Oats

During the month of February we are going to stock up on oats. If you purchase your oats from the cannery in #10 cans they will last 30+ years. I like to store some oats in #10 cans and then keep the oats I use daily in a 5 gallon bucket with a gamma lid. Oats are very versatile and also very healthy for you. You will need to store 20lbs of oats per person and remember that number is a suggestion and you need to calculate the amount of what your family uses.

Oats can be added to breads, granola, meatloaf (meat extender), muffins, meatballs, cookies, etc. Try a new recipe this week that includes oats or maybe just add oatmeal to your breakfast. Making granola is always a great way to use your oats. We love granola in our yogurt and with the great yogurt recipe from last month (see it here) you could have a very healthy and inexpensive snack or breakfast. Here is a recipe to get you started:

Scotch Oat Bars (from The Essential Food Storage Cookbook)

1 C butter (you could use 1 C pureed white beans or 1 C applesauce to substitute)

4 C quick oats

1 C brown sugar

1/2 C white sugar (you could substitute powdered milk for the white sugar)

2 t baking powder

1 t vanilla

1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Remove from heat. Add oats,sugars, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Pat into a greased 9x13 dish and bake 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into bars.

Variation: Drizzle cooled bars with melted semi-sweet chocolate. Cool. Cut into bars.

• I am allergic to nuts and most granolas have nuts in them so I was excited when I found this recipe because it is a basic recipe and you can add any extras in after it is baked. This is my favorite granola recipe:

Easy Granola

5 C oats

1 C powdered milk

1 T cinnamon

1 can frozen apple juice concentrate (thawed but not reconstituted)

2 t vanilla

1/4 C oil (could try applesauce)

Preheat oven to 300. Mix all ingredients until well blended. Spread onto large rimmed cookies sheets. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn over mixture in sections. Bake 15 more minutes. Break up the mixture and turn over. Bake 15 minutes more and break into pieces again and let cool. Granola will get harder as it cools to don't overbake or it will be hard as a rock.

Eat with yogurt or like cereal with milk and raisins or nuts. 

Click HERE to see some other great oat recipes. I love "My Food Storage Deals" website for great food storage information. 

FEBRUARY STORAGE GOALS:

Food Storage Goal: OATS-20lbs per person.
  Non-Food Goal: Lighting is our goal this month. Gather matches, candles, flashlights (crank or battery operated), emergency candles, light sticks, solar powered flashlights or lanterns, etc. Find what works for your family and have these in your 72-hour kits and in your car kits and have a source of light by every bed in your home. The glow light sticks that activate by bending are great to hang as night lights and can easily fit in 72-hour kits.

If you need a FamilyHome Evening lesson on getting your 72-hour kits together, then click HERE to see a fun way of gathering all the items you'll need.

CONTINUE TO STORE WATER!

Enjoy the journey!

Enjoy the blessings!

Feel the peace!