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Natural Awakenings Central New Jersey

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Organic Chicken Bone Broth

Homemade beef broth in a glass jar.

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This easy, slow-cooker recipe fills the home with delightful aromas while providing a nutrient-dense broth. Using organic chicken supports farming practices that prioritize animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Yield: 8 servings 

1-2 lbs organic whole chicken bones (leftovers from a whole chicken roast is perfect)

1 onion, roughly chopped

3 carrots, roughly chopped

3 celery stalks, roughly chopped

6 cloves garlic, smashed

2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 tsp black peppercorns

1 tsp salt

Optional: fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme for extra flavor

 

Place the chicken bones in a large six-quart slow cooker. Add the vegetables, herbs (if using), garlic, apple cider vinegar, black peppercorns and salt on top of the bones and mix to combine. Fill the slow cooker with filtered water until the ingredients are submerged. Cover with the lid and set to low heat for 12 hours.

Once done cooking, let it cool for about 45 minutes before straining through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. Discard the solids. The liquid should be thick and gelatinous. Once cooled, transfer to jars or other containers, labeled with the date and contents, and store in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze for up to three months. Reheat before serving.

Recipe and image courtesy of Sara English.

Tick Talk

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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