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When you've finished carving your Thanksgiving turkey, whatever you do, don't toss out the bones! Instead, use that concentrated flavor to make a quick stock: As soon as you've carved the turkey, place the bones in the largest stock pot you own (seven to 10 quarts), and fill it with filtered water. Add any skin pieces, too; the fat will help give the stock more body and richness. Feel free to toss in a few teaspoons of dried herbs or parsley stalks, as well.

Otherwise, keep it simple. The turkey bones have enough flavor and seasoning as is. Allow the stock to simmer for three hours (roughly how long you'll be at the table anyway). Then remove the large bones, and strain the liquid through a mesh sieve or chinois. Allow the soup to come to room temperature before storing it in the fridge or freezing it for a later date. You'll be glad to have the stock around for a quick leftover turkey soup!

While I make a number of things from scratch, I'm not above taking an occasional shortcut or two in the kitchen. My pantry is nearly always stocked with tetra packs of chicken stock, cans of beans, and boxes of gnocchi. I draw the line, however, when it comes to vegetable stock. Despite tasting a variety of brands, I've never found a can, box, or tub that tastes much better than insipid dirty dishwater.

Keep reading for the quick and easy recipe.

A good stock is the key ingredient which great soups are built upon. Whether you make your own stock at home or use store bought versions, the foundation of flavors provided by the stock is what keeps soups from being bland and uninteresting. Having stock on hand is really convenient if you're ever in a pinch for a quick meal. Grab the whatever leftover vegetables you have in your refrigerator, toss in some meat if you like, and you've got a heartwarming (and nutritious) meal in no time at all.

Homemaking stock is a simple and great way to make your leftover chicken carcass useful (and I love to find a purpose for seemingly useless items). Homemade chicken stock takes hours to make (a great weekend project idea) but the result is well worth the effort. Homemade vegetable stock takes much less time and is an important ingredient for vegetarians; it's so rewarding to make yourself. Stock freezes well and is easy to defrost making it easy to store and use.

A few basic stock-making tips include cooking the ingredients with cold water (to extract the collagen) and skimming off any scum in meat stocks. If you want to remove fat from your stock, cool it and spoon of the solidified fat that collects on top.

Do you have any stock tips that you swear by?

Source: Flickr User FotoosVanRobin

Next time you're trying to figure out which stock will give you the best ROI or return on investment, maybe you'd better ask your neighborhood pigeon. Rats will do, too.

Past research from Dartmouth showed that the rodents and birds made better predictions of random events than humans. But how do you shed your human inhibitions and pick stocks like an animal? First of all, just because everyone is buying something, don't get caught up in it and jump on the bandwagon. Try your best to not let outside influences affect you. Next, don't overthink it. Humans are overconfident in their ability to interpret patterns, so don't let your insistence on being right cloud your judgment.

Everyone loves cupcakes, and it seems like the finance world loves them, too! Crumbs Bake Shop, the biggest cupcake chain in the US, has plans to go public, according to the New York Times. Going public a.k.a. doing an IPO or initial public offering means that everyone is allowed to buy shares of the company. As of now, Crumbs runs about 34 stores, but plans to operate about 200 stores by 2014.

I feel like cupcakes aren't just a trend, because the craze has lasted more than a handful of years ever since it was triggered by Sarah Jessica Parker biting into a cupcake on Sex and the City. I also noticed that in every city I go to, there is a never-ending source of cupcake boutiques around to satisfy my sugar cravings. Cupcakes are such a booming industry that it's no wonder investors are hungry to cash in. Other notable "sweet" stocks that are publicly trading include Sara Lee, Nestle, and Hershey. What do you think — would you be interested in buying some cupcake shares?

Source: Flickr User lamantin

During soup and stew season, few things are more indispensable than stock or broth. But what's the difference between the two? Are they simply the same thing?

The answer depends on whom you're talking to. Colloquially, the two terms are often used interchangeably, and in some types of cooking, such as classic French cuisine, there's no distinction between the two. But in North American cooking, the definitions can vary.

While beef, turkey, or chicken broth is made generally from meat, stock is produced by simmering browned vegetables and bones. As a result of the gelatin released from the bones, stock tends to have more viscosity and a fuller mouthfeel. The browning also creates a darker color and a roasted flavor.

If you've never made your own stock, trust us: homemade vegetable stock and chicken stock are easier to prepare than you think.

There's no stopping him! Billionaire and stock investing maven Warren Buffett turns 80 today and plans to work past the age of 100, says Deal Journal. According to money manager Whitney Tilson, Buffett followers say his investing strategy seems to be aging like fine wine — it's just getting better as the years go by.

Interesting fact: Buffett, the third richest man in the world, filed his first tax return at the age of 13 and claimed a $35 deductible for his bike.