Post Fast.....into week Three

Ah, time to relax! The main part of the holidays is over. I cooked too many kinds of veggies and had fresh ones too. I think I could have fed 20 people! I was so happy to be cooking again. Everything turned out well and everyone enjoyed the feast, more than once.

I thought I did well with eating too. I just took a very small portion of everything and didn't over eat at all. Of course I had had juice everyday too. That is just part of life now. I did not have any ill effects, either. Here's something interesting, maybe. My dinner was on Christmas Eve, and the next day, I spent over at my daughter's house. In the middle of the afternoon, her husband made a fresh pot of coffee. They have a coffee pot that grinds the beans fresh for each pot and it makes great coffee. I decided to have a cup. It's been at least 3 months since I have had any. It was tasty all right. A little while later, I had to visit the little girls' room. Here's what I found on the 'wiki", "The stimulative effect of coffee consumption on the colon is found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee." It's for sure true. So if you are feeling kind of full in general, you might try a cup of coffee. Just don't go out for a run for awhile after!

In a few days, or maybe next week, I will be making a vegetable turkey soup that I have been making for years. We all love it. This year, it will be even better because I will be using as many fresh ingredients as I can. I said that I would post it and I have found it, so will do. Just wanted to mention, that I cut all of the meat I wanted, off the turkey the night it was served and put the rest of it, (bones and stuff) in a 2.5 zip top bag. Stuck it in the freezer that night, because I knew it would be a little while before I could make the soup.Warning: This makes a LOT and you can't freeze it, well you can,  but it will be yucky, so give some away if you can't eat it all in a few days.

Victoria’s Turkey Vegetable Soup

Adapted from a recipe from Theresa Randall

Leftover turkey carcass….with most of turkey cut off, legs and wings whole, all stuffing well cleaned out

2/3 tsp. garlic powder

2/3 tsp. Lawry’s Seasoned salt

½ -1 tsp. black pepper

1 medium onion, sliced

1 large can tomatoes (diced is nice)

1 15 oz. can stewed tomatoes

2-3 large cans of Swanson’s chicken broth, or 2 boxes

16 oz. frozen mixed vegetables

10 oz. frozen green beans, regular or French cut

1 lb. small peeled baby carrots or 6 medium, peeled and cut

½ medium sized head of cabbage, chopped

4-5 medium-small potatoes, cubed about 1 inch in size

3-4 stalks celery, cut into small pieces (optional)

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. Tabasco sauce, adjust to taste, but Do Not leave out!

2 tsp. sugar

In a LARGE pot, boil turkey in 8-10 cups of water, along with garlic, seasoned salt, pepper, and onion, lowering the heat to a simmer for about an hour until the meat is falling off the bones.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the turkey, being sure to get all of the bones out and set aside to cool, saving the stock.

Add all the rest of the ingredients to the stock and bring to a boil. Add enough chicken broth to cover all the ingredients with a little bit more, as this will reduce during cooking time. Turn heat to low and simmer 2-3 hours until potatoes and carrots are cooked through.

Pick all the meat off the turkey and add to soup. No need to stir, but break up tomatoes, if using whole.

Good served with sweet cornbread! (I will probably not be making the cornbread this time)

I so love having the energy to do things again. I got plenty of exercise yesterday, too. Santa brought the g-kids and family an X-box Kinnect. It was Crazy. There was a dance game too, not easy. It's all a ton of fun and I don't even know how long we played. It takes pictures of you while you play. It was nice not to cringe when I saw myself. Really nice. 

Juice on!!!