Month: March 2014

One Year In

One year ago today I wrote my first blog post. I can’t say in confidence that I’ve come a long way since then, but it certainly has been a learning experience! In the past year I got engaged, got married, moved to a new house, sort of stopped working out, and have had a ton of fun creating new recipes and sharing my thoughts online. If nothing else this blog has allowed me to keep up with my writing – even if my actual novel has fallen through the cracks.

I don’t know what the next year holds for Eat Write Run Repeat, but for the handful of you who have been “following” me for the past year (I’m talking to you, family!), thanks for your support – I love you all!

cupcakes

Homemade Bone Broth

I roast a chicken for dinner every few weeks in an effort to get the most bang for our buck – Kevin and I can usually get at least 5 or 6 meals out of just one chicken – but the one thing I haven’t done until now?

Bone broth.

homemade bone broth | eatwriterunrepeat.com

Bone broth – essentially stock or broth made by simmering chicken bones, water, apple cider vinegar and vegetables – is HUGE in the paleo/wholefood/natural/etc world. For one thing, it’s incredibly nourishing. Bone broth is high in calcium, magnesium, and amino acids (among others), not to mention all that rich gelatin that supports healthy skin and good digestive health. Another added benefit – particularly for those of us still trying to recover from our polar vortex winter – a nice hot cup of broth is exactly what the doctor ordered to ward off colds and warm up the body.

Bone broth is really easy to make and there are tons of recipes online. Just search “homemade bone broth” and pick the one that works for you! For mine, I followed this recipe from April Swiger of Redemptive Homemaking. I loved her tip about saving the ends of your veggies to cook with the broth…because you’re going to strain the broth from everything else and toss the unused parts, it’s a total money saver! Not to mention I’m a huge fan of making the most out of my grocery bill.

I didn’t get quite as much gelatin in my broth as I would have liked, but I think that’s because I used only one chicken carcass to make my broth – using too much water/not enough bones can be an explanation for that, but the fruits of my “labor” (what’s hard about throwing some bones and a bunch of veggies in a crockpot and leaving it alone for hours, I ask you?!) still resulted in a deliciously filling batch of bone broth that was perfect for sipping while reading my latest cheesy romance novel. #noshame

homemade bone broth | eatwriterunrepeat.com

So what are you waiting for?

 

For some more articles on the benefits of bone broth, check out these sites:

Bone Broth FAQs on Whole9life

5 Reasons why Bone Broth is the Bomb on UndergroundWellness

For I know the plans…

jeremiah

I had a job interview the other day. It’s for an internal position and I’m not even certain if I want the job or not, but I had myself so stressed out the night before that I actually thought I was going to be sick to my stomach. I obsessed over practice questions, I rehearsed my answers while pacing my living room, I scribbled some notes and crossed them out and then scribbled some more.

From the moment I opened my eyes on the morning of the interview I was worrying about it. Practicing answers in my head some more, considering every buzzword and phrase, wondering what else I could do to my answers better, fretting because I hadn’t started preparing for the interview earlier. I couldn’t even finish the fabulous breakfast my husband prepared for me because my stomach was so upset.

It wasn’t until I was sitting in the car on my way in for the interview when I came to a realization. The announcers on my local Christian radio station helped. They were talking about jobs and promotions and how sometimes we hear God calling us to these really great opportunities when all of the sudden we are struck with the paralyzing fear of wondering if we can handle whatever it is He’s given us. And that’s when Jeremiah 29:11 sprang to mind.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

I realized in that moment that I had absolutely nothing to worry about. Why? Because God already knows the outcome of the interview. Every single moment of my life has already been mapped out according to His perfect purpose for my life. What’s the “worst” that can happen? I don’t get the job? So be it! God already knows what is going to happen – He has called me for a purpose – so why am I making myself literally sick over something I shouldn’t worry about?

And so in that moment, I prayed. I prayed for peace, and I thanked God for the outcome of the interview, whatever it may be. Because whatever the outcome is I can rest assured that it is what God wants for me. And you know what? I felt better.

Now, I’m certainly not saying that the next time you have a job interview that you shouldn’t prepare for it. It’s a professional courtesy to at least have an idea of what you’re going to say. I’m just saying that there is no reason to make yourself physically sick over it, like I was. Relax. Say a prayer. God’s got this.

And the interview? Went off without a hitch.