Directions: |
Directions:“This is the best turkey soup ever!” “Now that you’re a member of the extended Hoggan Family, could we have the recipe for the family cookbook?
Recipe? Recipe?!! How embarrassing, but the truth is that the soup I made December 25, 2009 was not a recipe-soup. It was a marathon creation, a covert commando operation as I raided Kristina and Scott’s cupboards, fridges and (gulp!) wine coolers, looking for stuff to put in my soup!
So, to the best of my knowledge and memory, this is the sort-of recipe for the Denver Christmas Turkey Soup.
STOCK
Carcasses of two gourmet, pre-cooked, non-stuffed turkeys from Whole Foods
Gallons and gallons of water
Onions, carrots, garlic all chopped up
Herbs (whatever type you want)
Stuff all of the above into the biggest pot you can find, bring to boil, and then simmer for hours. And don’t cut corners…it has to be for hours! (I started the stock mid-evening, but then had to go to bed ‘cuz Santa was coming. I considered letting it simmer all night, but was worried the aroma would bring the coyotes in from the hills. I turned off the stove and started ‘er up again in the morning.)
THE SOUP
After you’ve opened your presents (which on that day was late, because Scott and Kristina took forever to get up!), the serious work begins.
Discard all the stuff in the pot, leaving gallons of beautiful stock. In another pot, also very large, sauté onions, garlic, celery, carrots, along with some basil, oregano and whatever herbs you like, or have on hand. Add in the stock and lots gorgeous turkey bits. That’s the basic soup! But you know, it called for something more. Every time I tasted it, I knew it needed something. So I started rummaging and this - in no particular order, and over the span of hours - is what went into the Denver Christmas Turkey Soup.
· Seasoned rice wine vinegar
· Packages of black beans and lentils and wild rice
· Lots of salt and pepper….but NO msg!
· Leftover veggies from Christmas Eve dinner party
· Ooh, there’s some nice red wine in a lovely decanter sitting on the counter…Scott’s looking the other way! Yippee, glub, glub, into the soup!
· More herbs
· More turkey
· Needs just a touch more red wine, and Scott’s out walking Judah…Yes!!
Enjoy! If this doesn’t work for you, invite me for Christmas and I will make it for you, specially! |
This recipe for Denver Christmas Turkey Soup is from