posted by Angel 02-08-101 2:00 PM
Old-Fashioned Homemade Chicken Stock
1 large broiler-fryer chicken (about 4 pounds)
About 8 cups cool water
2 medium carrots, quartered
1 large onion, quartered
1 celery stalk with leaves, cut in half
1 to 2 chicken bouillon cubes (optional)
Spiral peel of 1 Sunkist lemon*
6 whole black peppercorns
3 sprigs parsley
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
Remove the giblets from chicken; reserve the liver for another use or discard it. Cut the chicken into pieces. Arrange chicken pieces and giblets in a 6- to 8-quart saucepot; add enough water to just cover chicken. Bring to a boil and skim any foam from the surface. Add carrots, onion, celery, and bouillon cubes.
Make a bouquet garni by wrapping the lemon peel, peppercorns, parsley, bay leaves, and thyme in a square of cheesecloth; tie bundle-fashion with string and add to saucepot. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 45 minutes.
Remove the chicken pieces, except the wings and giblets, from the stock; cool chicken slightly. Remove and discard skin. Remove meat from bones and reserve for another use. Return the bones to the stock. Simmer briskly, with the cover slightly ajar, for 1-1/2 hours. Strain stock (discarding solids) and chill. Remove solidified fat from surface. To use, heat to boiling.
*With vegetable parer, peel the lemon in a continuous spiral, removing the outer colored layer of peel only (save the fruit; squeeze juice for other uses).
Makes about 5 to 6 cups.
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