Shopping at the farmers markets gives me access to amazing, nutrient dense, bone broth sourced from ranchers who strive to utilize as much of the animal as possible. I’ve also gotten in the habit of purchasing beef bones from the market and using leftover vegetable scraps to make my own bone broth at home.

It’s another way to utilize and extend the life of the food item purchases I make. The broth never tastes the same way twice; it changes with the seasons and what I have available in my home. This recipe is my base reference and it can be adjusted to incororporate other vegetables and herbs that you love!

If you’re in the process of learning about your gut health for the first time, you might not be aware of all the benefits of bone broth yet!

Here are my top 5 nutritional tidbits about bone broth

1. Bone broth is associated with collagen, a structural protein found in skin, cartilage and bone. When boiled, the collagen in connective tissue is broken down into gelatine and various other health-promoting amino acids, such as glycine and glutamine.

2. Gelatin is the most abundant protein in bone broth. Once in the digestive tract, gelatin binds with water to support the healthy movement of food through the intestines. Animal studies suggest gelatin, alongside other amino acids found in bone broth, may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory bowel disease

3. The glutamine found in bone broth helps heal the gut lining, reducing the risk of illness. Not only is the small intestine the primary site for nutrient absorption, it is also the first line of defence in our immune system. If the gut barrier becomes damaged or leaky, this can disrupt immune function. The amino acids found in bone broth may be protective.

4. Studies suggest that collagen derived from chicken cartilage is effective at improving pain, stiffness and joint function in patients with osteoarthritis. Gelatin may also be beneficial for injury prevention and tissue repair. A 2017 study found that supplementation with gelatine alongside vitamin C improved collagen synthesis post exercise and was able to repair tendons.

5. The amino acid glycine, present in bone broth, has multiple functions in the body including supporting healthy sleep patterns. Research shows dietary glycine has proved effective at improving the sleep quality of patients with insomnia. It is thought that glycine exerts its effect by regulating our internal body clock and lowering our body temperature to prepare us for sleep.

Many of our ranchers have stock bones and other less used cuts that you can use in your stock recipe

Here’s a run down of the lovely vendors you can source from to create this recipe!

Bedias Creek Farms cares about what we eat and how it gets to our table. With skill and patience, they are raising food in a holistic, regenerative way that tastes great! From soil to animals, they utilize remedies straight from nature. They believe the extra steps we take are worth the effort.
Driftwood Meadows began their journey as a family committed to putting better food on their table, food that comes from animals raised on pasture without the use of hormones or antibiotics. Located in Centerville, Driftwood provides pasture raised pork, chicken, and eggs.
Erbe Ranch is a family owned farm located in Cat Springs, Texas raising grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and pastured pork. The property has been in Farmer Brian’s family for over one hundred thirty five years.
Regen Ranch is a woman owned and run ranch in Oakwood, Texas. With the goal of providing clean food, Christine sells grass fed beef & lamb, pasture raised turkey, and farm fresh eggs.
Synergos is a thriving healthy farm community, synergistically growing food, allowing all things to grow naturally. Located in Santa Fe, Texas, Synergos focuses on regenerative practices that support healthy soil, plants, and animals.

Share the love! Don’t forget to share photos and tag the vendors who provided the ingredients! One of the best ways to support these local, small businesses is by spreading the word and sharing your market finds with friends and family. And of course, if you stop by the Rice Village or Heights Mercantile markets striking up conversations with the vendors will always have you walking away with wonderful recipe ideas.

Adding vegetables like carrots contributes to the depth of flavor and nutrient profile of the bone broth

**Ingredients - * indicates item purchased at the farmers market**

5 cloves garlic, sliced in half

*1 large onion, sliced in half

3 ribs celery, sliced in half

*3 carrots, sliced in half

3-5 1 inch pieces of fresh turmeric or 1 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

3-5 1 inch pieces of fresh ginger

3-4 grass-fed bison bones

2 grass-fed chicken feet

2 bay leaves

Celtic Salt and pepper to taste (omit these if you’re making stock or are going to feed to animals)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (the acidity will enhance nutrient extraction) enough filtered water to fill the pot

Method

In a slow cooker (Crock Pot) add all above broth ingredients.
Add enough filtered water to cover, about ½ inch from the top of the pot.
Set to high for 3-4 hours, or until the water comes to a simmer. Turn to low and let simmer for 24-72 hours.
Pour the broth through a fine mesh strainer into a large heat-proof bowl or pot; discard solids.
Once the broth has cooled, transfer it to airtight glass containers and store it in the freezer. (I usually freeze it in 2-cup portions so I don’t have to thaw all the broth every time I use it.) It will keep in airtight glass containers with lids (I like to use mason jars) for up to 5 days, and frozen for up to 6 months.

We hope to see you at the 1st and 3rd Sunday at Rice Village Farmers Market or 2nd and 4th Sunday at Heights Mercantile Farmers Market. Both markets run from 9-1 pm, with Heights located at 714 Yale St. and Rice located at 2504 Amherst St. These markets operate rain or shine! We will have over 60 vendors, live music, and immaculate vibes.

Thank you for following along and supporting local!

xxCB