I just saw this recipe for vegetable stalk and thought it would be great to freeze and have around for winter soups in the new year. Plus talk about healthy!
I like to take my stalk, leftover tomato sauce or whatever else i have and ladle it into cupcake tins, freeze it into hockey pucks and store it in freezer bags. then i can use it in 1/2 cup increments as often as i need to.
Vegetable stalk
Makes 1 gallon
A flavorful vegetable stock subtly adds flavor to anything you make. Use herb stems, tomato trimmings, and vegetable stems and leaves in the stock. Celery root, kohlrabi, bell peppers, half a jalapeno, and any kind of fresh or dried mushrooms all work well. Don’t use starchy vegetables, like potatoes, which cloud the stock, and strong-flavored herbs like rosemary, sage, oregano, or tarragon should be avoided. For more nutritional value, save vegetable cooking water uncovered for several days (refrigerated) instead of discarding it, and use it as part of all of the liquid. Use organic vegetables wherever possible.
· 2 whole leeks
· 1 onion
· 2 stalks celery
· 4 carrots
· 1/2 turnip
· 1 bunch kale or collard greens
· 1 whole head garlic, cut in half around the middle
· 4 tomatoes, quartered, or 8 tomato cores
· 1/2 bunch parsley, washed
· 10 sprigs fresh thyme
· 2 bay leaves
· 10 black peppercorns
· 6 large dried shiitakes
· 1 gallon plus 1 quart water or reserved vegetable cooking water.
Wash and peel all the vegetables and cut roughly into 1-inch pieces. Place in a 3-gallon stockpot, add the water, and slowly bring to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 1 hour, or until the vegetables are very soft. Strain into a clean stockpot or bowl and discard the vegetables.
The cat is napping by the fire
(i am sad about that)
A weird French Cake was eaten gluttonously
but seriously, note the chicken…Mieke made that for me
This is my favorite picture! last night the outdoors was lit up so brightly with everyone’s xmas lights and the street lights and my own tree was glowing inside. Outside the window is my maple tree crusted with ice.
This morning i woke up not having a clue that it had been snowing all night! I could not believe how gorgeous it was outside my front door and no ice on top, just powdery snow.
outside my back door the peas were collecting icicles. i am pretty sure i have lost a few plants this winter.
here is the garden, all snuggled in for the winter, who knew it would be this snuggly? i have 18 inches of snow on my greenhouse roof and i didnt even attempt to dig my way inside.
I did however dig my way into the coop to see the girls. i got 2 eggs and the girls didnt even attempt to get out the door…they know they have a good thing going on in there.
I brought them my leftover oatmeal and they were VERY HAPPY! usually if they see that door open they are outside in a flash! i kind of wish they had because the pictures would have been fantastic BUT their little tooters would have frozen off maybe.
Of course i have been keenly aware of my feathered ladies outside. right now they have 8 inches of snow on their roof and 3 heat lamps to keep their water thawed and their bums warm. i am still getting eggs so they must be relatively happy, although i know they want to get outside.
he is soooo happy in this weather
