The unseasonably warm weather has gone and on Wednesday the temperatures dropped dramatically as the wind direction swung to the north. Well the wind is moving south, but coming from the frozen north. So I fancy soups. Hearty soups. Today, I've spent about eight hours making what is maybe the most complex stock I've undertaken in a very long time.
Chicken trimmings (heads, feet, wing tips etc), slightly meaty pork bones and bits of pig's face (The part outlined in the picture below - I call them her earlobes) have been simmering away for hours with celery, onion and carrot. The whole apartment smells heavenly and I feel warmer already.
Here they are after giving up their goodness to the stock. They are skin side down, so you can see the layer of fat underneath then a layer of meat. They will be discarded now.
And finally, here is the reduced, cheesecloth strained stock ready for the fridge. To be used tomorrow. The yellow tinge is Cameron's doing. The stock smells rich and smoky. I'll be using it with beans and robust vegetables, I think. Will decide in the morning.
I also have one of her ears soaking overnight. This I was advised to do. Again, I will decide in the morning what to do next.
