The other nite, @HorriblePeanut sent me a photo of what he made for dinner. (only because I asked!!). He had prepared cod and kale. I asked him how he prepared the kale and he replied “with veggie stock – er, Knorr”. I then realized that this would be a good time to do a blog post called How to Make Your Own Vegetable Stock!! 

Oh How I Love This Stock!!

Here’s what you need:

Ingredients:
2 carrots, peeled and chopped*
2 onions, peeled and chopped*
1 parsnip, peeled and chopped*
1 apple, cut in half
1 whole head of garlic, peeled (no chopping necessary0
1 sweet potato peeled and chopped*
and bunch of parsley

*:no one is going to see the vegetables so it doesn’t have to be pretty looking!! BONUS

Feel free to add celery, apples, bay leaves, zucchini, etc.a

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Boil water in a saucepan (please forgive me, I did not measure the quantity)
2. Add all the ingredients listed above. Cover the pan with a lid.

A Rough Chop is Just Fine!!

3. Season with salt and pepper
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

5. Strain the vegetables

Voila…beautiful aromatic vegetable stock. By all means play around with this recipe: add celery, add bay leaves (which I did by the way) or  add zucchini. Just don’t add anything bitter like broccoli or green pepper.

I like to freeze this soup is small ziploc containers so I can use it whenever a recipe calls for vegetable stock. It will make a HUGE difference and you won’t be buying any powdered soup stock anymore.

Happy Cooking (even if its 30 degrees outside)!!

By the way: I grew up in a household with a product called Croyden House. (kosher fake chicken stock poweder)  My mom used it on EVERYTHING. (as still does). I promised myself when I moved out that I would never buy a jar of that stuff and guess what? I haven’t.

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I discovered this recipe in 2008 on the Oprah website and have been using it ever since. This dish is truly packed with flavor because you cook the quinoa in carrot juice and not water. Plus the addition of nutmeg gives it a certain punch.

Healthy and Flavorful....A Winning Combo

I also love this recipe because it contains all the right elements for a perfect side dish:

• you just need a few ingredients
• it’s got a ton of flavor
• there’s just a few steps i.e its’ easy to make
• oh so healthy

Ingredients:

1 cup of quinoa, rinsed

1/4 tsp olive oil (I didn’t measure but I’m sure I used more)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped zucchini

2 cups of bottled carrot juice  (I used Bolthouse)

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper.

Instructions:

Heat a saucepan, and toast the quinoa. Transfer to a bowl. Set aside.

Heat a frying pan, and add olive oil. Add onion, celery, and zucchini. Cook till the vegetables are soft.

Stir in the carrot juice. Bring to a low boil. Stir in the quinoa, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until liquid has been absorbed and quinoa is tender. About 25 – 30 minutes.

NOTE:  I put the quinoa and the carrot juice in the rice cooker!! It works brilliantly. Here’s  a picture of my beloved rice cooker.

The Rice Cooker Cooks All Sorts of Grains!! (including quinoa)

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