Simple Beef Stock A La Julia Child Recipes

Steps:

• Place the beef bones in a large heavy pot and cover with cold water by about two inches.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat and skim the sum which rises to the top--this should take about five minutes.
• Add the remaining ingredients and more cold water so that everything is covered by at least an inch or two.
• Bring the stock to a simmer again, skimming as necessary.
• When the stock is simmering (Do NOT allow it to boil), partially cover and maintain at a very slow simmer for four to five hours.
• If the water level gets too low, add boiling water to the pot.
• Skim as necessary.
• When the vegetables and the bones have given their all to the broth, strain the broth and discard the solids.
• Set the stock, uncovered in the refrigerator until the fat has risen to the top and solidified.
• Remove and discard the fat.
• Taste the degreased stock (remembering it contains no salt) and if it is not strong enough, reduce it over medium heat.
• When the stock is cold, store in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer.

Steps:

• Place the meat and bones in a stockpot and add cold water to cover them by 2 inches. Set over moderate heat. As the liquid comes slowly to a simmer, scum wills tart to rise. Remove it with a spoon or ladle for 5 minutes or so, until it almost ceases to accumulate.
• Add all the ingredients to the left, tying the herbs up in an herb bouquet with cheesecloth. Add more water if the liquid does not cover the ingredients by a full inch. When the liquid is simmering again, skim as necessary. Partially cover the kettle, leaving a space of about 1 inch for steam to escape.Maintain at a very quiet simmer for 4-5 hours. Skim occasionally.
• To degrease, set the pot in the refrigerator until the fat has hardened on the surface and can be scraped off.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Pat the roast dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and lightly pat with flour on both sides. In a 4- to 6-quart Dutch oven or similar heavy stove-top and oven-proof pot, heat 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil to hot but not smoking. Add the beef to the pot and brown, turning several times, until well browned on both sides. add a little more oil if necessary to prevent burning. Add the wine, 3 cups beef broth, thyme, and bay leaf to the Dutch oven. Bring to a boil. Cover tightly. Transfer to the center oven rack. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees fahrneheit. Braise for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, or until the beef is tender when pierced in the center with a fork. Meanwhile, in a medium-large roasting pan, stir the beef bones with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil until coated. Roast the bones for 1 hour, or until very well browned. Discard the fat. Transfer the beef bones to the Dutch oven. Add the remaining 1/2 cup beef broth to the roasting pan. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up the browned bits from the bottom, then add the mixture to the Dutch oven. Continue cooking the roast, tightly covered. Meanwhile, stir together the vegetables, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste in the roasting pan previously used. Roast, stirring occasionally, 50 to 60 minutes, or until the vegetables are just tender when tested with a fork. Set aside. When the pot roast is tender, arrange it and the vegetables in a large, deep, heat-proof serving dish or platter. Cover and return to the oven to stay warm. If the broth has not reduced to 3 cups or less, return the Dutch oven to the burner over medium-high heat. Cook briskly, uncovered, until the broth reduces to about 3 cups. (If the broth already measures less than 2 cups, add about 1/2 cup more canned beef broth or water to it.) Discard the bones. Place the broth in a 4-cup measure; let stand until the fat rises to the surface. Skim or pour off the fat. Pour the de-fatted broth over the pot roast and vegetables (reheat the broth to hot first, if necessary) and serve. The pot roast is also excellent reheated. It will keep, refrigerated, for up to 4 days.