Gobble Gobble
Several months ago, our local Kroger had turkeys on sale for 59¢ a pound. I checked with Heather at Couponning 101 if that was a good deal, because I typically just shop for meat and staples at the commissary. She told me it was, so I bought two of them.
I put them in the freezer intending to get to them, then forgot I had them until I was menu planning for Gregg to come home. My parents were coming in town to visit him, so I pulled both turkeys out of the freezer and defrosted them.
Each turkey was about 12 pounds, and cost about $7. Out of the $14 I spent, I was able to do the following:
- Serve a roast turkey dinner, with all of the trimmings, for my family and my visiting parents.
- I removed the leftover breasts and thighs from that turkey and we served it for dinner the next night.
- Using the remaining carcass, including the legs and internal organs, I added water, carrots, onion, celery, salt, pepper, sage, and parsley to the roasting pan and let it cook on low over night. I strained that and got 2 gallons of rich and hearty tasty turkey broth that I saved in 1 cup increments in breastmilk bags.
- I bagged the strained meat and saved it for treats for my dogs. (Although, in hindsight, I probably should have labeled it clearer. Hopefully, no one will see this in my fridge and get the wrong idea – heh.)
- I roasted the second turkey and removed one breast. With some broth from the roasting pan and that breast, I made Hallee’s White Chili for dinner guests, feeding 6 adults and 4 kids. Out of that batch of chili, I was able to freeze 2 more 2-quart bags.
- I removed the other breast and made sandwiches for Kaylee’s lunch for the week.
- With the remaining carcass, including the legs and thighs, I covered them with water, added salt, pepper, sage, marjoram, onion, celery, and carrots and made 4 gallons of base for turkey soup. To this base, I can add noodles, rice, a cream base, or beans to make any number of soups in the coming fall and winter months.
For $14, I was able to come up with 10 dinners, 5 lunches, and 32 cups of broth.
I guess Heather was right – they were a great deal!
Hallee
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I adore turkey and love finding new ways to use all the good meat and bones! I dont have a freezer (yet) to stock up like that, but I so want to. When they go on sale though I do grab one and make sure i can get broth out of it. Wonderful stuff!
that was an awesome deal! i remember you asking about it! the lowest ive seen here is 89 cents/lb. so you did awesome!
yum! I too have a turkey in the freezer I got on sale but with no ideas on what to do with it.
Anything below .99/lb is good for whole turkeys – in the US, the best deals seem to be around Thanksgiving (go figure) and Christmas to stock up if you have freezer space.. here in Charleston the best deal was .69/lb frozen, but Hallee’s .59/lb was great!
That is awesome Hallee!! I am going to be laughing for awhile about your “dog” in the freezer!
Cracking up at the dog bag. I saw the picture before I read the description, and I have to admit I was worried.
Wow! What a great deal!
That is some serious ninja frugal cooking! Way to go! And in your final list you don’t even have “dog” added!
The bag labeled “dog” is hysterical! I was cracking up.
The lowest I’ve seen turkey here was for .49/lb and I had a coupon for 1.00 off on that particular brand. Believe me, I stocked up. .59/lb is a good price considering it’s not the holiday season.
My family thought I lost my mind when I spontaneously broke out into laughter. You can imagine @ what point in the post. I see your point about labeling the bags better!! Heehee :D