Good to the Bone: Pasture-Raised Bone Broth
Bone Broth is all the rage right now. Doctors, nutritionists and even celebrities are getting behind this cure-all elixir. Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley claim it to be a huge part of their diet, helping to keep them looking young and healthy. Even Kobe Bryant attributes bone broth to giving him energy on the court.
Broth has been shown to heal the gut, improve elasticity in skin and reduce inflammation in the joints. Sounds amazing, right?! So why not give it a try it?
We're all about no-waste here on the farm so we always try to find ways to utilize as many parts of the pig as possible. So we set out to make broth a while back and turns out... we LOVE IT. Jeniffer (our "farm chef") cooks a big lunch for everyone each day at the farm so she uses it in pots of veggies, soups and as a substitute for dishes that call for chicken broth. It saves $$ and adds a nice flavor to the dish.
You can also drink a cup of it in the morning in place of coffee, or as a snack later in the day to curb cravings. However, I don't recommend drinking it straight.. always add sea salt, herbs and spices. Here's a few quick and easy combinations to make it tastier:
Everyday broth: one cup broth (heat in microwave), stir in a pinch of sea salt and pepper, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar + 1 tsp of an herb (chopped parsley, dill or thyme)
Spicy broth: one cup broth (heat in microwave), stir in a pinch of sea salt and pepper, 1 tsp apple cider vinegar + 1 tsp of an herb (chopped parsley, dill or thyme) + 1 tsp of hot sauce OR 1/4 tsp of paprika and a pinch of cumin.
Immune Boosting Broth: one cup broth (heat in microwave), stir un 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tsp grated ginger, pinch cayenne, juice of 1/2 lemon.
Making homemade broth isn't as challenging as you may think. Read on to learn how:
1. Start with 2 lbs. of pastured pork bones. (5 lbs. of bones are pictured)
Place bones in a roasted pan, set oven to 350 and roast them for 30 minutes to help bring out some extra flavor.
2. Once bones are roasted, throw them in a crockpot and cover with water. Turn on low. Add two tbs of Apple Cider Vinegar (The ACV helps bring out the nutrients in the bones), OPTIONAL: Add 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 onion and any herbs and spices you like ( I recommend adding thyme or basil, peppercorns and sea salt)
3. Let it cook on low for 8-24 hours.
4. Remove bones with tongs and strain the remaining broth into a bowl using a cheesecloth. 5. Funnel the broth into mason jars, let cool completely before putting on the top.
6. Store in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for 3 months.
Pork bone broth has a rich golden color making it a beautiful addition to soups. When your broth is cooled in the fridge, you'll notice it turns to a gelatin. THIS IS GOOD. That's what gives you all the dense nutrients and collagen. There will also be a layer of white fat at the top. When you're ready to use it, just skim off the fat and heat up the broth. ENJOY!
** incorporate one oz. cup each day into your diet to gain all of the benefits
