Thanksgiving Left Overs...Grab The Pressure Canner

Boy, the last 48 hours, here on the homestead, have been super busy. Busy to the point where you get overtired and then can't sleep. I am sure you all know what I am talking about. 

I bought a 24 pound turkey, just before Thanksgiving, for .59 cents a pound at Tom Thumb. Due to family health problems we weren't anticipating having more than few people for Thanksgiving. That turkey managed to feed 5 of us for Thanksgiving, 2 sandwiches on Friday, A turkey pot pie last night, my husbands Turkey salad for lunch today at work, and gave me 6 quarts of turkey stock and 11 pint jars of canned turkey (I had 12 but one didn't seal so I went ahead and gave it to the doggie rather than try to reseal it or put it in the fridge). This was my first time canning any meat but I found the process to be pretty easy.

The turkey stock getting started on the stove. The only thing that needs to be added at this point is the carrot ends and peels which will be cut up next. 

ALDI's had potatoes, onions, and carrots on sale Friday. I bought 50 pounds of potatoes for $6.70. 6 pounds of onions for $1.38, and 6 pounds of carrots for about the same price. Produce, especially potatoes, can be pricey so I wanted to stock up. 

6 pounds of onions finally cut!

First of 6 trays of onions that will be in the dehydrator.

I have the onions in the food dehydrator right now, I am dehydrating half the carrots and canned 6 half-pint jars of carrots. I will be canning pints of russet potatoes tonight. I also got a good size bag of garlic that I plan on dehydrating as well. I am going to make onion powder and garlic powder, as well as some minced garlic for the fridge. 

I enjoy having large Thanksgiving and Christmas's at our house. Not so much presents but a large dinner where we can eat and just get together. That wasn't possible this Thanksgiving so I was a little depressed, however, knowing I am able to feed my family with the turkey for several of the coming months that makes me really happy...so it is a plus. 

This Christmas won't be a large one, either, but I am trying to keep my spirit's up and realize that sometimes things just don't turn out like we plan. 

This year has been hard for me and I have struggled to keep depression at bay. I believe that makes it worse that the Holiday's aren't what they normally are this year. 

When things don't really go as we would like we just need to regroup and try again. With that said, I am eagerly awaiting getting started hand making some of next years gifts. That should keep my mind busy and some of my emotions in check (hopefully).

Have An Amazing Monday!