Tackle It Tuesday: Happy "People-are-starving-use-up-your-leftovers" Day

Looks yummy, doesn't it?

Do you have Thanksgiving leftovers that need to be used up? Can't stand the thought of throwing out ALL of that turkey? My answers were yes...and yes. That is why I just HAVE to share this recipe with you.

The "People-are-starving-use-up-your-leftovers" Turkey Pot Pie

*Just to let you know, I always tweak recipes. So, this is my version of another recipe. Of COURSE it's better than the original. :)

• 1 recipe pastry for a 10" double pie crust - I use the Pillsbury roll out type - you can find a coupon for them here. In my opinion, they are the best flaky crust next to homemade.
• 4 TB butter (or a little more)
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 (leftover) green onions, sliced
• 2 (leftover) stalks celery, chopped
• 1 c. frozen mixed vegetables (maybe a little more, I didn't really measure)
• 3 TB dried parsley
• 1 t. dried oregano
• salt & pepper to taste (if it matters to you, I use fresh ground sea salt and fresh ground pepper)
• 2 cubes chicken bouillon
• 2 c. water
• 1 med-large (leftover) sweet potato, peeled and diced (the original calls for 3 white potatoes)
• 2 1/2 - 3 cups cubed (leftover) cooked turkey (you can even add more if you like)
• 3 TB flour
• 1/2 c. milk

Preheat oven to 425. Spray 10" pie dish with non-stick spray. Roll out first pie crust in pan. Set aside.

Melt 2 TB butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onions, celery, mixed veggies, parsley, oregano and salt & pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables are soft. Dissolve the bouillon in the [hot] water and add to the vegetable mixture. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in the potatoes and cook until tender but still firm.

In a medium saucepan (or skillet), melt the remaining 2 TB butter. Stir in the turkey and flour. Add the milk and heat through. Stir the turkey mixture into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened (doesn't take long.) Cool slightly, then pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Roll out the top crust and place on top of filling. Flute the edges and make a few slits in the top crust to let out the steam.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 350 and continue baking for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

What a tasty dinner! Such a comfort to sit by the light of the Christmas tree, watching the cold snow blowing outside and filling our stomachs with such a warm, slice of home.


Be sure to visit more Tackle It Tuesday Ideas.

Tackle It Tuesday: Where's That Recipe?

Okay. So I'm an OVER organizer.

This has been driving me nuts for a LONG time (not the over organizing, but the project.)

For a few years now, I have developed this "pile/card box/mess" of recipes that people have given me or I've printed out. I kept telling myself that someday...just someday, I'll have them all nice and neat and organized so that I can find what I need, when I want it. In going through them, I have found that I have printed several of them MORE than once, because I thought they were "lost." Well...they were...sort of. Anyway, today is someday. I've decided to type in and print out all of these orphan recipes and put them in that nice little binder.

This is the pile before...

And here is after. It's still a work in progress, but it's really going faster than I had originally thought. It's nothing fancy like all of you scrapbookers might do - but it's organized and will look much nicer on the shelf than a pile of a zillion papers.

Sometimes I take pictures of the finished recipes, so I plan to put the photos in there as well. There's even a tab for my son and husband's recipes! You know, it looks real nice and neat and all - but it really has no character. In talking with my aunt today - we decided that it's nice to have some sort of central location for all of the recipes, but you just lose something in the whole process. You no longer have the recipe reference of "the one on the yellow paper" or "the recipe with cake batter on it." Some of these little cards I've had for a LONG time and have been well enjoyed many, many times.

I think I'm having card attachment issues.

So, in the end, I'll be pleased when this project is done...

but I think on the back of each page, I'll attach the original little handwritten cards...you know...the ones with the grease stains?

What else are people tackling today at 5 Minutes For Mom?

Tackle It Tuesday: Leftovers Anyone?

I love Tackle It Tuesdays...but I must say that I'm having a HECK of a time trying to find things to tackle...or should I say, find tackles that I have TIME to finish! First I thought, the basement? Nahhh. The windows? Nahhh. Hmm..what's for dinner? Low and behold, I opened the fridge and the tackle stood before me.

Before


After


And, if you are wondering what WAS for dinner - it was Cincinnati Chili over steamed spaghetti squash topped with cheese and a dollop of sour cream. Gosh, just typing that almost made me hungry again.

Do you have a tackle to share? Let it be known on 5 Minutes for Mom!

Nifty Thrifty: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Anyone that knows me, knows very well that I LOVE to save money or get a good deal. I'm the type of person that only buys items on sale or with a coupon. During these times, we overpay on so many everyday items. Therefore, we all deserve to save a little money, right?

Recently, my friend Michelle, has turned me on to making homemade laundry detergent. She bought a "kit", concocted the soap and gave me some to try. To my surprise, I LOVED it! For years now, I have been buying "Earth Friendly" cleaners and soaps in hopes of saving the world and avoiding as many chemicals as possible. Ah ha! This homemade goop is so much more economical, very fast to make along with much gratification.
If you think you can't make it, you are wrong. It was so simple and took no time at all. Here is the recipe I followed: Homemade Laundry Soap Add some water and a 2 gallon bucket to the items above, and voila, you have your very own detergent...smells nice too! I've also read on other sites that fabric softener is not needed when using this formula - another money saving, chemical free tip!

*Note: As the mixture cools, it does go from liquid to "Egg Drop Soup" - so don't be alarmed. You just use 1/2 c. per load of the slime.

How does this save money? The Simple Dollar has it all broken down for you. Take a look! Here in Northwest Indiana, I paid: $.99 for 1 bar of Fels Naptha soap, $3.79 for Borax, $2.29 for A&H Washing Powder, and $1.00 for a 2 gallon bucket. Not a bad savings!