[Julie]

I’m always the lucky recipient of the Thanksgiving turkey carcass. This year one was a 20# turkey & mine was 13#. In preparation for shoulder surgery I’m making lemon turkey soup-I make it every winter from the left overs.

Currently, my broth is chilling so I can scoop the fat off. Can’t stand fatty soups.

The tiny pieces of turkey I’ve sifted through & those I will purée in my ninja & freeze in cubes as dog treats. The bones were boiled with the carcass & now I’m roasting them to boil again to get the rest of the good stuff.

That will leave me with an 18 qt pan full of delicious soup to share with our adult kids when they are sick & to my BIL who gave me the big carcass.

Some I’ll send to my MIL as she is nearly 95 & can’t swallow regular food well at all. She loves a good hearty soup.

The balance will be frozen in meal size portions for my husband & I.

He will be away for 2 weeks right after my surgery & all the soups & chili I’ve frozen so far will supplement my meals since my dominant arm is going to be in a sling for 6 weeks.

I’ve never used any of the food delivery apps because I can’t stand the thought of paying someone more that the gas it would cost for me to pick food up or make it.

This is taking an entire day since my left hand has bone on bone arthritis in it & needs surgery. I don’t mind.

I’ll also chop, dice, & slice a bag of really nice sweet onions & freeze them so when I can try to start cooking again this will save me time & pain.

It’s very cold again in Erie today so I figure this is a great way to use my time.

learned even more ways to be frugal. Some things I can’t manage as I’ve got chronic medical issues but when I’m on I’m on.

Thank you to all you masters of frugality.

[Sandy]

What great ideas! I had a shoulder implant in my dominant arm. And as much as you can do to get ready ahead of time is helpful.

Mine did not heal well and I found that buying pre-chopped vegetables was necessary for a while.. And smoothies are great.

I have a mini food processor that I use regularly. I can’t grate carrots or cabbage so I put things in there.

If you aren’t going to have someone there with you at the beginning, you should probably get some home health care coming in.

At least to help you bathe. And do dishes. You can’t roll over so my big biggest tip is put pillows on both sides of you so that you can’t… Lol.

I hope it goes perfectly and you recover easily And completely. Make sure you get a good physical therapist too.

Some of them really don’t seem to know what they’re doing. That’s not very nice but that was my experience.

I eventually got someone who does 90% shoulders and she was fabulous.

[Patricia]

Great job getting prepared and I hope the surgery goes well. 2 weeks is a long time to be on your own after surgery. Mentally 1 or 2 of those days it might be worth the splurge to have something delivered.

Most of the apps have really good deals for new users – that’s how they reel people in.

My guess is you won’t make a habit out of using them so if the thought of another bowl of soup fills you with dread treat yourself

[Beckie]

I do the same thing. Right now I have chicken bones in my IP making bone broth.

Good luck with the shoulder surgery.

[Margie]

You are amazing. Wishing you well for the surgery and recovery.

[Karen]

Hopefully your “adult kids” will be able to help you for the 2 weeks that your husband is gone. Shoulder surgery is difficult.

Godspeed healing

[Elisabeth]

How do you preserve the carcasses since Christmas was over a month ago? Freezer?

[Author]

Posts