Southwestern Turkey Soup

What to do with the leftover turkey carcass. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we get a LOT of leftover turkey. This recipe solves the problem for us! Plus, if there happen to be any leftovers (has happened only once in the 3+ years I've been making it) this soup freezes up beautifully.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked turkey ***
• 8 cups vegetable broth
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
• 2 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
• fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:

1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine turkey, broth, canned tomatoes, green chilies, fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, and lime juice. Season with cayenne, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Stir in avocado and cilantro, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until slightly thickened. Spoon into serving bowls, and top with shredded cheese.
3. ***I usually cook the turkey carcass down to nothing to use for this recipe. I have a bad habit of not watching soups closely enough, and then I run out of broth. Using the broth from the turkey carcass really adds great flavor. It's also good if you just want more broth!