IMPROVE HEALTH - SOLVING HUNGER - SELF SUFFICIENCY
HAVE YOU HEARD? SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO?
HAVE A GARDEN YEAR ROUND!
Well, the buzz is about a wonderful concept from a man named MEL BARTHOLOMEW "THE SQUARE FOOT GARDENER". SQUAREFOOTGARDENING.COM He is an engineer who came up with the idea to help us grow fresh herbs, fruits and veggies for self sufficiency and our health.
THE IDEA IS You create a box out of new, salvage or scrap lumber 3'X 3' or 4'X 4'Square and fill it with potting soil and dirt. Subdivide it into square foot increments using twine or other visual line on the top of the box.
In these square foot plots you plant seeds or seedling (You can use starter plants which you grow from seeds indoors during the early Winter when it's too cold to plant outdoors) My family has done this and been very successful with the starter plants. They make beautiful little centerpieces while they are growing you get to watch the "Magic" happen as they grow. Then they are strong for your planned planting time in the early Spring. Check the yearly FROST DATE by zipcode from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, it's as simple as googling it. This will give you an idea of the best time to transfer your indoor starters outdoors to your Squarefoot Garden.
During the Hard Winter think about the kinds of fresh foods your family enjoys and begin locating the seeds you will need. Figure out what size of Squarefoot Garden you will build (3' or 4') and then how many of each type of plant you want to plant (think of how many heads of lettuce or cabbage you would consume each month, or how many cucumbers or squash or cantalopes, watermelon, blackberries, beans,etc.) When you think of it in these terms it is easier to figure out how much to plant ONE SQUARE FOOT OR TWO SQUARE FOOT PLOTS dedicated to your selected plant depending on how much you can use.
Buy your seeds. There are so many choices, from the packets from the .99cents store to Armstrong Garden Centers to Heirloom Seeds which are have not been genetically modified as many of today's seeds have been. You can start were it makes sense for you right now and then 'graduate' to the next levels as you see the value in this method. Once you have your seeds store them in a cool dry place in labeled zip-lock bags or jars in the refrigerator not the freezer, they should last for many years...3,5,10 years.
IN FEBRUARY
Take from your seeds the number of each plant ie: cabbage, melon,etc. you would like to grow and begin your indoor starter plants. You can use small starter spaces made of plastic containers or a nice pot in the corner of the breakfast room. put a little label on a stick or straw to identify what is growing where...It's easy to forget what was planted later. Tend to these little babies like you would any newbie and watch the magic. Think of how beneficial these foods will be to your bodies and how much money you will save this Spring and Summer on fresh produce.
One More Really COOL FEATURE... Once you get your mind around this type of gardening freedom. Mel throws in another great idea. How about putting your Squarefoot Garden on a rolling stand (get an old end table or file cabinet from the thrift store or dumpster and put some casters on it) YOU CAN THEN ROLL YOUR GARDEN TO THE BRIGHT SUNNY AREA OF YOUR YARD OR DRIVEWAY FOR THE DAY TO MAXIMIZE YOUR GROW TIME. THEN WHEEL IN BACK TO A SIDE YARD FOR THE EVENING. With this type of Sunlight Capture you can feasibly grow just about anything no matter what kind of restrictions your actual yard may have given you. HOW COOL IS THAT?
IMPROVE HEALTH SOLVING HUNGER
SELF SUFFICIENCY 50% LESS COST
80% LESS SPACE 90% LESS WATER
5% of the SEEDS 2% of the WORK
No Pesticides Needed No Fertilization Used
No Limitation 5 times the Harvest
Reduce Recycle Reuse On Patio,Deck,Ground,Terraced
Friday, January 22, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
COOKING WITH FOOD STORAGE
Before you Begin Cooking
Take it one step at a time-don’t try and do too much at one time. You’ll just get burnt out. Just work on one food storage item at a time.
Nothing is ever an absolute-you don’t need to use 100% whole wheat, eggs, powdered milk, etc. in the recipe in order for you to be classified as using your food storage. Adapt it to your family’s tastes. The end goal is to be rotating it…and your family needs to eat it in order for you to rotate it.
Try it in your own recipes-you know your family already likes them so start here first. Yes, I do have recipes if you want to try one you’ll know works great with food storage.
DON’T WARN YOUR FAMILY!-please, please, please do not warn your family that the food you’re serving contains food storage. They won’t guess unless you tell them…I promise!
Start Today
Decide and commit to start using your food storage today!
JANUARY 2010
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES
A fun twist on rice pudding and maybe something different for those cold nights
RICE PUDDING WITH APPLES AND CINNAMON
Serves 4
I make this in my pressure cooker – it is easy, fast and yummy.
1 T. butter
1/4 cup long grain rice *
2 cups milk *
1 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg *
1/4 cup evaporated milk *
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Cinnamon
Melt the butter, add rice and stir to coat with butter. Stir in your water (3 cups) and dry milk (6 T. for non instant, 2/3 cup for instant) add sugar and salt. Close lid and bring to pressure, cook 12 minutes at pressure. Remove from heat, allow pressure to come down on it’s own.
In a small bowl, mix together your egg (you can use your powdered eggs) and the evaporated milk (you can make your own) and vanilla. Stir a little of the hot liquid from you cooker into the egg mix (tempering the eggs), then add to the rice mixture.
Cook, uncovered, over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the rice pudding begins to bubble. Remove immediately from heat. Cool 10 min. stirring occasionally. Transfer to individual dessert bowls, continue cooling, then refrigerate. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon or you can top with a spoon (or two) of the Apple Cranberry Cinnamon Topping below.
Apple Cranberry Cinnamon Topping:
3 – 4 Apples * (Equivalent of 3 – 4 apples set to hydrate) peeled, chopped
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries *
2 T. sugar (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash cloves
water, about half way up apples
Cook apples and cranberries until tender. Mix 1 rounded teaspoon corn starch* with a little cold water and add to cooked apples; continue to cook until thickened (2 minutes) stir in cinnamon and cloves.
* Food Storage Item
Although I have used the (*) for food storage items all of these items would be in your food storage but the fresh butter
YUMMY DINNER ROLLS
**GETTING STARTED TIP** One of the greatest things about using powdered milk in recipes is that you don’t have to scald it! So use powdered milk in any recipe calling for scalded milk with out scalding it! See how food storage actually SAVES TIME and MESS! I love it!
1/2 C. Sugar
1 Extra-Large Egg (2 T. Dry Egg Powder + 1/4 C. Water)
1 T. Shortening
1 C. Milk (3 T. Dry Powdered Milk + 1 C. Water)
1 t. Salt
4 1/2-5 C. Flour (enough to make a sticky dough) I usually do 1/4 to 1/2 Whole wheat flour
1 pkg yeast (2 1/2 t. yeast), softened in 1/2 C. lukewarm water
Beat sugar and egg. Scald milk; cool. Then add to sugar and egg. Stir in shortening, yeast, salt, flour. Let rise about 2-21/2 hours. Shape, cut, rise again about 1/2-1 hour. bak. (400, about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 16 good sized rolls. You may want to double the recipe, as these rolls disappear fast!
Take it one step at a time-don’t try and do too much at one time. You’ll just get burnt out. Just work on one food storage item at a time.
Nothing is ever an absolute-you don’t need to use 100% whole wheat, eggs, powdered milk, etc. in the recipe in order for you to be classified as using your food storage. Adapt it to your family’s tastes. The end goal is to be rotating it…and your family needs to eat it in order for you to rotate it.
Try it in your own recipes-you know your family already likes them so start here first. Yes, I do have recipes if you want to try one you’ll know works great with food storage.
DON’T WARN YOUR FAMILY!-please, please, please do not warn your family that the food you’re serving contains food storage. They won’t guess unless you tell them…I promise!
Start Today
Decide and commit to start using your food storage today!
JANUARY 2010
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES
A fun twist on rice pudding and maybe something different for those cold nights
RICE PUDDING WITH APPLES AND CINNAMON
Serves 4
I make this in my pressure cooker – it is easy, fast and yummy.
1 T. butter
1/4 cup long grain rice *
2 cups milk *
1 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg *
1/4 cup evaporated milk *
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Cinnamon
Melt the butter, add rice and stir to coat with butter. Stir in your water (3 cups) and dry milk (6 T. for non instant, 2/3 cup for instant) add sugar and salt. Close lid and bring to pressure, cook 12 minutes at pressure. Remove from heat, allow pressure to come down on it’s own.
In a small bowl, mix together your egg (you can use your powdered eggs) and the evaporated milk (you can make your own) and vanilla. Stir a little of the hot liquid from you cooker into the egg mix (tempering the eggs), then add to the rice mixture.
Cook, uncovered, over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the rice pudding begins to bubble. Remove immediately from heat. Cool 10 min. stirring occasionally. Transfer to individual dessert bowls, continue cooling, then refrigerate. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon or you can top with a spoon (or two) of the Apple Cranberry Cinnamon Topping below.
Apple Cranberry Cinnamon Topping:
3 – 4 Apples * (Equivalent of 3 – 4 apples set to hydrate) peeled, chopped
1/4 cup Dried Cranberries *
2 T. sugar (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
dash cloves
water, about half way up apples
Cook apples and cranberries until tender. Mix 1 rounded teaspoon corn starch* with a little cold water and add to cooked apples; continue to cook until thickened (2 minutes) stir in cinnamon and cloves.
* Food Storage Item
Although I have used the (*) for food storage items all of these items would be in your food storage but the fresh butter
YUMMY DINNER ROLLS
**GETTING STARTED TIP** One of the greatest things about using powdered milk in recipes is that you don’t have to scald it! So use powdered milk in any recipe calling for scalded milk with out scalding it! See how food storage actually SAVES TIME and MESS! I love it!
1/2 C. Sugar
1 Extra-Large Egg (2 T. Dry Egg Powder + 1/4 C. Water)
1 T. Shortening
1 C. Milk (3 T. Dry Powdered Milk + 1 C. Water)
1 t. Salt
4 1/2-5 C. Flour (enough to make a sticky dough) I usually do 1/4 to 1/2 Whole wheat flour
1 pkg yeast (2 1/2 t. yeast), softened in 1/2 C. lukewarm water
Beat sugar and egg. Scald milk; cool. Then add to sugar and egg. Stir in shortening, yeast, salt, flour. Let rise about 2-21/2 hours. Shape, cut, rise again about 1/2-1 hour. bak. (400, about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 16 good sized rolls. You may want to double the recipe, as these rolls disappear fast!
FRUGAL LIVING TIPS
Robert D. Hales said, “I have learned that the three most loving words are “I love you,” and the four most caring words for those we love are “We can’t afford it.” It is so important to understand your own finances and know what needs and wants are. Here are some tips that may help:)
•Create a budget! You must know how much is coming in, and how much is going out. It is easy to tract how you can save money when you know where you money is going! Click here for a free budget sheet.
•Make sure you are shopping sales for your family groceries. Use coupons! You will be surprised at how far your dollar will go. Check out 3 month supply for more tips.
•Create a schedule. It is hard to always fill out your budget if you don’t have a set time & place to do it. Make every first Thursday of the month at 8 pm a time to do your budget - scratch that - not during The Office - come up with a time that works for you!
2 Responses to “Budget Tips”
Tiff, on June 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am Said:
Plant a garden. Even the smallest space can save you money. If you don’t already have permanent fruit or vegetables like Grape vines, blueberry bushes, strawberry plants, it is so easy to begin. Planting these kinds of things is nice because all you do is plant them once, water, fertilize and enjoy the fruits for years and years. Watching your food grow is very satisfying.
Holly Magleby, on September 11th, 2009 at 8:06 am Said:
My daughter and I have helped my parents plant tomatoes,watermelon, green peppers,pumpkins & raspberries and we have 3 apple trees and a pie cherry tree that were growing on our property when we moved into our house 22 years ago, a nectarine tree, some peach trees and a few cherry trees that my dad has planted since then.
I enjoy helping to care for them and being able to get fruit from them. we have already gotten fruit from our pie cherry tree, our nectarine tree and our peach tree. Our apples will soon be ready to harvest.
My daughter gets excited about the pumpkins, tomatoes and peppers that we are looking forward to harvesting when they are ready.
It has been very satisfying and exciting to not have to go to a store to get some fruitsand vegetables. It is fun seeing the fruits of our labors and having something to show for our efforts.
I encourage all of you to grow as much of your own food as you can. It may be hard work, but you won’t regret it.
CLOTHNG TIPS
•Don’t be afraid of garage sales, especially if you have children! Dig through those boxes. There are often times a lot of really great gently used clothes that are a steal of a deal.
•I never buy ANYTHING full price. When I walk into a store, I go straight for the clearance section. A lot of times, there are wonderful items. Keep in mind, time flies, and a lot of the items you find will fit great for next season!
•Do NOT be afraid of credit cards - as long as you use them wisely. A great neighbor of mine introduced me to Kohls. Get a Kohl’s credit card! 12 times a year you get an extra 15%, 20%, or 30% off EVERYTHING in the store. Shop only the clearance sections, and you can get some AMAZING deals. When you charge your Kohl’s credit card, pay it off with a check at the register. No fuss - and no worries about having to pay it later.
•Shop second hand stores. There are so many items that you can get for a great deal. You just have to be willing to put a little work into finding them!
•Do a swap! Get a couple of friends together that are about your same size. Go through your closet and find clothes that you are tired of. Do a trade! Make it a fun girls night - you will walk away with some great items.
•MORE coming soon
RANDOM TIPS
•It’s the most wonderful time of the year - year round! Whenever you hear a loved one say something they want - write it down! That way, you can shop sales throughout the year, and come the Holidays, you will have all your purchases done! You will also be able to spread your budget year round, instead of spending a TON of money around the holidays.
•Shop clearance for gift ideas and stock up. I came across some towel warmers for $10!! The year before I spent $60 on the exact some towel warmer for my in-laws. Yup - I was sad!
•Set aside a “going out to eat” budget & get it in cash! You only have the alloted amount each month in cash to spend. Once it is spent, you no longer can go out to eat. That way it really helps you to plan your meals b/c you know you can’t fall back on a dollar menu!
•Create a budget! You must know how much is coming in, and how much is going out. It is easy to tract how you can save money when you know where you money is going! Click here for a free budget sheet.
•Make sure you are shopping sales for your family groceries. Use coupons! You will be surprised at how far your dollar will go. Check out 3 month supply for more tips.
•Create a schedule. It is hard to always fill out your budget if you don’t have a set time & place to do it. Make every first Thursday of the month at 8 pm a time to do your budget - scratch that - not during The Office - come up with a time that works for you!
2 Responses to “Budget Tips”
Tiff, on June 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am Said:
Plant a garden. Even the smallest space can save you money. If you don’t already have permanent fruit or vegetables like Grape vines, blueberry bushes, strawberry plants, it is so easy to begin. Planting these kinds of things is nice because all you do is plant them once, water, fertilize and enjoy the fruits for years and years. Watching your food grow is very satisfying.
Holly Magleby, on September 11th, 2009 at 8:06 am Said:
My daughter and I have helped my parents plant tomatoes,watermelon, green peppers,pumpkins & raspberries and we have 3 apple trees and a pie cherry tree that were growing on our property when we moved into our house 22 years ago, a nectarine tree, some peach trees and a few cherry trees that my dad has planted since then.
I enjoy helping to care for them and being able to get fruit from them. we have already gotten fruit from our pie cherry tree, our nectarine tree and our peach tree. Our apples will soon be ready to harvest.
My daughter gets excited about the pumpkins, tomatoes and peppers that we are looking forward to harvesting when they are ready.
It has been very satisfying and exciting to not have to go to a store to get some fruitsand vegetables. It is fun seeing the fruits of our labors and having something to show for our efforts.
I encourage all of you to grow as much of your own food as you can. It may be hard work, but you won’t regret it.
CLOTHNG TIPS
•Don’t be afraid of garage sales, especially if you have children! Dig through those boxes. There are often times a lot of really great gently used clothes that are a steal of a deal.
•I never buy ANYTHING full price. When I walk into a store, I go straight for the clearance section. A lot of times, there are wonderful items. Keep in mind, time flies, and a lot of the items you find will fit great for next season!
•Do NOT be afraid of credit cards - as long as you use them wisely. A great neighbor of mine introduced me to Kohls. Get a Kohl’s credit card! 12 times a year you get an extra 15%, 20%, or 30% off EVERYTHING in the store. Shop only the clearance sections, and you can get some AMAZING deals. When you charge your Kohl’s credit card, pay it off with a check at the register. No fuss - and no worries about having to pay it later.
•Shop second hand stores. There are so many items that you can get for a great deal. You just have to be willing to put a little work into finding them!
•Do a swap! Get a couple of friends together that are about your same size. Go through your closet and find clothes that you are tired of. Do a trade! Make it a fun girls night - you will walk away with some great items.
•MORE coming soon
RANDOM TIPS
•It’s the most wonderful time of the year - year round! Whenever you hear a loved one say something they want - write it down! That way, you can shop sales throughout the year, and come the Holidays, you will have all your purchases done! You will also be able to spread your budget year round, instead of spending a TON of money around the holidays.
•Shop clearance for gift ideas and stock up. I came across some towel warmers for $10!! The year before I spent $60 on the exact some towel warmer for my in-laws. Yup - I was sad!
•Set aside a “going out to eat” budget & get it in cash! You only have the alloted amount each month in cash to spend. Once it is spent, you no longer can go out to eat. That way it really helps you to plan your meals b/c you know you can’t fall back on a dollar menu!
3 MONTH FOOD STORAGE SUPPLY
What to Know: Here is a step by step outline to help you get your 3 month food supply.
1 - Know What you Need!
You first need to come up with a list of items that you will use over the next 3 months. Make a recipe list for two weeks- including breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks. Write it down. Think of EVERY ingredient you will need to make those meals. Once you have a list of all the ingredients, figure out how much you need to get you through for 3 months. The gals over at www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net have a GREAT spreadsheet that does the work for you. Make sure you watch the tutorial so it makes sense. Check it out! Crystal also has a list of common items in a 3 month food supply.
2- Shop Smart!
Now that you have a list of what you actually need over the next three months- it is time to go shopping. Here are some tips for how to get the best deals.
•Couponing! Go to any grocery store that has great sales & accept coupons!! I have been able to build a great little reserve for my family by using coupons! I used to think you could only use coupons if a product was not on sale. I was wrong. You can use coupons all the time! It is really simple, when a grocery store puts an item on sale you can get that item on sale PLUS use a coupon - you get a GREAT deal! Where do I get coupons? - You can get them in your Sunday newspaper, as well as online. A lot of people get multiple papers, hence they get multiple coupons. There are a lot of websites out there that actually do all the work for you. They develop lists of what is on sale, and match the coupon that is available to it. You then simply need to look at the list and cut out ONLY the coupons you plan on using. It takes a little planning, but is well worth the effort. You will NOT be cutting coupons all day. Below are some very helpful websites:
The Obsessive Shopper- For Utah and Las Vegas - make sure you check out her system for a detailed explanation of how to get started!
Coupon Moms - Visit this site for a national database. They have deals listed state by state as well as lots of information that is really helpful!
•Case Lot Sales - Often times, case lot sales are wonderful. It gives you the opportunity to buy in bulk and get a great deal. Make sure you always figure out the cost per item to make sure you are getting a good deal.
•Only buy meat when it is on sale. Get to know what is a good price, and what is a bad price. Ask around. People generally know. Don’t be afraid to ask people at the grocery store what is the lowest price they have seen on meat, dairy, etc…When meat does go on sale, you know how much you need for three months so buy a ton of it! I divide the meat up into little freezer baggies, and I have it already split up into portion sizes appropriate for my famiy.
•I would not recommend buying a lot of things at Wholesale centers (Sams/Costco) - however - their prices on cheese cannot be beat. I buy cheese and divide it up into little baggies as well. Cheese freezes just fine. A reader said that if you put a little cornstarch into graded cheese - it freezes great and will not stick together. I have also found yeast, and most baking supplies to be the cheapest here as well.
3- Rotate Through your Meals
•Now that you have a great supply of food that you know you will actually eat - Eat it!! Go through your list and make your recipes. I always buy my produce when it is on sale. When you check your newspaper for deals - check out the produce section. Be sure to add in fresh fruits and vegetables to your meals. You will be doing it, knowing that you saved money!
•Whenever you take something out of your 3 month food supply - write it on a sheet of paper that you have near your storage area. This way you have a general idea of what you need to replenish when the next sale comes. You will be eating your food, and nothing will spoil.
•Don’t feel like you can only eat what is on your recipe list - now that you have a ton of food - get creative. Share different recipes with family and friends.
Don’t forget to add in everyday essentials like soap, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, shampoo etc… You can get these items for great deals as well!
Benefits - to encourage you to get started!
•Knowing that if something happened to you financially, you have a little reserve of food for your family.
•You won’t be enticed to go out to eat as often, because you have a ready list of meals available to cook. This will save you money!
•You will be better organized. You won’t feel the pressure that comes from not being prepared.
•You will save money - you won’t have to run to the grocery store to buy things that you forgot!
•Often times, if I plan a meal - it is a lot healthier than throwing something together. You have better control giving your family nutritious meals.
1 - Know What you Need!
You first need to come up with a list of items that you will use over the next 3 months. Make a recipe list for two weeks- including breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks. Write it down. Think of EVERY ingredient you will need to make those meals. Once you have a list of all the ingredients, figure out how much you need to get you through for 3 months. The gals over at www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net have a GREAT spreadsheet that does the work for you. Make sure you watch the tutorial so it makes sense. Check it out! Crystal also has a list of common items in a 3 month food supply.
2- Shop Smart!
Now that you have a list of what you actually need over the next three months- it is time to go shopping. Here are some tips for how to get the best deals.
•Couponing! Go to any grocery store that has great sales & accept coupons!! I have been able to build a great little reserve for my family by using coupons! I used to think you could only use coupons if a product was not on sale. I was wrong. You can use coupons all the time! It is really simple, when a grocery store puts an item on sale you can get that item on sale PLUS use a coupon - you get a GREAT deal! Where do I get coupons? - You can get them in your Sunday newspaper, as well as online. A lot of people get multiple papers, hence they get multiple coupons. There are a lot of websites out there that actually do all the work for you. They develop lists of what is on sale, and match the coupon that is available to it. You then simply need to look at the list and cut out ONLY the coupons you plan on using. It takes a little planning, but is well worth the effort. You will NOT be cutting coupons all day. Below are some very helpful websites:
The Obsessive Shopper- For Utah and Las Vegas - make sure you check out her system for a detailed explanation of how to get started!
Coupon Moms - Visit this site for a national database. They have deals listed state by state as well as lots of information that is really helpful!
•Case Lot Sales - Often times, case lot sales are wonderful. It gives you the opportunity to buy in bulk and get a great deal. Make sure you always figure out the cost per item to make sure you are getting a good deal.
•Only buy meat when it is on sale. Get to know what is a good price, and what is a bad price. Ask around. People generally know. Don’t be afraid to ask people at the grocery store what is the lowest price they have seen on meat, dairy, etc…When meat does go on sale, you know how much you need for three months so buy a ton of it! I divide the meat up into little freezer baggies, and I have it already split up into portion sizes appropriate for my famiy.
•I would not recommend buying a lot of things at Wholesale centers (Sams/Costco) - however - their prices on cheese cannot be beat. I buy cheese and divide it up into little baggies as well. Cheese freezes just fine. A reader said that if you put a little cornstarch into graded cheese - it freezes great and will not stick together. I have also found yeast, and most baking supplies to be the cheapest here as well.
3- Rotate Through your Meals
•Now that you have a great supply of food that you know you will actually eat - Eat it!! Go through your list and make your recipes. I always buy my produce when it is on sale. When you check your newspaper for deals - check out the produce section. Be sure to add in fresh fruits and vegetables to your meals. You will be doing it, knowing that you saved money!
•Whenever you take something out of your 3 month food supply - write it on a sheet of paper that you have near your storage area. This way you have a general idea of what you need to replenish when the next sale comes. You will be eating your food, and nothing will spoil.
•Don’t feel like you can only eat what is on your recipe list - now that you have a ton of food - get creative. Share different recipes with family and friends.
Don’t forget to add in everyday essentials like soap, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, shampoo etc… You can get these items for great deals as well!
Benefits - to encourage you to get started!
•Knowing that if something happened to you financially, you have a little reserve of food for your family.
•You won’t be enticed to go out to eat as often, because you have a ready list of meals available to cook. This will save you money!
•You will be better organized. You won’t feel the pressure that comes from not being prepared.
•You will save money - you won’t have to run to the grocery store to buy things that you forgot!
•Often times, if I plan a meal - it is a lot healthier than throwing something together. You have better control giving your family nutritious meals.
FAMILY HOME EVENINGS - Helpful Tidbits
Okay, I have this feeling that most of you (at least if you’re female) feel entirely overwhelmed with everything you have to do in the day what with taking kids to school, laundry (YUCK!), preparing meals, soccer practice, and on top of it all spending time together as a family….oh yeah and that HUGE project of getting prepared. Well, you all probably know by now that I’m a HUGE fan of multi-tasking so I figured why couldn’t you make getting prepared a family event?! I asked my good friends at www.foodstoragemadeeasy.net to help me (since they have all the WONDERFUL information on getting your food storage gathered and basic emergency preparedness) with some Family Home Evening Tidbits. They are quick ideas that will help you on the road to becoming prepared! At the end there is also a treat you can make using your food storage. So all in a night, you’ll have spent time together as a family, taken a step towards being prepared, and practiced using your food storage! AWESOME!
FAMILY HOME EVENING IDEA - THINK - PLAN - EAT A TREAT
Family Home Evenings are a wonderful way to get the whole family involved in the Emergency Preparedness Planning. You can do a once-a-month FHE activity night which will start your year off with the right focus on being prepared.
JANUARY
FHE Activity Idea - "THE THINK SURVIVAL GAME" After dinner, "THINK"- give everyone in the family a piece of paper and a pencil and ask them to think about and write down everything they each would need to go on a family campout for the weekend. Tell them the weather may be nice during the day but will be chilly at night. Have them begin to list the items necessary to be comfortable for this campout.(help little ones to think of things they like to play when camping ie: card games, checkers, marbles) Collect these lists and read them out aloud to the family discuss the most necessary items on each persons list. "PLAN"- an indoor family livingroom campout if possible for the next FHE night, or a real one for an upcoming weekend.
This exercise is to help each of you focus on what is really necessary for you to be comfortable and successful surviving in the event of an emergency. You will have thought about the items needed and better prepared to gather them for your 72 hour kits. coming next month... 72 hour kits activity
FHE TREAT - Using Food Storage for your FHE Treat-
What a great treat for talking about 72 hour kits! This recipe comes entirely from shelf stable items and happens to be my all time favorite cookie recipe (HONEST!)
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
*a tip before you begin…I always soak my raisins in water & vanilla so that the raisins are plump and juicy and taste like vanilla. If you don’t have a lot of time you can heat the water, vanilla, and raisins in the microwave for 2 minutes. Remember that you can definitely use your leftover water to hydrate your eggs!
Cream together:
1 C shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 eggs (2 T. dry egg powder + 1/4 C. Water)
1 tsp. vanilla
Stir into creamed mixture
1 ½ C whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
3 C. oats
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 C. raisins
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
JANUARY
FHE Activity Idea - "THE THINK SURVIVAL GAME" After dinner, "THINK"- give everyone in the family a piece of paper and a pencil and ask them to think about and write down everything they each would need to go on a family campout for the weekend. Tell them the weather may be nice during the day but will be chilly at night. Have them begin to list the items necessary to be comfortable for this campout.(help little ones to think of things they like to play when camping ie: card games, checkers, marbles) Collect these lists and read them out aloud to the family discuss the most necessary items on each persons list. "PLAN"- an indoor family livingroom campout if possible for the next FHE night, or a real one for an upcoming weekend.
This exercise is to help each of you focus on what is really necessary for you to be comfortable and successful surviving in the event of an emergency. You will have thought about the items needed and better prepared to gather them for your 72 hour kits. coming next month... 72 hour kits activity
FHE TREAT - Using Food Storage for your FHE Treat-
What a great treat for talking about 72 hour kits! This recipe comes entirely from shelf stable items and happens to be my all time favorite cookie recipe (HONEST!)
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
*a tip before you begin…I always soak my raisins in water & vanilla so that the raisins are plump and juicy and taste like vanilla. If you don’t have a lot of time you can heat the water, vanilla, and raisins in the microwave for 2 minutes. Remember that you can definitely use your leftover water to hydrate your eggs!
Cream together:
1 C shortening
1 C brown sugar
1 C white sugar
2 eggs (2 T. dry egg powder + 1/4 C. Water)
1 tsp. vanilla
Stir into creamed mixture
1 ½ C whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
3 C. oats
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 C. raisins
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls and bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
3 Month Food Storage Made Easy
There are many ways you could begin to figure out how to store a 3 month supply of the foods your family regularly eats, but it can seem overwhelming to begin. Take a look at these key points and give them a try. I have personally used this method and it was very helpful in getting my mind around this part of the food storage journey...
Key Points:
Make a list of foods you eat on a regular basis, and determine how much you would go through in three months.
Gradually purchase these foods in bulk as they go on sale (see below for more details and use "Your Budget Buddies" for watching for the sales).
Use and rotate these foods in all your daily cooking.
Constantly replenish the stocks of these foods as they go on sale again.
Don’t forget to include non-food items in this step as well. Get a 3 month supply of NECESSITIES such as diapers, medications, toilet paper, toiletries, etc. Remember, only the essentials for now.
Benefits include: saving money by buying foods on sale and having foods you normally eat in times of economic or any other type of hardship.
Key Points:
Make a list of foods you eat on a regular basis, and determine how much you would go through in three months.
Gradually purchase these foods in bulk as they go on sale (see below for more details and use "Your Budget Buddies" for watching for the sales).
Use and rotate these foods in all your daily cooking.
Constantly replenish the stocks of these foods as they go on sale again.
Don’t forget to include non-food items in this step as well. Get a 3 month supply of NECESSITIES such as diapers, medications, toilet paper, toiletries, etc. Remember, only the essentials for now.
Benefits include: saving money by buying foods on sale and having foods you normally eat in times of economic or any other type of hardship.
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