Bare Bone Broth

I pinky swear you have the time to make bone broth. Like, even if you get a wild hair on a Sunday morning. As long as you've been keeping chicken parts around in your freezer, you can throw this together. Seriously, I mean it.

---

Bone Broth - a Magic Healing Potion... But Why?

1. Gut Health: Like a Hug for Your Intestines Bone broth is packed with gelatin and collagen, which help seal up those tiny holes in your gut lining. Think of it as spackle for your digestive tract—but tastier.

2. Joint Support: WD-40 for Your Knees All that collagen and glucosamine can help soothe achy joints.

3. Skin Glow: The Edible Instagram Filter Collagen helps plump your skin from the inside out. You can still get Botox if you want, but it doesn't hurt to double-up!

4. Sleep Support: Like a Warm Blanket in a Mug It contains glycine, an amino acid that helps you relax and sleep better. It's like chamomile tea with muscles.

5. Mineral Boost: The OG Multivitamin Bone broth brings the calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium—without the chalky horse pills.

6. Hydration Hero: Salt, Water, and Vibes All those electrolytes can help hydrate you better than a sports drink, especially after a long night (of parenting… or wine. You choose.)

7. It Makes You Feel Like a Witchy Kitchen Goddess Simmering bones for 12+ hours? Stirring your bubbling cauldron with smug satisfaction? Welcome to your cottagecore era.

I'm a 'fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants' type of cook so I'm going to give you the bones (get it?) of this recipe but not necessarily exact measurements. I know that might stress some of you out, but sometimes cooking is about rolling with your instincts and what you've got laying around!

Ingredients:

Chicken carcass parts - I buy whole chickens from my local farm store and roast one some Sundays. Once all the meat is taken off I put the bones in the freezer. I keep adding to the bone bag every time I roast a chicken.

Celery, carrots, onion - you don't need fresh! Every time I use these in another dish, I just keep the odds and ends in the freezer until the next time I make a broth.

Water - enough to cover the chicken bones; you'll need to add more as it cooks to keep it covered

1 tsp (ish) Turmeric - I think this adds a nice earthiness to the broth + the color is makes it all cozy-like

Whole Black Peppercorn - adds a little pizzazz

2 Bay Leaves - I don't even know what these do, but the recipe that I used in the very beginning of my bone broth career says to use them

Apple Cide Vinegar - helps release some of the nutrients from the chicken; JUST A SPLASH

4 or so Garlic Cloves - there is literally no recipe that I use that doesn't have garlic in it, garlic is good

Go ahead, press that EASY button! And by that I mean turn your stove on...

Put that chicken in a sturdy stock pot. I use an enameled cast iron dutch oven and you will have to pry it from my cold dead hands because I love it the most (other than my children).

Throw in all your other bits (celery, carrot, apple cider vinegar, garlic gloves, black peppercorn, turmeric, bay leaves).

Pour water over chicken & things until covered.

Set your burner to a temperature that will make your broth lightly simmer. Not boiling. And make sure there are some baby bubbles coming to the surface the whole time.

Your goal is to let it go for 12+ hours. May I suggest binge-watching Animal Kingdom on Netflix, interspersed with Baby Shark?

You'll need to add more water to keep everything covered.

If any sludge or froth rears its ugly head on top of your broth while simmering, just scoop it off. It's not harmful, but can give your broth a bit of ick.

Once your 12 hours is up, strain out all the solid bits. I use a metal mesh strainer. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll strain multiple times.

Pour your broth into jars and let them cool on the counter before putting them in the fridge.

Scrape off any fat that solidifies on top. You can use this the same way you might use other cooking fats like lard or coconut oil.

If done right, your broth should be like a jelly when it's cold. This means you got all that collagen from them connective tissues.

YOU DID IT! Now, you're ready to raise chickens and make your own clothes!