Bone Broth...It's not just for soups

With the cooler weather upon us and the days becoming shorter, my thoughts turn to hearty comfort meals. I love having a large pot of soup or stew simmering on the stove, scenting the house with rich smells. Scapa loves those days too and waits patiently at my feet for any droppings. She knows my cooking style. Bone broth is a wonderful superfood that is easy to make, packed with nutrients and inexpensive. I always use it as a base for my soups and use organic bones and vegetables. It's beneficial to us and to our animals. So why not share with your pet? Bone Broth is rich in amino acids and collagen and is a simple healthy addition to our dog's and cat's diet. There are many benefits to bone broth and I've listed a few. • Supports brain health • Supports digestion and a healthy gut • Supports skin health • Supports brain health • Supports liver health • Anti-seizure supporting with proper diet • Great nutrition for sick or elderly dogs

So grab a pot and let’s get started! You can use raw or cooked bones and be sure to include cartilage and joint bones in the broth. I use organic bones and alternate between chicken/turkey and beef. I also freeze any cooked bones for future use but be sure to clean off any sauces before adding to your stock. Ingredients 1-2 pounds organic bones – to get sufficient gelatin you can include chicken necks etc. Just enough filtered water to cover the bones and 2” above 1-2 tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar Use any vegetables or spices (that are beneficial to animals) you would like. I will throw in carrots, turnips, celery, ginger (if feeding to cats please do not use ginger) and some turmeric Cook at low temperatures for 12-24 hours. Beef bones can be cooked for longer. You can also throw all ingredients into a slow cooker to achieve the same results. Please note that many slow cookers may have lead in the glaze and have the potential to leach into the foods. I use a VitaClay slow cooker which I love, love, love. It is a bit more expensive than others but it works wonderfully and the cooking time can often be reduced (no I am not paid to promote…I just like it). When the broth is finished, strain the bones. Any meat bits can be stripped for the bones and be fed to your pet. Skim off any excess fat after the broth has been chilled. If it has a jelly-like consistency when it’s cold... Job well done! Bone broth can be frozen in small containers, even ice cube trays, added to food, used to hide medications or made into low-calorie treats. The possibilities are endless!