Ready, Set, Open Windows

Every year it happens to me. You could set a clock by it. The weather cools and I start craving the same 5 things:

1. Fireplaces and hot drinks in mugs (in my case it's a fire pit)
2. Soups. Mainly onion, hot and sour and roasted tomato.
3. Dahlias and zinnias.
4. Braises and stews.
5. Reading on the couch under Jean's blanket with Sander socks on my feet. (I'll explain those later)

Numbers 1, 3, and 5 are relatively easy to arrange. I've got the fire pit and the wood and plenty of mugs. The socks and the blanket I can pull out of storage. Flowers I can buy on weekends when the Farmer's Markets open. The rest require cooking. And because I want my food to be as healthy and tasty as I can make it, those braises, stews and soups have to start with Home Made Stock. 

For this blog we'll do the most difficult and the one most of us usually avoid: Beef. Why bother you ask?

I was in the grocery store today. The stock I prefer to buy---if I buy any---is College Inn. It's an old favorite and I like the taste. But....if you turn that carton around you'll find this on the label....

Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein (Milk) and Wheat Bran Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Dextrose, Onion Powder, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Caramel Color, Natural Flavor, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate. 

I don't see anything that sounds like beef or cow in there. And, then there's the sodium: 570 mgs for a (1 cup) serving. Now I hear you thinking. Many of the labels are organic, low salt and fat free. That's good. The price is not. At my grocery it's $3.79 for a 32 ounce box of the regular. The organic, salt and fat free is a dollar more and the ingredients are still mysterious.

For about $5 worth of stuff and 30 minutes of my time I can made 3 quarts of salt free, fat free, chemical free stock at home.

Still with me? Here's how to do it. It's easy...don't be afraid. (Smile!)

Very Good Beef Stock

makes 3 quarts

The Veg and the Herbs

• 3 pounds of beef bones. (Go to your butcher, either in your supermarket or a local guy. Ask him for beef bones. Any kind as long as it comes from a cow (or steer). No goat or lamb. Veal is okay; that's a young cow (or steer). Oh, oxtail is okay too. If the bones have a little meat on them that's good, if not, no worry. If you know your butcher he might just give them to you for free. Other wise they should cost you about $3.)
• 2 large onions, skin left on, cut in quarters    
• Vegetable or canola oil
• 3 carrots, cut in quarters. Don't peel them. Just wash.
• 3 stalks of celery cut in thirds, leaves left on
• 1-2 parsnips, cut in quarters. Don't peel them, just wash. (If you don't have parsnips, or forgot to buy them or can't find them, add another carrot.)
• 1 leek, light green part included, cut in half down the length and well washed. (If you don't have a leek or can't find one or forgot to buy one, just skip it.)
• 1 teaspoon of whole black peppercorns
• 2 large cloves of garlic, skin on, just smashed
• 2 bay leaves
• 5-6 stems of fresh flat leaf parsley, use stems and leaves
• 5-6 stems fresh thyme. Don't use dried thyme on this. Please try to find fresh.
• 1 teaspoon paprika for color
• 4 quarts of cold water

Method:

1.  Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F
2. Wash the beef bones under cold water and remove any large pieces of fat. Pat dry.
3. Put the bones and the onions into a shallow roasting pan and toss them with a generous 3-4 tablespoons of oil. Make sure everything is in one layer. Roast, uncovered, for 50 minutes. Turn the bones once after 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
   

   

   Bones and onions, nicely roasted
   

4. Transfer the bones and the onions (and their skins) to a deep stock pot. Discard all the oil from the roasting pan and set it over medium high heat. Pour in 1/4 cup of the cold water. Bring to a boil, scraping up all the roasted bits from the pan. Pour this into the stock pot.
5. Add all the vegetables, seasonings and herbs. No salt! Pour in the remaining cold water.
6. Set your stock pot over high heat, cover it and bring it to a boil.
7. As it comes to the boil the ingredients will throw off a

   

     Foamy stuff, discard this

   foamy scum. Try to strain off as much of it as you can. Don't worry if you don't get it all. 
8. Lower the heat to keep the pot at the gentlest simmer, cover it and walk away....yes, walk away! Let it go, undisturbed for 5-6 hours. Do. Not. Stir.  
9. After the time is up, remove the lid, take the pot off the heat and let it sit for 30 minutes.
10. Strain it into another clean pot or storage containers and let it cool, uncovered, on your counter. When the stock is cool to the touch, cover and refrigerate it over night.
11. The next day, skim off and discard the accumulated fat and leave refrigerated for 4-5 days or freeze up to 6 months.

Sander socks.  

Years ago my friend's son gave me a pair of brightly patterned flannel socks. They

Sander socks

were cozy and a little large and fit high up my shin for extra warmth. I loved them for around the house during cold weather months. No shoes or slippers required. I dubbed them Sander socks. I now have several pairs in different colors and patterns but the original will always be my sentimental favorite.

Thank you Sander!