I was near breaking the bank with buying veggie broth the first month or so on the RAVE diet, :-) until I started making my own this way (from my veggie scraps, which cost me NOTHING extra). I usually don't gather enough trimmings in a week, so I actually keep mine in the freezer (not always making sure trimmings are super dry) and keep adding to it. I opt to do the crock-pot for about 5 hours on high.
Taken from Cheap. Fast. Good! by Beverly Mills and Alicia Ross, pg. 38-39
1) Whenever you're peeling vegetables, collect trimmings in a 1-gallon-size, sipper-top plastic bag. Anything goes, but examples are asparagus stalks, mushroom stems, stems from herbs, leafy celery tops, potato and carrot peels, the tops of bell peppers (but not the seeds), tomato cores, tough green parts of scallions, and any parts of an onion that you'd generally discard when peeling (bits of skin are okay too). Store the bag in refrigerator.
2) Add your trimmings on a daily basis, for up to 4 days. Just make sure trimmings are washed and relatively dry b/4 putting in bag to keep contents fresh.
3) To make stock, you'll need approximately 3/4 of a gallon bag of trimmings. You can add other veggies that may not be as fresh (i.e. limp carrot). But pass on broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts, which don't make good stock.
4) Place veggie trimmings in 5-quart slow cooker, covering with water - exact amount of water doesn't matter. (it's okay if veggie trimmings float to top - just push down and make sure there's enough water to cover). Cover and cook 4-6 hours on high or 8-12 hours on low.
OR
Place trimmings in 4 1/2-qt soup pot or Dutch oven and cover with water as described. Bring water to boil, reduce to low, and simmer, covered, for 4 to 5 hours. Check stock periodically, and add more water if necessary.
5) When done, ladle through strainer [or cheesecloth]; if you prefer, let the stock cool overnight in the fridge, then strain it.
6) Will hold covered for up to 3 days in fridge, or covered for up to 2 months in freezer.
Plant Based Recipes
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