The reality is..we're sick. A nasty viral crud has hit our house and been joined by a secondary infection. Two doctor visits and a call to the vet left us with vaporizers, meds, and a strong need for nourishment. To bring health and comfort to my weak charges, hearty bone broth has been bubbling on the stove top..just what the doctor ordered.
I have been asked several time how we make our broths and let me say it is ridiculously simple. Beef bones or a picked over chicken are the key players..set in a dry roasting pan and let work for an hour at 350 degrees. This gets the bones smokey and flavorful. Once done, they are placed in a stock pot or crock pot with plenty of garlic, onion, celery and carrot..a sliver of ginger root and horseradish root..one cayenne pepper..and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Left to work on its own for at least four hours and even better overnight, the minerals and nutrients meld with the tasty flavor of the vegetables for a hearty and quite nourishing treat. For added nutritional value add some carrot tops and herbs the last thirty minutes. We like thyme and parsley in bunches dropped in and let work until they are hardly recognizable.
When it's time for soup, I strain the broth through a fine sieve or some cheese cloth. The hearty broth can be sipped as is to nourish when feverish or congested. For the hungry one in recovery, root vegetables and barley are simmered in until tender. In this week alone we have consumed three stock pots of this healthful warm comfort.
On the in between, I have managed to steal a few moments at the design table to work a little on Prairie Tots. One tiny gal is almost ready..and has shown me a few flaws in my design. Notes were taken for next time to ease the work along. Hopefully she will be ready to see soon.
There are also piles of flannel characters gracing my sewing tables. It's my turn to share a story with the children this week and it seems they have quite a heart for my flannel board...time to transition the box from the birth of Christ to his boyhood.
Then there is June... the reality is..she just isn't making progress. She went from the lively goat in the picture to a frail and very weak baby and she just isn't improving. Consulting with the vet, we are working with her and some meds, but it doesn't look good. I feed her probiotics and bits of feed, holding her and soothing her.. she drinks fine, but just isn't getting going. We shall see.
Right now, I plan to sip some warm tea myself and take some immune boosters in an attempt to stay healthy during this nasty touch of junk.
5 comments:
Prayers for your family and June to get better. Blessings from Wisconsin.
Thank you, but June didn't make it through the night. So sad. Hope your family is well today.
I sure hope you are feeling better soon, all of you. Praying.
Thank you, Dolly.
I must try your way of making stock. I have gotten my soup bones out of the freezer today before I read this, so will try this. thanks! I have had the flu, on and off, for two weeks now. Children had it too, but they are better, thankfully!
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