a few months! Bon Appetit!