Happy Earth Day! I want to show you some easy ways to transform some veggie and fruits scraps into some delicious broths and simple syrups. For those who know me, know that I LOVE to use leftovers in fun and unique ways.
Remember my "Two Bite Tip" video?
When you are cutting up your fruits and vegetables, grab a resealable bag or container, and throw in the scraps that you would normally throw away. I separate them into different bags and label them. Here are a few vegetables that you would normally just throw away.
Instead of throwing them away, throw them into your bag and freeze them for a delicious vegetable broth. Just keep adding to the bag until it's full. That might be a week, or that might be a month later. I just keep throwing them in until I'm ready to make some broth.
When you are ready to make your broth, add the veggie scraps to a large stock pot and add enough water to cover the vegetables. I also like to add some salt and a bay leaf, then bring it up to a boil then simmer for an hour or so. (Unless you want a pink broth, don't add beet scraps.)
Then, you'll have some amazing vegetable broth that you can use. And the best part, it's free. Stop buying stocks and broths, simply make your own from items that you already have. No preservatives and you control the amount of sodium in your broth and what veggies that you want in your broth. Simply strain the veggie scraps and voila, here's your broth.
A few more ideas, would be to add leftover chicken bones/carcass for a great chicken stock or beef for beef stock. I also like to take a ham hock along with a freezer bag of veggie scraps and start a great ham and corn chowder. If you are using your scraps to make a soup or stew, then add them to some cheesecloth and tie that up before you drop it in your stock pot. That way you can easily take it out after it has flavored the water. One note is to make sure that your veggie scraps have been washed, so you don't have dirt in your broth. A quick note on broths vs stocks - broths are made from veggies and/or meat, but stocks are made from the bones of meat. Broths are usually clearer and lighter, stocks are a tad richer in flavor and a little heavier.
I would stay away from making broths out of cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower and broccoli. Those have an odor that doesn't pair well with making broth. Here's a quick tip - feel free to save your cruciferous veggie scraps in the freezer and when unexpected guests come over that you didn't invite, nor want them to stay long, throw those veggies (cauliflower/broccoli/brussel sprouts) in a pan with some water like you are making broth. I promise that the smell will have them leaving in no time...haha. But on the other hand if you want your house to smell amazing, then throw some bacon on a baking sheet and put it in the oven for 15-20 minutes and your house will smell awesome! Your company will stay as long as the bacon smell lingers. Just an FYI ;)
Okay, on to your fruit scraps. Do the same thing with these, wash them and add them to a resealable bag or container and freeze until you are ready to use them. My favorite way to use them is to make a fruity simple syrup.
Add equal parts of water and sugar to a pan and bring to a boil. Throw in your fruit scraps and lower heat to simmer for 15-20 minutes or so. Strain out the fruit and you are left with an amazing simple syrup that can be used in cocktails, sangria or lemonade.
Here is my strawberry simple syrup, it's delicious!
Remember that you can freeze all of these ideas as well. I like to take some broth and put it in an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, I add the individual cubes to a freezer bag and use them as needed. I recently made my "Buttery Basil Italian Chicken" and I needed to throw in a bit of water or broth, so I grabbed two chicken broth cubes that I made last week and they worked like a charm.
Don't forget to label the bags and date them.
I also love to add scraps to vinegars and oil to make some great, gourmet vinegars and oils. My favorite is making cherry balsamic vinegar and rosemary olive oil.
Happy Earth Day! Let's all remember how blessed we are to live on such a beautiful planet. Not only today, but everyday!
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