Root Vegetable Stock (For Mushroom Stroganoff With Spinach).

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 large carrots, coarsely chopped
• 1 large turnip, coarsely chopped
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced (include leaves, if any)
• 2 large onions, chopped
• 12 cups water
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 large parsley sprigs
• 1/2 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
• 2 whole garlic cloves (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Melt butter in a 7 to 8-quart kettle over medium-high heat. Add carrots, turnip, celery, and onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden (about 15 minutes).

2. 2

   Stir in water, salt, parsley, bay leaf, and thyme. If desired, add garlic and peppercorns. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. STRAIN and discard vegetables.

3. 3

   This will yield far more than you will need for this one dish, about 10 cups, but when the garden is ready and the vegetables fresh, we freeze the rest and use it throughout the year. It freezes very well for up to a year.