FEBRUARY FAMILY HOME EVENING IDEA AND YUMMY FOOD STORAGE RECIPE

Last Month we suggested a Preparedness Family Home Evening where you ask your family to write down what each of them would need to go on a family camping trip and then to hold a camp-out one evening last month in your livingroom. How did that go? Our children love any excuse to camp-out and sleep in the livingroom !


This month how about we draw a line drawing of our home which includes each of our rooms and then figure out the best route out of the house in the event of a fire.

Once we decide on the route each of us will need to take to the closest exit, look again for an alternate route in case the main route is blocked by flames or colapsed.

Once you have talked this over, decide once you are out of the house where you will meet as your official meeting place (ours is at the end of our driveway). That is where we do a head count and make sure everyone is out safely.

OKAY here's where the FUN COMES IN... Everyone gets in their bed like they are sleeping, turn off all the lights and sound an alarm to signal a fire drill. Each person gets out of their bed crawls along the floor feeling any closed door for heat (remind your family that if the door is too hot, it may not be safe to open it, they may need to choose the alternate route in that case, you can even do this simulation throughout the year and change the simulation to include the different danger possibilities).

Once your family members make their way through your home to the exit and meet as a family in your designated meeting area safely outside you can simulate finding a neighbor to call 911 Unless you all get so good at this that someone remembers to keep a cell phone with them and can make the call themselves.

TO HELP YOU BE THE BEST PREPARED IN THIS SITUATION consider purchasing a shoe-box sized clear storage box with a snap lid at the dollar store, place a pair of sturdy shoes, a lanyard and whistle, a glow stick or self-generating flashlight in the box. Kids and adults can decorate the box to fit their personality (another FHE project??) and keep the box at the foot or side of their bed ACCESSIBLE. This will be a blessing in a fire, earthquake, flood, power-outage, anytime you may need to see, walk, or be heard in an emergency.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR A WELL DESERVED TREAT... See the Food Storage Recipe below for a good family treat.

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