4 out of 5 stars.
I would like to thank Hay House for a free ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an open and honest review.
For those who follow my blogs and reviews, you will know I am indeed the sort who loves reconnecting to the older styles of healthier, wholefood cooking. This book does this with bone broth… while also bringing this useful and healthy ingredient into modern, everyday food prep.
I really asked to read this book as I am really interested in both bone and how to make it just right. For now I am more your stock sort of person, I am working my way up to trying some of the bone broth recipes shown. Before I read it, I thought it was just bones and marrow slowly cooked down over a few days turned into a yummy broth that was all wobbly when cold. Oh heck no! Bone broth is so much more! And NEUTRAL broth! I’d never heard of such a broth before and now want to try them to put in…. nearly everything! Can you tell this book has me inspired and wanting to get carried away in the kitchen?
The beauty of ‘Bone Broth Secrets’ is that it’s not just a book on how to make broth, it’s not just a cook book on how to incorporate bone broth into almost every meal… it is a book on healing through wholesome foods and positive mindsets and this makes it a well-balanced book for any home seeking healing and inner strength through what they eat.
The affirmations from Louise (mostly at the beginning of the book) help set a positive attitude throughout. This is followed through by introductions to nearly every recipe (who makes them, the story behind them, etc) and at the end of the book there are also stories of healing, a better introduction to the creators of the recipes, a fantastic ‘which herbs and spices to use’ and conversion tables… I mean wow! It covers it all. This is not just a cook book; this is a book on life and healing through eating better and thinking positive.
Although I wasn’t totally happy with the format and layout of the recipes, I feel this is more due to the fact I was reading an electronic version on my laptop. I feel the formatting would make far more sense in a paper version of the book. The recipes and instructions are also clear and easy to follow. Some are a little too ‘flowery’ for my liking… but work well with the overall feel of the book. I just happen to prefer ‘short, sharp and shiny’ in my cook books. This is not a major issue though!
Another thing to note about the recipes is they are not all for food and drink. Bone broth beauty products… seriously worth looking into for those who want to help nourish their outsides as well as their insides and use homemade products free of all those nasty chemicals added to a lot of shop sold beauty products.
I will say that the reason I can’t give the full five stars is down to my usual personal and family food intolerances and allergies. Yes, there are just a few recipes that I can’t use – or would have to heavily modify – before I could use them. This isn’t the fault of the book though; this is just what life is like for me, the reader. I am used to cook books being hit and miss and the only way I’d ever get a book entirely filled with hits is if I made one myself… not going to happen! 😉
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would. It is a great book that covers pretty much everything you need to know on bone broths (plus vegan versions of broths and stock) and how to use them in daily cooking to improve your health.
Would I buy this book for myself?
Possibly. This is a tough one as I’d really like to have a run through some of the recipes first before I would commit. I can, however, see myself getting an eBook version (if there is such a thing) to start with and if satisfied, then branch out and invest in a paper version. You see, as much as I love a good eBook, I am still very old style with my cookery books and prefer them in paper form. And buying a paper copy of ‘Bone Broth Secrets’ truly would be an investment: in health, well-being and vitality.
In summary: a very good holistic approach to bone broth and how to use it in every day (and nearly every meal) to help improve our health through better nutrients and essential minerals. If you want to learn more about both broths, this is the book for you.
Until next time,
Janis. XXOO
Janis's Journal 