Leftovers Soup

So. Christmas. It didn’t wind up being the healthiest holiday season. I thought I’d be back with too many photos to sort on Boxing Day – but as it turns out there hasn’t been much food to report. On Friday morning (our anniversary!) on which day we planned to head downtown and walk, do the last of our Christmas shopping, have a fancy coffee, then go for dinner and wrap presents, I walked in the door from my early morning BT spot feeling a little woozy. I spent the day in bed and the bathroom, and W joined in that evening – luckily I already had a barf bucket at the ready by the couch. We spent our anniversary evening mopping the floor, doing laundry, cuddling W and watching old episodes of Arrested Development. It wasn’t bad, actually, but no food to report.

Saturday we had Christmas at my parents’ house, and the big turkey dinner. It was beautiful – the setting and the meal, which featured a 20 lb organic free range heritage breed turkey from Winter’s that we went over to put in the oven that morning. The boys (five of them under 8 ) were over the top excited, building their Lego and popping crackers. Mike tracked Santa on his iPad. My sister made a killer chocolate cheesecake. I hadn’t at that point eaten since Thursday night, but as I was managing to keep sips of Coke down, I had high hopes. It didn’t go well.

On Christmas day I ate a cracker, and at dinner, with Mike’s mom and sister and half of my family over to our house this time for turkey part 2, I managed a Pillsbury crescent roll – perhaps the pouffiest, most refined food product available? And so on Boxing Day I thought I’d venture into real food territory. There were leftovers, of course, and so rather than take a stab at Turkey Dinner Part 3, or do something crazy like make turkey shepherd’s pie, I made soup.

There was mashed potatoes and peas, carrots and roasted sweet potatoes, so I made one pot of orange-red and another of green. (In keeping with the colours of the season, of course.)

You don’t need a formula to make soup. I’m not sure how many people realize this. I’m going to resist writing a recipe here, because that goes against the whole point of transforming whatever it is you have on hand into a pot soup.

So here’s what you do: put a pot on the stove, drizzle some oil in the bottom and add a dab of butter. Chop an onion and throw it in. A clove or three of garlic, too. I just slice mine, so that it doesn’t burn – we’re going to puree the lot, anyway.

Give them a few minutes to soften, then throw in your leftover veggies. In one pot I scraped in the last of the mashed potatoes – about a cup and a half? – and the peas – maybe 3/4 of a cup. Not that it matters. add however much you have. Broccoli would do well, or spinach, kale, asparagus, even roasted Brussels sprouts. In the other pot I put a spoonful of curry paste, the carrots and roasted sweet potatoes. Squash would have been perfect, too.

Add some stock to cover and bring to a simmer. (If you’re really on the ball, you may have some turkey stock already – I always keep those tetra packs of chicken stock in the pantry.) Cook for 10-20-30 minutes, or until everything is soft. Puree with a hand-held immersion blender. Add more stock or water if it’s too thick, or simmer a bit longer if it seems too brothy. You could add a splash of cream, but neither needed it. At its best, soup is simple. Any veggie dish – even just boiled or steamed veg – are delicious simmered with stock and pureed. And if you’re not in the mood for soup, it’s a great way to freeze leftovers – in soup form. Happy holidays, everyone!

Share

About Julie

You May Also Like

59 comments on “Leftovers Soup

  1. Melanie
    December 27, 2011 at 5:37 pm

    I never know whether it is a blessing or a curse to be sick over the holidays… But I send my sympathies as we had it at our house as well (but the week before Christmas instead). I hope you have a happier new year!!!

  2. Vincci
    December 27, 2011 at 5:43 pm

    Poor Julie – I hope you’ll be back on your feet soon! The Leftovers Soup is a great idea, especially since my siblings both love soup! I can’t try it though because I didn’t make Christmas dinner this year, but B.’s mom makes a mean Turkey Pie and Turkey Congee!

  3. Jennifer Jo
    December 27, 2011 at 6:03 pm

    I always kind of expect that someone will get sick over the holidays (it was almost a tradition, back when I was a kid), but no one did this time around—a pleasant surprise. May you get better soon!

  4. Natalie
    December 27, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Wow – you have had your share of illness/pains this winter! Hope you have a healthy start to the new year! Happy Holidays. I am also glad you decided to keep your blog up after the 365th day! It has been awhile! Look at all the recipes posted. Amazing ~ like you!

  5. Natalie
    December 27, 2011 at 6:25 pm

    Wow – you have had your share of illness/pains this winter! Hope you have a healthy start to the new year! Happy Holidays. I am also glad you decided to keep your blog up after the 365th day! It has been awhile! Look at all the recipes posted. Amazing ~

  6. Laurie from Burnaby
    December 27, 2011 at 7:41 pm

    So sorry to hear you were sick. Next year you’ll have a good one. Take care

  7. Bedardft
    December 28, 2011 at 4:08 am

    Thankfully, we were not sick over Christmas. However on Christmas eve around 5 pm, our water pump blew and we were sans eau from then until Tuesday. Very tough with 3 kiddies and major food to cook. I put the whole meat on pause and cooked a lovely bird late yesterday. The stock is simmering now and I can’t wait to make leftover soup!

  8. Evelyn
    December 28, 2011 at 10:57 am

    I’ve been there…
    My (now adult) children still remember the Christmas Day that I spent in bed. Hubby came into the bedroom around 5:00 and asked if I was going to try to cook dinner. I told him to find a can of tomato soup, and dig through the deep freezer for some hotdogs.
    Boxing Day, however, we ate like kings!

  9. Kitchen Ninja
    December 28, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Leftovers = soup? YOU ARE AWESOME!

  10. molly
    December 28, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    oh, you poor girl!

    here’s to soup, cure-all, balm, blanket 🙂

    a very merry new year to you, julie!

  11. rose
    December 29, 2011 at 12:21 am

    Oh! I feel quite pleased as this is exactly what I did with my leftovers today. Turned out very nicely.

    All the best to you and your family in 2012!

    Rose
    p.s. who won the beautiful blender?

  12. mamamia42
    December 29, 2011 at 9:30 am

    hi Julie,
    I’m sorry to hear about your illness over the holidays. I feel like everyone I know was sick or someone in their family was.
    I am a loyal fan who checks your blog daily and gets a little excited when I see a new posting.
    Keep up the good work and I wish you and your family a healthy new year.

  13. wendy
    January 1, 2012 at 8:33 am

    I forgot how much I love this blog. I crave soup… and stupidly threw out my leftovers this year. I’ll not make that mistake again. And I have reorganized my bookmarks with you ON TOP! (and put your book on hold at the library 🙂

  14. Ashley
    January 4, 2012 at 7:19 am

    A belated merry Christmas and happy new year! 🙂 I hope you weren’t sick for too long. Love the idea of this leftover soup without a recipe.

  15. Emily Arnold
    August 31, 2014 at 9:29 pm

    Hi! Love your lefover ideas. I’ve got one too: I had extensive dental work done, started about six months ago. This included oral surgery. Well, I was getting pretty hungry about then because I couldn’t eat most things, well, maybe you get the picture. So we went to a public indoor gathering at a Club. This was a memorial for a well-known individual. The Club provided lots of food that I couldn’t eat. I asked for and received a large styrofoam container. Into it at the food table I put potatoes and stew stuff, not much juice left, different veggies, even some of the delicious meat. There were a few other things that I dumped into my container. Well, I took it home and by that time I was really hungry having eaten next to nothing at the Club. I took some of this paste-type beef bouillon (delicious), some canned broth, and mixed it in with all the other stuff. Into the blender it went, and I’ve not had such good soup in a long time. So I did that on purpose since then, using leftovers. I told my daughters and they do it too. Yum!

    • Julie
      September 3, 2014 at 7:55 pm

      Wow, that’s a great story Emily! And great advice!

  16. cialis 5 mg
    June 8, 2025 at 9:45 pm

    Thanks on sharing. It’s acme quality.

  17. does flagyl treat yeast
    June 10, 2025 at 4:00 pm

    More posts like this would add up to the online play more useful.

  18. b0yrj
    June 12, 2025 at 1:54 pm

    zithromax generic – order flagyl without prescription buy flagyl generic

  19. e8lkg
    June 14, 2025 at 1:37 am

    semaglutide 14mg cost – periactin ca buy cyproheptadine 4 mg sale

  20. m1eaq
    June 16, 2025 at 1:08 am

    domperidone online buy – motilium price flexeril buy online

  21. wrc8h
    June 25, 2025 at 12:30 am

    cheap amoxiclav – https://atbioinfo.com/ ampicillin canada

  22. i9g48
    June 26, 2025 at 5:29 pm

    order nexium 40mg – https://anexamate.com/ nexium capsules

  23. 83dfh
    June 28, 2025 at 3:21 am

    oral medex – blood thinner cost losartan

  24. 7gtbd
    June 30, 2025 at 12:37 am

    order mobic 7.5mg for sale – moboxsin order mobic 7.5mg for sale

  25. lk0rz
    July 1, 2025 at 10:32 pm

    buy deltasone online cheap – apreplson.com order prednisone 5mg generic

  26. uhea0
    July 3, 2025 at 1:48 am

    ed pills that really work – how to buy ed pills cheapest ed pills

  27. re166
    July 4, 2025 at 1:13 pm

    amoxil online order – amoxil order amoxil for sale

  28. t53pe
    July 9, 2025 at 8:09 am

    diflucan 100mg ca – https://gpdifluca.com/ order diflucan 100mg pill

  29. fg1ve
    July 10, 2025 at 2:42 pm

    where to buy escitalopram without a prescription – lexapro 20mg ca cost escitalopram

  30. o5428
    July 10, 2025 at 9:37 pm

    cenforce cost – https://cenforcers.com/ cenforce price

  31. wg24t
    July 12, 2025 at 8:06 am

    cialis pills – ciltad generic cialis next day delivery

  32. 0ztw0
    July 13, 2025 at 5:32 pm

    cialis generic canada – https://strongtadafl.com/ comprar tadalafil 40 mg en walmart sin receta houston texas

  33. Connievem
    July 14, 2025 at 7:33 am

    buy ranitidine generic – order ranitidine 150mg online zantac 150mg ca

  34. ic712
    July 15, 2025 at 11:44 pm

    where to buy viagra online – order viagra no prescription cheap quality viagra

  35. Connievem
    July 16, 2025 at 2:18 pm

    This is the big-hearted of scribble literary works I rightly appreciate. comprar doxycycline

  36. 7eewz
    July 17, 2025 at 10:32 pm

    I’ll certainly bring to read more. https://buyfastonl.com/gabapentin.html

  37. Connievem
    July 19, 2025 at 10:36 am

    The thoroughness in this break down is noteworthy. https://ursxdol.com/get-cialis-professional/

  38. xwnbn
    July 21, 2025 at 1:25 am

    This website absolutely has all of the information and facts I needed adjacent to this subject and didn’t identify who to ask. diltiazem medication

  39. p5cin
    July 23, 2025 at 5:45 pm

    Thanks on putting this up. It’s well done. https://aranitidine.com/fr/acheter-propecia-en-ligne/

  40. Connievem
    August 4, 2025 at 8:04 pm

    This is the big-hearted of scribble literary works I positively appreciate. https://ondactone.com/simvastatin/

  41. Connievem
    August 7, 2025 at 5:12 pm

    Thanks recompense sharing. It’s outstrip quality.
    https://doxycyclinege.com/pro/losartan/

  42. Connievem
    August 15, 2025 at 5:31 am

    This is the gentle of scribble literary works I in fact appreciate. http://bbs.51pinzhi.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=7059413

  43. Connievem
    August 21, 2025 at 10:47 am

    forxiga where to buy – https://janozin.com/# forxiga 10mg us

  44. Connievem
    August 24, 2025 at 10:59 am

    how to get orlistat without a prescription – https://asacostat.com/ buy orlistat 120mg

  45. Connievem
    August 30, 2025 at 1:23 am

    Thanks for sharing. It’s outstrip quality. https://sportavesti.ru/forums/users/cfwuz-2/

  46. ErakHault
    October 8, 2025 at 12:45 am

    You can protect yourself and your ancestors by way of being wary when buying pharmaceutical online. Some pharmacopoeia websites control legally and offer convenience, privacy, rate savings and safeguards to purchasing medicines. buy in TerbinaPharmacy https://terbinafines.com/product/lopressor.html lopressor

  47. o0e1c
    October 9, 2025 at 5:00 pm

    Greetings! Jolly productive suggestion within this article! It’s the crumb changes which liking turn the largest changes. Thanks a quantity in the direction of sharing! TerbinaPharmacy

  48. legal online blackjack
    October 11, 2025 at 6:41 pm

    I am in fact enchant‚e ‘ to glitter at this blog posts which consists of tons of profitable facts, thanks representing providing such data.

  49. Wangak
    February 10, 2026 at 6:26 pm

    bet mgm $200 betmgm-play betmgm ????

  50. Wrlohk
    February 18, 2026 at 11:46 am

    Awaken to the possibilities of overnight riches and fun. In crowncoinscasino, scratch cards add instant gratification. Dive in and scratch your way to success!

  51. Xbtenl
    February 20, 2026 at 11:33 am

    Experience non-stop cascading action in Sweet Bonanza — the slot loved worldwide for its big-win potential. Trigger sweet bonanza tips free spins and watch prizes multiply like crazy. Your turn to win big!

  52. Mhflrk
    February 24, 2026 at 8:40 pm

    Embrace the herd’s power for slot domination. buffalo slot machine online brings sunset scatters, unlimited bonuses, and major wins that echo forever. Spin today!

  53. Sbnmjc
    February 27, 2026 at 12:39 am

    chumba online casino is America’s go-to social casino for real prizes. Claim your free Sweeps Coins welcome bonus and play premium slots today. Let’s win!

  54. Eeecdd
    March 5, 2026 at 7:41 pm

    Stejna latka, stejny ucinek, az o 80 % levnejsi
    levny Aldactone

  55. Houviz
    March 10, 2026 at 3:42 am

    Upon the millions delightful momentous on fanduel casino Hawaii – the #1 real pelf casino app in America.
    Get your $1000 TEASE IT AGAIN gratuity and refashion every spin, ???? and rolling into official readies rewards.
    Firm payouts, immense jackpots, and continuous effect – download FanDuel Casino any longer and start playing like a pro today!

  56. Jpoast
    March 16, 2026 at 1:18 pm

    Betano Casino trasforma i giocatori in campioni. Prendi oggi il tuo bonus di benvenuto https://betanogame.org/it/ da ?‚¬500 pi?? giri gratis. Sicuro, ottimizzato per mobile e pieno di promozioni ??“ questo ?? il tuo momento.

  57. Bndpzq
    March 21, 2026 at 5:45 am

    Mostbet ??“ onde seu primeiro dep??sito vira 200% a mais + 200 giros gr??tis – https://mostbetpt.pro/ , No Mostbet o seu jogo come?§a com um refor?§o especial e irresist?­vel .

  58. Czupaf
    March 24, 2026 at 1:06 pm

    Where small screens birth uncomfortably large egos – https://geminocycline.com , The moment is yours ??” violently, gloriously yours .

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.