The Turkey That Doesn't Quit

Don't throw out that turkey carcass... if you already have, remember this tidbit of information for your Christmas turkey. The entire carcass can be stewed in a large pot for 20-30 minutes to create the most delicious and nutritious broth for chicken noodle soup. You see, the essence of your turkey goodness is in the bones creating great flavor. The nutrition is also in the bones for loads of calcium and other nutrients. Put carcass in your large pot, add water to nearly cover it, bring to boil, add an onion and/or celery if you have it, leftover parsley, and any herbs you like. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let it stew for a half an hour or so. Remove carcass from broth. You will have some bits of turkey left, too. Definitely use any meat in your soup. Strain and defat the broth. Allow broth to cool, then pour into freezer bags, lay flat on cookie sheets, place in freezer, and use later in chicken soup, white chicken chili, creamed chicken, etc. When your broth is frozen flat, the packages will stack nicely in your freezer. Someone you know will be sick this winter and will need a delivery of your chicken soup, so get this step done. And the greenies of this world think that they have created the recycling concept... 

A Southern Tradition

Boiled custard was always in attendance at Thanksgiving and Christmas growing up. Though delivered by the milkman, the creamy beverage was still enjoyed by everyone. Not until I married my husband had I ever had HOMEMADE boiled custard. I have developed my own recipe now which is made in the microwave and will tickle the tastebuds of your guests. Throw out your double boiler and get going. Using just 5 ingredients, this velvety concoction will prompt sweet memories of your own childhood. It is inexpensive to make and tastes so much better without the artificial preservatives present in what you buy at the grocery. Just one thing: you will need to be able to reduce your power in the microwave to 80% so as not to cook the eggs too fast. A cooking thermometer and a batter bowl & lid from Pampered Chef are helpful tools.


Boiled Custard
1 qt. whole milk
6 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. vanilla


Whisk eggs together; combine sugar & flour;  stir all except vanilla together in 2-qt. batter bowl. Put on lid, then cook on 2-minute intervals in microwave, whisking between each interval. My microwave is small & takes 7 intervals. Yours may take less intervals. As it begins to thicken, check  temperature - custard is done once it reaches 160 degrees. Add vanilla when fully cooked. Allow to cool on the counter, whisking occasionally, then transfer to refrigerator. Will keep a week.

Knife Sharpening

Don't forget to go by Hart Hardware in Belle Meade or Bellevue during November for free knife sharpening: donate one can of food for Second Harvest Food Bank per knife up to 5 knives. Then remember to be VERY careful with your newly sharpened knives. No sharpening on serrated blades. This will continue through November 30. Thanks, Frank Shope!

Legomania

Problem:

Solution:

If you enjoyed something when your children were young, you may have an opportunity for that something to come around again in your life with grandchildren. Our children loved Legos and, of course, I saved them all in a couple of large bins. Our oldest grandson is very interested in making things now with the Legos when he comes to our house, but my husband explained to me that 9-inch-deep bins of Legos is not very conducive to constructing the pictures that the grandson wants to create. They need to be able to find certain pieces. Enter our new Container Store in Green Hills. My beloved husband went with me and selected a number of different types of bins with a base bin on rollers. After spending probably 10-12 hours over the course of this week, I have sorted all of our Legos into the following categories:
1. basic bricks
2. thin bricks
3. bricks with wheels / circle bricks
4. bricks with holes
5. people and their parts
6. animals
7. trees
8. wedges and angle bricks
9. strings, net, & propellers
10. ladders, poles, sticks
11. small one-of-a-kind
12. large one-of-a-kind
13. bricks with writing
14. arches and steps
15. windows, doors, & parts






I created my own labels in WORD using the above categories and copied them onto cardstock. If you would like that document, email me at emmastacyross@gmail.com and I will send it to you as an attachment. Then you can get sorting, too. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! We will be eating lots, BUILDING lots, and making LOTS of memories!

Are You A Listmaker?

No one ever expects to be in a car accident and unable to speak for himself/herself. Do your loved ones a favor... put together a list of cell numbers including yourself, your spouse, children (married and single), elderly parents, siblings that may live alone, etc. Make the information large enough to be legible but small enough to be stored directly behind a driver's license. Make enough copies for all of your loved ones to have this in their wallets. In the event of an accident, the policeman will go straight for the driver's license to identify the victim. If this list of numbers is right there next to the driver's license, the policeman can begin calling numbers until he gets a live person. I began doing this when I was caring for my elderly parents in the event that they had an emergency and could not speak for themselves. When my youngest child had a car accident 4 years ago whereby she was ejected from the vehicle, the police officer was able to reference this little piece of paper to contact us immediately. You may be thinking, "Why wouldn't the policeman just use the cell phone?" My answer: Give him another reference item in case the phone isn't readily available / out of battery / damaged. Don't delay... start typing... have it laminated at Office Depot. You have the numbers in your cell phone. It could be one of the most important lists you ever make.

An Apple A Day

I am hoping that you interested readers are eating an apple a day right now during their peak season. Did you know that any other time of the year the apples you eat have been in cold storage? So eat them now in abundance... at least one a day. I buy mine at the local farmer's market. The Braeburns are my favorite for eating raw, and I buy the Cortland for the freezer for baking later. Apples do not need any Fruit Fresh when freezing since they will brown anyway when baking. Just core, peel, and slice. They are very helpful to have in the freezer, just waiting to be placed in a yummy pie or cobbler or in one of our family traditions, Cranberry Casserole. This dish is a staple for our Thanksgiving dinner and/or breakfast as well as at Christmastime. Forget about that Cranberry Relish that the generation before us ate... yuk. This casserole with the oatmeal topping will bring smiles all around your table.

Cranberry Casserole

2 cups cranberries, washed & drained      1 cup quick oats                       

3 cups apples, peeled/diced                    1/2 cup brown sugar                                   

3/4 cup sugar                                         1/3 cup flour                                   

3 Tbsp. flour                                          1 stick melted butter

1. Combine cranberries, apples, sugar, & 3 Tbsp. flour. Place in baking dish.

2. Combine oats, br. sugar, & flour & spread on top of fruit. Drizzle melted butter over top. Bake 325° for 1 hour.