All summer long, I save the bones from grilled steak and keep them in a plastic bag in the freezer. Come the fall I have plenty of bones to make a rich homemade beef stock.

The stock can be used for soup or freeze it in smaller containers to use over several months, whenever you need beef broth for a recipe.

Rich Brown Beef Stock

Ingredients

• 4-6 pounds beef  bones
• Beef seasoning ( I use Penzey’s)
  
• Half a sweet onion
  
• Handful of celery tops
  
• 1 whole large carrots, halved
  
• 1 large bay leaf
  
• 1 large garlic clove, unpeeled and halved
  
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon salt
  

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the bones in a baking dish and sprinkle them with beef seasoning. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.

If using uncooked bones increase the baking time to an hour. The bones should be nicely browned.

Place the browned bones in a large Dutch Oven. Add the remaining ingredients and cover all with water. Bring to a boil and simmer partially covered for 3-4 hours.

Strain the broth in a colander lined with cheesecloth. Reserve some of the broth for the soup and discard the bones and vegetables.

Beef, Mushroom and Barley Soup

Ingredients

Olive oil cooking spray

• 1 ½ lbs beef stew meat, trimmed and diced
  
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
• 2 cups chopped leeks
  
• 2 cups chopped carrot
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
  
• 1 garlic clove, minced
  
• 8 cups beef stock
  
• 2 cups water
  
• 1 thyme sprig
  
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1 large bay leaf
  
• 1 cup uncooked pearl barley
• 1 cup diced mushrooms
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
  

Directions

Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven and add the diced beef; cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.

Add the leek, carrot and garlic. Saute 4 minutes or until lightly browned. Add broth, water, thyme, pepper and bay leaf.

Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. Add the mushrooms and barley; cook another 45 minutes or until the beef and barley are tender.

Discard the bay leaf. Add the parsley.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in barley, Beef, carrots, celery, Healthy Italian Cooking, leeks, mushrooms, Soup Tags: how to make rich beef broth