Beef Stock
- 8 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary or 2 teaspoons dried
- 2 dried bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns
- 1 pound beef stew meat, cubed
- 5 pounds veal bones, cut into small pieces
- 1 large onion, unpeeled and quartered
- 2 large carrots, cut into thirds
- 2 celery stalks, cut into thirds
- 2 cups dry red wine
- Preheat the oven to 450F.
- Tie the parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth to make a bouquet garni.
- Set aside.
- Arrange the beef stew meat, veal bones, onion, carrots, and celery in an even layer in a heavy roasting pan.
- Roast, turning every 20 minutes, until the vegetables and the bones are deep brown, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Transfer the meat, bones, and vegetables to a large stockpot, and set aside.
- Pour off the fat from the roasting pan, and discard.
- Place the pan over high heat on the stove.
- Add the red wine, and stir, using a wooden spoon to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pan; boil until the wine is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the mixture into the stockpot.
- Add 6 quarts cold water to the stockpot, or more if needed to cover bones.
- Do not use less water.
- Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a very gentle simmer so that bubbles occasionally rise to the surface.
- Add the reserved bouquet garni.
- Skim the foam from the surface.
- Continue to simmer the stock over the lowest possible heat for 3 hours.
- A skin will form on the surface of the liquid; skim off with a slotted spoon.
- Repeat as needed.
- Add water if at any time the surface level drops below the bones.
- Prepare an ice-water bath.
- Strain the stock through a fine sieve, or a cheesecloth-lined strainer, into a large bowl.
- Discard the solids.
- Transfer the bowl to the ice-water bath, and let the stock cool to room temperature.
- Transfer the stock to airtight containers.
- The stock may be labeled at this point and refrigerated for 3 days or frozen for up to 4 months.
- If using the stock for a recipe, refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight so the fat collects on the top and can be removed.
- If storing, leave the fat layer intact; it seals the stock.
parsley, thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, whole black peppercorns, meat, veal bones, onion, carrots, celery stalks, red wine
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/beef-stock-393410 (may not work)