Turkey Noodle Soup over Mashed Potatoes

Used up some left over turkey and made a comfort food favorite!!! My Grandma Fillmore makes the best Turkey Noodle Soup over mashed potatoes!!! I haven't ever gotten her recipe yet but I found this from Tyler Florence and it was "down-home good"!!!! {There are potatoes under all that soup...little, fluffy, pillows of yummy goodness}!!

8 cups chicken stock
     * Tip if you use store bought chicken stock, add 1 tsp chicken base to it to make it extra rich. Chicken base is available at the grocery store near the chicken bouillon. It is similar, except it contains less salt and has a more intense flavor. A little goes a long ways.

2 cups cooked shredded turkey
1 batch dumpling noodles (roughly 10 oz of store bought egg noodles)
1 medium onion {left this out due to the kiddos}
3 garlic cloves {left this out due to the kiddos too} 
2 carrots (cut into 1/4 inch rounds)
2 ribs celery (sliced lengthwise and cut into 1/4 inch slices)
2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
4 sprigs of thyme or 2 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Mashed potatoes ~ you can make from scratch or use instant

Place a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme and bay leaf and cook till the veggies soften, but are not browned. Roughly 6 minutes. Once the veggies are softened add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. When boiling add the noodles and cook for about 5 minutes. Fold in the chicken and cook for another 3-5 minutes to heat up the chicken. Right before serving I make just a little thickening out of water and flour. I like it a little thicker and not so soupy!! Not too much, about 2 T. of flour and some water. Add a nice helping of mashed potatoes in a bowl and add soup on top!!! Season with salt and pepper! It's a very filling meal in itself but I baked up some small biscuits ~ the one ones that come in the can that "pops" open {and scares me half to death EVERY time} and there are about 10 of them in a can!!! That and some leftover Raspberry Whip Salad and ya got yourself a real good, feel good meal!!!