Recipe: Instant Pot Bone Broth on a Budget

I love bone broth. What is bone broth you may ask? 

It's a broth that is rich in minerals that supports the immune system and contain healing compounds like collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline. The collagen in the bone broth heals your gut lining and reduces intestinal inflammation.

Long story short, it's really good for your gut, has amazing things in it that will help improve your digestive system, strengthen your hair and nails and the list goes on and on.

I'll be honest, buying organic bone broth in the store can be a bit pricey. Yes it goes on sale sometimes but you can save SO much money by making it yourself at home!

How? Every time you cook use veggies... save your scraps! I keep a on going zip lock freezer bag in my fridge that I put the following scraps:

-onion 

- celery 

- carrot 

- bell pepper 

-garlic

-zucchini

-squash

-mushrooms

-herbs (parsley is my favorite to keep for this)

Also the day I am planning to go to the grocery store I will take out any veggies in my fridge that will be going bad and set them aside to use to make my bone broth. 

Then when I got to the grocery store I pick up an organic cooked rotisserie chicken from the deli. I don't know about you, but I'm not a big fan of cooking a big dinner after grocery shopping and putting everything away. So the day I go grocery shopping is always chicken night with a salad and some other simple side dish. At our store an organic cooked chicken is $9.99 so not only am I feeding my family of four dinner for under $15, I am also going to use that same left over chicken to make my bone broth the next day. Do you see where I'm going with this?

A store bought container of prepped organic bone broth is typically around $7.99 where I live for usually 20 oz. Making it myself at home will not only save money but I can make over 65 oz (sometimes 90oz) with this one chicken and my saved veggie scraps. I don't have an exact total amount saved, but you can see it's definitely a lot.

So now I'm going to tell you how I make it!

First add your left over chicken into your instant pot. (I have a 6qt duo)

Then add all your veggie scraps. No exact science to this, just add the scraps you want. I like to throw in some extra baby carrots, some fresh parsley and a little extra crushed garlic when I have it on hand. 

Next I fill up the instant pot with water. No exact amount.. I just make sure I cover the chicken and most of the veggies. Then I'll add a little Himalayan salt and ground pepper and sometimes a tbsp of apple cider vinegar. (But not every time, just depends on the what I'm in the mood for. The Apple Cider vinegar gives the broth a little kick)

Then I seal the lid, make sure the pressure valve is closed and then Instant Pot to Manuel High for 90 minutes.

After it's done I release the valve for a quick release (so right away) and take the lid off and turn the IP off. Then I let it cool for awhile. 

Afterwards I get a large glass bowl out and put a strainer inside. I slowly pour the instant pot mixture into the bowl through the strainer tell it's full. After it's full I lift the strainer out an pour the glass bowl full of broth into a 1/2 gallon glass mason jar. Then repeat the steps again tell I empty out the entire batch of bone broth from the instant pot. I let that batch fully cool in the glass bowl.

Once it's fully cooled pour the rest of the bone broth into a freezer bag. Then just lay it flat in your freezer and wha-la! Not only do you have about a half gallon of homemade delicious bone broth to use in your fridge but you have EXTRA in your freezer to use when needed. 

**Bonus Tip: Save the plastic container your rotisserie chicken comes in. Once you have strained the broth you can toss the veggies and chicken bones into the plastic container, seal the lid and dispose of. Then it's not all lose in your trash can.

I get asked often when and how often do I drink bone broth? I drink a coffee mug a day usually in the morning while we do school time. I used to have a cup of coffee then but now I love drinking this instead and it's much better for me!

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DIY Simple Home Remedy Recipes

Natural Home Remedy Recipes:

For your Garden:

DIY Natural Garden Bug Spray Recipe

For your Home:

Stress Away Bath Scrub Recipe

More is on it's way!!!

In the mean time you can reach out to me here if you're eager for more info!

Want to see more posts, tips and random bits of what I do? You can click on the image below to follow me over to my Facebook Page!

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DIY Recipe: Stress Away Epsom Salt Scrub

Oh how I love a new fun scrub to use! Not only do they smell amazing and are all natural. I love that I know what ingredients are going in to it, that it's eco friendly going back into the ground here at our homestead AND it relaxes me. 

Win win right?

Even better is when it's SO easy to make!

Ingredients:

2 Cups Coconut Oil

1 Cup Epsom Salt

20-30 drops of Essential Oil blend called "Stress Away" 

(20 -30 drops based on your preference)

*Mix it it all together in a large bowl and then store it in glass mason jars. I got these in the dollar section at Target. Love them! 

Tip: Once you've used up all the scrub just wash and re use the jars! 

Saves money and is re purposing :)

So why do I love Stress Away essential oil blend so much? Let me count the ways!

Long story short, I have anxiety while driving and was diagnosed with PTSD a year ago after an accident. I put stress away on behind my ears EVERY TIME I get in a car whether I'm driving or not and it has helped me so much. 

Also just as a Mama who homeschools and spends 90% of her time on our homestead with animals, lots of chores and responsibilities I really do love my small window I get each day to relax and take a "time out." So having things like this on hand (the espom salt scrub) is something that I enjoy having. 

Speaking of homestead with animals, we've had an influx in babies these past 2 weeks! All 4 of our female goats had TWINS within 8 days of each other. Yep you read that right.

Want to see some of the cuteness?

(Brand New, jut born a few minute prior to this picture)

My daughter snuggling one of the new goats. She told me she wishes they always stay this small.

I hear you Lily girl... I hear you. I sometimes wish you could stay this small too.

Oh you know, just a baby goat, in a diaper, on my lap, in my house. :swoons:

Meet Petra (the one Carson is holding), and Muffin (the one Lily is holding). Both are now officially animals of R&M Ranch. They will learn to take care of them and will be there new pets. Carson will be starting 4H in the fall and he's so excited!

So to sum it up, using an all natural scrub like this reduces my anxiety, helps heal my sore muscles from my workouts and life on a ranch, and it makes me smell good instead of .. well like a goat LOL.

Want to see more posts, tips and random bits of what I do? You can click on the image below to follow me over to my Facebook Page!

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I was finally tired enough of being tired.

::::Dusts off Blog::::

Hey guys! Man I've been a bad blogger! Can I start off by saying how busy we'v been?! 

School, sickness, baseball season began, crazy wind/rain storms, birthdays and all kinds of events in between. I am thankful to say we are all healthy now and adjusting to our newly busier schedule.

Before I get into what I wanted to write about today, I wanted to answer a question I've gotten in a few messages... Did I finish 90 Days of Core De Force?

The answer?

YES! YES I DID! 

How was it? How did I do? What results did I get?

All answered here:

Now to what I came here to write about. Being Tired.

I wrote a short post on this a few weeks ago and after speaking to so many friends and challengers afterwards about this, I realized that SO many people have been at that point or are currently in it.

The me on the left was so so tired.

Tired of having no energy.

Tired of being out of breath going up and down the one flight of stairs of my home.

Tired of still only fitting into my maternity jeans 9 months postpartum.

Tired of having no confidence.

Tired of not feeling like "me" anymore.

Tired of my PCOS symptoms getting worse and worse.

Tired of being TIRED of everything.

I was a yo yo dieter for all of my 20's. I looked for and tried any "magic pill' that popped up in store shelves. Thinking "THIS" would be it for me. (I cringe ad admitting this. But it's important to share.)

I was so wrong.

That was when 21 Day Fix came into my life.

Gone were the days of calorie counting, taking diet pills and eating "fat free" frankenfoods.

I learned how to cook healthy, measure out proper portions and not only did it NOT take too much time out of my day, but I started to enjoy it. My family started sitting at the dinner table again to eat together instead of sitting on the couch.

(My Carskey boy eating Fix Approved Fried Rice)

My kids started to roll around and "pretend" to work out with me. We were getting outside more and being more active together.

My daily Shakeology help curbed my sweet tooth and break my years of being a breakfast skipper.

For once in my adult life my metabolism and PCOS symptoms were healing.

30 mins of working out to the dvd's at home a day, eating healthy delicious portion fix approved meals and getting my daily Shakeology in.

There is NO such thing as a magic pill that works for the long term.

My family and I are the healthiest we've ever been. I'm a better wife and Mom for it. I'm a better ME for doing this.

21 Day Fix, Beachbody programs and the Portion Fix container system with Shakeology has helped change my life.

Wherever you are in your journey....

If you are just beginning, in the middle, at a plateau or debating on beginning..

Making that choice to take action, trust the process and put in the hard work will pay off. It can change your life.

From 21 Day Fix... 21 Day Fix Extreme... Hammer and Chisel and now Core De Force I can't image my life now without these programs, my #DreamBigTribe! So incredibly thankful for these ladies.

(Shout out to these amazing ladies that lost a combined over 100 pounds in the month January in our Virtual Gym Challenge!)

There is no perfect time to begin, just the time when you are tired enough of being tired. Each small step you make to live a healthier life will make a difference. Making the decision to commit, daily consistency, keeping your "why" fresh in your mind to fuel your determination will help you get there. 

If you would like to join me in my next group that starts on Monday 2/27 I would love to have you. You can click on the link here to get more info: http://bit.ly/DreamBigTribe

February Virtual Gym is ready to open. Have you RSVP'd?

Our January Virtual Gym is CRUSHING it half way through this challenge! So many inches, pounds lost and confidence gained in Meal Prepping, balancing workouts with day to day life etc. So proud of our Dream Big Tribe Challengers!!

We are having SO much success with this Virtual Gym Concept that we are opening up a group again for February! Week 0 (aka prep week) begins NEXT Monday Jan 30th and our official Day 1 is February 6th!

I'll help you find the program that best fits your needs, and you'll get live workshop training on meal prep, getting organized and more! Best part of this is you get to do this from HOME and you will have an awesome encouraging support system/group to help you stay motivated all month long.

You will be provided with:

⚜Transformation Challenge with incentives - (Weekly Prizes given away!)

⚜24/7 Access to your own private Virtual Gym with a workout plan to follow.

⚜30 Day Nutrition Plan and Shakeology

⚜LIVE Meal Prep Training in our Private Group (starts Mon. Jan 2nd!)

⚜Daily Challenges, Accountability, Fun and Motivation!

Here is a sneak peek of our LIVE FB Workshops coming to this group next week before we start day 1!!!

Are you ready to take action on those goals you've been saying "next monday" too for awhile now? I'm ready to begin with you!

Drop Your Email HERE👉🏻 http://bit.ly/DreamBigTribe and I'll get you the details! *The group is almost FULL. So the time is now if you want to join us! 💜*

Have a blessed day!

Is Core De Force really worth it? My 60+ day review of the program

I've been getting lots of messages asking about what program I've been doing. 

Is it worth it?

How many days is the program?

What can you eat?

Do you actually get results doing this at home?

Do you like it?

I can answer this short and sweet for you in the video below:

My official day 68 results pictures are on the video about. I can tell you though that in such a short amount of time:

- I have more endurance

- I don't have that "I need coffee to survive" feeling I used to have in the mornings

- I'm in a better mode.

- I have a healthier association with food. As a stress eater this has been a huge milestone for me.

- I look forward to pushing play each day.

- I've gone down 2 jean sizes

- I'm down 10 lbs and 13.5 inches.

This is the first time ever during the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years) that I've LOST weight instead of gained weight.

I'm not the only one on my team that feels this way. There are how some of our challengers felt just three weeks into the program! 

If you are ready to commit to a program, get that fight back and take the stress out of learning to meal prep, cleaning out your pantry and sticking to clean eating all week long, I have the group for you. 

Our first ever Virtual Gym group is getting AMAZING results just one week in. Combined they have lost over 35 lbs and 27 inches! Amazing! 

Week 0 Begins: January 30th 

(Daily Workshops teaching you how to meal prep, clean out your pantry, get organized and more)

Week 1 Begins: February 6th

30 Days, that will not only get you results but it will create healthy habits you can take with you all year long. We also have a graduate program that is the next level in your health and fitness journey once you complete this challenge. So your journey won't end at 30 days, it will continue all year long and beyond!

Are you ready?

Fill out my online form.

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

Have a blessed day!

Recipe: Oh So Good Paleo Friendly Teriyaki Sauce

I really love making sauces from scratch. As someone who spent her early 20's living off of spaghetti o's and top ramen I didn't think I'd ever say that. 

One of my favorite go to meals is making meatballs from scratch and then cooking them in the Instant Pot. Only takes about 7 minutes to cook and it's pretty versatile! I typically make them with marinara sauce, but I do like making them with sweet and sour sauce too. 

Paleo Friendly Teriyaki Sauce

What's In It:

·         ½ cup coconut aminos (or braggs liquid aminos)

·         ¼ cup fresh orange juice or water

·         3 tbsp honey

·         1 TBSP crushed Garlic

·         1/4 tsp chili flakes

·         2 tsp arrowroot flour (if you want it thicker)

How to Make It:

In a small saucepan, mix everything BUT the flour and heat it over medium heat. If you are using flour, mix it with 2 tablespoon of cold water and add the mixture into the sauce and cook until it has thickened. If not using flour, just simmer on low the sauce until thickened.

That's it! I poured my sauce over a batch of raw meatballs I made. Put the meat balls in the Instant Pot, poured the sauce over and then cooked on Manuel High for 7 minutes with a quick release. 

Served it over brown rice I had cooked in my Instant Pot earlier and zoodles. Super easy and tasted like a treat meal!

For those of you using the Fix Containers: 1 orange container full = 1 orange! 

Want more recipes like this? Want more recipes like this, meal prep tips and/or to get started with a fitness routine? I would LOVE to be your coach! You can reach out to me by going to my Facebook page by clicking the picture below....

Have a blessed day!