569132 Sun Nov 02 12:42:07 -0800 2008 6 31 Home Cooking 0 4144519 Can anyone recommend a good quality beef stock of beef base substitute for the real thing for use in soups and stews, etc.? Sun Nov 02 12:42:07 -0800 2008 28337 jcbroder 1 4144554 Imagine brand makes an excellent "Beef Flavored Cooking Stock". I use it all the time. It is MSG free, and not too crazy on the salt. Good flavor, and convenient. It comes in a box, usually in the "health foods" aisle. Sun Nov 02 13:07:23 -0800 2008 4144519 120180 tzurriz 1 4144560 I use Kitchen Basics stock, which is packaged in boxes. It is much lower in sodium than others and it is excellent. Sun Nov 02 13:11:50 -0800 2008 4144519 11196 anni 1 4144580 you betcha! >wink< Trader Joe's now has an alternative to the weak boxed or canned broths! They are reduced-sodium concentrates, packaged in small 'tubes', 12 per box at under $4. They are all excellent. Taste like the delicious bits of pan scrapings after roasting! Each tube makes a cup of broth, with 360 mg sodium. I use them all the time to enhance all kinds of multi-serving savory recipes. They've become my new secret weapon. Beef, Chicken, or Vegetable. No msg, colorings, or preservatives. Ingredients listed on the chicken stock: Chicken stock, natural flavor, maltodextrin (corn), chicken fat, sugar, salt, yeast extract, xanthan gum. Manufactured on equip shared with wheat, milk, eggs, soy, peanuts, fish adn shellfish, tree nuts. These would be great for comping and backpacking. Sun Nov 02 13:21:44 -0800 2008 4144519 11234 toodie jane 2 4144610 yeast extract is basically msg. it is the same chemical properties, but manufactured slightly differently. just an fyi. not trying to start up the whole msg argument/discussion again. Sun Nov 02 13:31:33 -0800 2008 4144580 120180 tzurriz 3 4144654 well thank you--I didn't know! Sun Nov 02 13:57:21 -0800 2008 4144610 11234 toodie jane 1 4144635 I use the Imagine and the Trader Joe brands with good results. Sun Nov 02 13:47:22 -0800 2008 4144519 23970 MandalayVA