Black Friday leftover "stoup"

Whether you brine it, bag it, baste it or use the kind with the pop-up timer, there's one fairly universal constant about Thanksgiving turkey —there's almost always leftovers.  Ditto for the sweet potatoes, the creamed onions and the green bean casserole... nearly all the side dishes you can imagine.  The age old question always seems to come down to this: to sandwich or not to sandwich and what to do with the leftovers?

Now, I love a good turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce sandwich as much as anyone— mmm, open faced on some thick, hearty rolls or biscuits and covered in gravy? Delicious, but not always practical.  Especially when you're in a hurry or you've been out shopping all day at the Black Friday sales.  The last thing you want to think about after fighting the crowds all day is having to prepare a hot meal, right?  And, somehow, making up a plate of leftovers and warming it in the microwave just isn't very appealing.  Well, okay, sometimes it is; but not this time!

With just a few minutes of effort, and a lot of holiday leftovers, you can make a meal that's hearty and filling.  Best of all, it's simple to make and simple to clean up.

Ingredients:
Leftovers —whatever you want to toss in the pot (or slow cooker; this makes an awesome slow cooker meal).  Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes, corn, green beans...whatever makes you happy.  Do not add cranberry yet.

Gravy.  If you don't have any gravy leftover, don't worry, you can always make some right in the pot.  Just whisk together cold water and the flour or thickener of your choice (GF, whole wheat, cornstarch, etc.), pour it into the pot with all the leftovers.

Add water, gravy and/or chicken broth to make a nice soup base.  Make it as thick or as soupy as you like.  Just remember, the liquid will cook down in a pot on the stove while it will not in a crock pot.

Simmer until the flavors are nicely blended —or until you've finished your shopping (or football watching).  If you're using a crock pot, you could set it going for two hours on high or three to four hours on low and have a nice hot "stoup."

Stir in cranberry and serve with fresh hot biscuits.

Easy peasy.  And so good!

What creative things have you done with your Thanksgiving leftovers?

(Ed. note: Sadly, I did not cook the meal this year so I have no leftovers to make yummy stoup.  Nor do I have any photographs to share.  Use your very vivid imagination to picture a smörgåsbord of leftovers simmering joyfully in your pot.)