Cinnamon, Ducks, and Soup

I know, a weird way to start the day. Since the husband left for the morning for a little duck hunting, I made myself busy with a couple of "chores" for the day - check on the orange slices in the dehydrator (done! check!), use Thanksgiving leftovers to make soup, and use Erin's recipe for cinnamon applesauce ornaments over at Apples for Poppy Anne to prepare for the Christmas tree. 

Since it is Wyoming and all, we can pick up Christmas tree permits from the Forest Service for a measly $5 and head out into the foothills of the Wind River Range to pick out our little pine wonder. Or fir. You know, whatever strikes us at the time. And I say little because I mean it.... in a 700 square foot dwelling you can't get too crazy! We will pick one up sometime over the weekend and I am so excited to decorate it with my cinnamon and dried orange slice & clove ornaments. The trick will be to convince our dog that they are NOT treats :) 


Now on to the soup -- using the After-Thanksgiving Turkey Soup recipe found here, I jazzed it up a little bit with corn, garlic, green beans, some mashed potatoes, and brown rice and am looking forward to topping it off with some of the cornbread/sausage/apple stuffing from yesterday. If I only could find a good use for all that leftover pumpkin pie...


It's simmering now while the cinnamon ornaments are in the oven... and since the husband just walked in with his first mallard you can imagine that we have a smorgasbord of smells going on at the moment -- I guess it just wouldn't be the holidays without cinnamon, ducks, and soup. 


Photos soon!