Uses for Turkey Neck Bones ~

by SharonH

6.7K48

Intro: Uses for Turkey Neck Bones ~

How to take the turkey neck(s) you used to make your Thanksgiving dinner gravy and transform them into Christmas tree ornaments and/or a voodoo totem hanger-thingie ~

STEP 1: Have Necks -- Make Gravy ~

Take one turkey neck (inside your turkey) and/or buy a package of three necks and simmer for broth to make and enjoy a wonderful gravy for your Thanksgiving dinner.

STEP 2: Clean Neck Bones ~

Each turkey neck should yield five intricate vertibral bones. Boil them in water until all meat softens and falls off. Brush with dish detergent and use a skewer to remove any remaining tissue, such as spinal cord. Rinse well and let dry or dry in a slow oven. (Keep out of reach of pets).

STEP 3: Make Ornament ~

Use your imagination and all or some of the following items to decorate one or two vertibrae: satin cord, plastic beads, paint, colored markers, glitter, etc. Have your kids help.

STEP 4: Make a Voodo Totem Thingie ~

With any leftover bones, string through the spinal cord canal and hang or save for next Halloween. This is a multi-holiday project!

8 Comments

KiranP2 8 years ago

I like it! The first ornament looks like a teddy bear!

BLASTFEMI 12 years ago

I love this! I think a wreath might be super cool too! Thanks for putting this together!

canida 15 years ago

Whoa, how did I miss this last year? Neat stuff! I'll give it a try after I boil the bones for stock. The camera's focus on the surrounding trees leaves the bones looking a bit like popcorn, though - using the macro mode would make them pop out and look more impressive.

zjharva 16 years ago

no offense but who would hang turkey vertabrae from a christmas tree

princessbunnyrooroo 16 years ago

No offense, but this site IS ALL ABOUT clever uses for what some people view as "garbage" . Native Americans are rumored to have used neck bones as children's toys. I use them for Halloween costumes when I do "Cave People" outfits. Mother Nature, and contributors to this site both make beautiful things.

SharonH 16 years ago

I did and I also have ornaments made with various bird wishbones -- a bird hunter friend donates parts :-). Mother nature makes beautiful things!

SharonH 16 years ago

A cool yule to you ~