“Mama! This broth makes me feel SO good!” exclaimed my bright-eyed, expressive 7-year old daughter, as she sipped on some homemade chicken bone broth that I had made. She continued, “PLEASE make me drink this if I ever get sick. It’s just SO SO good!”
Let’s face it. Kids love what tastes good and what makes them feel good. That’s what we all enjoy, really. My little ones don’t need for me to spout off all the incredible health benefits of bone broth. They just want to drink something that tastes delicious and makes them feel good.
From a young age I remember seeing various books that contained the title Chicken Soup for the Soul. Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul. Everyone seemed to need some chicken soup.
Bone Broth Benefits
But why is chicken soup so good for the soul? It’s actually the bone broth that’s so healthy. It’s full of nutrition. And it’s absolutely delicious.
I used to buy any ole carton of chicken or beef broth from the grocery store. It flavored my recipes well, and I just assumed it was good for us. It didn’t occur to me to check the ingredients on the back of the box. But one day I learned that what I had been purchasing was really just chicken or beef flavored liquid. It wasn’t real bone broth. It wasn’t made from real chicken or beef bones. In fact, by using those cartons of broth, I had actually been adding harmful ingredients to my soups such as MSG and artificial colors and flavors rather than adding nutrition and health to our meals. Sigh.
I have had lot of “Aha!” moments through the years when it comes to health and wellness. As I started to learn about real bone broth and how nutritious it was, I knew I had to find a different option other than what I had been using. But I was too intimidated to actually make bone broth myself.
How We Got Started
I get intimidated to make new things. I think I might mess it up or do something wrong. I want to make changes, but I get overwhelmed when I have to try something new by myself. It helps me so much when I can watch someone else show me how it’s done.
For many years we raised and processed our own pastured chickens. I wasn’t intimidated to process chickens because I was doing it alongside my husband, and his confidence gave me confidence. Then, our kids started joining in the processing adventure, and it become a day of family work and fun. But I continued to put off making bone broth and instead gave our chicken bones to our dogs.
Thankfully one of our teenage sons said, “Mama, you really need to just start making bone broth. I know you can do it.” That encouragement was all I needed to give me the final push. I looked up a video by someone I trusted and finally felt the confidence to proceed with my first try at bone broth. And guess what? It turned out amazingly well! It was a beautiful golden color. It was so thick and gelatinous once it cooled off. I was hooked! Never again would our chicken bones go to the dogs before I had used them to make bone broth.
What Makes Bone Broth Special?
Bone broth is one of those nourishing traditions that has stood the test of time. Grandmas used to be famous for making pots of chicken soup. Older generations associate chicken soup with health and wellness. A good pot of chicken soup just smells pretty amazing too.
Collagen and Bone Broth
Bone broth is loaded with collagen protein that our bodies can readily use and absorb. The proteins are broken down into amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, and arginine. As we age our bodies stop making collagen on their own. We need collagen for healthy skin, bones, and joints.
Bone broth is excellent for the gut. There’s so much out there about gut health these days because our gut truly does affect the rest of our body. The gut has even been called our “second brain,” and rightly so. Supplements abound for consumers to purchase in order to strengthen the gut, and it can be hard to know which ones are legitimately helpful. But good quality bone broth is naturally nourishing to the gut, plus it’s delicious to consume.
Bone broth is rich in nutrients and contains essential vitamins and minerals. It is filled with magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and potassium, just to name a few. It also hydrates the body and strengthens the immune system.
There are many bone broth products and collagen powders on the market today. But, in my opinion, none of them compare to a homemade pot of simmered bone broth made from excellent quality animal bones.
Our Favorite Ways to Enjoy Bone Broth
Every time we cook and eat chicken in our home, we are guaranteed a delicious meal of soup within the following days. As our family finishes up with a chicken dinner, everyone knows to drop their chicken bones in the crock pot. I add in the carcasses, the chicken heads and feet I’ve set aside, and a few other ingredients and let the crockpot do its magic.
I used to think that chicken heads and feet were pretty gross. I preferred to toss them aside. But, then I learned that I was making a big mistake by leaving them out of my broth. They actually make homemade bone broth so much thicker and more gelatinous. And that’s what you want in a good quality broth. The gelatin soothes the digestive tract and promotes gut healing. So now we always save the heads and feet when we process chickens. We set them aside in freezer bags, and I add a few into the crockpot each time I make broth.
How To Make Bone Broth
You only need a few simple things to get started. While some prefer to use a stockpot, I love using my crockpot. The only other equipment needed is a strainer, measuring cup, and some mason jars to store your broth in until you’re ready to use it. In case you prefer to freeze your broth for future use, I can also recommend silicone cubes. I use mine frequently for freezing 1 cup cubes of broth. They are so convenient to pop out of the freezer and put directly into a pot of soup or stew.
Links
Silicon Soup Cubes (Orange)
Souper Cubes (Blue)
Colored Jar Lids
Hamilton Beach Crockpot
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
Kettle and Fire Bone Broth
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How To Make Bone Broth in a Crockpot (Easy)
Difficulty: Easy8
minutesIngredients
Chicken Bones, Carcass, Heads, and Feet
1 onion cut in half (no need to peel)
2-3 Bay Leaves
1/3 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
1/8 tsp. Peppercorns (or as much as you would like)
Water to cover or almost cover your bones
Additional Veggies you’d like to add in (optional)
Directions
- Place chicken bones in your crockpot, including caresses, heads, and feet
- Cut onion in half and add to crockpot, along with any other veggies you desire. Add peppercorns, bay leaves, and red wine vinegar
- Cover (or almost cover) all the ingredients with water.
- Simmer on low for 24 hours. Then, skim off any fat that rises to the top.
- Strain the broth through a fine mesh strainer to remove bones and vegetables.
- Optional: If you desire to make a second batch of broth, return the bones and vegetables to the crockpot and cover with water again and simmer on low for another 24 hours. Then, repeat steps 4-5.
- Store the broth in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for much longer.
Recipe Video
I hope I’ve convinced you try your hand at broth making. There’s nothing quite like sipping on a cup of homemade bone broth. It’s not nearly as intimating to make as I once thought. In fact, it’s quite simple to make and extremely satisfying. My 5-year old son always asks to help make broth, which brings joy to my heart.
In case you need to purchase a good quality broth in a pinch, or you’re just not quite ready to make your own broth yet, I can recommend the Kettle and Fire brand. It is not gelatinous like homemade bone broth, but it is made from real bones, and it’s full of nutrition and goodness. I keep Kettle and Fire bone broth on hand just in case I run out of our homemade broth.
Making and consuming bone broth is a nourishing tradition that’s been around for ages. I’m thankful to see a return to nourishing traditions in the younger generations. For those of you who may be interested in other foods and traditions that have stood the test of time, I can recommend Sally Fallon’s book Nourishing Traditions. It is an excellent and informative read with many helpful recipes included.
I’d love to hear what you like to add to your homemade bone broth. I like to learn new things even if they do intimidate me at first.
Happy brothing!
Allyson
