Basic Vegetable Stock

This recipe is from, British Cook Annabel Karmel's book "Top 100 Baby Purees". She is an excellent source for homemade baby purees. Her website also offers a bunch of fun toddler recipes too, but unfortunately are not vegan. Here is her recipe for Basic Vegetable Stock. I've been using this for my kids for 2 years now. I even use it for my husband and I, but add salt.

Basic Vegetable Stock

1 onion
1 clove garlic
2 large carrots
a large leek
1 stalk celery
1tbsp olive oil
3 1/2c. water
fresh parsley, oregano, and bay leaf
peppercorn

Roughly chop all the vegetables. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan and saute the onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the vegetables and cook over low heat for 5 minutes to soften in the oil without browning.
Pour in the water and bring to a boil. Add seasoning and peppercorns. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour. Leave to cool for about 2 hours. Strain through a sieve. Squeeze the remaining juices out of the vegetables by pushing them down with a potato masher.
Leave to cool.