How to make your own chicken stock

Chicken stock is an ingredient in many dishes and and is readily available in stores. But, it is really easy to make your own and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing exactly what's in it. You'll get a flavour you won't find in a packet or carton and it will cost you less, as you're using bones which are usually just thrown away. And boiling the bones gets you some extra minerals too.

How do you do it?

• Pile chicken bones in a largish pot.
• Add a peeled onion, a chopped carrot, and a stick of celery. (You can also add any odds and ends of veges you have around.)
  
• Add enough water to completely cover the chicken bones.
• Bring to the boil.
• Keep it at a slow boil/simmer for two or more hours, adding more water if the level gets too low.
• Drain the solids out and refrigerate or freeze.
  

I like to freeze the stock in muffin pans, so I have convenient amounts for adding to dishes. Once they are frozen, just pop them out and store them in a ziplock bag in the freezer.



This lot was actually made in my thermomix, and the reason it's pale is the thermomix recipe only calls for 60 minutes of cooking. So if you want a darker, richer flavour, cook for longer on the stovetop.

I use the chicken bones from the roast chickens that we buy once in a while. I now buy La Ionica chickens as I've found out pastured/free range chicken is healthier and this particular brand is hormone free and not chemically processed. Not terribly thrifty I know, but I feel better if I know I'm using every bit of it in this way.

You won't want to go back to using store bought stock, this tastes too good.

Spotlight sale - 20% off storewide

Yay, I love a good sale at Spotlight!

Ok, 20% is not a huge amount off, but it's a good excuse to go and have a rummage around. Check out the $3 per meter fabric table, go through the remnants bin and poke through all the already reduced craft items to make the most of the sale. Monday and Tuesday, 9am - 9pm.

Now, when can I get there free of kids?

Check out your local toy library

These latest finds from our local toy library have kept my kiddies entertained for hours...

This one is a two piece wooden balance beam

And even the lil guy enjoys the mini trampoline, although at this age his idea of a jump is one foot off the ground at a time, hehe

The toy library costs us $60 a year, plus one duty morning every term.
I love it because it allows us to borrow large things, that I don't have to have hanging around forever. If it's taking over half the lounge, or half our minuscule backyard, I can put up with it for a while because I know its gotta go back eventually.

Inexpensive entertainment and a great way for the kids to wear themselves out, yay!

Check out what your local toy library has to offer.

40% off at kounia-bella, all things kids

Melbourne children's store kounia-bella is having a sale, and if you enter this coupon code 'kbmega40%' at checkout, you will receive a 40% storewide discount. Kounia-bella sell kids and babies clothes, shoes, bedding, decor and furniture, and they deliver Australia wide and overseas as well.

The store is based in Oakleigh, Melbourne, so if you happen to be there and want to shop in person, to receive the 40% discount you need to mention 'yummy mummy' over the counter.

kounia-bella, all things kids

See what you can pick up for a song!

Free Glass Trial Pack on Mother and baby website

On the Australian Mother and Baby website, a company is giving away 4000 Free Glass Packs in exchange for filling in a short survey about glass packaging. The survey takes about 2 minutes to fill out and is the 'tick a box' sort, so dead easy.

The offer closes on 30th June.

Survey for free glass pack at Mother & Baby

I've just completed the survey, now to wait and see what turns up...

To market, to market.....home again, home again

Ok, so what did I come up with at the market? Well, as I said it was quieter than usual so I got to have a good poke around. There is soooo much girls stuff though and much less boys, let alone older boys, as I know from experience they start to wear their clothes out at this age.

Anyway, here we go...




A 3 piece summer jammies set, new with labels.
Some waterproof mittens for our upcoming snow trip.
A thick pumpkin patch jumper.
Pair of jeans, yay! (hard to come by in size 5)
Cute t-shirt.
Cartoon spiderman dvd.
Ben 10 figures - think they're McD's ones, but as we never go there, they're new to my Ben 10 obsessed boy.
2 x complete bionicles.
1 complete lego knight kit.
Book on prehistoric life.
An ancient Thomas book.
Thomas scarf.

I tend to only look for clothes for my older one, as the bub has loads of hand-me-downs coming from his big brother. The lego and bionicles I'll keep for Christmas, as I know he's really into both of those. Maybe the dvd for a stocking filler.
The clothes are all a size or two up, so will be stashed for next year, and the mittens are for the bub.


So if a market is on near you, it's well worth going. Especially if you have some little girls to clothe or baby is on it's way, lots of baby items there.

Right, where's the next one? I think I have a slight addiction to them...!

Make your own chocolate syrup

Yes, I went to the baby market and had a great time fossicking. Found some good bits and pieces too, I'll give you a run down tomorrow as long as I don't come down with swine flu from the experience, which my sis reminded me is rampant in Victoria. Come to think of it, the market was much less hectic and busy than usual, I wonder if that's why.

In the meantime, try this one out if you're a chocoholic. This chocolate syrup recipe works well for making chocolate milk, hot chocolate, for over icecream and I'm sure there are other uses as well.

Such as.....

Make a chocolate cake and leave it in the pan.
While still hot, take a skewer or toothpick and poke deep holes all over the surface.
Pour over chocolate syrup and leave it to soak in.
Eat, maybe with some vanilla icecream.


Gah, I'm drooling now, I haven't tried this but will sometime very soon. It will make a decadent dessert on a freezy cold Melbourne day.

Making this chocolate syrup is cheaper in the long run than buying it and of course, there is the benefit of knowing exactly what is in it.

Before I give you the recipe I just HAD to include this chokky pic. Someone's been enjoying themselves a little too much, but it wasn't me, boo!



If you want to see more, check out A dream in chocolate...

Chocolate Syrup

1/2 cup Cocoa Powder
1 cup Sugar
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Vanilla

• Combine cocoa, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil.

• Allow it to boil for one minute.

• Remove from heat, cool and add vanilla.

• Store in the fridge.

Mmmm, I see a chocolate cake in my very near future...

Need some cheap maternity wear?

Baby & Kids Market is running a Maternity gear market in Melbourne on 18th June at Hawthorn town hall. The market consists of preloved & wholesale maternity wear and pre & post natal care items, so this will be great place to have a rummage for any bits and pieces you need.

Maternity wear has some crazy prices new, and it generally doesn't get much more than a few months use, so most second hand items are in very good condition.

And, there are the usual Baby & Kids pre-loved goods markets on in some states this weekend, I'm heading out to the one in Melbourne on Sunday to see what I can dig up.

Check to see what's on in your state click here,
then check out where and when on the left.

I get a certain kick out of going to these markets, as you never know what you might find that you didn't know you needed, hehe!
It's a good place to trawl for Christmas and birthday gifts for the kids, while they're still young enough to not care that whatever it is is not in it's original packaging.

I've even picked up a few bits that I've re-sold on ebay, so as well as saving money by using the markets, you can also make money too, if you're fairly savvy.

Here's a piece on the markets by A Current Affair:

Have fun!

Thermomix for a thriftier kitchen

Have you heard of thermomix? I made a brief reference to it in this post and you can check it out on my squidoo lens or just google it.



One of the benefits of having a thermomix is it is a time saving and money saving device. Now, I was given mine and I'm mighty glad I was as it is an expensive wee beastie.....nearly $2000 Australian.


But let me tell you a few benefits.

• It saves me loads of time when I cook or bake. It has built in scales for weighing and a built in element for cooking, so everything happens in the one unit, thus saving on dish washing, too.

• It cooks everything perfectly. Seriously, you CANNOT burn or otherwise wreck your cooking. Especially when cooking from the supplied recipe book.

• It is supremely easy to use. I can cook dinner one-handed with a cranky baby on my hip. I don't burn pots on the stove by not paying attention, I don't have to chop, stir or puree and it has a built in timer, so switches itself off when finished.

Those are the time saving factors.

If you count time as money, then you're already saving. But it does have distinct money saving attributes too.


You can...

• Make bread dough, very quickly. So buy your ingredients in bulk (cheaper) and make your own bread. Mmmmm, yummy!

• Make sorbet in 3 minutes. Hot day, the kids want to go out for an icypole/popsicle/flavoured ice? Stay home (save petrol and money) and make your own, any flavour you like, and know what's in it.

• Make your own sauces. Thermomix has failsafe recipes for bechamel, hollandaise and the like, so no more running to the store to buy the pre-packaged variety.

• Make your own custards and mayos. Fresh when you need them, no more expired containers lurking in the depths of the fridge, and, you know what's in them. (Meaning no artificial colours, flavours, thickeners or preservatives).

• Are you a juice drinker? Thermomix does that too, the healthy way. It completely pulverizes your fruits and veggies to an extremely smooth consistency, so you get the skin, the pulp, everything. No waste.

There are more things this wonder machine can do but you've probably heard about enough for now.

Want a demo?

Where to get one?

They are only available through tupperware style parties, you go to a demo and can order one from there. Very occasionally you see a current model on ebay, although they fetch nearly the same price as buying a new one. And you will sometimes see an older model thermomix on ebay. The older ones are cheaper, largely the same as the current model and parts are still available worldwide.


Ooh, I just found this budget busters section on the Thermomix Australia blog.


Bottom line, if you can get one of these, it's well worth it!

My thrifty exercise solution - twin baby jogger

I used to be a dedicated gym junkie, up at 5.40am 4 mornings a week. Well, since having the boys, that routine has gone south. Combine two excruciatingly early wakers with a hubby who could not drag his butt from bed in the morning if the house was on fire, and there was no way I was getting to the gym at that hour. And I never have the enthusiasm to get there in the evening. So, in an effort to get some exercise, I found this twin baby jogger on ebay, picked it up locally and wa lah, I am up and running. Well, metaphorically speaking, as I am NOT a runner. Although the kids get a kick out of me running them down a hill....little do they know I am barely in control.....

So, the gym being an expensive option, makes this my thrifty option :o)

And one other thing my sis told me, which works if you are REALLY pushed for time (and motivation) to exercise, is to walk on the spot when doing such mundane tasks as folding the washing, doing the dishes and washing your hair in the shower. Walk, or march, in place.....if you have a pedometer you can march you way to the recommended steps per day, which is I forget how many.

I have done this, though not when anyone is around, as it does make you feel just a little silly...

Kids clothing sale online at charlipopkids world

Quick, this one ends June 9th!

Online store charlipopkids world is having a sale on all Ouch brand kids clothing. It is the 2008 summer range, so stock up for next year, as it's all $5 - $10 a piece. That's a big saving on their regular prices of about $20 - $30 per item. Postage is $10.
Very cute.

10% off clothing at Giordano

Today being my one kid free day, I raced out to the mall to do a wee spot of clothes shopping unencumbered by my usual hangers on.


I ended up in Giordano ( because it's cheap and I'm cheap haha!) and after I made my purchase I was told they have a members discount of 10%. All you do is give them your mobile number which they enter in the computer, then when you shop there, tell them you're a member and quote your mobile number and get the discount. Family and friends can also use it, as long as they know your mobile number.

Never paying full price = good thing.

Save money and green up in the bathroom

Here are a few ways to save a little money in your bathroom and decrease your chemical load at the same time.

These are the things I do, though I know there are more, I just need to do a bit more research on the topic....

Face wash

• Use honey, it works well, is cheap and chemical free.
• Add oatmeal for a scrub.

Night time moisturizer

• I use vitamin E oil squeezed out of capsules, it moisturizers well and has no icky chemical smell.

Deodorant

• Use baking soda. Again, it's cheap and chemical free and works. I'd maybe not use it on a 40c day though :0)

Bath

• Use baking soda for a relaxing soak, it will leave your skin feeling silky smooth. Also a good soak for anyone who has the itchies.

Cleaning

• Baking soda come up trumps here too. It is an abrasive, so is great for removing soap scum from the shower and bath. Rub it on with an old kitchen scrubber pad (not steelo though!) and rinse off.

• Vinegar is another useful product, it can be used with baking soda or on it's own. Vinegar is great for cleaning glass, just use it as you would window cleaning fluid, it leaves it beautifully shiny. Also gives a lovely shine to the tap ware. Keep it in a spray bottle and use with a soft cloth on the mirrors, shower glass and taps.

Soap

• Don't use it all the time, unless you are actually dirty as soap is very drying on the skin. If you use liquid soap at the sink, cut it with water. I use a mix about 70 soap/30 water, it still cleans grubby little fingers well and gives plenty of suds.
  

Cosmetics and moisturizers

• If you have a favourite brand that you must have, shop for it on Oztion or Ebay. Often you can get 2 or 3 items for the retail store price of 1.

Every little bit helps when you're trying to save, for me, doing the above has cut right down on what I spend on cleaners and also cut the amount I spend on products for myself. Spending less when I grocery shop is great and the bonus is having less chemicals in my home. Can't go past that.