FROM THE KITCHEN

Return to Earth runs a small, but fully certified and provincially inspected kitchen. We specialize in bone broths and bone broth soups – although we’ll also offer specialty / seasonal items as the whim catches our fancy.

BONE BROTHS

RTE’s bone broths are made by simmering the bones and connective tissue of our own pasture-raised animals for numerous hours with a variety of aromatics and apple cider vinegar. This draws valuable nutrients out of the bones to create an incredibly rich and nutrient-dense broth. For details on how broths and stocks differ, scroll down (WAY down).

We carry chicken, pork, and lamb bone broths.

Use our broths anywhere you would use a regular stock (i.e., soups, sauces, gravies, rice).

Note that all of our broths are preservative and salt free.

BONE BROTH SOUPS

Our soups are made entirely with a base of our own house-made bone-broths!

Made in small batches with fresh ingredients, including carrots, celery, garlic, onion, and greens from our own organically grown garden (when available) and meat from our own pasture-raised animals, our soups are hearty, filling, and tend to teeter on the edge between soup and stew. i.e., they are meal soups!

Soups are seasonally available. Pop by the farm stand or ask us to see what is in stock right now. And if you have a craving for something specific, shoot us a message and we’ll see what we can do to hook you up!

Chicken Soups

CHICKEN & WILD RICE: Pastured chicken, mushrooms, kale, and a mixture of wild grains are complimented by just a touch of rosemary in a chicken bone broth and milk base to create the perfect winter warm-me-up food.

GOLDEN COCONUT CHICKEN & LENTIL: Pastured chicken, carrots, and lentils simmered in a chicken bone broth and coconut milk base. Paired with the warm flavours of ginger and turmeric and just a touch of cilantro.

‘DILLY’ CHICKEN & ORZO: A classic chicken broth based soup loaded with shredded chicken, orzo, carrot, and spinach, and updated with a dill-forward seasoning. A perfectly light, yet flavourful, summer soup.

CHICKEN MINESTRONE: A chicken broth and tomato-based soup loaded with vegetables, navy beans, shredded chicken, shell pasta, and seasoned with a range of complimentary herbs. Minestrone soups are classics for a reason.

CHICKEN & CORIANDER: An earthy chicken soup comprising a generous helping of shredded chicken, carrot, cabbage and barley complimented with cilantro, ginger, and base notes of cardamom, anise, and clove.

Pork Soups

SPLIT PEA & HAM: A staple meal during the cold months! It’s hard to match the comfort presented by a warm bowl of split peas and diced ham simmered in a chicken bone broth seasoned with garlic and thyme.

PORK & WHITE BEAN: This soup features big chunks of tender pasture-raised pork mixed with white beans, squash, kale, and carrots. All is simmered in a chicken bone bone rounded out with the warm, earthy flavours of turmeric and cumin.

PORK NOODLE w/ TOASTED GARLIC: A Pho-inspired soup with a bold, umami-driven flavour profile accentuated with ginger and toasted garlic to round out the generous portions of pastured pork, rice noodles, and spinach.

Lamb & Vegetable Soups

LAMB & BARLEY: Made with our own pastured lamb, tender barley, and a gracious accompaniment of vegetables in a lamb bone broth base kissed with thyme, this spin on a traditional favourite is sure to become your new go-to.

SUMMER LAMB MINESTRONE: A pasta-free flavourful minestrone stuffed with healthy summer vegetables and shredded pastured / grass-fed lamb. The lamb-based bone broth is lightened with lemon which compliments base notes derived from miso paste and ginger.

JALAPENO POTATO: A thick and filling soup with just a touch of peppery heat. Our take on a potato soup is made with a chicken bone broth base and showcases flavours of fennel, cumin, and, of course, jalapeno.

ROASTED SQUASH & MAPLE: A thick soup best served as an appetizer, our squash soup is buttery smooth and made only with home-grown squash and house-made maple syrup. Accordingly, it is a seasonal, and small batch, offer.

COOKIES!

We offer a delectable cookie feature every month (in the farmstand only) with flavours ranging from old-school fan favourites to some slightly lesser known types. Sample flavours include:

Lemon Crinkle
Maple Pecan
Oatmeal Raison / Chocolate Chip
Strawberry-Rhubarb
Coconut Lime
Chocolate Brownie
Campfire S’more
Browned Butter & Pumpkin

BONE BROTH VS. STOCK - WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Standard stocks are made by boiling the meat and / or carcass of an animal with aromatics for a short(er) period of time – usually 1-3 hours. While delicious, most stocks are thin and (comparatively) low in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

In contrast, bone broths are simmered with aromatics and, importantly, vinegar, for many hours. This slow cook breaks down tough connective tissues to garner all the benefits they offer and creating a savory, rich, and nutrient-dense broth that provides a wide range of valuable minerals and vitamins in an accessible format that is easily absorbed by your body.

While the exact levels of nutrients in any given bone broth will vary based on type of bones used and composition of the broth, bone broths are generally rich in:

Calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and other trace minerals required for the development of bones
Glucosamine and chondroitin – known to support joint health
Vitamin A and vitamin K2
Minerals like zinc, iron, boron, manganese, and selenium
Collagen protein, which turns into gelatin when cooked and yields several important amino acids such as arginine and glycine

In addition to the nutrient boost bone broths provide, they may also:

Benefit the digestive system
Fight inflammation
Improve joint health
Satisfy hunger cravings (thus aiding in weight loss)
Improve sleep and brain function