soup

I’ve made bone broth a few different ways, and there really isn’t a right way, but using a rotisserie chicken is by far the easiest way! I simply use the rotisserie chicken meat for a meal, but instead of getting rid of the chicken carcass, I keep it and use it to make a wonderfully good-for-you bone broth. Sometimes I use the meat to add right back into the broth once it is finished which makes the tastiest chicken soup, and sometimes I make another recipe that calls for shredded chicken and freeze the bone broth once it is finished.

Bone broth is all the rage right now, with bone broth cafe’s popping up in bigger cities like New York. Why? Because of bone broth’s amazing health benefits. It has been called better than botox broth because of the many benefits it contains for skin, hair and nails. Homemade bone broth contains collagen and gelatin that makes your skin plump up & hair shine! It not only makes your outsides glow, but it does amazing things for your inside, too! It heals your gut by coating your intestines and also cushions your joints and relieves inflammation.

I started making bone broth on a regular basis specifically for brain health.  I love learning what I can do with food to make our guts healthy which in turn makes our brains healthy too! The minerals from bones are wonderful, and this method of making bone broth extracts calcium, potassium & the calming mineral, magnesium, right into the broth.

Why not just use store-bought stock? Sometimes I do if it is organic from a brand I trust, and I need convenience. Most of the stocks you can buy at the store do contain gelatin, but is thinned down with water so the gelatin content is very low.  Cheaper brands have to make up the flavor somehow, so they use additives: salt, yeast extracts and MSG. Even the most expensive, organic brands have super high salt content and you have to pay a pretty penny for them.

Any chef will tell you the key to a delicious soup is a nice, hearty, rich, homemade broth. I am known for my delicious homemade soups and the reason why they are so good is because of bone broth. You now know my soup secret! Making your own is so easy, it will make your home smell wonderful & is cost efficient way to give great boosts to your health through food.

Benefits of Drinking Bone Broth

~it is one of the most nutrient dense, whole foods that you can make

~it is super hydrating

~gives steady energy throughout the day if you drink it in the morning. A cup for lunch gives energy during the afternoon energy slump.

~it is rich in amino acids & trace minerals

~research shows that chicken broth boosts immune function

Tips For Making Bone Broth:

~Do not boil. Boiling can destroy collagen molecules. A slow simmer is best.

~Use vinegar when possible to pull out the trace minerals & collagen from the bones.

~Use an organic chicken, one with no hormones & no antibiotics. Whole Foods has organic rotisserie chickens.

~Celebrate if you see that the broth become gelatinous when refrigerated. That is a great sign that you extracted all the good stuff from the bones. That is liquid gold!

~Want to pull even more health benefits from the bones? Soak the bones in cold water with the vinegar & vegetables for 15 minutes to an hour before turning on the heat.

~Oftentimes, there will be wonderful gelatin left in the bottom of the rotisserie container if you have refrigerated the chicken before preparing the broth. Don’t let that go to waste! Dump it right into your broth or save it with your chicken to add later to the soup or whatever dish you are making. You can see it in the picture below.

~Make your own rotisserie chicken in the slow cooker with a Trader Joes Organic whole chicken. {instructions here}

~Bone Broth keeps fresh in refrigerator for up to 5 days.

~Can freeze in mason jars or ice-cube trays.

~Not ready to make bone broth but have leftover bones? Freeze them in a ziplock.

~Not gonna be home for hours? Use a slow cooker instead of the stove. Instructions below.

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Bone Broth Plain & Simple

Recipe Type: sides

Ingredients

• Rotisserie Chicken bones & skin
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 organic carrots halved
• 3 stalks organic celery halved
• 1 organic onion halved
• 6-10 cups water
• Kosher salt & pepper

Instructions

1. Take all meat off a rotisserie chicken. Save the meat and set aside.
2. Place the carcass & skin in large pan.
3. Cut up 2 organic carrots, add to the pan.
4. Cut up 2 organic celery stalks, add to the pan.
5. Cut an organic onion in half, add to the pan. If organic, can leave skin on.
6. Add water to the pan, until it comes a few inches above the chicken bones. I never measure the water. It all depends on the size of your pan and the amount of bones you have.
7. Add the vinegar & pepper.
8. Optional: Let all soak for 15-1 hour to bring even more gelatin out of the bones.
9. Bring to a simmer and remove any scum that rises to the top. Remove the scum, but keep the fat.
10. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and let simmer for 12-24 hours.
11. Remove bones from the broth using a slotted spoon, & strain the rest using a mesh strainer until to remove any bone fragments.
12. Let broth cool, strain, add salt to taste, & store in mason jars. Freezes beautifully!

Print

Bone Broth (Slow Cooker)

Recipe Type: sides

Ingredients

• Rotisserie Chicken Bones & Skin
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 organic carrots halved
• 3 stalks organic celery halved
• 1 organic onion halved
• 6-10 cups water or enough to cover chicken bones & vegetables by a couple of inches
• Kosher salt & Pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in your slow cooker. Cook on low for 15 hours. (I do overnight.)
2. Let broth cool, strain, add salt to taste, & store in mason jars. Freezes beautifully!

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What do you think? Do you make your own broth? Do you want to make bone broth after reading how simple it is and all of the health benefits it brings?

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