Get your spoons ready: stock making masterclass.

The cold weather is upon us and that means soon we will start to feel like eating more things with a spoon. Those who know me well will know that eating with a spoon is my favourite way of eating. In professional kitchens, there is a golden rule that says, ‘you can tell the quality of the establishment by looking at the stockmaking section in the morning. The more pots simmering delicious types of broth, the better the place is’.

A few weeks ago I was asked in an interview for a podcast about what I miss from home. They asked if there was anything during my last trip to Spain, to Madrid, that made me realise the culinary di erences between Australian and Spanish home-cooking habits?

This was my answer:

‘My Mum lives on the fourth floor of a building. Every day I went for an early walk around 8 am in order to be active. I didn’t take the elevator, instead, I walked down the stairs. On the third floor, I could smell a couple of pressure cookers already with vegetarian food. On the second floor, more pressure cookers with meat broths. On the first floor some type of fish broth and potatoes. I was obviously in heaven, it became a daily sensory game for me’.

I need to say that my Mum’s apartment building is not particularly ‘foodie’ as some of you may be thinking. But, home cooks over there take their stocks, braises and soups quite seriously and they prioritise them in their daily chores. In Spain, eating with a spoon is in our DNA; we all associate it with our mothers or grandmas. Plus, it’s economical, very healthy and really, really yummy!

So yep, that was the moment I realised a fundamental di erence between Australia and Spain. In Spain, making stock at home is an act of love. Cooking is how we look after our family and the food we cook is how we show them we love them; knowing the soup you serve to your kids is full of flavour and fresh ingredients, which takes care and time. Here in Australia, I’ve found that not as many people prioritise cooking at home for the family. So, for that reason (and now that the nights are getting a bit cooler) I reckon we should talk about one of the basics of cooking, either at home or in a professional kitchen: It’s time to talk about stocks!

I hope this will help those of you who didn’t know you can make delicious stock at home. And, by doing so, your family budget will improve as well!

(FYI for those kids studying hospitality here in Orange, please take notes; This will be a massive part of your assignments!)

Ok, the first thing to remember is that you can make stock at home really easily, but using a large pot and knowing that for each litre of water, use 500g of bones, 100g of veggies (garlic, onion, leeks, carrots, celery, cabbage or kale leaves, etc..) and some fresh herbs known as a ‘bouquet garni’.

Knowing that, the next question to ask yourself is, do I want to make a WHITE or a BROWN STOCK? What is the di erence you think? The intensity of flavour is the answer. Remember the more colour in your stock, the more flavour.

So what is the di erence in making each? In order to make a white stock you want to blanch all the bones and skim the scum to clarify your liquid. Then add your vegetables and herbs and simmer for four to five hours.

For the brown stock, you want to add colour to your bones by roasting them and add colour to your veggies by frying them in the pot. You will see how once everything is together the liquid becomes really dark after simmering for four to five hours and the flavour will be stronger as well.

In terms of protein, you can use either chicken bones, beef bones, veal bones, etc…

If you are a pescatarian, it’s important to remember to use white fish bones and don’t overcook your fish stock. This stock will be ready in 20 minutes or so.

Finally, if you are vegetarian I recommend you to get colour on the skin of your vegetables, plus add a lot of mushrooms, cabbage, kale or spinach leaves, etc.

INGREDIENTS:

1 kg Beef, veal or chicken bones

60 g Onions

100 g Carrots

40 g Celery

1 Bouquet garni (bay leaves, thyme, parsley stalks..)

6 Peppercorns

2.5 L Water

METHOD:

1. Place the bones in the pot, and cover with cold water. Blanch and refresh.

2. Put the bones in a clean stock pot. Cover with water and bring to the boil.

3. Skim the surface. Add the washed and peeled veggies, the bouquet garni and peppercorns.

4. Re-boil and then simmer for 4 to 5 hours and skim as required (3 hours for chicken).

5. When stock is ready, strain it and use it straight away or cool it in the fridge.

6. Remember to skim o the fat before and boil and simmer for 15 minutes before using it.

7. You can freeze it as well.

NOTE: same amounts, all veggies roughly cut. Add some crushed garlic and some fresh tomatoes for extra love.

METHOD:

1. Brown the bones either by roasting them in an oven, under a broiler or even frying in the same pot. Remove excess fat if necessary.

2. Fry the veggies with a bit of olive oil until they get colour. Once they get colour add the browned bones, the herbs and top up with water.

3. Simmer for 4 to 5 hours.

4. Skim and then strain into a new container or pot.

5. Serve immediately or cool quickly.

6. When completely cool, cover and store it in the fridge. Remember to boil and simmer for 15 minutes before using it.

7. If you are not going to use it within 48 hours, put it in the freezer.

I hope your house starts filling with the aromas of freshly made stocks; you’ll see how your kids love it!

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

Perfect Parnoo

MICHAEL WRIGHT 0421 360 948

Here is an opportunity to buy a home that is a little bit French Provincial, a little bit Hamptons and whole lot of WOW. 6 Parnoo Place is framed by beautiful, colourful gardens that are manicured and landscaped and nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac in one of Orange’s most sought after locations. Offering four bedrooms and a gorgeous renovation, this home is a real showstopper. Upon entry you are met with a stunning kitchen offering everything the home-chef could possibly desire; including beautiful shaker cabinetry, a huge island bench with wine fridge, heaps of drawers, modern appliances and walk-in pantry. Upstairs are three bedrooms and two of the loveliest bathrooms you have ever seen. You’ll love the herringbone rustic tiles, feature walls and black tapware. There is a second living area with access to a separate courtyard and there is a third toilet off the laundry. Outside, you can sit underneath the wisteria and take in the private garden oasis. The 6.6kw solar panel system is an added bonus.

Price: $965,000

Cute and Compact

Tucked away down a quiet and private lane, this home is cute and compact in design but bright and airy with a sense of spaciousness that is surprising for its size. The combined living, dining and kitchen area is nicely zoned and the two bedrooms with built-ins are a great size.

View by appointment

This is an exceptional family home that perfectly balances modern luxury with practicality. There is plenty of space for family gatherings and entertaining guests and a wonderful indoor-outdoor flow between the house, the covered al fresco area and the north facing backyard beyond. Don’t miss your chance to secure this hidden gem.

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 10.15-10.45

This impressive home is set on 2621m2 of beautifully private manicured grounds with outstanding district views. For those luxurious lifestyle lovers searching for a relaxing retreat, this beautifully maintained home, in the premier Wentworth Estate, might just be it. If you’ve been looking for a really special home the wait is over.

View by appointment

This beautiful home is a total dream package. Fully and tastefully renovated from top to bottom, inside and out you can move in with nothing to do but enjoy the luxury on offer. You will love the sense of space and high end finishes and features and it will truly feel like home. Contact: Jacob

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 11.00-11.30

Price Guide: $1,150,000-$1,250,000

Great Value Home

Close to Orange High School and located in a quiet cul-de-sac with leafy walkways and parks close by this home would make a great first home or a sound investment. With its neat kitchen and good sized loungeroom, it’s a great value home in a well-established area and won’t last long.

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 11.45-12.15

Surprisingly Spacious

This surprisingly spacious unit is a rare find with a simple and practical layout plus three bedrooms and two bathrooms. With a living and dining area that can easily be zoned into usable spaces and wellappointed kitchen, this would make a lovely first home or retirement option or a good investment. Contact:

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 9.30-10.00

Tucked away on a battle axe block, es privacy, peace and quiet is ensured. The home has a sense of spaciousness through the open plan living area that’s flooded with natural light. This is the ideal home if you’re downsizing or want an easy care home to live in.

Open Homes: Thursday 13 March 4.30-5.00

This gorgeous home has it all, it’s been meticulously maintained and presents like new. You feel welcome instantly as you enter with the high ceilings, lovely neutral colour palette, spacious rooms and quality inclusions throughout setting the tone. Move in and put your feet up, there won’t be any work to do! Contact:

Viewing by appointment

Located in a lovely and elevated position is this spacious family home, equipped with a robust floorplan perfect for the family. This is a home that you can grow into with two living areas, large kitchen, fabulous master suite and smashing entertaining area in the private backyard.

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 10.15-10.45

This modern home offers style and practical living with nothing to do inside but to move in and add your personal touch of colour and style to the stunning canvas provided. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make this home yours and enjoy the best of North Orange living.

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 9.30-10.00

Tucked away in a cul de sac in the popular Rosewood Estate, this home has a very flexible floorplan lending itself to many different living styles for the multi-generational family, for someone to work from home or to create a studio or workshop area.

This traditional brick bungalow with many original features, including timber floors, fireplace, high ceilings and decorative cornices, offers plenty of potential to make a sweet and cosy home for someone. With some planning and hard work, it would be possible to achieve an appealing blend of new and old.

Located in one of Orange’s most popular areas, this huge house is all about the flexible space it offers. This home has character about it from its unique façade to the features included inside. This home is hard to put into words, you really must see it for yourself.

127 Phillip Street

Price: $779,000

This neatly packaged house is sure to delight the first time buyer, downsizer or investors alike. It is packed full of features for its size and being set in a great school zone in a sought after area you really can’t go wrong with a property like this.

Are you looking for the perfect location to build your dream home? Look no further than this stunning vacant block located in beautiful West Orange. With an expansive area of 2,752 sqm, this elevated new development boasts breathtaking 360-degree views over Orange and the surrounding areas. Make your dreams a reality!

Open Homes: Saturday 15 April 11.00-11.30

Contact: Michael Wright 0421 360 948 431

Within easy walking distance of Bletchington School and backing onto Bletchington Oval, this well presented home is perfect for the growing family with large north facing lounge room, generous kitchen and dining area plus four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Huge backyard with garage with drive through access.

Renovated to perfection, this family home encompasses easy living and effortless functionality over two light filled levels and is simply stunning. The superb attention to detail runs right through the home. Once you see everything that’s on offer you will fall in love and never want to leave.

There is so much to love about this sweet cottage in the wonderful community of Molong. With its terrific floor plan, the lounge and living area face North which creates that lovely feeling of light and space that brings the entire cottage to life. This one won’t disappoint!

Nestled in one of Orange’s most desired cul-de-sacs, this lovely home has been recently updated and is surrounded by established gardens. The landscaping, courtyards, gardens and attractive home with flexible floorplan combined with wonderful lifestyle on offer make this a dream home come true.

Here’s the ideal family home with an abundance of space throughout including two living areas, large kitchen and some recent upgrades. There’s a lovely big pergola area to entertain and relax under whilst taking in views over the surrounding countryside. Bring the family and see it for yourself.

This home, with its tastefully updated kitchen and bathroom, is perfect for a first home buyer or investor. The big jobs inside have been done and the block is a very manageable 493 sqm in size. The backyard has a great shed with a covered patio area offering a shady spot to sit in summer.

For families seeking comfort and a convenient location, this property will certainly tick those boxes. The lounge room is bright and airy, and the well-equipped kitchen at the heart of the home. This is a perfect opportunity to secure an attractive and practical home you can be proud of.

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“It’s a very good size block, over 900 square metres and it’s the complete package – everything is done! So here is your chance to purchase this great property that the owners have put so much into!”

For more information, contact Chris Tyack on 0438 258 590

One For The Investors And Developers

Offering to the market for the first time in over 72 years.

Superbly located just off the Northern distributor, this block is prime for development. Block size 1.81* ha.

• Situated in Orange city councils R2 zone, large lot residential

• 3-bedroom older weatherboard home

• Near new steel frame shed, 18m x 12m x 4m, 4.5m bays with sliding doors

• Town water to the boundary

Ideally located in Northeast Orange, lending itself to further subdivision in the rapidly growing regional city of Orange.

Small Acreage situated in very close proximity to the Orange CBD

Auction Friday 5th May, 10:30am

Venue 152 William St, Bathurst

Inspect Sat 15th April 9.45-10.15am

Ben Redfern 0457 770 062

Peter Bromley 0404 037 729 eldersem.com.au * Approx.

Terrific opportunity to secure some acreage on the doorstep of Orange, situated on 15* ha/ 37* acres, this property is prime for further development. Features include:

• Near level block with established pasture

• 2 Spring fed dams, offering water security

• 1 bedroom brick veneer house, suitable to live in while you build your dream home

• Mature and establish trees and windbreaks

• Sealed access, only minutes from the Orange CBD

Auction Friday 5th May, 10:30am

Venue 152 William St, Bathurst Inspect Sat 15th April 9.00-9.30am

Ben Redfern 0457 770 062

Peter Bromley 0404 037 729 eldersem.com.au * Approx.

MEWS’ 99 BATHURST ROAD, ORANGE

A BETTER LIFESTYLE AWAITS YOU HERE IN THIS NEW GATED COMPLEX

Just listed on the market so don’t miss out on the opportunity here.

This neat clad home set on a huge 1,492 m2 block and is waiting for new Owners to renovate and make it theirs or for developers to take advantage of the land size (subject to Council approval).

A large four car garage (6m x 12m) would be ideal for the hobbyist or for the car enthusiast alike. The location is close to Primary Schools and the Alpine Shopping Centre is an easy walk if you need to grab some milk, take away food or a haircut.

16 FOX AVENUE, ORANGE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE SCHOOL

A fantastic family location in a small, quiet and leafy street around a one minute walk to Bletchington School’s main gate.

With 3 bedrooms, this home is well presented both inside and outside with the living areas featuring a separate loungeroom with gas heating, a bright and an airy family room with wall to wall built in storage and reverse cycle air-conditioning.

Other features include a double garage and workshop, garden shed and a rainwater tank. $590,000

FIRST FLOOR OFFICE SPACE – VERY CENTRAL

A pleasant light and airy premises consisting of three separate offices plus a large open plan reception/ working area.

Separate kitchen/staff room with your own private bathroom amenities . Very handy location with views over Robinson Park.

RENT: $27,000 P.A. + GST

Refurbished with new carpets and freshly painted throughout, this home is located in a quiet small street within easy walking distance to the new Department of

RENT: $500 PER WEEK

Few homes are offered for lease exuding the quality presentation as this three bedroom fully renovated home does yet still retains the charm of yesteryear. The stunning kitchen has a butler’s pantry, dishwasher, timber benchtop and opens to a large dining area with plentiful natural light and a lovely outlook. Other features include a formal loungeroom, extra bench space and cupboards in the laundry, central reverse cycle air conditioning, ceiling fans throughout and an attractive bathroom. There are verandas, both front and back, to sit in quiet and enjoy. The large yard allows privacy and at the back is a 9m x 6m shed ideal for a workshop or storage. Positioned in popular East Orange and very handy to schools and an easy drive to the CBD.

RENT: $550 PER WEEK

CALL NOW, JOHN 0417 887 738 or CHRIS 0417 626 361