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Recipe

Broth / Stock

Prepare ahead, freeze in reasonable portions (I divide into cupfuls) and you will always have a source of wonderful broth for soup, as an added flavor to mashed potatoes, and for stewing meats and vegetables.

Ingredients

  • Meat or vegetable of choice (see below)
  • 12 cups fresh water
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
  • 2 carrots, coarsely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, coarsely chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried sage freshly-ground black pepper, to-taste

Method

  1. Rinse meat and/or vegetables of choice thoroughly with cold water; pat dry; if whole cut into
  2. smaller pieces.
  3. Place large stockpot over medium-high heat; add water; add meat of choice, onion, carrots, celery, bay leaf, thyme, sage, and black pepper, to-taste.
  4. Bring to slow boil; skim off scum as needed; when scum subsides, lower heat to simmer; cook uncovered 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
  5. Using large slotted spoon remove meat to airtight storage container; cool; eat, or place on cover and store in refrigerator for later use.
  6. Place a fine mesh metal colander over a large bowl; slowly pour broth into colander, catching spices and vegetables in colander; remove colander onto clean plate; discard spices and vegetables, or place in bowl and mash to reincorporate into broth as desired; refrigerate in airtight container up to 3 days, or freeze up to 1 month.
  7. Pour broth into airtight glass container; set aside to cool.
  8. Lift any congealed fat off top of broth once cooled; discard.

Use broth immediately, or place on lid and refrigerate up to 3 days. Servings: 2-1/2 quarts (10 cups). Prep Time: 10 minutes. Cooking Time: 2 hours

Variation

Beef/Bison/Venison: 4-1/2 pounds meaty bones; proceed with recipe as stated.

Chicken/Turkey: 3 pounds meat and bones for broth, add 2 to 4 backbones for stock.

Mushroom/Vegtables: 3 pounds mushrooms/vegetables of choice diced; sauté in 2 tablespoons pure olive oil over medium heat to release water, about 20 minutes; add to stockpot, proceed with recipe as stated.