Since it’s still early in the new year, I suspect I’m not alone trying to eat healthier? I mean, isn’t it customary each year for Moms everywhere to resolve to eat better and to prepare healthier meals for the family? I’ve invested many hours already this year scouring the internet to find good recipes, and I’ve found many recipes call for small portions of chicken stock. I don’t use bouillon cubes, and much of the canned chicken stock had ingredients I couldn’t pronounce or a lot of sodium, so I went to Plan C which turned out to be so simple and essentially free. (Anyone resolve to save more money this year?)
After I cook and de-bone a chicken, I have been using the carcass to make broth. It’s incredibly simple and especially frugal!
Simply throw the chicken bones into a large crock pot with whatever vegetables you have on hand. I raided my refrigerator vegetable drawer to find onion, celery stalks and baby carrots. I pealed the onion then quartered it. I washed then chopped the celery into large chunks. As for carrots, I dumped the bag in as-was. Then I filled the pot with water.
I cooked the broth on medium-low all day. That night after my boys were in bed I strained the broth then poured it into a gallon pitcher to refrigerate overnight. As the broth cools, fat floats to the top of the pitcher, so the next morning I scraped it off. I poured the remaining broth into one-cup freezer-safe plastic bowls and stored them in our freezer. Now, everytime I make something that calls for a cup of chicken broth, I pull out a bowl.
A couple notes: Any fresh (or dried) herbs you have on hand can be added to the broth before cooking. I didn’t add any salt to my broth, yet it tasted great. If you don’t feel up to cooking an entire chicken, check your local grocer for a rotisserie chicken. Freezer-safe bowls come in all sizes, so freeze your broth into portions that will accommodate your family’s favorite recipes.
Such a good idea. That is interesting that the fat separates and you can skim it off — can’t think of an easier way to cut out the fat!
Not to mention that while making soup/broth, a lot of meat can be harvested super easy off the bones for things like chicken salad or to add back to the broth if you want chicken soup to actually serve as soup. It’s also a great way to stretch a Thanksgiving turkey for a number of meals.
I have always INTENDED to do this. If only I was as good as my intentions… I think I’ll put this on my list of things to do this week! Good inspiration, Aimee!!