Bone broth consists of easily absorbed important nutrients that help to heal the gut and strengthen the body. It's used as a base for soups and stocks or sipped alone as a morning beverage to help heal stress and digestive and autoimmune disorders.
1. Use any combination of animal bones to fill a pot.
chicken carcass (simply save all chicken carcases and throw them in the freezer until it's time to cook)
chicken feet (these make a thick gelatin broth, available at ethnic markets)
beef bones (ask the butcher for soup bones or save up your own beef bones until there's enough for a soup)
ham bones
fish bones (I get salmon fresh at the docks in season and ask for extra bones.)
2. water to cover the bones
3. 1/4 cup or a couple glugs of apple cider vinegar.
4. Add any combination of vegetables, herbs and flavorings.
carrots
celery (save the celery ends to put into a soup broth)
onions
garlic
bay leaves
peppercorns
fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley
Medicinal immune herbs - Astragalus, burdock root, Shiitake mushrooms
do not use cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc). They make it bitter.
Simmer for 6-12 hours for chicken and 12-24 hours for beef bones. Allow pot to cool slightly then strain out bones and refrigerate. The animal fat will float to the top so it can easily be scooped off. the bone broth that is left should be thick and gelatinous (like jello). Store it in quart jars in the fridge or in plastic containers in the freezer.
5. Troubleshooting - if it doesn't turn into gelatin, like jello in the fridge.
Is the temperature too high? High temperature will denature the gelatin proteins.
Is there too much water for the amount of bones?
Why broth? Bone broth releases valuable minerals and proteins into a nourishing liquid that is easier for the body to absorb. Broth's are particularly good for digestive distress - allowing easy absorption of nutrients without any extra work by the digestive system. The stove top or crock pot did all the work of breaking down the food! Bone broth in particular is helpful in healing digestive and autoimmune disorders by helping to heal up the stomach and intestinal walls. Whether digestive and autoimmune disorders have caused stress, body pain or thyroid and adrenal dysfunction, healing bone broths are helpful in healing the system.
6. Shortcut - bone broth can now be purchased in a powder from my online store. The only thing missing is the love that goes into a pot simmering on the stove for hours.
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