Basic Guidelines For Making Vegetable Stock

2 qt Cold water

8 c Vegetables -- cut into 1"

Pieces

First choose the ingredients to reflect the soup in which the broth is being used. A general guideline for making vegetable broth is to use about 8 to 12 cups of vegetables cut into pieces no bigger than 1 inch. Put these with 2 quarts of cold water in a large nonreactive pot with no more than six different herbs. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes. Strain and use as is or concentarte the flavor by simmering to the desired strength (by taste). When using dried herbs, lessen quantities by one-half to two-thirds but always add *to taste* vegetable: carrots, celery, potatoes, winter squash, summer squash, chard, kale, tomatoes, mushrooms, eggplant, lettuce, green beans, celeriac When available use: fennel bulbs, asparagus, peas herbs (limit 6): basil, bay, borage, garlic, garlic chives, hyssop, lovage, morjoram, oregano, parsley, sage, savory, thyme spices (limit 2) coriander, cumin, cardamon, fennel seeds, whole cloves, cinnamon Reprinted in Maggie Oster's Herb Garden (1993:36) NY: