SW - Slow cooked Bolognaise sauce

This one is for Alan to make while I'm at work. It's 3 and a half syns for the whole pot so less than a syn a portion.

1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
500g lean beef mince (or turkey. For other types you'll need to count the syns)
200g mushrooms, chopped
400g passatta (1 carton)
125ml dry cider
1 beef stock cube
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 or 2 carrots, chopped (optional)
1 or 2 sticks of celery, chopped (optional)
1 tbsp mushroom ketchup
Dash of Worcester Sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Throw all of the above ingredients into the slow cooker. Cook on high for half an hour and then turn to low. Leave for several hours. About an hour before serving check how thick the sauce is. If it's too runny turn the heat back up again and leave the lid off. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't boil dry.

Serve with lots of pasta and a green salad.

SW - Back to work chicken

I'm going back to work on Monday and leaving Alan on his own with both girls for the first time. This recipe is for him to cook in the slow cooker one day next week. I'm making it up as I write so I'll have to let you know how it tastes later in the week.

The whole pan full is 6 syns. I recon it should feed at least 3 adults so 2 syns a portion.

1 medium onion chopped
500g diced turkey
200g chopped mushrooms
125ml cider
125ml boiling water
1 chicken stock cube
1tsp lemon juice
1 bay leaf
1tbsp cornflour
Salt and pepper to taste

Put all of the ingredients but the cornflour in the slow cooker and cook on high for 30 mins. Turn the slow cooker to low and leave for at least a couple of hours (loads more won't hurt). 30 mins before you want to serve mix the cornflour with a couple of tablespoons of cold water and add to the slow cooker. It would also be good to check the seasoning at this point. Stir well and leave for the final 30 mins (this should thicken the sauce for serving)

Serve with mashed potato and crisp green vegetables (for you 1/3 superfree)

Cloth nappies - are they really cheaper?

We've been using cloth nappies on Ivy since a couple of days after she was born and I love them. They are soft, they contain the smell better than disposables and they look pretty. But my main reasons for choosing to use them are environmental (less nappies in landfill) and cost.

Someone was asking the other day if they really are cheaper so I ran some numbers and I thought I'd share them here.

First of all the day to day running costs. Worst case we are doing a nappy wash every other day (though in reality it's nearer every third day) so that's 182 and a half washes per year. Nappies need to be washed at 60 degrees and according to the manufacturers website this uses 0.95kWh per wash. At the rate we are currently paying for electricity this means we are paying somewhere between £19.06 and £41.28. We aren't tumble drying so we don't need to factor that in. Washing powder for that number of washes (based on Ariel Bio powder in large packets from Tesco and half the recommended amount of powder per wash) is £36. Water costs come in at £25.41 Which means our running costs per year are a maximum of £102.69

What about start up costs? Well this is what I've got and what I paid:

• 20 newborn nappies: £100 mainly from Tesco
• TotsBots accessories kit: £24.17 from Tesco
• 30 other nappies: £180 from all over
• 13 boosters: £16.06 from BabyBots
• 20 fleece liners: £10.16 from BabyBots
• 2 wet bags: £7.58 from BabyBots
• 8 Vest Extenders: £5.09 from Amazon
• Reusable wipes: £ 30 (But I didn't spend this as I had them left from my eldest daughter)

That gives me start up costs of: £343.06. However, my start up costs were particularly high as I expected to have a smaller baby and therefore need newborn nappies. Also it doesn't take into account the preloved nappies have value and can be sold on once you have finished with them to recoup some of your outlay.

So how does that compare with disposables?

Lets assume an average of 6 nappies are needed in 24 hours that means that you will need 2190. We used nature babycare nappies with our eldest as we wanted an eco nappy so I'll calculate based on them.  Lets take the size 4 nappy as an example (this is the middle size and has a good average cost). The cheapest that I can find them is 13p a nappy from Amazon. That means that a years supply of nappies will cost you £284.70 . Assuming you use 2 packs of wipes a week wipes will cost you £247.52 (Based on nature babycare wipes from Amazon). You'll also need nappy sacks which I've costed at £87.56. So in total we'd have spent £619.78 in a year on nappies and other consumeables.

Which means that if I don't spend any more on nappies I'm expecting to break even on my nappy use when Ivy is just over 8 months old. In actual fact I'll probably spend a bit more, even though I don't really need to, so it'll be sometime in month 9 that I break even.

If you remember that most children these days potty train at two and a half you can see why I expect to save £1000 by using cloth nappies.

Of course I've compared against expensive disposables here but as these are the ones that we would be using if Ivy weren't in cloth it is a fair comparison for us, I've also spent quite alot more on nappies than I really needed to so my start up costs are significantly higher than they need be.

All of that and I won't be sending over two thousand nappies to landfill. Being kind to the environment can be kind to your pocket too.

How expensive is an organic chicken really?

The other day when I got my Riverford delivery Alan commented on how expensive the whole chicken was that I'd ordered. I'll admit that it wasn't cheap but was it really that expensive when you consider how far it went?

This is what I did with it and how many people it fed:

• Meal 1: Roast chicken with all the trimmings for 2 adults and a toddler
• Meal 2: Coronation chicken for 2 adults
• Meal 3: Chicken pie for 5 adults and a toddler
• Meal 4: Chicken and root vegetable soup (3 large portions)

So without the soup that one chicken fed 9 adults and 2 toddlers good hearty meals. And I have to say if we hadn't had the relatively expensive and high meat roast dinner at the start of that the number would have been nearer 12 adults and 3 toddlers. 

So can you forgive me for buying an expensive chicken that was ethically and organically reared rather than a supermarket cage reared one? I know that I'd rather have one expensive joint that I need to make go a long way. If nothing else I love the challenge.

I've already posted a recipe for leftovers pie. I'll post the other recipes later this week and you can see what I've been cooking and how so little meat can serve so many people.

When did I become a hippy mum?

So when did I become a hippy Mum?

Ivy, who is currently 10 weeks old, is breastfed on demand, cloth bummed, carried in a sling and was born in water at home. And when she's 6 months old we'll be weaning her using baby led weaning.

I'm not exactly your typical earth mother. I'm a technologist in a high tech job. I can't live without internet access. Each of the decisions that led to the things listed above were taken in isolation. It's not a  case of one thing leading to another. Instead I did my research and I chose what was best for me, my daughter, the rest of our family and the world in general.

• I breastfeed because it's best for Ivy and it's best for me not to mention considerably cheaper
• She's cloth bummed because it's cheaper and better for the environment
• She's carried in a sling because it's more convenient than trying to get a pram in and out of the car
• She was born at home because nearly 30% of births at my local hospital ended in a ceasarian last year
• She was born in water because even NICE admit that the only painkiller that's better is an epidural
• We'll be using baby led weaning because it just seems more normal and natural and better for Ivy

Each decision on its own was simple and easy, it's only when you put them all together that it seems like I've turned into the image of a hippy earth mother. I have to say I'm happier for it.

SW - Syn free onion marmalade

I love my pickles and chutneys but I resent having to spend syns on them. This recipe makes a lovely chutney that goes particularly well with cheese or sausages.

Onion marmalade

Makes 3 jars

1kg red onions
500ml vinegar (I used half red wine half balsamic but any will do)
1tsp chilli flakes
1tsp sugar
3tbsp sweetener (I used Splenda)

Chop up the onions into small pieces
Add all the ingredients to a heavy bottomed pan
Bring to a simmer and leave for an hour, stirring regularly.
If it's done most of the liquid will have dissolved and it will have a slightly sticky texture. Depending on the water content of the onions you may need to let it simmer for a while longer.
Decant into sterilised jars immediately.

SW - Chinese Noodle Soup

This is a really hearty warming soup for a cold winter's day. It's an adaptation of a couple of recipes from Chinese Food Made Easy. It isn't really an authentic recipe any more but we think it tastes nice!

Chinese Style Noodle Soup
Serves 3-4 (depending on how hungry they are)
0.5 Syns per portion

200g lean beef or chicken
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried chilli flakes
1 tsp ground black pepper
0.5 tsp sea salt
200g mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 ltr chicken stock (from cubes will do)
100g pak choi (or any cabbage)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp dry sherry (1 Syn)
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
200g dry noodles cooked according to the instructions on the packet
Fry Light

1. First prepare the meat by hammering it flat (I use my rolling pin for this) and slice into wafer thin slices.
2. Add the meat to a bowl containing the cumin, chilli, pepper and salt . Make sure that the meat is completely coated in the spice mix. If you have the time leaving the meat to absorb the flavours for 20mins will help.
3. Add the stock to a pan and bring it to the boil
4. Once it is boiling add the pak choi
5. Meanwhile liberally spray a wok with fry light and stir fry the meat and the mushrooms until cooked to your liking
6. Once the soup has been boiling for 1 minute stir in the soy sauce, sherry and vinegar and then add the noodles. Bring it back to the boil.
7. Add the meat and the mushrooms to the soup. 
8. Serve immediately