I had 4 small, grumpy looking turnips in the refrigerator and thought it would be best to do something with them today. How right I was because when I peeled and diced them, they had a sort of woody texture that was not attractive but okay for refrigerator soup.
You can make soup with just about any left over meats by boiling to tenderize and extract the meaty juices, then adding vegetables. I had some leftover chicken with a little sauce from the cassoulet I made the other day. This is the kind of recycling I’d like to see my children employ because it makes good economic sense, especially when you are just starting out in life. But oh no, not them because while they would eat this, it just wouldn’t occur to them that they could make a satisfying 2nd meal from the first. Blameless, I blame it on their father 😀
I also had about 4 tablespoons of leftover peas and carrots that I added to the soup at the end.
Potage Frigidaire
Knob of butter
2 leeks, halved vertically and sliced
3-4 cooked, meaty chicken pieces
2 fresh bay leaves
1 sprig thyme
Water
4 small turnips, diced
4 small carrots, diced
Any likely looking leftover cooked vegetables
Salt and pepper
Sweat the leeks in the butter until they are soft, add the chicken pieces, bay leaves, thyme and cover with water, about 2 inches above the ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer until the meat begins to separate from the bone. Remove the chicken pieces, bone and set the meat aside.
Add the turnips and carrots, bring to a boil and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add the reserved chicken, any leftover vegetables, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cooking in Sens 
I hope you gave those grumpy turnips a good telling off before you introduced them to the nice chicken 😉
The chicken was so charming that the turnips couldn’t help trying to get along 🙂
Phew! 🙂
🙂
it still looks great! 😉
Of course it does 😀
comme toujours 😉
Merci. Tres gentille.
pas de quoi, bonne journée
Grumpy turnips! I love it. I kinda feel like a grumpy turnip today.
Although turnips are not the most sociable vegetable, they can be down right convivial in the right setting 😉
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Beautiful, and very frugal to use ingredients up!
I knew you would like that 🙂
Well done for using up the leftovers!! Waste not, want not – I just wish more people would think like that.
I was talking to a neighbor a few days ago who said that they didn’t eat leftovers! So un-French I thought.
I know people like that too – they literally tip everything that is left at the end of the meal into the bin – criminal!
They should at least get a dog! I can’t believe that’s true! I’m a bit of a spendthrift but I don’t throw food away. It is criminal!
I think there are a lot of people out there who have been scared out of their wits by the food hygiene police. They might not want to be wasteful, but are too afraid to eat the leftovers, in case they get food poisoning. And then it’s also an economical thing, a lot of food is too cheap!
Whatever happened to “home economics” classes? One can also check the internet for food handling guide lines. A lot of bad food is too cheap and you can get food poisoning the very first time you eat it, not to speak of leftovers!
I totally agree – people could live a lot better if they were able to make the most of the food available in season: cheaper, healthier and better for our world. We should get this sorted, Rosemary!! 🙂
🙂
I think turnips are just shy as they don’t get introduced much to the other food in the fridge 😉
You’re right 🙂
I’m not a huge fan of leftovers. Don’t know why but I think this is a great soup!
I’m surprised Virginia.
Yeah it’s strange. I’ve gotten better over the years though with it.
Rosemary I love this! I do the same only I call it leftover soup. I like your title much better 🙂
Thank you Karista.
Very nice soup my friend. Gotta use those leftovers 👌
Thank you. That was a good batch.
As you already know, many of today’s favorite dishes were prepared, originally, from leftovers – such a Italian Bread Salad and Chinese Fried Rice! One of my sister-in-laws once told me I could make a good meal ‘out of mud’ because I’m ‘pretty darn good’ at combining leftovers and making a whole other meal. Just as you did with this ‘pottage’. And doesn’t ‘Pottage Frigidaire’ sound so much nicer than ‘A Soup I Made with Leftovers’??!! ; o )
Yes, it does Cecile 🙂
Getting simmered in a saucepan is a good recipe for improving the mood of any vegetable. Lovely title and lovely soup.
Thank you Conor.
Perfect I have some chicken in the fridge waiting just for this.. no grumpy turnips though.. c
It will probably be even better we normal turnips 🙂
Loved the recipe. So delicious and fabulous.
Thank you neela.
This is totally my kind of food, I need to try it! 🙂
Thank you Lily.
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