Good morning!
If you’re in the U.S., you’re probably thinking a lot about one or two things: Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday sales.
I’m actually not thinking much about either, but rather the weekend of good leftover eats. I’m not much of a turkey fan, so it’s all about the sides. Which I think I talked a lot about last week, so I won’t continue the ramble on that topic 😂.
I’m not alone — we’re sides people from a long line of sides people — and there’s usually a lot of leftover turkey. Which means just one thing at Casa de SoupAddict: soup!
Today’s new soup recipe will help with just that, in a deliciously comforting way (all the snow up east 😱 — I know it’s November, but it’s not even calendar winter yet!)
It’s so interesting to me that, probably more than any other holiday, the food of Thanksgiving brings out the big feels in people. BIG feels. Last week at work, we had lively discussions about turkey preparation — where I learned that some put sticks of butter inside their turkey prior to roasting. Not pats. Sticks. I, um …. immediately no. Lol.
And one person had a near meltdown, very upset about stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pies. It was … there was a lot to unpack from one rant. 😆
But, it did get me thinking how strange traditional Thanksgiving foods have become, yet we argue vehemently about our favorites. You know, homemade cranberry sauce vs. canned. Green bean casserole with or without crispy onions. Marshmallows on sweet potato casseroles. I mean, this is all kind of weird, right? 🙃
But anyway, if you’re cooking a turkey for the first time … well, it’s a whole thing. Butterball, the brand, is famous for their help line. It’s fielded by experts who have seen and done it all, and they’re open and ready to talk turkey every day this week, including Thursday.
So, don’t be shy about reaching out for help and advice. Seriously, if you have questions about brining or basting or roasting, or wondering whether a turkey will thaw faster in a hot tub (an actual question asked of them) contact them now so you’ll feel confident on Thursday.
This is not a sponsored ad for Butterball 😂. I simply want to arm you with all the resources you’ll need. They’re legit.
1-800-BUTTERBALL (or text 844-877-3456). Live it. Breathe it. Save it as a contact on your phone.
Happy cooking, everyone! I’ll see you on the other side.
P.S.: As a person who also has strong feels about Thanksgiving food 😂, I would love to hear your thoughts about it all. Let us know your favorites and no-ways on this quick survey Google form.
You don’t have to be logged into Google, nor does it collect any personal information about you even if you are. And I think I have it set so you can immediately view all of the results once you submit your responses 🤞.
If you’d rather chat about it and you’re a Substack subscriber (or don’t mind setting up an account on Substack), you can comment on this newletter’s post with lengthier thoughts. You can also reply to the email — it comes straight to me!
Leftover Turkey Wild Rice Soup
Don’t let those turkey leftovers go to waste! With the cold snap hitting the country, a beautiful, hearty bowl of soup is exactly what we’ll need after a long weekend of shopping and traveling and celebrating.
I have a deep fondness for Thanksgiving leftovers. Of course, most of mine go into soups, but I also love the crazy sandwiches made famous by social media. Here are a few ideas for using your leftovers … and, if you have a turkey carcass, make some homemade stock while you shop on Friday. Good stuff!
Turkey Cranberry Boursin Grilled Cheese
If shopping is on your to-do list this week, I’ve gathered the equipment and cookware that I use in my own kitchen into one list. All of the links on this page are Amazon affiliate links where I earn a small amount if you buy, BUT many of these items are available at the big box retailers, if you’re shopping on foot.
So, the links are at least useful for getting more details about the items, seeing photos, and (maybe less so) reading the sometimes sus reviews. Lol.
Whether you’re helping someone outfit their first kitchen or looking to upgrade your own equipment, this list has something for every soup lover.
Last-Minute Thanksgiving Menu Making
If you’re new to the Digest or missed last week’s edition, here’s a link to my collection of Thanksgiving recipes, with everything from the turkey to sides to desserts. Happy cooking (and eating)!
Until next time, friends, here’s to good eats 🍴, stay kind 😊, stay warm ❄️, and remember the holidays are hard for many ❤️🩹 — make extra soup to share 🫶🏻