FEAR NOT ! ALL IS SAFELY GATHERED IN ...

WELCOME ALL !

Welcome to the
PREPARE EVERY NEEDFUL THING
Preparedness Blog Site.

This blog site has been created to encourage and support our community members. To educate and inform of the latest information available in

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND FOOD-STORAGE

YOUR COMMENTS AND IDEAS ARE WELCOMED !

Our Mission is to post a wide variety of helpful information and resources for you to prepare your families in the event of an emergency and to promote provident living that will bring you peace of mind.

These are just some of the exciting things you will find throughout the coming year:

* FAMILY HOME EVENING IDEAS - Targeting Emergency Preparedness

Games, Scavenger Hunts, Fun Outings, Rescue Drills, Evacuation Evenings.

* YOUR BUDGET BUDDIES

Bargain Shopping Savings to Build Your 3 Month and 12 Month Food Storage. Seeing the cycle in sales so that YOU benefit.

* "HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT - ONE BITE AT A TIME"

A monthly "WHAT TO GET GUIDE" to help to focus each month on every important aspect of Preparedness for Your family from Emergency Plans to 72 Hour Kits, Water Purification to Full 3 Month - 12 Month Usable and Rotatable Food Storage.

* FOOD STORAGE MADE EASY BABYSTEPS MEETINGS

Helps you shop and plan meals for your food storage, inventory management ideas, create 'your personal grocery store at home', save money and time.

Enjoy group support to accomplish your goals.

* WHAT TO DO WITH WHEAT AND GRAINS...

How to Use, Cook and Store Whole Grains for health and buy them providently for storage.

* SATURDAY SURVIVAL SERIES

Select Saturday's throughout the year there will be a hands-on workshop held to make Emergency Preparedness Food Storage techniques easier.

Dates: TBA

AND MUCH MORE...

Here's to the New Year and a Commitment to Becoming Better Prepared for YOU and YOUR FAMILY !

NEW NUTRITION RESOURCE WILL BE ADDED SOON - WATCH US GROW OUR SITE !!!!

It is one of our missions to educate and enlighten those who may happen upon our site.
We try to bring a variety of preparedness, food storage, gardening, self sufficiency, budgeting, Georgics (back to basics), great links to other wonderful helpful and educational sites, recipes, nutritional and health information.

Well I'm excited to announce we will be adding a great nutrition and health benefits section very soon.

Check back soon and learn about the health benefits of nearly every Fruit & Vegetable.
Learn what A Negative Calorie Food is.
Learn what to eat for what is ailing you.
We'll even be including the calorie count for most of these foods.

To have a holistic encompassing view of what our families need nutritionally when we speak of food storage, we feel it wise to look at the best ways to feed not only our families tummies but also their cells, bodies and minds, And let's not forget their Spirit's as well.

See you all soon, My goal is to have the nutrition section in by Feb.1st,2012 ! Until Then...Let's Get to the Business of PREPARING OURSELVES - Is YOUR House in Order?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012 or Should I Say Twenty-Dozen???

Well Friends this has been a year of plenty...plenty of changes for most of us. Good for us that we have made it through and can in faith look forward to what this new year will bring. BRING IT !

I heard someone refer to 2012 as Twenty-Dozen and it made me giggle and think of what else? FOOD STORAGE of course ! I truly have seen preparedness become easy and fun when we chose to do the little amount of initial work to figure out what our families really do eat each and every day and then buy a little more each time we see it for a good/great deal, WE BUY A LITTLE MORE. Sounds too simple, said the Leper. (Bathe in the Water). Buy a little more each time when it is a good price, save money, time effort and perhaps even the life of your loved ones.

We can spend our lives on Facebook or Twitter and write away about a Star who is not looking their best, but can't spend a moment to better prepare our homes and families from an unseen danger? I don't believe that. I have more confidence in us all. WE CAN DO IT ! Pray, Desire, Determine, Commit.

May we begin our journeys to personal preparedness with a single step in a positive direction with a prayer on our lips and determination in our hearts. With Baby-Steps or Long Strides WE WILL GET THERE...FASTER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. Promise.

NUTRITION - A NEW CASE FOR AN APPLE A DAY

Reprinted from PREVENTION MAGAZINE (A GREAT MAGAZINE)
September 2009 pages 37 & 38
An Apple - This unassuming superfruit boasts a bevy of health benefits
30% - The Percentage Drop In Systolic Blood Pressure For Regular Apple Eaters.
New science shows that this supermarket staple packs a powerful disease-fighting punch. It's pectin and polyphenols may help prevent colon cancer, suggests a study published my Nutrition. And Cornell University scientists discovered that feeding mice the equivalent of one apple daily reduced breast cancer tumor growth by 24%. Plus, apple-eating adults have a 27% lower risk of metabolic syndrome, finds research presented at Experimental Biology.

Nutrition News & Trends
BLOOD PRESSURE POWER PAIRS
Have high blood pressure? Pay attention to potassium. It helps the kidneys excrete surplus sodium from the body, thereby regulating blood pressure. Adults need about 4,700 mg per day* (*If you're taking blood pressure medication, cosult with your doctor before increasing potassium), so load up on bananas and try these potassium packed combos.

POWER PAIRS POTASSIUM(mg) BOOSTERS
(1 med.) Baked Potato and (1/2 C) Kidney Beans 1,254 mg mix in 1/2 C Cooked Corn
(1C) Fat-Free Milk and (1 peeled) Papaya 808 mg 2T ground Flaxseed
(1C) Quinoa and (1/2 C) cooked Black Beans 623 mg 1 large Tomato
(1C) Low Fat Yogurt and (1/4 C) Walnuts 544 mg 1 oz Raisins

METABOLISM BOOSTER ! WHOLE GRAIN BREAKFAST
Eat a morning meal of whole grains and fresh fruit to help to burn 50% more fat during a workout than you would with a breakfast of refined carb, say researchers from the University of Nottingham. When we consume refined carbs (like bagels), blood sugar spikes and muscles store more glycogen, which the body uses instead of fat for fuel. But eating foods that keep blood sugar in check (like whole grains) helps muscles store less glycogen so the body can stoke its engine with fat. - Stephanie Breakstone

The Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared"

"BE PREPARED" A Guest Article by My Dear Friend Edward Bear

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared”. Never have so few words contained so much wisdom. In the early days of man, not being prepared often meant the difference between life and death. These days not being prepared usually does not result in such severe consequences, but it does usually result in waste. Waste of time, waste of money and a waste of resources.
While it is not possible to be prepared for every possible situation that may occur, most people are not prepared on even the most basic level.
We are going to examine what you wear from the perspective of preparedness. After all, what could be more basic or more personal than the clothing you wear?
In general, the amount of preparedness needed increases the further away from your home you plan to travel. If you are at home, you should be dressing for comfort. If you need something, you have everything at your house, so your state of preparedness is usually fairly high. Where if you go hiking in the hills, you need to bring much more with you and be prepared for many more incidents than you would be at home.
Shoes serve several purposes. The main purpose is to protect the foot, but the shoe also helps to keep the foot warm. Boots take things to the next level with additional support and ankle support, helping to prevent sprained ankles. A sprain can happen easier than a broken bone often times will not heel as well. Bates make quality boots with a steel shank and zipper on side along with laces. This allows for fast on and fast off.
Two things to stay away from are high heels and platform shoes. They make look sexy, but in a crisis they can only make things worse and often times lead to injury.
Socks will depend on the type of shoes you wear. With boots, one thin pair of dress socks and one of thick wool socks. This will provide you with added warmth and comfort. The dress socks acts as to reduce friction.
Underwear is a standard part of any wardrobe, but in cold weather long underwear can go a long way in helping you to keep warm. Pantyhose can be worn with dresses and even can be worn under pants.
Pants are better for preparedness for men and women, although certain social situations may call for a dress or skit for women. Guide Gear makes denim pants with extra layer on front and has cell phone pocket on side that can be used to store a pair of gloves.
Belts are great multi-taskers. A webbed belt can slide to almost any length and is held in place by friction. This means that in a pinch, it can be used to lash things down.
Bras are something I know nothing about, so I'm just going to skip that subject all together.
Undershirts get us into the subject of layering. They can be worn all by themselves, or underneath a shirt or blouse.
Shirts or blouses give you more options if they have pockets. At some point, we need to address the concept of long sleeves whether it be for undershirts, shirts or jackets. Long sleeves, offer more protection to your arms and reduce your arms to the exposure of the sun.
Gloves of any kind are always better than no gloves. Gloves can be fancy for formal situations or simple. Not only do they help to keep the hands warm, but they add a layer of protection. This added protection can allow you to use your hands in ways that would otherwise not be safe. Trucker gloves are fingerless and cheap. They are usually made of leather. They give warmth, protection and allowing your finger tips to be used without having to remove the gloves. This is important for tasks that require a delicate touch.
Keys all by them selves can be used as a tool such as cutting though the packing tape on a box. Key rings can be enhanced by adding a flashlight and other tools.
Cell phones have so many uses. The principle design is for communications to all you to place a phone call. This is essential if you find yourself in a situation where you need help. Today's smart phones are capable of so much more. They can be used for everything from getting directions, including turn by turn (GPS), to looking up where to eat. On a most basic level, every cell phone can be used as a flashlight.
Jackets are best when they have pockets. More pockets are better and a hood is very useful, especially in the cold. A hood with ball cap is very effective even during rain.
Pullover wool sweaters are effective in the cold. Wool will help to keep you warm if it gets wet.
Layering can be applied to all of these items. In the cold, you can wear an undershirt, shirt or blouse, sweater and a jacket over it. Use any combination of these to accommodate the temperatures you might encounter. Always allow for the fact that we still are not very good at forecasting the weather, so you should plan for weather conditions and temperatures that are more extreme than what has been reported.
Handkerchiefs were standard issue for men for many years. They have so many applications and a properly prepared gentlemen carries two. One for his own use, and one in case a lady needs one. White is the preferred color.
Bandana like handkerchiefs have many uses such as a makeshift hat, protecting the neck and wiping of sweat. They can be used to signal for help. Bandanas and handkerchiefs have many first aid uses. Not only can they be used as bandages but when tied together, they can be used to make a sling.
Watches have come a long way, and can do a lot more than just tell time. Some of the new digital watches are solar powered and include a compass, thermometer, altimeter and more, but even an old fashioned watch that use hands to tell the time can be used as a compass to determine north.
Hats used to be worn by almost everyone on a regular basis until recent years. They help to keep you warm when it is cold. Most of your heat loss comes from your head, hands and feet. A hat can also be used to keep the sun off of your heard. Even something as simple as a baseball cap can be very useful. Combined with a bandana it can also be used keep the sun off of your neck as well.
Knives are one of the most useful tools ever created by man, but they can not always be carried, especially on an airplane. In an urban environment, a quality multi-tool such as a Leatherman can be invaluable. Carrying a knife that includes a fork and spoon, such as the one by Kabar can be very useful. Someone was asked “What is the best knife in a survival situation?” The answer was “The one you have with you”.
Money is a great tool. I can often get you the things that you need, that you did not bring with you. Carry a combination of coins and dollar bills is wise. There are times when cash won't do and a credit card or debit card is handy.
Water can be carried in a water bottle. Water bottles are acceptable in more and more social situations. You can even buy refillable water bottles that can be filled with tap water while providing you with the clean taste of filtered water. This also cuts down on your cost as well as waste. After air, water the most important thing your body needs.
Food can be be as simple as hard candy, or an energy bar. A snack can help keep hunger at bay and give you an energy boost. Bringing your own meal to work or on a hike can help keep your costs down and allow you to control the quality of what you eat.
A Writing implement and piece of paper is an handy thing. This can be as standard as a pen and a business card, but a blank piece of waterproof paper and a pencil are even better. Keep in mind that things written down, require no electricity. Pencils can write on just about anything including rocks. Being able to leave a communication to someone looking for you in an emergency can mean the difference between life and death.
Purses are standard for ladies and wallets for men, but more and more people of both sexes carry fanny packs and back packs which give you the ability to carry more things that can help you to be more prepared.
Your mind is the most important thing you have to keep you prepared. It allows you to determine what will help you to prepare for any trip or event. When an unexpected crises happens, it is your creativity and intelligence that give you the best chance of successfully making it through your ordeal. It is the greatest gift you have.

EGGS & MILK & GRAINS...The Who, What, Where, When & Why

Source: TheFoodStorageShopper.Net
EGGS and MILK
Some of us are not willing to give up dairy milk and switch to powdered milk completely–I understand! If you were to use just 2 quarts of powdered milk in your cooking a week instead of regular milk - you would save $27.57 a year!
Let’s take that even further - the average price of a gallon in milk in the USA is $3.50 (2009) - if you were to buy 2 gallons of milk a week it would cost $364/year. What if you switched to powdered milk? Since you can get 51/2 gallons from one #10 can of powdered milk - it would cost you just $144/year. That is a savings of $220 over a year!! Not to mention you don’t have to run to the grocery store every time you run out of milk.
Let’s check out powdered eggs. The average cost of a dozen eggs in the USA is $2.20. That means it costs around 19cents/egg. The average #10 can comes with 226 eggs (18 dozen). The cost of a can of powdered eggs is on average $19.99. That makes each egg cost around 9 cents/egg. That is half the cost!
Let’s say you use around a dozen eggs every week. If you were to switch from regular eggs to powdered eggs, you would save $57 every year!! AND you would not have to be the “begging” neighbor every time you realize you are out of eggs - after you started making cookies!

Source: EverydayFoodStorage.Net
Never run out of eggs again! The cans come with an average the equivalent of 226 eggs (18 dozen) in them.
They are cheaper-The average price for powdered eggs is $17.00 which makes a dozen eggs 94 cents!
Very EASY to use. The conversion is 1 T. egg powder + 2 T. water for a medium egg and 2 T. egg powder + 1/4 c. water for an extra large egg. (Remember that there are 16 T. in 1 C. to make multiple egg conversion easier) When baking you do not need to re-hydrate the eggs before adding to your mix, simply add the needed egg powder and needed water to your mix and proceed as your recipe outlines!
My other FAVORITE thing about them is that you can make a 1/2 egg with out the mess. Translation: halfing recipes calling for an odd number of eggs just got a whole lot easier!

GRAINS
You can purchase grains at Grocery Stores, Online, Wholesale Centers, and Home Storage Centers (LDS Canneries).
Here is a small list of wheat suppliers - there are a TON of suppliers - don’t over pay for your wheat. Depending on where you live, you can figure out what is a good price depending on what is available in your area!
Honeyville Grain - they have cheap shipping, and if you are ordering heavy weight items - that is something to factor in! Check out the comments below as well. You can purchase their products for a lot less at their discount stores.
LDS Canneries - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have food canneries which are open to the public. You can purchase a variety of food storage items. i.e.: Wheat, Beans, Powdered Dry Milk, Pasta etc. If you are unfamiliar with canneries, please check out this post a comment with your questions I will be happy to walk you through this option.
Costco & Walmarts - in Utah, some Walmart’s and Costco’s are offering 45 lbs prepackaged wheat - it may be worth your while to check it out.
http://www.histakes-spelt.com/wheat.php
Here is a great comment I received - From Ellie in Va.“We are currently awaiting a shipment of wheat that we ordered from Circle S Seeds in Montana. http://www.circlesseeds.com/ We are getting it for $18 for a 50 pound bag including shipping. The only catch is that we had to order 1000 bags to get this price so there are about 80 people going in on the order.” Consider getting a large group together - don’t be afraid to ask for discounts. They can only say no.
If you have a great wheat supplier, please leave a comment letting us know where!
Cost Comparisons
Grain to flour is ounce for ounce. So if you have a #10 can of white hard wheat which had 5.8# it would make 5.8# of wheat flour. To compare cost here, we must compare the cost of whole wheat flour. The average cost of 5 lbs of whole wheat flour around $4.75, you can get 45 lbs of white hard wheat for $20 -$45 dollars depending where you shop. You must factor in the cost of a wheat grinder, however it is well worth it when you compare the price per pound - 95 cents/lb for prepared whole wheat flour - or 55 cents/lb (I used $25 for 45lbs). It is well worth the investment to get a wheat grinder. You also get a lot of great health benefits from eating freshly grinded wheat. Check out foodstoragemadeeasy.com if you have any questions on wheat grinders.
Low Cost or Homemade Options
There are so many ways you can use grains to make your own bread, pasta, desserts etc. I highly recommend buying a wheat grinder and learning about all the different ways you can use wheat flour. It is so delicious and very healthy. There are also a lot of ways you can use wheat berries (cooked wheat grain) as a meat supplement to make your meals go further, and to make them healthier!

WHAT'S IN YOUR PANTRY ???

We are often asked: "What's in YOUR Wallet?" a well-known commercial quips.
But really...WHAT'S IN YOUR PANTRY?
As I write this inquiry, I wonder...Do you think I'm being to personal to ask you to THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU REALLY HAVE IN YOUR PANTRY. I'm not just asking to be curious, but to bring to your mind the thought that what you have may not be all that you will need to get you through a rough financial drought or a mini disaster or a major crisis. THINK ABOUT THIS... If you thought for a moment about the foods your family likes to eat on a regular basis and then purchased larger quantities of these food when they come up for sale, you would have begun a life-changing, life-promoting shift in your home. You would not have to worry if you have food to feed your family on hand. If your husband or you were laid off or short on money for the month or even months YOU WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLY YOUR FAMILY WITH SUSTAINANCE TO FUEL THEIR LIVES AND BE AT PEACE.

Brainstorming Method
Sit down and brainstorm with yourself on the breakfasts, lunches and dinners, snacks and desserts your family wouldn't mind having a couple of times each month or more... Then as you make a list of these meals ie: Oatmeal, raisins, apple pieces, brown sugar, juice, egg and toast with jelly. You can actually calculate very simply how much OATMEAL you need to keep on hand (in your pantry or other convenient storage area) for 2 servings of oatmeal a week { X's times} 4 weeks { X's times} 3 months or 6 months and have this ready to eat, use/rotate and replenish.
Do the same for the raisins & apples, 1/2 gallons of juice, brown sugar, eggs (powdered are great! Omelets, Scrambled) wheat made into bread for toast, jelly or jams.

THINK about it. IT's that Simple, it becomes a way of life...you just do it automatically once you have done this basic thought process. The sales jump out at you, you pick up the things you need and it just happens. honest. It's even fun. Promise.

Watch For Our Review of TIME 4 LEARNING...

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning is an online educational program that can be used in many ways including as a homeschooling curriculum or afterschool tutorial. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

Time4Learning.com

http://www.Time4Learning.com - Online interactive curriculum for home use, PreK-8th Grade.
http://www.Time4Writing.com - Online writing tutorials for high, middle, and elementary school students.
http://www.Time4Learning.net - A forum to chat with parents online about kids, education, parenting and more...

SOME YUMMY THINGS TO MAKE...Even With Food Storage Stuff

WHOLE WHEAT PITA BREAD

2 Tbsp. Dry Yeast
3 C. Warm Water 120-130 degrees F
1 tsp. Salt
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
8 C. Whole Wheat Flour & White Flour Mix (as desired)
1 Spoonful of Honey

Sprinkle yeast on water (& a spoon of honey). Add salt and oil, then add flour. Knead until smooth & elastic by hand. Set 1 hour. Form & Roll out - No Rising. Place on flour dusted pans & bake @ 500 degrees 5-6 min.



HUMMUS

In Blender:
2 1/4 C. Cooked Chick-Peas (Garbonzo Beans)
1/4 C. Bean Liquid
1/4 C. Lemon Juice (1 lemon)
1-2 cloves Garlic, finely minced - to your taste
1/4 - 1 tsp. Salt - to taste

Puree all in blender, adding liquid for smooth creamy puree. Transfer to shallow serving bowl. Gradually add: 4 Tbsp. Tahini (sesame seed butter)
1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Balance ingredients to form a thick, light paste. Let stand about 30 minutes so flavors develop. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. Chopped Parsley (optional). Yum

Emily's Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

Okay...so I thought I could bake a pretty good loaf of whole wheat bread, until... I had my friend Emilies bread & WOW, she put mine to shame! For the longest time we couldn't figure out what the difference was in our bread. Mine was great right out of the oven, but hers was AWESOME out of the oven AND several days later. It was moist, soft & elasticy (is that a word??) like store bought bread. We compared recipes & realized she does three things different. First, her recipe has Vital Wheat Gluten in it, second, she 'sponges' her dough (I will explain this process below), and third she uses special bread pans (not really...just ones that actually make your bread come out without ripping the sides apart!) These three additions to your homemade bread will make ALL the difference! So...here is the 'secret' recipe:

Emilie's Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 4 8/4 inch loaves.

7 c. whole wheat flour (grind your own if you have a wheat grinder)
2/3 c. vital wheat gluten
2 1/2 T. instant yeast

5 c. steaming hot water (120-130 F)

2 T. salt
2/3 c. oil
2/3 c. honey or 1 c. sugar (I like honey the best!)
2 1/2 T. bottled lemon juice

5 c. whole wheat flour

Mix together the first three ingredients in your mixer with a dough hook. Add water all at once and mix for 1 minute; cover and let rest for 10 minutes (this is called sponging). Add salt, oil, honey or sugar, and lemon juice and beat for 1 minute. Add last flour, 1 cup at a time, beating between each cup. Beat for about 6-10 minutes until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. This makes very soft dough.

Pre-heat oven for 1 minute to lukewarm and turn off. Turn dough onto oiled counter top; divide, shape into loaves place in oiled bread pans. Let rise in warm oven for 10-15 minutes until dough reaches top of pan. Do not remove bread from oven; turn oven to 350 F and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks. This recipe can be halved to make 2 loaves.

*She ONLY uses Bakers Secret 8x4 inch non stick pans (we could only find them at Smith's grocery store, strange enough).

**Another tip..when the dough is put into the bread pans, squish the dough softly into the corners of your bread loaf pans. This will make your bread cook more evenly and not have the large lump in the middle of your loaf.

FAMILY HOME EVENING - YUMMY TREAT ! 100% WHOLE WHEAT CINNAMON ROLLS

EZ Wheat Bread recipe
(This recipe is from the wonderful EVERYDAY FOOD STORAGE website)
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 Tblsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup honey or 1/3 cup sugar
2 3/4 cups whole wheat flour (or whatever combination white/wheat you like..I use 100% hard white wheat)
1/4 cup wheat gluten
1 tsp salt
2 Tblsp nonfat non instant dry milk
1 Tblsp butter/margarine/oil
1 Tblsp vinegar
1/4 cup potato flakes (NOT potato pearls)

Mix ingredients in order listed in mixing bowl of mixer with dough hook attachment (like kitchen-aid) for 12-15 minutes. Let rise until double, 1- 1 1/2 hours. Punch down, and shape into loaf or rolls. Let rise again until double and bake 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when lightly tapped.

If you are making this recipe in a bread machine, follow your bread machine’s directions for wheat or whole grain selection and add the ingredients in the order listed for their recommendations. (only one loaf will fit in a bread maker)

Cinnamon Roll Filling
1 c. packed brown sugar
1-2 T. cinnamon
1/3 c. butter

Cream ingredients together and spread over rolled out dough.

Cream Cheese Frosting
4 oz. (half a bar) cream cheese (I use fat free)
1/2 c. butter
2 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla

Cream together cream cheese and butter (I know I didn’t do this in the video…it was only because I forgot…don’t make my same mistake!) slowly add in 2 c. powdered sugar and vanilla. Store leftovers in the fridge.

100 ITEMS TO DISAPPEAR FIRST IN A PANIC

100 Items to Disappear First in A Panic
By Joseph Almond

#1. Generators … Gas storage, risky. Noisy..target of thieves; maintenance, etc.)
#2. Water Filters/Purifiers
#3. Portable Toilets
#4. Seasoned Firewood wood takes 6 – 12 mos. to become dried for home uses)
#5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
#6. Coleman Fuel (Impossible to stockpile too much.)
#7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots
#8. Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks (Life savers!)
#9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars
#10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
#11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) (Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)
#12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)
#13. Water containers (Urgent Item to obtain. Any size.
#14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)
#15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
#16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur)
#17. Survival Books (I like Stan Deyo’s, keep it handy)
#18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
#19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/aspirin, etc
#20. Washboards (buy a Breathing Washer…good for non-emergeny too.. cheap)
#21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
#22. Vitamins (Critical, due to forced daily canned food diet)
#23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this)
#24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare(shampoo can be used as liquid soap) /Skin products
#25. Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)
#26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)
#27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Hvy. Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)
#28. Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal)
#29. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many.)
#30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towels
#31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)
#32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)
#33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
#34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278
#35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
#36. Fire extinguishers (or.. large box of Baking soda in every room…)
#37. First aid kits
#38. Batteries (all sizes…watch Expiration date)
#39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
#40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)
#41. Flour, yeast & salt
#42. Matches: “Strike Anywhere” preferred. Boxed, wooden matches go first.)
#43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators
#44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)
#45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
#46. Flashlights/LIGIITSTICKS & torches, “No.76 Dietz” Lanterns
#47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Jot down ideas, feelings, experiences: Historic times!)
#48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
#49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers,etc
#50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
#51. Fishing supplies/tools
#52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams
#53. Duct tape (this might be #1.. (a do-it-yourself wonder)
#54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
#55. Candles
#56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)
#57. Backpacks & Duffle bags
#58. Garden tools & supplies
#59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
#60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
#61. Bleach (NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
#62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)
#63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
#64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.
#65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats
#66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
#67. Board Games Cards, Dice
#68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
#69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
#70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks…)
#71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
#72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
#73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
#74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
#75. Soysauce, vinegar, boullion/gravy/soup base
#76. Reading glasses (have extras.. good barter item)
#77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
#78. Old phone books might come in handy.. TP is hard to store
#79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
#80. Boy Scout Handbook
#81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit
#82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
#83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
#84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
#85. Lumber (any and all types)
#86. Wagons & carts (for transport to & from open Flea markets)
#87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses (for extra guests)
#88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
#89. Lantern Hangers
#90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts

Short URL: http://prepareuniversity.org/?p=293

We'll need FUEL...But what kind of fuel ???

Fuel translates into Heat and light. In a world turned up-side down switches and dials won’t do us much good, we’ll need FUEL… But what kind of fuel.

I have distilled some fuels to their basic uses.. Some store and some don’t, some travel, some are readily available and some perishable or dangerous, each has it’s benefit. You will surely need several and will have to make the decision according to your budget and your needs.

FUEL FACTS …part 1
CANDLES: Store candles in a cool area. Store at least 3 candles per day
¾” diameter x 4” burns about 2 hours. 7/8” diameter x 4” burns about 5 hours.
2” x 9” burns about 7.5

CANNED HEAT: Stores easily and can be used indoors. A 7-ounce can burns about 1-1/2 hours. It will evaporate over long periods of time, especially if stored in warm environment.

CHARCOAL: Use for outdoor cooking only. Stores indefinitely if kept dry. Use good quality like Kingsford for easier lighting and better burn time. When used in an applebox oven, use 1 briquette for every 35 degrees burns for 35 minutes. For Dutch oven cooking, use the oven size in inches plus 3 briquettes on top and the oven size in inches minus 3 briquettes on the bottom for 350-375 degrees. 1 hour per day baking in applebox oven = 20 – #15 lb bags charcoal.

CHARCOAL: Use for outdoor cooking only. Stores indefinitely if kept dry. Use good quality like Kingsford for easier lighting and better burn time. When used in an applebox oven, use 1 briquette for every 35 degrees burns for 35 minutes. For Dutch oven cooking, use the oven size in inches plus 3 briquettes on top and the oven size in inches minus 3 briquettes on the bottom for 350-375 degrees. 1 hour per day baking in applebox oven = 20 – #15 lb bags charcoal.

COOKING OIL: Emergency candles can be made from oil. Take a piece of string, lay one end in cooking oil and allow the other end to hang over the edge of jar. Light the dry end. Use 7-8 strings for more light. These are very smoky and should be used only when nothing else is available

Short URL: http://prepareuniversity.org/?p=125

10 CHEAP FAMILY DATES

Big Fun Without Spending a Dime
from GRANDPARENTS.COM website.

My parents, Ruth and John Kloha of Holly Springs, Miss., are experts at stretching a dollar without making serious sacrifices in their lives.

"We do need to watch our pennies these days, but we can still have a lot of fun," says Ruth, 75.

Being resourceful as they are, the Kloha family has dug deep into a bagful of time-tested, kid-friendly activities, and they're sharing ten of their best ideas for entertaining the grandchildren at home when the budget's a wee bit tighter.

Camp out at home

Grab some marshmallows and sit around the fire pit or the grill for an evening of s'mores and spooky stories. When it's bedtime, head back in for some "tent-making," using card tables or large corrugated boxes as the frame for a bedsheet tent. Throw in some sleeping bags, along with a few flashlights, and you have a do-it-yourself campout. If that goes well, you can take the little ones camping in the wilderness the next time.

Kick it, old-school

With the popularity of Dancing With the Stars, why not plan an old-school dance-off? Grandparents, fire up the turntable and teach the kids the Bunny Hop or the Electric Slide. The kids can haul out their MP3 players and show you the newest version of the Cha Cha Slide. Great for fitness and an evening of laughs.

Plan a pasta night

Grandkids love to cook, and parents often hate to turn them loose in the kitchen. You can bridge the divide by letting them cook at your place, assembling ingredients for a homemade marinara sauce. Along the way, you can teach them about different pasta shapes. (Follow with an ice cream sundae bar, and you may get an extra hug.) If you can stand the after-mess, you've avoided the price of eating out.

Clean up for cash

Invite the grandchildren to pick up around your place, with the incentive of allowing them to keep all the loose change they find while vacuuming sofa cushions or under chairs.

Rediscover old movies and VHS films

If you're like many families, you probably have a treasure trove of home movies, old MGM musicals, or (like my dad) videotaped vintage cartoons that the grandkids may not have seen. They'll love watching videos of their own parents as kids, and you may also find them well entertained by Gene Kelly's choreography, or by an old Tom and Jerry episode.

Use your bird brains

Your neighborhood's a veritable ornithological laboratory. And there are many ways to make birding a family event. For the younger ones, count as many birdies as you can on a walk around the block. For the older ones, bring along a journal to record various species.

Get your hands dirty

Gardens are not only about planting and weeding — they’re also a place for exploring the creepy-crawly life beyond your back door. If your grandchild isn't squeamish, take a flashlight and scoop up handfuls of soil for closer examination.You might be surprised at what you'll find. Get them their own little garden tools for added fun.

Finger paint with shaving cream

No need to buy expensive art supplies. Grandpa's shaving cream makes a great finger-painting medium. Spray a dollop on a moisture-proof surface, and let younger grandkids dig in. The best part is cleanup.

Teach them "lost" pastimes

The old home arts of sewing, knitting, and crocheting aren't gone, but they've been swept aside in favor of soccer leagues and music classes. Pull out the needle-and-thread basket, and teach older grandchildren how to mend socks, sew buttons on clothing, or create works of framable art to take home.

Have the grandchildren teach you

Learn about their video games while you wait for home-baked cookies to come out of the oven. Grandsons will be all too happy to explain every aspect of the latest handheld gaming systems. Often, this is a key way to connect with the younger, tech-savvy generation.

WELCOME TO BECOMING BETTER PREPARE

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Fear Not
PREPARE EVERY NEEDFUL THING
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23 Ingenious Uses for WHITE VINEGAR

23 Ingenious Uses for White Vinegar
By Melissa Breyer

About 10,000 years ago, ancient people discovered a product that would change lives forever. Wine had been around for a while, but after some was allowed to oxidize, vinegar was born. It became an immediate hit. The Babylonians used vinegar as a preservative, as did Ancient Greeks and Romans. Some peoples, including the Chinese, believed that vinegar was a tonic that would give them strength and vitality, as well as bestow healing properties. Legend has it that Hannibal only succeeded in crossing the Alps because his armies heated mountain boulders and doused them with vinegar, causing the rocks to crumble and clear the path.

Vinegar’s magic ingredient is acetic acid, which comprises about 5 percent of the finished product. Vinegar has been produced commercially for about 2,500 years, making it one of the oldest products in use by humans. There are many different types of vinegar out there, all produced by the oxidization of alcohol into acetic acid, but white vinegar is the most useful and the most versatile by far.

White vinegar has dozens of household applications, and the best part is that it’s green. It’s enjoying a newfound popularity as many people try to avoid toxic or harsh cleaning chemicals around their pets and children, as well as save money by making their own cleansers. Not to mention that vinegar is cheap, it’s versatile, and it doesn’t irritate allergies like some fragranced cleansers. Chances are, whenever you run into a household funk, vinegar is your answer.

Kitchen Remedies: Besides adding zest to salad dressings, white vinegar is handy for many cooking tasks.

1. Adding a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the water when poaching eggs helps the whites stay formed. Add a few tablespoons to the water when boiling eggs, and if any shells crack, the whites won’t leak out.

2. If your leafy veggies are wilted, soaking them in cold water with a little vinegar can perk them right up.

3. After chopping an onion, you can eliminate the odor from your hands by rubbing them with a bit of white vinegar.

4. When cooking any vegetables from the cabbage family (like broccoli or cauliflower), adding a little vinegar to the water will perk up the taste and reduce the gassiness they can induce. This also works when cooking beans, making Mexican food a far more attractive option.

Cleaning House: Vinegar can help with a variety of cleaning tasks, since the acid acts as a disinfectant and an odor neutralizer.

5. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal by mixing equal parts vinegar and baking soda and putting it down the drain. After letting this fizzing mixture sit for a few minutes, flush out the drain with warm water for a clean and stink-free sink.

6. The steam from a boiling a bowl of vinegar and water can loosen caked-on food and get rid of odors in the microwave, too.

7. One of my favorite vinegar remedies and my personal weapon against fruit flies is to set out a small dish of white vinegar and some smashed fruit, covered with plastic wrap with some holes in it–the flies crawl into the trap, but can’t get out.

8. If your stemware is cloudy from the dishwasher, wrap the glasses in paper towels soaked in vinegar, let them sit, and the cloudy deposits will rinse right off.

9. There’s no need to use bleach on tile grouting when you can let vinegar soak on it and then scrub with a toothbrush.

10. Bring lightly scuffed or dirty DVDs back to life by wiping them down with some vinegar on a soft cloth.

11. If you have water condensation marks on your wood, just rub the piece of furniture with equal parts vinegar and vegetable oil to remove them. Make sure to rub with the grain, and then invest in a set of coasters.

Cleaning Clothes: Vinegar works magic on upholstery and fabric, too.

12. If a child has an “accident” on a mattress, clean it with a solution of vinegar and water. Afterwards, pour some baking soda onto the mattress, and brush or vacuum the residue once it’s dry.

13. Spraying vinegar onto deodorant-stained shirts before the wash can remove the discoloration. It’s also great for fighting mustard, tomato sauce, or ketchup stains.

14. Adding a cupful of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine can freshen up bright colors and give you cleaner laundry. Acetic acid won’t harm fabrics, but it dissolves the soap residue that can dull dark clothing. It also acts as a fabric softener, a static reducer, and a mildew-inhibitor.

15. Vinegar will also loosen chewing gum stuck to car upholstery, rugs, and carpeting.

Outdoor Solutions: Tough enough even for the outdoors, vinegar can function as a car cleaner and an organic pest remover.

16. If your car still sports a bumper sticker from two elections ago, remove it by spraying the decal with white vinegar to saturate the area, and the sticker will peel off in a few hours. (You might need to spray it a few times.)

17. Wiping down your car windows and windshield with a three-to-one vinegar-water mixture can keep them frost-free in the wintertime.

18. Kill weeds and crabgrass growing in sidewalks and driveways by pouring vinegar onto them. A half-and-half solution of vinegar and water can even kill garden slugs if it’s sprayed directly onto them.

19. To extend the life of cut flowers, add a few tablespoons of vinegar to the water in their vase, along with a teaspoon of sugar.

Pet Protection: There’s no need to use chemicals near pets when vinegar can handle most cleaning and bathing tasks.

20. Wipe out itchy ears with undiluted vinegar to keep dogs and cats from scratching at them.

21. Cats avoid vinegar, so to keep them from scratching furniture or sitting on certain areas, spray a vinegar solution onto the spot.

22. For outdoor areas, soak a sponge in vinegar and place it in the forbidden area to keep cats away. If kitty likes to mark his territory, spraying the area with vinegar can help eliminate the smell and deter recurrences.

23. Vinegar also gets rid of skunk odor. Soak the animal with a half-and-half vinegar and water solution, and then rinse with fresh water.

Vinegar can disinfect, deodorize, and de-gunkify just about everything. From shower curtains to sofa cushions, there’s not much that it can’t do. As an alternative to expensive and harsh cleaning chemicals, vinegar is something you can feel good about keeping in your cupboards. White vinegar and baking soda can even remove product buildup from hair and leave it soft and manageable. A product that can clean you, the dog, your car, and your house is what I’d call a good, green buy.

40 Fantastic Uses for BAKING SODA

40 FANTASTIC USES FOR BAKING SODA
by Melissa Breyer

Most of us know that baking soda can be used for more than just making homemade cookies and other dough rise. It's not uncommon to see an open box of this leavening agent deodorizing refrigerators, for example. But did you know that there are at least 40 different ways to use baking soda?

Baking soda makes a perfect stand-in for many personal care, cleaning, and deodorizing products. The list of benefits is long: It is inexpensive, free of toxic chemicals, versatile, and effective.

Wondering how baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, works its magic? It helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its natural effect is to neutralize that pH. Beyond that, baking soda has the ability to retard further changes in the pH balance, known as buffering.

This dual capability of neutralizing and buffering allows baking soda to do things such as neutralize acidic odors (like in the refrigerator) as well as maintain neutral pH (like in your laundry water, which helps boost your detergent's power). It's a simple reaction, but one that has far-reaching effects for a number of cleaning and deodorizing tasks.

And so without further ado, here are some of the many creative ways you can use baking soda.

Personal Care
1. Make toothpaste
A paste made from baking soda and a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution can be used as an alternative to commercial non-fluoride toothpastes. (Or here’s a formula for a minty version.) You can also just dip your toothbrush with toothpaste into baking soda for an extra boost.

2. Freshen your mouth
Put one teaspoon in half a glass of water, swish, spit, and rinse. Odors are neutralized, not just covered up.

3. Soak oral appliance
Soak oral appliances (like retainers, mouthpieces, and dentures) in a solution of 2 teaspoons baking soda dissolved in a glass or small bowl of warm water. The baking soda loosens food particles and neutralizes odors to keep appliances fresh. You can also brush appliances clean using baking soda.

4. Use as a facial scrub and body exfoliant
Give yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin. Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use.

5. Skip harsh deodorant
Pat baking soda onto your underarms to neutralize body odor.

6. Use as an antacid
Baking soda is a safe and effective antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach, and/or acid indigestion. Refer to baking soda package for instructions.

7. Treat insect bites and itchy skin
For insect bites, make a paste out of baking soda and water, and apply as a salve onto affected skin. To ease the itch, shake some baking soda into your hand and rub it into damp skin after bath or shower.

8. Make a hand cleanser and softener
Skip harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water or 3 parts baking soda with gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.

9. Help your hair
Vinegar is amazing for your hair, but baking soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse thoroughly — baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.

10. Clean brushes and combs
For lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to dry.

11. Make a bath soak
Add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath to neutralize acids on the skin and help wash away oil and perspiration. It also makes your skin feel very soft. Or just focus on soothing your feet. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of baking soda in a tub of warm water and soak feet. Gently scrub.



Cleaning

12. Make a surface soft scrub
For safe, effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile, and sinks — even fiberglass and glossy tiles — sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with baking soda, coarse salt, and liquid dish soap — let it sit then scour off.

13. Hand-wash dishes and pots and pans
Add 2 heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots, and pans. For cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water first, then use dry baking soda on a clean damp sponge or cloth as a scratch-less scouring powder.

14. Freshen sponges
Soak stale-smelling sponges in a strong baking soda solution to get rid of the mess (4 tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of warm water). For more thorough disinfecting, use the microwave.

15. Clean the microwave
Baking soda on a clean damp sponge cleans gently inside and outside the microwave and never leaves a harsh chemical smell. Rinse well with water.

16. Polish silver flatware
Use a baking soda paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Rub onto the silver with a clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly and dry for shining sterling and silver-plate serving pieces.

17. Clean coffee and tea pots
Remove coffee and tea stains and eliminate bitter off-tastes by washing mugs and coffee makers in a solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. For stubborn stains, try soaking overnight in the baking soda solution and detergent or scrubbing with baking soda on a clean damp sponge.

18. Clean the oven
Sprinkle baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking soda. Let sit overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.

19. Clean floors
Remove dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no-wax and tile floors using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water — mop and rinse clean for a sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then rinse.

20. Clean furniture
Clean and remove marks (even crayon) from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.

21. Clean shower curtains
Clean and deodorize your vinyl shower curtain by sprinkling baking soda directly on a clean damp sponge or brush. Scrub the shower curtain and rinse clean. Hang it up to dry.

22. Boost your liquid laundry detergent
Give your laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner, fresher, and brighter. Or you can add 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle for fresher sheets and towels or to neutralize gym clothes and odoriferous clothing.

23. Clean and freshen sports gear
Use a baking soda solution (4 tablespoons baking soda in 1 quart warm water) to clean and deodorize smelly sports equipment. Sprinkle baking soda into golf bags and gym bags to deodorize and clean golf irons (without scratching them!) with a baking soda paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water) and a brush. Rinse thoroughly.

24. Remove oil and grease stains
Use baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet brush.

25. Clean batteries
Baking soda can be used to neutralize battery acid corrosion on cars, mowers, etc., because its a mild alkali. Be sure to disconnect the battery terminals before cleaning. Make a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and apply with a damp cloth to scrub corrosion from the battery terminal. After cleaning and reconnecting the terminals, wipe them with petroleum jelly to prevent future corrosion. Please be careful when working around a battery — they contain a strong acid.

26. Clean cars
Use baking soda to clean your car lights, chrome, windows, tires, vinyl seats, and floor mats without worrying about unwanted scratch marks. Use a baking soda solution of 1/4 cup baking soda in 1 quart of warm water. Apply with a sponge or soft cloth to remove road grime, tree sap, bugs, and tar. For stubborn stains use baking soda sprinkled on a damp sponge or soft brush. Eliminate odors by sprinkling baking soda directly on fabric car seats and carpets. Wait 15 minutes (or longer for strong odors) and vacuum up the baking soda.



Deodorizing

27. Deodorize your refrigerator
Place an open box in the back of the fridge to neutralize odors.

28. Deodorize trashcans and recyclables
Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of your trashcan to keep stinky trash smells at bay. Clean your recyclables container periodically by sprinkling baking soda on a damp sponge. Wipe clean and rinse. Also, sprinkle baking soda on top as you add recyclables to the bin.

29. Deodorize drains and garbage disposals
To deodorize your sink and tub drains and garbage disposal and keep lingering odors from resurfacing, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain while running warm tap water — it will neutralize both acid and basic odors for a fresh drain. (This a good way to dispose of baking soda that is being retired from your refrigerator.)

30. Deodorize and clean dishwashers
Use baking soda to deodorize before you run the dishwasher and then as a gentle cleanser in the wash cycle.

31. Deodorize lunch boxes
Between uses, place a spill-proof box of baking soda in everyone’s lunch box to absorb lingering odors.

32. Remove odor from carpets
Liberally sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight or as long as possible (the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking soda, and vacuum up the rest. (Note that your vacuum cleaner bag will get full and heavy.) An added bonus: You'll also deodorize your vacuum cleaner.

33. Freshen closets
Place a box on the shelf to keep the closet smelling fresh.

34. Deodorize pet items
Cover the bottom of your cat box with baking soda, then fill as usual with litter. To freshen between changes, sprinkle baking soda on top of the litter after a thorough cleaning. Eliminate odors from your pet's bedding by sprinkling liberally with baking soda, wait 15 minutes (or longer for stronger odors), then vacuum up.

35. Deodorize sneakers
Keep odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when not in use. Shake out before wearing.

36. Freshen stuffed animals
Keep favorite cuddly toys fresh with a dry shower of baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on and let it sit for 15 minutes before brushing off.



Miscellaneous
37. Cure all camping needs
Baking soda is a must-have for your next camping trip. It's a dish-washer, pot-scrubber, hand-cleanser, deodorant, toothpaste, and fire extinguisher, and has many other uses.

38. Extinguish fires
Baking soda can help in the initial handling of minor grease or electrical kitchen fires, because when baking soda is heated, it gives off carbon dioxide, which helps to smother the flames. For small cooking fires (frying pans, broilers, ovens, grills), turn off the gas or electricity if you can safely do so. Stand back and throw handfuls of baking soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire — and call the fire department just to be safe.

39. Care for the septic system
Regular use of baking soda in your drains can help keep your septic system flowing freely. One cup of baking soda per week will help maintain a favorable pH in your septic tank.

40. Scrub fruits and vegetables
Baking soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse. Here’s another way to clean your vegetables as well.

OK, so there are my 40 suggestions (with a little help from the Arm & Hammond baking soda site, thank you). Do you have any tips or tricks that I missed? Please share in the comments.

9 NUTRITION MYTHS EXPOSED

9 Nutrition Myths Exposed
By Joe Wilkes (edited by P.Duvall)

Every fall, the publishing industry begins a new cycle of hitting bookstore shelves with diet books, just in time to help assuage winter holiday guilt and prepare for New Year's resolutions. At the same time, TV stations are in the throes of sweeps periods and launching a new season. You know this phenomenon is in full swing when you start hearing the local news and talk show pitches: "You can lose 10 pounds in 1 week and eat whatever you want!" or "A common ingredient in your kitchen that will burn off fat without exercise! Tune in at 11 to see what it is!" Then in the next media cycle there'll be new books and news stories telling us how these miracle cures were all a load of hooey, but there are brand-new miracle cures that really work! Here are some common nutrition myths that have gone in and out of fashion over the years—and the real truth behind the hype.

Myth #1: Fat makes you fat.

People confuse dietary fat, the fat that we eat, with body fat, the adipose tissue that makes up our spare tires and thunder thighs. But while it's true that dietary fat contains twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates and protein, what actually makes us fat isn't the dietary fat, it's the calories in that fat. In fact, the calories in the carbohydrates and the calories in the protein can also make us fat. Dietary fat is very important to human health, and should make up around 25 to 30 percent of our caloric intake. For one thing, fat helps with the absorption of several vitamins that are only fat soluble, including vitamins A, D, E, and K. Fats also include heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Artery-clogging saturated fats and trans fats should be mostly avoided though, as they will raise blood cholesterol levels (see #2) and clog arteries with plaque.

In the 1980s, fats became vilified by regulatory and health agency reports as being unhealthy overall. The reasoning was that while the agencies were largely targeting saturated fats (as found in animal and dairy products), they believed it would be simpler to tell Americans to avoid all fats instead of having to explain the complexities of saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, hydrogenated fats, etc. Because of these warnings, the food industries began marketing scores of low-fat or fat-free versions of products. In many cases, they would replace the missing fat with sugar or starch. So while there would be less fat, there would be almost as many—and sometimes more—calories. Consumers would eat twice as many of the new "reduced-fat" treats and wonder why they weren't losing any weight.

As more studies have come out extolling the benefits of healthy unsaturated fats, like those found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, fish, etc., more specific recommendations have been made to increase the allowance of good dietary fats while decreasing the allowance of saturated and trans fats. In fact, many makers of cookies, breakfast cereals, and snack chips now trumpet "No Trans Fats" on their packaging. That's great, but don't be fooled into thinking this means there are any fewer calories. Just because the manufacturer has shown restraint in not making the food even unhealthier doesn't mean that it's suddenly health food. Some of these "No Trans Fats" products never had trans fats to begin with, but it's good marketing to proclaim it. Now poison free! Not quite as toxic! Just as fattening with less artery plaque! For your health, check the labels and make sure that the kind of fat in the product is unsaturated—and make sure there aren't too many calories for your waistline. A day's dietary fat intake should be around 60 to 70 grams.

Myth #2: Foods high in cholesterol give you high cholesterol.

As with dietary fat, foods with high dietary cholesterol levels are believed by many to raise blood cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol levels have been linked to heart disease and stroke, and levels should be monitored. However, our bodies need some cholesterol for normal cellular function and to assist in the production of bile, which helps the body digest fat. Unfortunately, because dietary and blood cholesterols have been given the same name, people take an attitude of "cholesterol in, cholesterol out." In fact, studies are increasingly showing that high blood cholesterol comes from a diet high in saturated fats, while foods high in dietary cholesterol have a fairly negligible effect on high blood cholesterol. Foods high in dietary cholesterol but low in saturated fat, including eggs, shrimp, lobster, crab, clams, and other shellfish, can be safely eaten in moderation without having much effect on blood cholesterol levels. Where this misunderstanding of the causal link between dietary and blood cholesterol levels may have also come from is that many non-seafood animal products contain high levels of dietary cholesterol as well as high levels of saturated fat. So if double cheeseburgers are making regular appearances in your diet, you're going to see a spike in your cholesterol score—but it'll be from the saturated fat.

Myth #3: Snacking will cause weight gain.

Isn't this what Mom always said? "No snacking or you'll ruin your appetite!" Good! Go ahead, ruin your appetite! If you ruin your appetite, you won't eat so much dinner. Nutrition experts have pretty much come to a consensus that you're much better off having six small meals over the course of the day than two or three giant meals. You'll give your body a steady source of fuel and keep your blood sugar levels and metabolism at an even keel all day long. If you think back to our caveman days, before we sat down to eat civilized meals, we probably just wandered the forests and jungles, eating when we were hungry or when the opportunity arose. Those instincts are worth listening to today. If you have a hunger pang at three o'clock in the afternoon, don't stifle it because you know you're having dinner at seven. You'll be so hungry, you'll approach dinner like maniac, eating way more than you would have if you had merely satisfied your afternoon hunger with a piece of fruit or a handful of nuts. Keep in mind though, permission to snack isn't permission to stuff your face with Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos, or any other kind of "-tos." There should be some sort of strategy to the snacking. Try evenly pacing out the snacks and predetermine a reasonable portion size of a healthy food, so you're not just eating handfuls of something out of a bag.

Myth #4: If you exercise enough, you can eat whatever you want.

How many times have you heard your horrible friends who never gain weight say, "Oh, I'll just run it off" to justify whatever sinful treat would give you a third buttock if you ate it? It's impossible to keep a fit, healthy figure without both a healthy diet and exercise. It's all right to indulge in the occasional pig-out sometimes. In fact, it's good to reassure your body that there's no need to go into starvation mode from time to time. But if you eat that slice of blackout cake, you're looking at a 2-hour run just to burn it off, let alone what came before it. Losing weight and maintaining weight is a simple equation: if you burn off more calories than you take in, you will lose weight. Some lucky stiffs have a higher resting metabolism and burn off more calories naturally, but what probably helps your friend burn off the cake faster is that they have more muscle on their body, and, even at rest, muscles burn more calories. So while you can never eat whatever you want and stay thin, you'll be able to indulge in a pig-out every once in a while if you can keep your body muscular and lean. And for those times, you might consider trying exercise program designed to burn more calories than walking or running, which will help you maximize the calories you burn in the time you spend exercising.

Myth #5: Drinking lots of water flushes out fat.

Drinking plenty of water is vital for weight loss. If you're dehydrated, your energy and exercise will suffer. Also, many times we confuse thirst for hunger, so it's always worth trying a glass of H2O before we hit the fridge. Drinking water can even give your metabolism a slight boost. What it doesn't do is flush fat from your system. Any excess water that your body doesn't need for proper hydration and functioning will simply get peed out, and, sadly, it won't be taking any fat with it. You should definitely make sure you drink enough water, but don't go overboard thinking you can chug away your love handles. If you drink too much water at any one time, it could even result in hyponatremia, or water intoxication. However, adult kidneys can process 15 liters of water a day, so drinking too much water day to day is unlikely. (It's more likely if you're involved in extreme Ironman-type athletic activities where over- and under-hydration are real possibilities.) Keep a water bottle handy and drink when you're thirsty, but if you really think you can flush away your belly, you may need to think again.

Myth #6: Multigrain bread is better than white bread.

While whole-grain bread is better than white bread, multigrain bread is only better if the grains are whole grains, which isn't always the case. With the bread industry, it's really important to check the ingredient list carefully. For example, "wheat bread" is just white bread with molasses added for color. So, if anything, it's worse for you than white bread. Unless it says "whole-wheat" bread, you're not getting the added fiber and nutrients that come with using whole grains as ingredients. Many multigrain breads are just processed-flour breads upon which manufacturers sprinkled a couple of sunflower and sesame seeds. Hey, that's two grains, right? That makes it multigrain! So even if the headline on the packaging says "whole-grain," double-check the ingredient list to make sure all the grains, or at least the tmain ones, are whole. Similarly, many breakfast cereals have switched to whole-grain flour, but if the cereal still contains more sugar than a candy bar, it's not going to move the needle much toward better health. Try to find whole-grain brands with minimal or no sweetening. If you need to, you can always add your own sugar, and at least control the amount you consume.

Myth #7: Sugar causes diabetes.

Many people falsely assume that because diabetics have to watch their sugar and carbohydrate intake that sugar causes diabetes. But if you don't have diabetes, sugar won't cause you to get it. The main risk factors for type 2 diabetes are being overweight and being inactive. As with fat and cholesterol, blood sugar and dietary sugar are often confused. If you eat sugar, you won't necessarily get diabetes, but sugar is highly caloric and, as part of a high-calorie diet, can be a contributing factor to obesity, which does have a causal link to type 2 diabetes. This isn't to say that it's okay to eat lots of sugar, but it's good to be aware that if you have a high-calorie diet, you are still just as much at risk for diabetes, even if that high-calorie diet doesn't include a lot of sugar. As with most dietary health issues, it's mainly about the calories.

Myth #8: Grapefruit burns fat.

Anyone who remembers the heydays of the Hollywood or Beverly Hills diets knows that they were good times to invest in grapefruit futures (as well as other "miracle" fruits and vegetables). The theory of those and similar diets was that grapefruit had a secret enzyme that would make body fat disappear. Grapefruit is a very healthy citrus fruit and worth eating as part of a varied diet. It has tons of vitamin C and can help fight arterial plaque buildup, and maybe even certain kinds of cancers. But grapefruit can't burn fat. Cabbage soup can't burn fat. Celery can't burn fat. In fact, no food can. Some foods can temporarily increase your metabolism to assist your exercise efforts in fat loss, but the only way to truly burn fat is through exercise. And, if any fad diet revolves around a secret fat-burning ingredient, that should be a red flag that the diet isn't nutritionally sound. Not to sound like a broken record, but the only way to effectively lose weight is to eat fewer calories and burn off more calories through exercise. Healthy metabolism-boosting foods can help, but they can't do it alone.

Myth #9: Light olive oil has fewer calories than olive oil.

If you read the labels of various olive oils, you'll notice that light olive oil has pretty much the same amount of calories as any other kind of olive oil. The difference is in the flavor. Light or extra-light olive oil has been heavily processed to remove the strong flavor of olive oil and make it lighter in color. It may even have been combined with other vegetable oils to achieve a milder taste and color. It still has just as much fat and calories as extra-virgin olive oil, but not nearly as many nutritional benefits, including vitamin E and polyphenols. Unlike extra-virgin olive oil, light olive oil is an unregulated product, so you don't know what you're getting.

Grace's Peach Cobbler - An Old Family Recipe

Ingredients ( Watch for food storage items noted with FS )

3/4 cup sugar FS
2-3 Tbsp. flour FS
1/4 tsp. cinnamon FS
5 cups peaches, sliced and peeled FS (can use dehydrated)
2-3 Tbsp. butter FS (can use Powdered butter)
Shortcake mix such as Bisquick or DaddyCakes FS
Optional: vanilla ice cream Sorry. we have some FS limits
unless you have a big freezer
and a generator... I'll be over.
Method

Mix together the first five ingredients and let sit a bit to juice up. Spoon the mixture into a glass baking dish.

This is the Midwestern part here: using the shortcake mix, make the recipe — basically biscuits with sugar — and put it on top of the fruit in whatever shape you like. Drop it on, or roll it out and lattice, or whatever. It should be fairly moist.

Bake at 375° F until the house reeks of peach splendor, and top with Mexican vanilla ice cream.

Take a nap and/or watch TV or sit on the porch and rest your hands on your belly. Ahhh.

FHE FOOD STORAGE CHOCOLATE MINT COOKIES...YUMMMM !

EASY FUN YUMMY FAMILY HOME EVENING TREAT THE KIDS CAN EVEN MAKE

Thin Mint Cookies
Recipe from Safely Gathered In


*chocolate chips My Change to this is buy CANDY QUIK it melts in the microwave in 10 seconds ! So, smooth and easy

*Ritz type crackers Generic kind work fine.
*peppermint extract to taste approx 4 drops


Melt chocolate in microwave (CANDY QUIK) or chocolate chips with double boiler method. Remove from heat and stir in a few drops of extract. Cover the crackers with chocolate and chill in the freezer.

Yummy for the tummy for a nice family home evening treat, or take them to your visiting teaching or home teaching families. "A Little Sweetness is Never Wrong"
and your kids can make these for you !!!