We may live in Florida but it's officially fall. I smell cooler days and beef stew simmering on the stove, shepard's pie, pot roast and other savory seasonal delights. Most of these dishes will require beef stock. You can buy some but the conventional brands will be loaded with msg, chemicals and who knows what other laboratory made toxins. The organic brands found in health food stores are better and will do in a pinch but nothing beats homemade. . .
Pick a weekend day you'll be hanging at the house. Start with some beef soup bones (meaty ones, knuckle bones, marrow bones, a combo is best and preferably from a grass fed cow). Roast them at 425 for about 30 min turning once or until they are nice and brown along with a large onion and about 3 cut up carrots. Reserve any juices.
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Place the roasted bones and vegetables along with the reserved juices into a large stock pot. Add 2 coarsely chopped celery stocks, 2 cloves chopped garlic, 6 black peppercorns, several sprigs of fresh thyme, 1 bay leaf, approximately 12 cups of filtered water (or enough to cover) and 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar (to draw out the minerals). Let sit for 30-45 min. Bring the stock to a boil, remove any scum that surfaces to the top and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 - 7 hours or longer.
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Strain the stock using cheesecloth and pour into Mason jars. Discard the meat and vegetables or reserve for other uses. Let cool. I store in 1, 2 and 4 cup mason jars in the freezer that way I have them availabe for whatever quantities I may need. Some people prefer to regrigerate overnight and skim any fat off the top. I personally like the flavor that a little fat imparts into my stock.
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dark & rich!
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Stay tuned for recipes using our stock and tallow!
