Giving homemade bone broth a try. A+.

It’s beginning to look like spring but it is also still damp with the cool mornings and April rains so I was in the mood to give Bone Broth a try.  Anyone researching how to improve health or maintain good health, may have run across articles on bone broth.  It's another method of attaining health from the 'farm-acy'. Many of our grandparents made it decades ago.  Science shows there may be something more to a mother’s instinct of 'feed a cold chicken soup'.  Bone broth is a source of gelatin, which may break down into collagen in the body*.  This is especially important in the joints. 

I always prefer to try something before sharing and love sharing great science-based tips.  I simply placed all my easy-to-find ingredients in a large crockpot and left it to simmer for 36 hours. Could not be easier!  This simmering causes the bones and ligaments to release healing compounds like collagen, proline, glycine and glutamine that have the power to transform your health.** And the benefits of coming home from work for two days to the aroma of a soup! I felt like I was walking into the comfort of my mother or grandmother’s kitchen.  ​

Simple pick up a couple packs of grass-fed ‘dog bones’ (yes label usually says Dog Bones which are simply 3-4” beef bones with marrow), 1 whole organic chicken (or I found a butcher with a dozen bones from boning their chicken meat), some people throw in a half dozen chicken’s feet.  Personally, I know they are loaded with collagen, but I kept chickens for years which I raised for their eggs and simply cannot use the feet.  For vegetable benefits and flavoring add 3 whole carrots, 3 stalks organic celery, an onion peeled and chopped in quarters, fresh parsley stems and all-a small bunch about 1/2c (or whatever herbs you like the flavor of), 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, a hefty tbsp. turmeric, 2 tsp. sea salt, a dozen peppercorns, 4 quarts of filtered water.  (I had to add the fourth quart at the end as my pot runneth’ over!)

After 24-48hrs remove the beef bones and give them to a dog to enjoy.  My dogs loved the well seasoned and cooked carrots and celery as well.  (Do not give the onions to dogs!)  Recipes you may find on the internet will instruct you to strain your broth in cheesecloth, which I did not have, so I simply strained it in a fine mesh baker's strainer and jarred my precious bone broth in about 11 pint jars. If you are on a Keto diet you will not want to skim the foam or fat from the surface.  If you wish you remove the fat, it is easy to do once it's cooled. I froze my pints after they cooled for future enjoyment - make sure you leave a little head room in the jars for expansion when frozen.  I know of others who put the broth in quart sized pans and freeze it; then cut the frozen broth into 4 blocks and store their cup-sized blocks in Ziplock freezer bags to later defrost in a pan on the stove to drink (or cook with).

Enjoy a cup of warm bone broth any time of day. I like to start my day with a cup of warm lemon water and then a cup of warm bone broth before I head to the office for my first cup of coffee or tea.  Bone broth is a hefty dose of nutrition in a delicious gut-healing cup.  For those dealing with IBS, Leaky Gut, Arthritis or other joint issues,... even aging skin,  I recommend you give Bone Broth a try.  
For more information on the benefits of bone broth:
*https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323903.php
**https://draxe.com/the-healing-power-of-bone-broth-for-digestion-arthritis-and-cellulite/
​
RECIPE:
3-5 Grass-fed Beef Bone 'Dog Bones' from butcher
Whole organic chicken or a dozen leg bones from butcher
3 whole carrots
3 stalks organic celery
1 onion peeled and chopped in quarters
1 small bunch fresh parsley stems and all- about 1/2c (or whatever herbs you like the flavor of)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. turmeric
2 tsp. sea salt
12 peppercorns
4 quarts of filtered water
​
Place ingredients in crockpot add water that will fit in container.  Set crockpot on low and cover.  Remove solid ingredients after 36 hours.  If initially you could not fit 4 quarts of water in crockpot, add the remaining amount now.  Strain liquid through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer.  Enjoy a cup.  Refrigerate what you will consume in two days.  Freeze the rest or share with friends!

PS If this process does not tickle your fancy but you are still craving bone broth simply contact TheHaleLife.com and order your small batch prepared, frozen blocks of grass-fed bone broth!