Scottish Oxtail Soup

• 1 oxtail, cut into pieces, surplus fat removed
• 2 onions, chopped (I recommend sweet onions)
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 ounce butter (or meat dripping)
• 36 ounces beef stock
• 4 ounces tomato juice
• 1 tablespoon plain flour
• 3 tablespoons port wine
• spice bag
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 sprigs thyme
• 4 sprigs parsley (including stalks)
• 1 stalk celery, with leaves
• 2 whole green onions

1. To make the spice bag, place 1 bay leaf, 3 sprigs thyme, 4 large sprigs parsley (including stalks), one 4-inch piece celery stalked with leaves, and two whole green onions in the center of a square of double thickness cheesecloth.
2. Fold up the sides of the cheesecloth and tie off the top very tightly to make a spice bag.
3. (Equivalent dry herbs may be substituted).
4. Fry the oxtail pieces and the vegetables in the fat for a few minutes until lightly browned.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Pour the beef stock into a saucepan and add the fried oxtail and vegetables as well as the spice bag.
7. Bring to the boil, and then transfer to a crockpot and cook on high for 11/2- 2 hours (or longer if necessary) until the meat is tender.
8. Strain the stock, cut all the meat (in small pieces) from the bones and then return the stock and meat to the pan.
9. Bring to the boil.
10. Puree.
11. Mix the flour and port together and add to the soup.
12. Simmer for 5 minutes before serving.

oxtail, onions, carrot, stalks celery, butter, beef stock, tomato juice, flour, port wine, spice, bay leaf, thyme, parsley, celery, green onions

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/scottish-oxtail-soup-18120 (may not work)