Vegetable Stock

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but my boyfriend is allergic to poultry.  Weird, I know, but true.  So all those recipes that call for chicken stock were off limits to our household, which was a real shame because they're so GOOD!  So a while back, I decided to just sub in some veggie stock because it's comparable.  What I didn't realize was how expensive it was.  I mean, really...it's at least $.50 more than chicken or beef stock!  What gives?!  So I said, "screw that" and decided to make my own.  Turns out...it's not hard!

First off, you have to have enough veggie trimmings and it's good to have a bit of variety or you're not going to have veggie stock, you'll just have broccoli water (I know because I did this once...learn from my mistakes!).  What I found works best for me is to trim and divide all my fresh veggies into meal-sized portions when I get home from the grocery store.  This kills two birds with one stone...I have ready to go veggies for our meals AND I make my stock.  Plus, I find my fridge looks more organized this way than just having random packages of veggies in there.  Anyway...

Wash everything thoroughly!  Unless, of course, you like the flavor of dirt...but let's just assume that we don't.  Wash 'em.  Cut everything into chunks.  They don't have to be perfect or anything...I just find they fit better into my pot in smaller chunks.  Plus, I think it gets more flavor out....you know, that whole surface area to mass thing.  I like to fill my big soup pot about half full of veggie trimmings.  I also throw in at least one whole onion chopped up and a couple tablespoons of minced garlic for extra flavor.  You can throw in whatever seasonings you like...I just like to keep mine simple and season it later when I use it in a recipe.  Then, I fill the pot up the rest of the way with water, leaving enough room so it won't boil over.  Then, I set it on the stove and have it cook at a boil for about an hour.  Let it cool, and using a mesh strainer, I separate the veggies from the stock.  Discard the veggies (if you have a compost bin, these are perfect for that!).  Make sure you let the stock cool down before refrigerating it.

If you're not going to use all this stock within the week, freeze it.  I prefer to freeze it in ice cube trays and then empty the trays into a gallon freezer bags.  My ice cubes are about 1/8 of a cup each, so I can easily take out just the amount that I need.

I really hope you enjoy this little tip!  It's certainly saved me a lot of money and made for some tasty food!

Road Trip!

Just last month, my little family and I piled into our vehicle for the long drive from Orlando to Chicago for my boyfriend's family reunion.  We anticipated the drive taking at minimum 21 hours and we planned to drive the whole way there...no stopping (except for gas and potty breaks, of course!).  How does one do this with an 8 month old, you may ask.  Glad you asked!

Preparation!

Plum blends pack with "Boon"

Preparation is the name of the game when planning  a road trip with a little one.  The three big things on my list were easy to prepare formula for in the car, easy to serve baby food for in the car, and new toys to keep him happy.  Now I know most people wouldn't be crazy about feeding their children in the car like this, but hear me out.  He is perfectly capable of holding his own bottle and if he is fed while driving, all those stops can be used for stretching his little legs and moving around...not stuck in Mom's lap eating!  My only problem was the baby food...just sounded messy as all get out in a car seat, right?  Solution...squeezy fruit!  I'm sure there are other names for them but that's what we call them in our house.  I got 20 packs for $20 at Babies R Us on sale, and my little man can suck the food right out of the pack.  If your kiddo isn't crazy about sucking it out on their own, they make spoon attachments (called a Boon) so you can squeeze the food right into the spoon.

After getting the fruit packs, I got a couple packs of ready to feed bottles and had a ziploc bag full of nipples...easy as pie.  I put those and a few sippy cups (for water) and some little snacks into a small tote and stowed it on the floor in front of the car seat for easy access.  

Ayden playing with one of his new toys.

The last thing on my prep list was new toys.  Why new toys?  What's wrong with the toys he already has?  Well...they're boring.  He's already seen them and played with them.  So I got a few new things to keep his attention on the drive.  One important thing to note...while all the bells and whistles are cool on toys, it's key to get at least one silent toy.  Trust me, your sanity will thank me later.

How did it go?

Well the 21 hour trip ended up being 2 full days due to a blown transmission somewhere in GA.  If not for the help of family, friends, and the grace of God, we would still be there!  Ayden was a trooper through the whole thing...only fussed one time on the entire trip.  His car seat was mess free and had a blast with his new toys.  One thing I will say this experience has taught me is to pack extra...because you never know!

Please note...here I'm just talking about food and fun for baby on road trips.  There are certainly MANY more things you need...diapers, wipes, sunscreen, etc.  This isn't meant to be comprehensive!