Smoked Turkey, Lentil and Kale Soup

My sweetheart of a Mom brought me a smoked turkey leg the other day and I knew right away that I wanted to make split pea soup with it.  Only I didn’t have split peas, just loads of green lentils.  Never to let something so minor stop me, I forged ahead and was rewarded with a terrific pot of flavourful, thick, hearty soup!  Check it out!
Smoked Turkey, Lentil and Kale Soup

• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 ribs of celery, chopped
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 4 cup stock
• 2 cups water
• 2 cup green lentils
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 smoked turkey leg
• 1 packed cup of chopped kale
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Heat oil in a large pot and add all chopped veggies.  Cook until soft 5-8 minutes
2. Add garlic, bay leaves, salt & pepper.  Cook 1 minute more
3. Add smoked turkey leg, stock and water.  Bring to a boil
4. Add lentils, bring back to boil then turn temp down to a simmer
5. Partially cover and let simmer for 1.5 – 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
6. With approx 45 minutes of cooking time left add chopped kale
7. Remove turkey leg and set aside too cool slightly.  Puree soup with an immersion blender.  **If you  like your soup a bit thinner, add water accordingly.  I added an extra 2 cups**
8. Keep soup on low heat while you remove and chopped all the meat from the bone.  Add turkey back to the pot and cook just a few more minutes to heat
9. Serve and enjoy! I’ve been eating this all week like it’s my job.  And boy have I ever been loving this job!  Haha!  Surprisingly, DS also loved this soup.  I think it was the smoked turkey that really reigned in his taste buds. I went home for lunch on Tuesday and while there decided to throw some wild rice in the crock pot to see how it would cook versus the stove top.   I had approx 1.5 cups of rice to which I added 5 cups of water.  It cooked on low for 3.5-ish hours.  Here are the results: It turned out fabulous!  There was some water still at the bottom so I had to strain it, but the rice itself didn’t get mushy at all.  I now have four 1 cup servings hanging out in the freezer and have been eating the rest over the course of a few days.  YUM!  Do you like wild rice??
   So we’re a little more than halfway through November and I think it’s about high time I showed you what my hubby’s Movember stash is looking like! I think it’s coming along awesome!  DD absolutely HATES it.  She can’t wait until he shaves it off.  LOL  This is what he looked like on November 1:
   If you’ve been following along you’ll remember that he’s growing said stash to help raise money to fight prostate cancer.  You can click on the link ^above^ if you’d like to donate!
   FOOD! The above is wild rice, kale and dried cranberries.
   This was a great meal!  Buffalo chicken shake & bake, sautéed kale and wild rice.  
   Would it surprise you that I ate this bag in 5 days?  Probably not!  Hehe!
   Wanna see something cute?  Here are my niblets in their school photos from last year: And here they are in their photos from this year! Isn’t it amazing how much change can happen in a year?  I see it loud and clear in my daughter.  And yes, she is only 11.  DS is 8.  YIKES!
   Bye for now!!