Chicken Broth

Ahhh, what a lovely chicken carcass! SAID NO ONE EVER!

Sorry about the horrid pictures.

You could be in the very center of the biggest city in the world in your cozy little apartment and still feel like a pioneer gal making this stuff. You’ll feel so happy, knowing you’ve been resourceful and made something remarkably healthy. All you need is three simple ingredients (though I recommend using many more) and a crockpot to make this phenomenon. And another bonus? It’s one of the easiest things to make. You literally throw everything into your crockpot (I’m a messy cook) and forget it for several days. And the end result? A nutrient-rich golden broth to add to all your savory recipes. Amazing, right? Here’s how I do it:

You will need:

• 1 chicken carcass, with most or all the meat removed
• Apple Cider Vinegar (Braggs with the Mother is the best)
• Water

Additional ingredients: halved lemons (with or without juice), onion bits and pieces, celery, carrots, chicken feet, sea salt, cayenne pepper, garlic (cloves or powdered), paprika, marjoram, parsley, pepper, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme, turmeric, and any other things you have on hand.  I love using all of these in my broth!

Directions:

1. Put chicken carcass in crockpot. Fill the crockpot with water and add a good splash of ACV (vinegar helps to pull out the calcium and other nutrients from the chicken bones).
2. Add any additional ingredients, cover, and let cook on low for 1-3 days (or longer!).
3. Once you are ready, turn off crockpot and let the broth cool a little. Strain out the larger bones and such with a colander, and finally into a sieve to filter out any other little bits. Pour into glass jars and store in the fridge (for around a week) or freezer (for several months or longer). Use your broth for soup, rice, stew, and any other savory dish that calls for water. Enjoy!

Note: if you’re planning on freezing your broth, be sure to allow room for expansion in your jars. We’ve wasted many a good broth batch by overfilling the jars and having them break in the freezer! It’s really sad, so don’t forget this tip!