Happy Wednesday everyone!! Hope you all are having a great week! We are now beginning to embrace the cooler, crisp mornings and I figured there was no better time than to share one of my favorite things to sip on, bone broth! …It may sound a little weird to some of you but I promise, its not!! This past weekend, I cooked up a fresh batch, some of which I froze and some which I keep in mason jars for the week. Walking into my kitchen and smelling a wonderful Thanksgiving aroma is quite common. This weekend, my husband was in his grad school class all day and to his dismay, that Thanksgiving smell he walked into was only bone broth simmering away!
For those of you wondering why I am sharing bone broth today, there are numerous reasons! Bone broths are nutrient-dense, easy to digest and rich in flavor making them quite fulfilling! I find that when I drink a cup, I feel like I have eaten a meal! I am satisfied and full and don’t experience cravings for any sweet treats. It is also super EASY and inexpensive, so… why not?? This weekend was the first time I tried making bone broth in my Instant Pot (pressure cooker) — making it a very quick process but I normally will use my slow cooker and will let it simmer for a few days. I personally prefer the slow cooker, as I found the flavoring to be a bit more rich and it really allows for the broth to absorb all of the flavors. The simmering of the bones releases minerals and nutrients like collagen and glycine along with important amino acids that can transform your health! Broths that have all these nutrients are absorbed very easily (better than from taking supplements) and are known to reduce inflammation and improve digestion along with boosting the immune system.
As we age, cartilage diminishes. I wrote about collagen supplementation earlier this year in this post. Collagen is known to improve joint discomfort and also helps to support healthy bone density. Not to mention, collagen firms and strengthens the cells in your skin keeping it vibrant and youthful! From a weight-loss perspective, bone broth has ZERO carbs and is very low in calories; and of course, gluten-free. I tell clients when they are trying to learn to eat less but are always hungry that bone broth is a perfect option because of its filling effects.
Well… enough on why it is so good. Give it a try!
- Filtered water
- 4 pounds of beef bones (most likely between 4 and 6 bones depending on the size)
- 1 medium onion, cut in large slices
- 1 carrot
- 1 1/2 stalks celery, cut in large sections
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 8 sage leaves OR 1 sprig rosemary (I love the rosemary! :))
- 6 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
- 1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves OR 2 bayleaves OR marjoram
- dash of course ground pepper
- Roast bones on a rimmed cookie sheet at 375 for about 50 minutes or until bones start to get crisp. The time varies depending on the size of the bones.
- Place all ingredients in the slow cooker and fill with filtered cold water to the top.
- Set heat to high for the first hour, then turn the heat to low and simmer for 1 to 3 days.
- When the broth is done, pour it through a strainer and discard all of the solids. Broth can be kept in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for a few months.
- Enjoy!
- Optional - Bone broth is to be consumed as is. If you refrigerate the broth and notice that fat has formed at the top, you can easily skim it off if you desire. You will still reap all of the benefits of the healthy broth.
- If you have any other preferred vegetables or herbs, they are great additions to the broth but do not add bouillon cubes because they have MSG and artificial flavors.