Anyone around? Stock cubes in cooking.

[gaelicsheep]

I try to give my nearly 7 month old mashed up family food where I can - so much easier with another child as well. I make my own salt free chicken stock but beef stock is a step too far. So - beef stock cubes, shedloads of salt. Would you mash up beef stew made with bought stock or not? I'm thinking of removing the meat and veg from the gravy and mashing up with water??? Or should I just give her something else?

Um.... I"d probably give something else on those days. Or seek out a low salt beef stock.

Boots sell child friendly stock cube so I'd nip along and get some of these.

I think if it was a small quantity of gravy not a problem because you are not giving it every night.

kallo do "very low salt beef stock cubes"

Weeell, Boots is 15 miles away, not so easy to nip along but thank for the heads up. Beef stew is on now, and nowt else in the freezer (disorganised mother). Would be the first time... They can have up to 1g of salt a day, yes? The only thing she's had with salt today is a teeny bit of toast with her home made, salt free lentil soup.

i have to admit that my ds gets whatever we have. as long as it is all varied daily a little won't hurt them.

btw, i don't put stock in beef stew...... try a tin of tomatoes instead....

A one off isn't going to harm her :) I'd just limit the amount of gravy.

When the children came along, I stopped cooking with salt and haven't missed it TBH. I get the low salt versions of stock (most of which seem to have no added salt at all)

Yes, I'll look out low salt versions. I seem to remember I had to buy this pack from the local shop in an emergency. I use it once in a blue moon - just for stew and bolognese really.

I'll be doing bolognese next week probably. Red wine anyone? This giving em family food is new to me as with the PFB he got special food lovingly prepared... I'm back at work full time in less than 2 weeks - I reckon they'll be lucky to be fed at all at this rate!

Wine in cooking absolutely fine as the alcohol burns off durning cooking.

Thanks. I don't use salt as a rule either - stock's the only thing really. I should have thought in advance, but thinking at all's a challenge just now!

Can you take out a bit before adding the stock, or is it too late for that?

Can you pop a baked potato in for her?

BTW, what's people's stance on cheese?
Or a smear of red pesto in some pasta?

Well it's cooking in the stock. I suppose I could have cooked some in plain water if I had two brain cells to rub together. I think I'll just remove the meat and veg to mash without the gravy bit.

Cheese, yes. Pesto, probably no becauise of the pine nuts.

Too late for this time around but I often run out of low salt stock cubes and forget to buy them for my precious but slightly neglected 3rd born!! I make some diluted stock - so 1/2 a stock cube where I would usually use 1 on the basis that it reduces the salt by 50%. Put a few ingredients in a small saucepan for the baby and add the diluted stock into hers but make proper stock for us.

You can buy heinz baby stock cubes in Sainsburys in the baby food row for future reference if you live near one.

Nearest Sainsburys a good 150 miles away, but thanks! MrsGravy - I always dilute the stock more than they say anyway. I can't stand food that tastes of salty stock and nothing else.

Removing meat etc from gravy etc was pointless as by the time we finally ate there was barely any liquid left. I added a little water for mashing up DD's. She loved it and ate the lot. Shame my 4 year old doesn't follow her lead!

You could cook your beef in red wine or a dark beer like stout - tastes nice, gives nice dark colour but no salt.