I should be writing about a delicious Sri Lankan curry right now, but 2 things are making me write about gummies: 1. I’m a bit intimidated by this curry and 2. I got a lot of requests for this particular recipe. I have to admit, I’m happy to oblige. I’ve gone through a few recipes trying to find the one. They always fell short, but we kept playing and tweaking and well we finally got it. The ONE.
Gelatin. It seems nowadays that it’s THE thing to consume in some form or another. Thanks to bone broths becoming trendy (you better believe I’m going to Brodo in NYC when I’m home this summer), gelatin is getting its chance to shine, too. (Bone broths are an AMAZING way to get gelatin into your body, plus the added nutrients and deliciousness that go with a good broth. This is just another fun and yum way to get some goodness in. For more on the beauty of bone broths, click here.)
What is it? Well, gelatin comes from the collagen found in bones, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments and skin of animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, etc. If collagen is making you think of your joints, your skin, your joints again, then you’re right on mark. It comes in a colorless, odorless and tasteless powdered form. You add it to things to thicken them, to make them jelly-like, such as gummy bears, marshmallows, dips and desserts.
But, back to those benefits. They come from 2 key players found in gelatin, the amino acids glycine and proline. They aren’t considered essential because our bodies do produce them, but how well are we producing them? These 2 amino acids play well for the skin – think anti-aging, cellulite, wrinkles – as well as the joints and muscles. Here I’m referring to arthritis, bone health in general and serious muscle repair. Gelatin is a super repair-er. There are also minerals such as magnesium (most of us are chronically deficient in this one), calcium, phosphorus, which contribute to healthy bones. There’s info on gelatin contributing to gut health, good digestion, adrenal support and hormonal balance. Sounds like we should all be finding a way to get more gelatin into our diets.
In no way am I suggesting that these gummies replace your bone broth. However, I am suggesting that a scrumptious, tart yet sweet snack can be packed with some serious nutrients. Not to mention, they’re eye candy for the kids. Oh yeah, the kids! This one is for them! It’s for all you beautiful kids!
You’ll need:
3/4 C unsweetened pomegranate juice
1/4 C freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 C frozen or fresh strawberries
1/4 C grass-fed gelatin (you don’t want the cold water soluble gelatin)
3 T raw honey
To make:
Put pomegranate juice, lemon juice and strawberries in a blender and blend until smooth.
Pour mixture into a saucepan over medium heat and let it get warm.
Reduce heat to low and add gelatin, stirring constantly until it’s all incorporated.
Remove from heat and stir in honey.
Then quickly pour the mixture into a glass baking dish* or into silicon molds and refrigerate for at least an hour or until firm.
Enjoy! (These should keep in the fridge for a week…if they last that long!)
*If using a baking dish you can use cookie cutters to make shapes or just cut into bite-size squares.