Saturday, November 23, 2013

Bone Broth - Old Fashioned Nutrition

     Bone broth is a tasty, healthy, inexpensive, and nutrient-rich food which is made from slowly simmering the bones of beef, pork, poultry, lamb, or fish for several hours. Place bones in a stock pot or crock pot and add cold water. Add one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice to each gallon of water since it helps get the calcium, magnesium,  phosphorus, and other nutrients out of the bone. For making smaller amounts of broth reduce the vinegar/lemon juice by half. Nothing found in the canned-soup section of your supermarket is as good as the homemade variety.

     The high mineral content in homemade broth is good for strengthening the bones and teeth. The collagen (gelatin) supports the health of the joints, hair, fingernails, hair, and is soothing to the digestive system.

     Most supermarkets no longer carry large bones for soup-making, but bones can still be found by buying whole chickens, turkeys, pork neck bones, and spare ribs. After cooking, take the meat off the bones, place them in an air-tight plastic zip-lock bag, and store in the freezer. Keep saving the bones until you get enough to make a gallon of stock. Two pounds of bones per gallon of water is ideal.

     After adding the bones, vinegar (or lemon juice), and water to the pot, bring to a boil and then turn the heat down to the lowest setting and simmer until done. The amount of simmering time depends on the size of the bones:

     Beef broth - 24 hours for small bones, and up to 48 hours for large bones
                                                                              (if you can find them)
     Chicken broth - 24 hours

     Fish broth - 8 hours
   
     If you need to add more water to the pot while it simmers, heat it in a sauce pan before adding it so that the cooking process is not interrupted. An hour before it is finished cooking add a few of your favorite herbs, spices, onions, celery, and carrots. When done, let the pot stay on the stove until it cools down enough to strain out the bits of bone, spices, and vegetables with a fine metal strainer. Store the broth in large jars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you can't use it in 4-5 days, store it in an air-tight plastic container and put into the freezer.

     This can be used as the liquid in making soup, stews, gravies, and sauces. Can also be used for cooking rice, vegetables, and other meats for a rich satisfying flavor.

     Here is a basic recipe for broth/stock:

     You Will Need A Large Crock Pot or Stockpot
     2 pounds of bones
     1 gallon of water
     1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice
     1 onion (optional)
     1 clove garlic (optional)
     2 stalks of celery
     2 large carrots
     your favorite herbs

     If possible use filtered water and organic vegetables for a healthier product.         
   

   

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sources for Healthy Meat, Milk, and Eggs

The website, Eat Wild, offers a directory of over 1300 farms and ranches which offer pasture-raised beef, poultry, and organic eggs. In states where it is legal, raw milk can be purchased. Check link below to go to their website and find sources near you.


Eat Wild Farm and Ranch Directory


Reverse Disease Naturally

Dr. Lorraine Day reversed her advanced breast cancer by rebuilding her immune system through natural means. Check the link below to read about her amazing story.

Dr. Lorraine Day's Official Website


Healthy Natural Fats and Oils

Healthy fats such as cold-pressed, unrefined olive oil, coconut oil, and real butter are much better for you than the unnatural, overly-processed vegetable oils and margarine. Checks links below to find out why.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Fats and Oils

Fats and Oils For Optimum Health

Never Eat Processed Vegetable Oil or Margarine

Friday, October 4, 2013

British Berkefeld ( Berkey ) Portable Water Filtration System

The only water filter I am familiar with is the British Berkefeld, also known as the Berkey. I've owned one since 2002. It's one of the smaller, table-top models , holding two 7" ceramic filters in the top canister which removes chlorine, bacteria, cryptosporidium, giardia, salmonella, and sediment. It makes my tap water taste as sweet as spring water. For added protection, I add two fluoride/arsenic filters to the bottom of the others.

The Berkey works by gravity and produces up to 10 gallons of clean water per day. Just pour water in the top canister, and as it is filtered, it flows into the bottom canister. I use the filtered water for drinking, making coffee, tea, and for cooking.

It's lightweight when empty and easy to pack up and take with you on vacation.



Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Processed Food Ruins Health and Shortens Life Expectancy

Our commercial food supplies have been sprayed with herbicides, fungicides, and pesticides while still in the fields. Many of these poisons cannot be removed from the fruit, vegetables, and grain because it enters the soil and is taken inside the plants by the root system.

Below you will find a link to an excellent, comprehensive article discussing the following:

  1. How processed cereals are no longer natural foods
  2. Rat studies showing how the cardboard cereal box has more nutrition in it than the cereal in the box
  3. Old fashioned, natural, unprocessed grain porridge is healthy
  4. Dangers and additives in processed milk
  5. Dangers and additives in processed orange juice
  6. Natural nourishing broth vs. industrial soup
  7. Health problems caused by MSG
  8. Food industry's cooking fats and oils

Dirty Secrets Of The Food Processing Industry