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Post by kansasdexters on Dec 31, 2010 23:27:44 GMT -5
I am a first generation American. My mother is French, she comes from the Bordeaux region. She is 85 years old and she is dying. I am caring for her in my home. She can barely eat anything, but one thing that she can eat, that is very nutritious, is bone marrow. I don't know how many Americans are aware of this, but bone marrow is a nutrient dense food for young children, for sick people, and for the elderly.
I am so thankful that we raise our own grassfed/grass finished Dexter beef and that I have access to soup bones that provide us with an ample source of high quality beef bone marrow. Every day that Mom is able to survive is due to sustanance from this incredible food source. I mix it in with mashed potatoes, carrots, and turnips and add butter, sea salt, and pepper. She loves it. She remembers it from when she was a child during World War II and her mother made it for her.
It is simple to prepare -- just roast the soup bones in the oven for about an hour at 350 oF (until they are nice and browned) then simmer them in a little water with celery, carrots, and onion, until the meat falls off the bone. Take the marrow from the bone and mix it in with the mashed potatoes, turnips, carrots, and a small amount of fresh cream, season with sea salt, pepper, and butter.
Our ancestors knew how to care for their old ones, and we should not forget their ways. There is much wisdom in their ways.
Happy New Year to all.
Patti
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Post by legendrockranch on Jan 1, 2011 0:12:15 GMT -5
Hi Patti,
Both of my parents were immigrants first arriving in New York, they have since left this earth. When the depression hit they went back to the old ways of making soup with bones. Even when the hard times turned around they were still very frugal. I remember my mom making soup and I just loved to suck the marrow out of the bones, it was yummy. Thanks for the tips about roasting the bones first. We have never done that before. Peace be with you and your family during this trying time.
Happy New Year
Barb
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Post by midhilldexters on Jan 1, 2011 7:40:12 GMT -5
I agree, It's almost like processed food has taken over. Soup is so easy to make from scratch but many don't have a clue. This year I raised pigs for people and they called and said the butcher asked them if they wanted the pigs feet! They were horrified it seems. I told them to say yes, get them smoked and use them in soup, but none of them did. It's society, we have done it to ourselves, everyone wants easy, time is valuable to more people than health. They just don't realise that time gained up front will probably take years off your life eating all that processed food. Patti enjoy your time with your Mom, it's a precious thing we cannot get back. Happy New Year to all.
Carol K
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Post by Olga on Jan 1, 2011 15:44:32 GMT -5
Thank you so much, Patti, what a wonderful post! Being from Russia I know what it's like to get funny looks for saying that I like to make a cold dish from pigs feet and how nothing beats tongue sandwiches. My dad was the meat-cook in our family, he took care of big roasts and stakes. And he loved bone marrow! As the head of the family he got most of it. It was a delicacy, since there is only one bone in a large roast.
A day or two ago there was a cooking segment in local news, with a chef from Little Rock restaurant. One of the Sunday brunch dishes featured french-fried turnips. The news anchor asked if "wow, so that's actually greens?" The chef had to explain that turnip is a tuber.
Wow, how sad. I totally agree that many a household is loosing the memory of how to cook. Thus I'll have to add to my next decade resolution to stay true to authentic cooking and help others discover real cooking.
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Post by copperhead on Jan 1, 2011 17:19:24 GMT -5
I love to watch Anthony Bourdain's show, he loves marrow. Last show they were sucking it out with a straw. It is a life saving souce of nutrition. I sold a beef to some people from Viet Nam last year and the lady ask me to be sure and have the butcher save the bones. She said her uncle made a wonderfull "bone soup" I always have the soup bones packaged for making a good winter stock, it's great. God bless you Patti, I know you are under a great load, but that it's a blessing to be able to take care of your mom. Wishing you and your family a wonderfull new year. P.J.
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