Happy October People! We’re heading into my favorite time of year….Autumn! This time of year brings such beauty with nature’s foliage bringing a feast for the eyes, cooler temps that put a skip in my step, and it’s the gateway to the Holiday Season…Halloween, Thanksgiving and the fa la la of Christmas! Joy!
I love to spend even more time in the kitchen; cooking, baking and trying new fall recipes. It’s also a time when I bring back some of my old favorites, one of which is my annual nature’s flu shot - bone broth!
As I was making the first batch of the season, I decided to take some photos and make some notes along the way about the process so that I could share with you. Here goes!
Carrots, Celery, Onions, Garlic, Parsley, Thyme, Ginger, Bay Leaves, Peppercorns, Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric and Sea salt, and of course the bones…oh my! The beauty of bone broth is that there is no right or wrong way. Even in chopping your veggies, they don’t have to be pretty and neat. You can get as creative as you like, or keep it basic. For instance, in this batch I decided to add kale, seaweed and red pepper flakes. I also like the combo of beef (be sure to get with the marrow) and chicken bones. I like the dense flavors that they create. Plus, Grandma always said that chicken soup is the best medicine, so those bones go in.
I like to brown the bones a little first. Add a little water so they don’t stick. Then add the rest of the ingredients and cover with water. Bring it all to a boil, then cover and put it on a low flame to simmer for the next few hours. It’s really low maintenance at this point, just stir occasionally. There’s a lot of different information out there about the length of time to cook the bone broth. Some cook it for 12 hours or more. That doesn’t work for me and so I aim to do a minimum of 4 hours. This one I did for 5 hours.
Now, I’ll be honest, once your broth is done the next step is my least favorite. You have to strain the broth. It’s a messy process, as evidenced in the photos below. To help me along I tend to throw some music on and sometimes have a glass of vino. For this part you’ll need a strainer, colander, potato masher and a big pot. I do it this way because I like to get as much broth as possible. I mean, I’ve done all this work I want to maximize my efforts and get the most broth out of this deal! Helpful tip: keep a plastic bag nearby to drop the bones and larger pieces of veggies in.
Next up I like to strain the broth a second time through a finer strainer with smaller holes. I find it helps to provide a clean broth, free of sediment. Now, all that’s left is storage and clean up!
I used to section off the broth and freeze right away, but I found that was not the best. The broth tended to be ‘greasy’ at times. So what I found is best is to refrigerate the broth overnight. Then the next morning do a quick skim and then you’re all set to section off and store in the fridge and freezer.
Some tips/info that is helpful:
Keep a plastic bag in your freezer to store veggie scraps in between making your broth. Less waste plus it helps save money not having to buy all of the vegetables
The apple cider vinegar helps to draw the marrow out of the bone
I try to use organic vegetables and bones from free-range, grass-fed, humanely raised animals. Also use purified water
If you’re like me these days, you may be feeling a bit more anxious and stressed. I find that taking a moment just to sit and drink in this warm deliciousness, from a favorite mug, helps to calm my nerves
I encourage you to have fun with this. You’re doing something loving and healthy for yourself. You can drink your broth in between meals, have it as a side with your main course - hey it’s all the veggies you can ask for all in one place. I also tend to drink it while I’m cooking. It fills the gap between hunger and dinner is served!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. And if you make the broth I’d love to hear from you! Please share in the comments below.
Be healthy, be safe and Big Love, PatriciaG
Would love it if you head on over to my Shop to check out my Prints & Photo Note Cards for sale. I’ve added some great things to the collection.
All rights reserved. ©Copyright 2020 Patricia Geremia