Bone Broth: Brodo

Have you been hearing about bone broth? If not you might have been living  under a rock. I learned about bone broth years ago, and I fully believe all the hype. Why? Because it's an ancient food that so many cultures have revered for health and healing and science has finally caught up with the truth in their wisdom.

Here's what the Huffington Post says about the huge bone broth bandwagon. I for one avoid those, but hey- this is truly healing and delicious and something previous generations always had simmering on the stove or in the fireplace. So, when someone got sick or had a baby, they poured a cup of steaming broth for both comfort and healing.

There's an old South American proverb that says, "Good broth will resurrect the dead."

I think you know what they mean; it's just that healing.

My beautiful friend from Kenya told me after her youngest son was born that it was a tradition that after a woman gave birth in her country, she was supposed to drink bone broth for something like ten days afterward. She was upset that she hadn't any bones at that time, so my husband and I went and bought her a few bags of them. It made her day. I wish now I had actually taken the time to learn and prepare the broth for her.

Marco Canora (his name is linked to his site) is a genius restaurant owner/chef who

  utilized a little window in New York City and gave the city slickers an opportunity to get a hot, healthful bone broth in place of their afternoon coffee or fast food. His book is informative and also full of delicious recipes. I highly suggest it!

In our modern diets, we are ill, overweight and we feel sluggish, fuzzy brained, stiff and sore, and always tired no matter how much coffee we drink. Sad state of affairs when some simple changes can turn it all around. Ancient wisdom prescribed bone broth for what ailed them, and I wish modern doctors were half so smart.

Gelatin is the result of boiling bones down (and even better to have marrow inside) and it's what makes the cooled liquid broth jiggly. Gelatin is proven to improve digestion, joint health, and a good bone broth is nutrient- dense, containing minerals the body can easily absorb, and transports saminoglycans or GAGs, that are from the cartilage and tendons on the bones.

You don't need to eat a lot of meat. You would however, feel so much better if you regularly sipped a nourishing bone broth.

I believe the English call it a beef tea. During World War II, when scientists in America started looking for cheap, industrial methods to feed us, they came up with MSG. This artificial flavor enhancer took the world by storm and not to our benefit. Households started taking short cuts and using bullion cubes and conveniently dehydrated soups instead of a good old fashioned, long simmering bone broth and health of the average consumer began to decline. In fact, it's ridiculous to note that hospitals began to serve bullion instead of real broth for the sake of convenience. That's disturbing and makes me realize how important it is to know how to care for yourself and family and friends. How much illness could be- would be- avoided with some simple home cooking and a more restful lifestyle?

Bone broth isn't complicated and it isn't hard. If you have a crockpot you have a convenience food in the making! Make a batch, and refridgerate it to use all week. Make a big pot and freeze portions for homemade soups, stews, sauces and the odd sick friend. If you always have it on hand you have a medicinal comfort at your finger tips. If you're ill, you will be so glad you did yourself the favor of making bone broth for just such a time.

Brodo is a recipe book that will get you well on your way to appreciating bone broth, soups made with it, as well as arming you with the facts as to why you would benefit from learning this simple skill. And hey, if you really don't want to learn, that's okay, Mr. Canora sells it and you can order it online. Remember the link to his site is his name at the top of the page.

* I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased written review

(It's one of the best books I have reviewed for common-sense living)