Besides being the base of so many recipes, homemade stock is in and of itself an amazing food. Made with all parts of the chicken (or beef, or fish), a slow-cooked stock is rich in many minerals essential to good health, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, silicon, sulphur, and even glucosamine and chondroitin, which we often pay a lot of money for as a supplement for joint care! It is prized around the world as a remedy for whatever ails you, from digestive upset to sore throats to low libido.
Makes about 20 cups or 15 to 18 servings.
1 whole free-range chicken, or 2 to 3 pounds of the bony parts (necks, backs, breastbones, legs, wings)
Gizzards from the chicken
2 to 4 chicken feet (optional but beneficial)
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 celery stalks, chopped
4 quarts cold water
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 bunch parsley, chopped
1. If you are using a whole chicken, cut off the neck, wings, and legs and cut them into pieces. Cut the rest of the chicken pieces into chunks.
2. Place chicken pieces in the slow cooker and top with all vegetables except the parsley. Cover with water and vinegar. Cover, and let the meat and vegetables sit in the liquid for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
3. Turn the slow cooker to High and cook for 2 to 3 hours, or until boiling. Remove the cover and spoon off and discard any scum that has risen to the top.
4. Replace the cover and reduce the heat to Low. Cook for 8 to 10 hours. Add the parsley in the last 15 minutes or so.
5. When cooking is complete, remove the solids with a slotted spoon into a colander over a bowl. Any drippings in the bowl can go back into the stock. Remove any meat from the bones and eat separately.
6. Transfer the stock to a large bowl and refrigerate. When the fat is congealed on top, remove it, and transfer the stock to several smaller containers with tight-fitting lids. Stock can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, or kept frozen.
Variation:
For a browner, even richer stock, place the chicken pieces on a cookie sheet. Preheat the oven broiler, and broil for about 3 minutes per side, until browned.