Sunday, June 26, 2011

Stocking Up

So, who doesn't want to boil gallons of chicken stock in 80-90 degree weather?  Did I mention the stock is being made using chicken feet?  Okay, most people would probably pass, but not us. 

Our first batch of meat chickens for the year are currently being processed which means an excess of feet for stock!  We whole heartedly believe if you are going to take an animal's life to feed yourself, you need to respect the value of that animal by using everything possible.  Necks and feet are set aside for stock while organ meats usually are boiled for our dogs (although we have found people who have wanted the gizzards and others who wanted the livers). 

The neck and feet stocks are prepared separately.  This is because Allan, my husband, will painstakingly pull the meat off of the necks to be used in soup and the stock from the feet (if refrigerated) has an interesting, gelatinous texture (but great flavor).

The stock is used not only for soups.  Each time I make couscous or rice, I use stock instead of water. 

This is one freezer door with canning jars and plastic containers filled with stock.

The middle compartment of our standing freezer is all chicken stock in foodsaver bags.  To the right are more bags and jars of stock next to the tomato sauce.

This is the freezer door to our regular refrigerator filled with stock!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Raised Beds in Garden

My husband and brother-in-law started putting in raised beds in our garden.