Food Journey 2015: Bone Broth

I LOVE food! The way it smells, the way it looks on my plate, and oooooh the way it tastes. It can be a problem, can being the operative word.  I'm beginning to realize more and more that not everyone has this struggle! There are many people in the world who can feel satisfied after only a few bites and never have to conscientiously think "how much is a portion?" "am I hungry or bored?" "three helpings of mashed potatoes is too much". The struggle is real! Those who don't struggle with it think it's just mind over matter, and in some ways it is, but for many it is a lifelong battle.

As part of my 2015 Health Initive (my "New Year's Evolution) I am making a more conscious effort to add healthier food into my family's diet (because let's face it-being in charge of the food gives ME that power).  The first thing I am trying is bone broth. Everyone is knows that when you are sick you should have chicken noodle soup, but...why? The broth! Yes, the protein from the chicken is obviously helpful, and the nutrients from the veggies is great, but the broth is the real reason.

Bone broth, be it beef, chicken, turkey, etc., has many health benefits.  According to several sources, including Dr. Axe (Food is Medicine), bone broth can help heal leaky gut, improve joint health, and boost the immune system. He says, "bone broth is rich in minerals that support the immune system and contains healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine, and proline" and then he proceeds to discuss those things in a little more depth. And he's not the only one-research it for yourselves! Before looking into it, I had no idea! I happened to be reading up on the benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and there were links to making bone broth. I'd always wondered what to do with my left over bones, and I now I know! 

I use broth in several recipes quite frequently, so after doing a bit of research, I decided I'd try to make my own broth the next time I made a turkey (we crockpot a turkey breast almost monthly). Well, last night was the night! I found a recipe on Pinterest that I felt like was easy, I had all the ingredients for on-hand, and that I could freeze. It is cooking now. I'll let you know how it goes!

UPDATE: After 36ish hours, I had a beautiful and tasty broth!! I strained what was left of the veggies and bones (gave some to my dog and threw the rest away). I ended up with 5 small freezer bags (2 Cups in each) and a few extra cups to make French Onion Soup tonight.  Yay! I will definitely be making this again in the future. Happy Cooking!