After our 3 in 1 post regarding how to prepare fresh chickens, many clients have asked how to make chicken stock. Stock is one of my favorite things to make {mostly because it's the easiest thing we make}.  Start with the bones, any meat left on the bones and the neck of the chicken {we include the neck inside the cavity...don't let it surprise you!} and place it in a large stock pot.  

Next, chop up some celery, onions, and carrots.  Add 2 or 3 bay leaves and place all ingredients into the stock pot.  Add enough water to cover everything in the pot.  Cover, bring to a boil then turn to low and allow to simmer for 4-6 hours {your whole house will smell pretty good by the end of that 4 hours}.   4-6 hours turn off the heat, remove the lid and strain the liquid into a separate large pot.   Allow both pots to cool {be sure you separate the stock before allowing to cool}.  Once cooled ladle the stock into containers {we use plastic if freezing & mason jars if refrigerating}.  You'll notice how thick the stock is once cooled.  Pasture raised poultry stock has a lot of vitamins, gelatin, and calcium derived from the bones of the bird therefore, the consistency of our stock is usually more like gelatin.  You'll also notice the lighter colored solid on top of the broth which is {wait for it...} fat.  Don't panic; this is not your "I just ate the whole roll of cookie dough before I could make cookies" fat.  This is good fat, the kind of fat your body needs.  Still, if you elect that you have enough good fat in your diet you can choose to skim it off the top of your stock before storing {to each his own}.

Now you have a wonderful, healthy base for soup, chili, or a healthy snack.  Enjoy!

Spring has sprung which means yard sales have begun!  {Yes, I love yard sales so much it makes me rhyme.}  I accept that this post will likely appeal to a niche group of readers but I have found that even my friends who find no joy in waking at 6am on Saturday morning to rummage through a stranger's trash {& treasures} still enjoy seeing my finds.  So, I thought I would share them with you here.

Since this is my 1st post let's start with some of my all-time favorite finds.  Given; many of my treasures are not blog-worthy in beauty but their value is in usefulness.  Yard sales help me to enjoy buying things I don’t enjoy buying.  For instance, I needed a tray to go underneath my washer when I bought my house.  My dad and I came home with one on the same day.  He spent $25, I spent $1; his was promptly returned to Lowe’s and I was super excited {about a washer tray nonetheless}! 



Through the summer months I plan to post my Saturday Scores and hope you enjoy seeing that you really can still get something for {close to} nothing!

Feel free to share your finds in the comments!