Martha Stewart's Cooking School Season 1 Episode 4 Stocks

Martha Stewart's Cooking School season 1 episode 4, titled "Stocks," is a lesson in the foundation of many dishes - the perfect stock. In this episode, Martha shares her secrets for creating rich and flavorful chicken, beef, and vegetable stock, as well as how to use them in a variety of recipes.

The episode begins with Martha breaking down the difference between stock and broth. She explains that while the terms are often used interchangeably, stock is typically made with bones and vegetables, while broth is made with meat and vegetables. She goes on to demonstrate how to make a basic chicken stock, starting with bones and root vegetables and adding herbs and aromatics for extra flavor.

Next, Martha teaches viewers how to make a classic beef stock, using a combination of beef bones and meat, along with the same basic vegetable and herb ingredients. She also shows how to create a hearty vegetable stock using a variety of vegetables like onion, carrot, and fennel.

Throughout the episode, Martha emphasizes the importance of using high-quality ingredients and taking the time to properly simmer the stocks for maximum flavor. She also offers tips for storing and freezing stock so it can be used in a variety of recipes.

To demonstrate how versatile stocks can be, Martha prepares a variety of dishes using her homemade stocks. She makes a classic chicken noodle soup, a savory beef stew, and a fragrant vegetable risotto that showcases the depth of flavor that can be achieved with a well-made stock.

The episode concludes with Martha sharing her recipes for making chicken, beef, and vegetable stocks at home. Viewers are sure to feel more confident in the kitchen after watching this informative and instructive episode of Martha Stewart's Cooking School.