Thanksgiving in July

That's right folks!  It's Thanksgiving in July!  Time to break out those Turkey Carcasses to make your own stock. 

While everyone else is getting in line to wait for Best Buy to open, stay home!  Making your own Turkey Stock is alot less stressful and it smells a lot better too.  I have some friends who get in line at Best Buy at 5:00pm the night before....yes that is correct, on Thanksgiving Day!  During that time I am usually laying on the coach giving myself a high five for remembering to wear my elastic-waist stretch pants. 

The great thing about making stock out of leftover is what you need.....leftovers.  Thanksgiving can get expensive...all that stuffing!  Nobody wants to go out and buy more food when you've blown entire month's budget on one meal. 

What you'll need:
An large stock pot
Turkey Carcass, picked clean.
An Onion, sliced in half (leave the peel on)
A Carrott or Two (leave the peel on)
A Celery Stalk (leave the leaves)
A Few Fresh Parsley Sprigs
A Bay Leaf
A Few Whole Peppercorns

This is where it gets difficult, so I apologize.
Put everything in the stock pot.
Fill the stock pot with water.
Bring to a boil and then reduce to a slight simmer for several hours.  Add water as necessary.
Strain

The longer it cooks the richer it gets. So by the time your avid/crazy shoppers get back your house will smell like Thanksgiving all over again.  They will be so impressed that they will give you whatever they just waited in line all night for in exchange for a bowl of leftover turkey and vegetable soup made with homemade broth.

Let's add bacon to the list!

There are a few things in life that no matter what is happening around you will stop and make you smile or at least be thankful.

1.  Democracy
2.  Melted Butter
3.  Puppies wearing glasses
4.  Sunsets (or double rainbows)

And Bacon!

This is a quick recipe for bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp.  Or as Ron Swanson puts it "It's my favorite food wrapped around my fourth favorite food."

My wife suggested this for a party we were having and I was a bit skeptical, mostly because we already had plenty of food.  She assured me it was quick and easy.  Easy, yes.  Quick, NO!

What you'll need:
Shrimp
Feta Cheese
Bacon!!!!
Jalapeno
Toothpicks
A can do attitude.

What you do:
Preheat a grill to low-med.
While the grill is preheating...
*Have ready 20 large shrimp........no, its not an oxymoron.
*Slice the shrimp down the back
*Diced a Jalapeno
*Cut in half about ten or so strips of bacon lengthwise
*Soak toothpicks in water.  This will make sense later.
*Stuff the shrimp with a little jalapeno and feta cheese.
*Wrap the shrimp in the bacon and stick a toothpick in to keep all in place.
*Grill the shrimp, make sure that the bacon fat doesn't start any flare ups. 

This a great party treat, the sweetness of the shrimp, the saltiness of bacon and the heat of the jalapeno will keep the dinner party conversation going.......especially if you have nothing else to talk about. 
**Also, if your guests are not particularly intelligent remind them to remove the toothpicks BEFORE they eat it!

Hope you like it!!!