My life is a bit topsy-turvy these days, as I’ve taken on a seasonal job with the U.S. Postal Service as a Santa’s Elf to tide us over while my food cart is closed for the season. The problem is, these elves have to work the night shift in order to get Santa’s packages out and delivered during the day. So now I’m making dinner at 10 am or so in the morning, and doing odd things like decorating the Christmas tree at 3 in the morning on my nights off. (OK I’m kidding about the Santa’s Elf thing, but it sounds much more glamorous than Holiday Clerk Assistant, which is really no more than a mail sorter and package thrower…)
Most days my husband and I are like two ships passing in the night, but on one of our rare encounters recently we had a short discussion about fennel. He couldn’t find any when he needed some for a lasagna he made me for my birthday recently. Long story short, he bought some dried fennel, which made me think of a fresh fennel bulb, which I haven’t cooked with in ages. AND SO, I bought a fresh fennel bulb and decided to make this soup with some of our leftover Thanksgiving turkey. And my husband just LOVED this soup! (He had to reheat it since I made it so early in the day.) It has a very guest-worthy flavor with the addition of the fennel and sherry. I hope you enjoy it too!
Turkey, Mushroom and Wild Rice Creamy Soup
Adapted from SarasotaCook at Food.com
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups sliced and rough-chopped mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
3/4 cup diced onion
3/4 cup thin-sliced baby carrots
3/4 cup thin-sliced rough-chopped fennel bulb
3/4 cup think sliced celery
2 cloves minced garlic
A few sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried chopped rosemary
1 bay leaf
5 cups turkey or chicken stock, homemade or good-quality
1 cup chopped turkey (can use more if you want)
3/4 cup wild rice mix, uncooked
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
Salt and pepper, to taste
In a Dutch oven or soup pot, melt the butter and oil over medium and add the mushrooms, onion, carrots, fennel, and celery. Cook until the onions and celery are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf in the last minute or so.
Stir the rice into the vegetable mixture, then add the broth and Worcestershire. Bring to a low boil, then cover and lower the heat and simmer for about 45 minutes until the rice is somewhat tender. Uncover, then add the turkey, sherry and cream or half and half, bring to a low boil again, reduce heat and simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes until the rice is cooked through. Taste for seasoning, and add salt and pepper to taste. I meant to add some fresh parsley at the end, but totally forgot. Feel free to throw that in if you have it! Remove the thyme sprigs and bay leaf, and serve with hot crusty bread.
There’s nothing wrong with being one of Santa’s Elves – there are loads of little children counting on you 😉
Great soup – I’ll have to try that with pheasant.
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Thanks Mad Dog! I bet pheasant would be lovely!
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Good to get a seasonal job. Your job is important to those getting the gifts 😉 Stay warm.
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Thanks Garfield! xo
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You elevated leftovers to first course or main course status.
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Thank you so much Bernadette!
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Oh! It’s soup weather, and this sounds delicious, Kathryn. With my egg allergy it’s hard to find pasta with a good flavor and texture, so I like chicken (or turkey) and rice better than noodle soups. This really does look wonderful.
As for the temp job, I’m all for the “elf” title. 😀 Elf, faery — go on being you!
By the way, the fabulous faery, Pepper Stargazer flies back to Thistledown soon. Hugs on the wing!
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Thanks Teagan! But you go ahead and enjoy your goulash for today. 🙂 I can’t wait to see Pepper’s reappearance, yay!! XOXO
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Wow, this soup sounds wonderful! I have some turkey stock I could use and happen to have some wild rice!! Can’t wait to make it. My Dad used to take a seasonal job with the post office when I was young. I remember he would work all night. Bet you can’t wait to get that food cart out again. Happy holidays!!
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Thanks Suzanne, I hope you get a chance to make it! USPS pays pretty darn good for the job, which is nice. Happy Holidays to you too!
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What a great idea for soup and kinda fun being an elf! 👍😉❤️
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🙂
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Delicious looking soup. Enjoy your job in the post office. Hopefully that means there are a LOT of seasonal packages of gifts going out all over the world.
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Thank you so much, there certainly are from what I can see!
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For a second I believed the Elf story… 🙂
LOVE fennel in any form, so this is definitely up my alley. Looks so hearty and good. 🙂
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Thank you so much Ronit! Well I guess it’s kinda true for the kids getting all the packages! 🙂
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I’m about turkey-souped out, Kathryn, but this sounds so good. Fennel? I would never have thought to add that. I’ll have to give it a try with the New Year’s goose. 🙂 And “elf” sounds much more fun than “clerk.” Keep up with your sleep and enjoy the season!
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Yes, both the fennel and sherry give it a really nice refined taste. Goose would be lovely with it too! XO
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I thought so. Can’t wait to try it! Fennel is on the shopping list. 🙂
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One of my favorite soups. I can almost taste it just looking at your pictures! Looks delicious.
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What a nice comment, thank you so much Colleen!
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Perfect for leftovers. Looks delicious!
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Thank you Michelle!
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Yum! Sounds delicious. Love the idea of adding rice. Enjoy the winter season!
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Thanks so much, hopefully not too much snow this year. 🙂
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Oh that looks so good for a chilly December evening.
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Thank you Darryl, it certainly hit the spot for a cold evening. 🙂
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I will never tire of soups even if it is turkey! Great recipe with lots of flavor, veggies and those wonderful herbs. You even have wild rice. Perfect for a winter meal “Santa’s Elf” 🙂
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Ha ha, thanks so much Judi! It’s a lovely soup!
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Sounds like a delicious way to use up Thanksgiving leftovers. 🙂 Good luck to you with your night shift- I’d fall asleep on the job! 😉
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Ha ha, thanks so much Josette! I get plenty of sleep before my shift. Thank goodness it gets dark around 4:30 pm this time of year where I live!
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I’d say stick with Santa’s Elf, it is an accurate description of what you’re doing (distributing presents) and a great story to tell your grand kids 🙂
What do you mean with dried fennel? Ground fennel seed?
Nice soup! Think I’d add the turkey meat later – unless it was already dry anyway.
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Yes, I meant ground fennel seed. And I did add the turkey meat in the last 20 minutes or so. Thanks Stefan!
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This soup might be one of the best of this Christmas season!
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Wow, what an awesome comment Chef! Thank you so much! 🙂
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This sounds so good, Kathryn! 🙂
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Thank you so much Tonya! I’ll be making it again soon. I still have turkey in the freezer! 😀
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I’m sure everyone in your home will be happy about that! It looks yummy!
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Exciting and important job KR! Tell santa hi please
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Ha, I sure will Lynn! 😀 xoxo
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xoxoxo
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Looks and sounds amazing!
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Thanks Debbie, we sure enjoyed it!
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Yikes. I hear you. Me and my fiance rarely see each other because of our busy schedules. But as a teacher, at least I get a lot of vacation time 😉
This soup looks amazing! I am sick right now, and I think this would make me feel so much better!
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Ohhh, I am sorry you are sick! I wish I could magically transport some soup for you. Get well soon!
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It does look company ready and I wouldn’t have thought of fennel in soup! Genius!! Elf does sound much more fun! But in reality it sounds like hard hard work! It will all be over soon, though..
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Yes, I figured I could handle the hard work for just over a month. So far so good! And thank you! 🙂
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I’m a little worried about you! Sorry to “Mom” you (you probably heard it from your OWN Mom, lol!) Lift carefully and watch that hand!! 🙂 And get hubby to give you some backrubs and don’t forget about soaking in Epson salts! We’re not getting any younger,
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No we aren’t, lol! Thanks dear! xo
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Anything with mushrooms is delish. This looks like another one of your winning dishes too!
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Thank you Karina, we do love our mushrooms!
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Heavenly soup! 🙂
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Thank you my dear! xo
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Your recipe looks delicious, looove the mushrooms!Please tell Santa that I am waiting for him! 🙂
Happy holidays!
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Thanks so much for stopping by Teti! I sure will! 😀
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