Thanksgiving leftover soup

So Thanksgiving was a few days ago , and if you are like me you are tired of turkey sandwiches and turkey tetrazini . This is my trusty old recipe for a delicious chicken gnocchi soup and I have found it highly adaptable for Turkey day leftovers.

Creamy Chicken Gnocchi soup

2 cups of diced chicken  (more if you prefer)

1 quart of half n half +

2 cups of milk

1 can of cream of mushroom

3 stalks of celery

1 yellow onion

3 cloves of garlic

Poultry seasoning

Garlic powder

Rosemary

Salt n pepper

1 cup of thin carrot sticks

Cornstarch

Potato gnocchi, found in pasta section

1 cup pan drippings or 1 can of chicken broth

Mix celery, garlic cloves, and onion in food processor, or chop really small. Sauté in pan with butter until it starts to bubble. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of COLD water until dissolved. Add to celery mix and stir continuously until it thickens…keep stirring because it will burn. Slowly add the half n half and then milk. Add pan drippings or broth. Add carrots and then add the cream of mushroom and then the dry seasonings. Toss in the diced chicken. Allow the soup to simmer and in a separate dish bring a pot of water to boil. Add potato gnocchi and cook for 2-3 minutes. As soon as the gnocchi begins to float to the top move it to the soup pot. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes. Taste test and add salt if needed. Just before serving add 1 package of spinach.

To adapt this for Thanksgiving leftovers you can use turkey instead of chicken, obviously. You can also toss in any green bean casserole leftovers, fried onions and all. If you do this omit the can of mushroom soup. If you have corn casserole this can go in too..unless it has cornbread in it. mashed potatoes can be used also, it will make a thicker soup and change the taste to a more potatoey flavor but will still be delicious. pretty much anything with vegetables can be used, peas, carrots, etc. If you find your soup is getting to thick, simply add more half n half or milk until it is the desired consistency. If it is too liquidy then let it cook a little longer, as it will thicken as it cools. This recipe is very forgiving and can be experimented with.

Finally, top it all of with some Parmesan cheese. yum yum!!

crock pot Beer braised beef taco's

 

These are not your every day plain taco's. These are delicious homemade gourmet tacos  that will BLOW your mind.

Start with a 4-5 lb tough cut of beef like a brisket, or chuck. 

Place your beef in a crock pot fat side down. Make a few deep cuts into the meat. add a clove of garlic, a quarter of onion, and a pinch of cilantro into the cuts. Sprinkle the top with salt, pepper, and cumin. turn the meat over so that the fatty side is facing up. This will keep the beef moist. Generously Sprinkle the fat side with salt, pepper, a little chili powder, and cumin. Top with fresh chopped garlic, cilantro, and slices of onion. Now for the important part. Empty one bottle of  Dos Equis AMBER Lager into the crock pot.Even if you don't drink beer, or like this brand, use it anyways. The flavor will transfer onto the beef creating an amazingly unique taste! If you have never cooked with alcohol before, don't worry, the alcohol burns off, leaving only the flavor!

Allow the beef to roast in the crock pot on low for 7-8 hours or on high 4-5 hours. You will know it is ready when you stick a fork in it and it falls apart. If you can't easily pull it apart with a fork then it is not finished cooking.

Once you are ready to serve your tacos make sure you have the right toppings. Dice some onions, chop some fresh cilantro, dice some tomatoes and cut some limes into small wedges. Don't forget a dallop of daisy, sour cream that is! Ranchera sauce is good too if you can find or make some. The second most important part of THIS taco, besides the Dos Equis Beef, is the cheese. Cotija cheese is a Mexican crumbly cheese that has a texture very similar to Parmesan. You can find it in the Mexican cheese section at Wal-mart. The combination of the beer braised beef and the cotija cheese are what make this taco experience complete. once you have your meat and cheese add your favorite toppings. Squeeze a lime wedge over the taco

Serve with your favorite Mexican side dishes, I highly recommend  Mexican street corn (recipe found on pinterest)

Enjoy!!!