Thursday, January 15, 2009

Soup & Sewing


Since I'm trying to be a little more thrifty (and I'm already pretty darn thrifty) I thought I'd try my hand at making my own chicken broth. We often buy the seasoned rotisserie chickens at Sam's Club - they are so good and so CHEAP! (less than 5 dollars). After most of this one was eaten, I picked off the leftover meat and put the carcass (isn't that a lovely word?) in a pot full of water with an onion (chopped in half, not peeled) a couple of cloves of garlic (again, chopped but not peeled), a few stalks of celery and a couple of carrots. I didn't season it because the chicken skin was already liberally seasoned. Then I let it simmer for between 5-6 hours, occasionally skimming the top.

I strained it through a fine mesh strainer (we call it our fencing mask, like Nigella) and then stuck it in the fridge. The next morning, I scooped the layer of fat off the top, although surprisingly there really wasn't much fat there. The broth was SUPER rich, so I used it in a 1:1 ratio with water, added the shredded chicken, a few carrots, an onion, celery, and garlic and let it simmer for a couple of hours. Right before we ate it I added some whole wheat organic egg noodles from our local bulk Amish food store. It was quite delicious, if I do say so myself! And the kids actually ate it.


On the sewing front, I finally finished my friend Renetta's table runner. I just made some improvisational log cabins and surrounded them with linen. Her only request was that it be framed with AMH's Garden Party polka dot. I'm pleased with how it turned out, especially considering it was my first real attempt at free-motion quilting. I'm sure it will get nice and puckery after its first wash.


Here's a litte detail of the quilting - I LOVE that mustard-colored thread and use it every chance I get.


Sorry about the dreary pictures - it was a dreary day.



Enjoy your Thursday - it's almost the weekend!! As Dawson would say, "Yay! Wow! Woo hoo!"




8 comments:

  1. I love making bone broths. My mom used to do this with the turkey carcass every year, and turkey noodle soup was always a post-thanksgiving tradition!

    I make my own chicken stock a lot too. Sometimes I throw a whole raw chicken in with about 20-30 cups of water and some veggies and let it cook for about 24 hours. Then it just falls apart. I shred the meat and freeze in batches for soup, chicken salad, or vegetables, and strain the broth. Then skim the fat. Then I boil it down and freeze it in ice cube trays for storage and use it like you would bullion! I particularly like to have this on hand for labor.

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  2. I really like your table runner. I've been noticing a lot of people using solids in the borders and I like the effect. I'm going to have a try because it makes the fabrics contrast so nicely. shame I have to work or I could get so much sewing done!!

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  3. just gorgeous - all of it! that soup looks yummy.

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  4. Kristine here (the one you emailed about the fabric) were you able to get any?

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  5. I just did the same thing with a roasting chicken! We're having soup for dinner. We stock up on those chickens when they are .99/lb and freeze them.

    Love the table runner. Very nice!

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  6. I've never made my own broth...but you've inspired me to try! It sounds fantastic!

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  7. I love making broths! If you have a pressure cooker, you can make soup sooo quickly.

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  8. You are just too talented! The table runner turned out so pretty and the soup made me HUNGRY just looking at it-YUMMO!
    Hugs,
    Char

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