beautiful bone broths!

This bounty will last in the fridge for up to 3 days...

Bone broths have seen something of a resurgence lately, amidst all the convenience, processed and packaged foods, people are starting to revert back to 'proper' food - latest cook books are about eating wholesome; we are getting back to basics again.

This includes a 'waste not, want not' attitude, today's leftovers are used for tomorrow's lunch, and if you've had a roast, use every scrap - including the bones/carcass for delicious stock to use your next few days meals.
Bone broths are essentially just simmering bones on a low heat, or chucking them in a slow cooker for hours on end, either just on their own (which I prefer for the meaty taste), or with whatever scraps of veg are left in your fridge.

The bony benefits:

The old remedy of having chicken soup when sick really did work - bones are so nutrient rich, with a dense mineral and amino acid profile it's no wonder. A medical study done in 2000 has since proven this, whereby having chicken soup when you have a cold actually does reduce its severity, and speeds up the healing process.
So why only have it when sick? Why not have it all winter to prevent or lessen the effects of colds and bugs that go around.
Let food be thy medicine! Bone broths are known to 'heal & seal' the intestinal tract which is great for digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease, IBS, and leaky gut.
What's even better is that 70% of our immunity lies in our intestines, so by healing and sealing them, we improve our immune system too.
Below is some more specific benefits:

• Bones contain gelatin (like what's used to make jelly!) - which soothes and coats the intestinal tract, as well as giving us shiny hair and strong nails; and glutamine - an amino acid that is great for repairing any intestinal damage caused by inflammation, and supports the liver and overall digestion. A double G, double whammy of goodness!
• Reduces bone & joint pain - Collagen and glucosamine  are good for our own bones and joints, effectively 'lubing' them up - reducing inflammation, and associated pain in conditions such as arthritis.
• Eat bones to mend bones -  The minerals calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus all help to repair, build upon, strengthen and promote growth of our own bones. Great for osteoporosis, and to help prevent its occurrence, broken bones that need to heal, and for weight-lifting gym bunnies.
• Keeps your skin supple - This is collagen again, what a wonderful thing it is! It helps maintain skin elasticity, and to keep the wrinkles at bay.
• Helps you sleep - The amino acid glycine is responsible for this, it becomes a neurotransmitter building block that calms the central nervous system and helps you to relax.
• All-rounder amino acids - We needs amino acids , building blocks for a whole range of processes and functions within our body, they include: Proline - Great for the heart and arteries. Arginine - Supports kidney function, improves wound healing, aids in digestion. Glycine - As well helping with sleep, this bad boy also helps in muscle repair and growth, and helps to regulate blood sugar levels.

simple bone broth recipe:

• Whatever bones you have left from whatever you roasted. It's preferable to have browned them rather than put raw bones in - they tend to be bloody, and that can make the broth taste sour.
• If using chicken - remove any skin as the fat in it can also make the broth taste bad
• Put in slow cooker or big stock pan and cover with water.
• Add a couple of teaspoons of (apple cider) vinegar, this will help draw out the bone minerals.
• Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer.
• Skim off any of the scum that floats to surface with a slotted spoon, this is fat, which can contain toxins.
• Broths need at least 4 hours if you can't wait; I tend to put mine in the stock pot before bed, and leave it overnight on low.
• Strain liquid into jars and leave to cool. Though I often drink a mug of it 1st thing whilt it's still hot.
• Jars can keep in fridge for up to 3 days.
• Heat up to drink, or add to any cooking for extra deliciousness!

Bone broths are a relatively new edition to my food intake repetoire; having been a vegetarian for over a decade, the mere thought of bone broths never entered my mind. But after reading up on the benefits and having had some digestive and immunity issues, I tentatively decided to give it a go.
My meat eating remains tentative, I still prefer veggies.- but I am fortunate to have an excellent and knowledgeable butcher who supplies traceable, local, and free-range/organic produce.
This conveniently suits my rather principaled meat eating criteria - there is so much in the media lately about poor factory farming methods which I disagree with, as well as genetically modified (GM) feed being used, and undeclared. Who knows how much of an impact this will have on us in the future.
I think if we are to eat what is from the bones of animals - we should owe it to ourselves to do so with the best we can get. Buy organic if you can - an organic whole chicken starts at around £8, that feeds our household of 2, 2 days worth of meals + stock.
Or if you have a butchers nearby get them to sell you bones - they often have them leftover from what they have cut, and this makes it much cheaper too.

So, give it a go, switch one of your daily cuppas for a cup of bone broth instead, give your body some extra nourishment and warm your cockles with this delicious brew - Cheers!