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Making Chicken Stock

by Natalie on 11/23/2009

in Cooking, House and Home

Here’s how I make chicken stock.

First, I save any chicken bones from roasted (or even fried) chicken. Don’t use anything that was grilled (at least if it was grilled over charcoal!). I just keep a Ziploc bag in the freezer and add to it whenever we have bones. Those rotisserie chickens from the grocery store are perfect for this too.

I also save any vegetable scraps from carrots, celery, onions, and sometimes garlic. When we peel carrots and trim off the ends of celery and onions, they all get tossed in a Ziploc bag in the freezer too. Save herbs scraps too – stems and leaves from parsley, rosemary, and/or any other herbs you like.

I have a big stock pot, that comes with a strainer insert. It’s perfect for making stock.
Toss the chicken bones into the pot.
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Next, add in the frozen vegetable scraps.
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I didn’t have enough scraps this time, so I added in some fresh vegetables too. First some garlic:
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Next, some celery.
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I just bought 2 fresh bunches, so I just chopped up all of this leftover bunch to put in the stock.
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A couple of carrots and an onion cut in half.
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Finally, the best part. Some fresh rosemary just cut off of my plant.
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A handful of kosher salt.
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A handful of pepercorns.
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Then add water. It took 30 cups this time.
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Just add enough to cover the bones and vegetables.
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Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to low so it’s just simmering. The rosemary makes the house smell so good!

I let it simmer for a couple of hours. I give it a taste to know when it’s done. Then I let it reduce a bit to concentrate the flavors. Strain it and put into containers and freeze!

This time I’ll be using a lot of it for Thanksgiving, so I’m just going to keep it in the fridge.

{ 4 comments }

Turkey turkey turkey

by Natalie on 11/6/2009

in Cooking, Holidays, House and Home

turkey_32My mom told me yesterday that Marsh had turkey breasts on sale for $0.88/lb. That’s cheap! They never seem to get below $1.69/lb here. So she picked one up for me, and said she had a whole turkey I could have too.

turkey-cooked_32So that gives me 3 turkey breasts and 1 whole turkey. Now I won’t roast all of those. It’ll be some combination.

What combination will depend on how many people are coming. I haven’t heard back from everyone yet. I may have to send out a reminder. I like to know how many are coming as early as possible! There are decisions to be made! How much to buy? How many tables? Do we need more wine glasses?

hunting-cap_32I’ve been reading the November issues of Better Homes and Gardens. Especially the turkey recipes. I think I might try brining this year. I never do because it takes a lot of brine to do as many turkeys as I roast each year. But I’ve always wanted to try it. We’ll see. I will probably decide not to for ease again this year! My turkeys always turn out pretty darn yummy without it.

Plus since I roast the day before and then store in broth – they don’t get a chance to dry out anyway!

spoils-of-war_32Speaking of broth, I need to make some more chicken stock soon. I will try to document the process and post here in case anyone wants to make their own too. If you do, start saving up any vegetable scraps (carrots, onions, celery, herbs, garlic) and chicken bones!

This post is making me hungry!

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