You ever heard of them soup bones? Oh, let me tell ya, them bones can make the best soup you ever did have. Some folks nowadays don’t know what they’re missing, going straight for them fancy broths in a box. But me? I go for the real deal—the bones themselves. That’s where all the flavor and good stuff’s hidin’!
What Are Soup Bones, Anyway?
Soup bones, they come from cows mostly, sometimes pork too, but beef bones are where it’s at for flavor. You’re lookin’ at the bones that come from the cow’s legs or shank. They’re big, usually four or six inches, and have a nice chunk of marrow inside. That marrow’s like pure gold, folks—it’s rich, got that fatty goodness that melts down and makes your soup taste like it’s been kissed by the heavens!
Why Are Soup Bones So Good?
Now, I ain’t no doctor, but I do know them bones got all kinds of good stuff in ’em. There’s this thing called collagen in there, makes your soup all thick and silky. They tell me collagen’s good for your bones and joints and even your skin. Used to be folks didn’t have to buy that collagen powder stuff. They’d just boil up some bones and get it all right there in the pot! And the marrow? Well, that’s the creamy center—it’s full of vitamins and minerals that do the body good.
How to Make Soup with Soup Bones
Now, don’t go frettin’ about how to cook ’em. Making soup from bones ain’t hard at all. Here’s how I do it, and believe me, it’s as easy as pie:
- Step 1: Get Them Bones Ready – First off, rinse them bones under cold water. If they look a bit too meaty, you can roast ’em first in the oven. Pop ’em in at around 400°F for about 30 minutes. This gives you that deep, roasty flavor.
- Step 2: Boil Them Bones – Put the bones in a big ol’ pot of water. Add a splash of vinegar, it helps pull out the minerals. Bring it all to a boil, then let it simmer. Now, patience is key here. Let it bubble away low and slow, I’m talkin’ 6 to 12 hours. The longer, the better, they say.
- Step 3: Add Some Veggies – You wanna throw in some carrots, onions, maybe a stick of celery. Don’t go fancy here, just big rough chunks. These give a nice flavor to the soup.
- Step 4: Skim Off the Scum – Every now and then, you’ll see some gunky stuff floatin’ on top. Just scoop it off with a spoon. That keeps your broth nice and clean.
- Step 5: Strain and Season – After you’ve cooked them bones to death, strain everything out. Toss the veggies and bones, you just want that rich, golden liquid. Salt it up to taste.
Storing and Using Your Broth
Now, this broth keeps real good in the fridge. Just let it cool and stick it in a jar or a container. It’ll last a week easy. You can also freeze it. Just pour it in an ice cube tray, freeze ‘em up, then toss the cubes in a bag. Next time you’re cookin’, just pop a cube or two in, and you’ve got instant flavor!
The Flavor You Just Can’t Buy
Let me tell ya, folks, once you taste soup made from real soup bones, you’ll never go back to that store-bought stuff. The flavor is deep and rich; it’s like a hug in a bowl. And the best part? It’s dirt cheap. Bones don’t cost near as much as regular cuts of meat. You’re gettin’ all the flavor without breakin’ the bank!
Why More Folks Should Use Soup Bones
I see so many folks nowadays just walkin’ by the soup bones at the butcher. They don’t know what they’re missin’. If more folks cooked like this, there’d be a lot less waste, too. Back in the day, we didn’t throw good parts like this away; we used every bit we could! Soup bones is just one of them things that folks used to know how to use, but the knowledge is gettin’ lost.
Tips for Buying Good Soup Bones
When you go lookin’ for soup bones, try to find ones that got a good bit of marrow in ’em. Look for bones that are nice and thick, with a creamy bit in the middle—that’s the marrow. And if you’re lucky enough to know a local butcher, they might even have a stash of soup bones just waitin’ for ya.
Other Ways to Use Soup Bones
Besides soup, you can use that bone broth in all sorts of ways. Add it to stews, make gravy, or even cook your rice in it. Heck, I’ve even used it in mashed potatoes to give ‘em a little extra flavor. There ain’t no end to what you can do once you’ve got that broth on hand.
So there ya have it. Next time you’re at the store, don’t walk past them soup bones. Pick some up, take ‘em home, and try this out. Your taste buds and your wallet’ll thank ya. You’ll feel like a million bucks eatin’ soup from them humble bones!
Tags：[soup bones, beef soup, homemade broth, cooking tips, bone marrow, collagen soup, budget cooking]
