I’ve never been one to only bake a turkey on Thanksgiving. In my opinion, turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving anymore!  Anytime is a good time for my kitchen to be filled with the aroma of a baking turkey, sweet potatoes, and a green bean casserole! And the great thing about baking a turkey is the leftover turkey I can use in another one of my favorite dishes!

Turkey Corn Chowder
Serves 10

Ingredients:
4 slices bacon
1 cup chopped onion
4 cups cubed pared potato
¼ cup margarine
2-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup Half & Half
2 (10 oz) packages of frozen whole kernel corn – thawed
2-1/2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 cups of milk
2 cups of cooked turkey in large chunks (if you don’t have the time to bake a turkey, you can use pre-cooked packages of diced chicken instead and the chowder will be just as delicious!)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

In a 5-quart dutch oven, sauté bacon until crispy; remove and reserve. Sauté onions in bacon fat. Add the potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Simmer, covered for 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, but not mushy. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, combine the corn, margarine, salt, pepper, turkey and milk. Simmer covered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the corn mixture to the potato mixture, along with the Half & Half. Cook, stirring occasionally until hot. Do not boil. Sprinkle in crumbled bacon and parsley and serve!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
In the same way that turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving anymore, thanksgiving is never just for Thanksgiving in the life of a believer!  The apostle Paul, a man who learned the meaning of true thanksgiving even in the midst of great adversity, said “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  Here was a man, unjustly accused, imprisoned in chains, separated from his friends, and brutally treated. If ever a person had a right to complain, it was Paul. But instead of complaints, his lips sang words of praise and thanksgiving.

In spite of whatever circumstances we’re enduring, we still have much to be grateful for.  Our sins have been forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross, we’ve been adopted as children of God, and we are unconditionally loved by the Father, the Maker of heaven and earth!

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” (Psalm 107:8-9)

O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever! (Psalm 107:1)

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

A spirit of thankfulness is an attitude that is independent of circumstances. We are called to give thanks to God even if our situation is bleak. Storms may rage in our lives, but God is good all the time, turning even the worst circumstances into blessings. In fact, some incredible things can happen in the midst of thankfulness!

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. (Acts 16:25-32)

So if you’re having a “fowl” day, count it all joy . . . and give thanks!

– Cheri Henderson