A New Month!

It's time for new goals!!  

3-Month Supply Goal for May:  Have at least a week's worth of shelf-stable meals in your pantry.  This means the ingredients have to come from a can or your pantry.  Check out Food Storage Made Easy website for shelf stable ideas.

  Water Storage Goal for May:  Keep storing water!  Every 24 pack of bottled water=3 gallons and you need at least 1 gallon of water per person for at least 2 weeks!

Financial Goal for May:  Continue to put money into savings.  You could have an extra account for Christmas, food storage, travel, etc.

Long-Term Storage Goal for May:  This month we are storing long-term dairy items.  Most dairy items will fit into the 3-month supply category, but there are many choices out there for shelf-stable dairy items.  Cheese, sour cream, milk, and eggs all come in dried and powdered form and they last for 5-10 years sealed in a #10 can.  Once opened they need to be used within a year, but you could seal them in a mason jar with your food saver and they would last a little longer.  Check Honeyville Grain and Emergency Essentials for more info on these items! I love powdered eggs!  I use them solely for all my cooking and baking (1 T powdered egg + 2 T water)! Just mix the powdered egg into your dry ingredients and add the water to your wet ingredients, no need to mix beforehand.  The only thing that can't be made out of powdered eggs is a boiled egg :)  Click HERE for more info on powdered sour cream.  Scroll down past the pricing information.

Another great way to have shelf stable milk and whipping cream is from Gossners in Logan.  You can make butter out of cream and Gossner's has shelf-stable cream! (click HERE to view a great post on making butter)
 gossner.com 

1000 N 1000 W
Logan, UT 84321

(435) 752-9365

Emergency Preparedness Goal for May:  This month is all about cooking without power!  My advice is to find what works for you and to store the right amount of fuel.  Gas grills, camp stoves, rocket stoves, Dutch ovens, solar ovens, applebox ovens, stove-in-a-can, and Volcano stoves are all great ways to cook without power.  
Click HERE for Applebox instructions.

Click Play above to view how to make a Rocket Stove.


Click HERE to view the Sun Oven.

Click HERE to view the Volcano Stove.

And click play to see a video of the Volcano Stove.


And Click HERE to view the BEST handout on cooking without power from Peace of Preparedness!  I would print this out and keep it for future reference!

 On May 17th, at Honeyville Grain, the President of the Sun oven, Paul Munsen, will be teaching a class on how to use the Sun Oven.  I highly recommend this class.  I own a Sun Oven and LOVE to use it all year round! If you are thinking of purchasing one or just want to know more you must attend this free class!!  Plus they cook yummy treats to share!


Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the PEACE!

Emergency Prep Classes

I attended 2 emergency preparedness classes that I would like to share with you.  Both classes were held at the Honeyville Grain store out by the airport.  They are free and open to anyone.  Click HERE to get more information.
Check out Honeyville on facebook, they update info often!

The first class was taught by Lisa Barker, the store manager, and her class was about "What's in Your Ark?"  We learned about having a one month supply and how much that would cost.  
One Month Supply
Grains 25lbs 
Powdered Milk 
Sugar or Honey 5lbs
Salt 1/4th box
Fats & Oils 1 2/3lbs
Legumes 5lbs
Cost of buying this all at Honeyville as of 4/2011 was $40.00 & change. That is very affordable and you would have the basics for one person!!

Oat Groats & the Oat Roller

The most interesting part of the class was learning about oat groats and how to roll them.  They have a 25-40 year shelf life when stored properly.  And 1/2 C groats grinds into 1 C of oats. You wouldn't need to store as much of the groats as the regular oats because they double in size.  A bag of groats cost $29.00 at Honeyville, and the oat roller is also available at the store.

Hand Held Food Saver

The most exciting gadget at the class was the hand held food saver.  I have written about the food saver but I have to pull mine out of the cupboard and get all my parts out.  But with the hand held device it just stores on your counter!  You can store ALL kinds of things in glass canning jars and seal it with the food saver!  I store chocolate chips, marshmallows, seasonal candy, baking soda, baking powder, dehydrated fruits and veggies, raisins, spices, etc.  Your imagination is the limit! When you open a #10 can of dehydrated or freeze dried food you can seal the unused food in mason jars and it keeps like it was sealed in a can!  Honeyville will be selling these starting next week (4/25).  They run about $34.xx!!  Having a food saver will allow the food in your Ark to last longer and save you money!! If driving out to Honeyville is too far, you can order online.  Check out their website at honeyvillegrain.com

 Are You An Asset or a Liability?

The second class was taught by Tami Girsberger, and she taught us how to be an Asset and not a Liability when it comes to disasters and emergencies.  We all have different assets to share with others.  In an emergency I may have the food and luggable loos while others may have knowledge in the medical fields.  Others may be a comforter to the distressed and many will have the ability to repair homes and buildings.  We all need to have compassion and know that our specific asset will be of use in an emergency.  Tami has a great company that sells portable potties and washing machines out of 5 gallon buckets.  Her website preparemylife.com has more info.


One of the most important pieces of information that I took away from her class was that we all needed a PLAN!  If there was an emergency during the day and your husband was at work and your kids were at school, where would you all meet?  Have a family meeting and talk about a neighborhood meeting place and a meeting place outside of your neighborhood.  Also you NEED to have an out of state contact that everyone knows the phone number of.  If you couldn't contact your family because of phone lines being tied up, you may be able to reach the out of state contact person.  This way if everyone checked in with that one person you would all be on the same page and have the comfort of knowing everyones situation. 

I found out about Steramine from Tami.  It comes in a small bottle and contains 150 tablets.  You dissolve the tablets in one gallon of water and it will sanitize anything and kill any germ or bacteria that you can think of.  Use it to sterilize cooking and bathroom areas, and also your dishes.  The bottles are $6 and are available through Tami.  Her email is tami@preparemylife.com.  

Also check out the really cool water containers, called Rocky Mountain Water, that are portable and don't ever expire. Turn them on their side and they have a spigot that pokes into the water bladder. You can order them through Tami as well for around $6.50 when you buy 6 or more.


There was so much more information learned at these classes. I highly suggest you check them out!  On Tuesday, April 26th at 11:00 the executive chef from Shirley J will be cooking and demonstrating the Shirley J products.  Yummy!!


Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the Peace!!

Cooking With Your Storage-Homemade Wheat Bread

This past week I attended another class at Honeyville Grain.  It was all about bread making.  I don't think there is anything yummier than fresh bread out of the oven!! I have been trying for a few years (much to my family's amusement) to make a perfect loaf of bread, and I am always looking for better ways to make it.  After this class I made the lightest, softest bread that I have ever made.  Here are a few tips that I learned that may help you bake a better loaf of bread.

• Proof your yeast with the honey and warm (just warmer than warm) water for about 10 minutes.  A dark, warm environment, like a microwave, will help the yeast activate.  I pour these ingredients into my Bosch and put the lid on for 10 minutes.
• Fluff your flour before measuring it.  This way you don't end up with a brick of bread. :)
• Add your salt last after all the ingredients have had time to mix for a minute.
• Adding potato flakes (not potato pearls) protects the air bubbles from popping. I think this is what made my bread so soft and yummy!
• To make dough quick and easy just add all the ingredients to your bread maker and then just shape and bake when the dough cycle ends.  (I have a Bosch, but for those that don't have one this is a great alternative)

This is the recipe that Lisa, the Honeyville store manager, gave me.

Honeyville's Best Ever Whole Wheat Bread

1 1/4 C warm (just warmer than the warm water in your faucet, not hot)
1 T active dry yeast (Saf instant yeast is what was used in this recipe)
1/4 C honey
Proof the above  ingredients for about 10 minutes in a mixing bowl. I proof right in my Bosch bowl.  The yeast should be bubbly (like in the picture above), if not the yeast isn't working. Start over with the warm water and new yeast.

Then Add:
2 3/4 C whole wheat flour (add the last 3/4 C of flour as you are kneading and stop if the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl.  That means you have enough flour.)
1/4 C vital wheat gluten
2 T Non-instant powdered milk (the powdered milk from the cannery or bakers dry milk from Honeyville Grain)
1 T oil
1 T white vinegar
1/4 C potato flakes
1 t salt

After proofing add in the rest of the ingredients, adding in the last 3/4 cup of flour slowly until the dough is not sticking to the walls of the mixer anymore.   Knead for 8 minutes on number 1 on the Bosch mixer.   (on the last minute of kneading I preheat my oven to 170° and turn it off when it reaches temp. This way the oven is just warm enough & not too hot for the dough to rise)


Take the dough out and shape into a loaf while tucking the edges under.  Place in greased loaf pan.  Place in warmed oven and let rise until double. (turning the oven light on will keep the oven warm and keep it a perfect raising temp)  Usually around 30-45 minutes.

When dough has risen a few inches above the top of the pan, turn your oven to 375° with the bread still in the oven.  You don't need to take out the bread while the oven preheats.  Bake for 20-30 minutes and put foil over the bread for the last 15 minutes.  If you tap on the bread and it sounds hollow, it is done.  I mist my bread with water when it comes out to keep the crust soft.  Let it cool for about 5 minutes and then remove to a cooling rack.  I keep it in a plastic bread bag when it has cooled. 


Just try not to eat the whole loaf while it's warm and layered with honey and butter.  I dare you!  I had to make a second loaf so my children could have sandwiches.

**This bread is also delicious baked in the Sun Oven!!  Make sure to preheat your sun oven for at least 20 minutes before baking.  I let the bread rise in my kitchen oven until the dough is just over the top of the pan.  I then mist the bread with water and bake about 30 minutes.  Baking time depends on how warm your sun oven is.  Misting the bread makes it brown in the sun oven, normally bread bakes without browning, so misting makes it brown.  

72-hour kit Goals:
Click HERE to view a wonderful handout on 72-hour kits from plentyofpicnics.blogspot.com  Use the + sign to make the text bigger.


Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!

Case Lots & Classes

I had a week full of case lot shopping and emergency prep classes.  I love learning more about preparedness and seeing how others organize their food storage.  

I attended two classes at Honeyville Farms in Salt Lake City.  They are free and open to anyone.  In April they have a class every Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.

This past Tuesday Glen Weeks (a retired Major in the Army & Preparedness Consultant) gave a lecture on emergency preparedness and getting through the first 72 hours of an emergency.  He  explained how sanitation would become our biggest problem if there were no more working indoor plumbing.  Everyone needs to have a portable loo.  Click HERE to view a previous post on luggable loo's.
My favorite quote from Glen was "Everyday is practice day for doomsday!" You can read more from Glen on his website HERE.


Today I attended another class at Honeyville taught by Liesa Card.  She has written a wonderful book titled "I Dare You To Eat It" and she describes her journey of food storage and obedience.  I learned how she keeps 30 meals in her kitchen by storing her food by recipe.  So in one cupboard are her rice dinners with all the canned goods together for that recipe.  She does this for wheat, pasta, rice, beans, and potatoes.  What I took away from hearing Liesa is that we, as members of the church, are commanded to prepare and in doing so we can help others along the way.  We can be the person to bless others in time of need along with being prepared for our own families.  Check our Liesa's website HERE.  


Remember you have until Tuesday to shop the case lot sales! Stock up and get great prices on food before they soar even higher.


April Goals

3-Month Supply Goal:  Use your ingredient lists (made from all the recipes that you are including in your 3-month menu) to shop the case lot sales.  Buy at least one case of food for your storage.

Water Storage Goal:  Look for deals on water. (Smiths has a 24ct case of water for $2.50).  Also use this month as your water rotation month. Empty those large water containers and fill them with fresh water.

Financial Reserve Goal: Use some of your savings (from Feb. & March) to purchase a few cases of food from the case lot sales.

Long-Term Goal:Purchase food and supplies from the case lot sales.  Do you see a trend?:)  It is your choice as to what to purchase, but don't let the sales end without purchasing a few items. I love to get all my paper towel and toilet paper from Maceys grocery store.  I try to get at least 6 months worth (the next case lot sale will be in Sept. to restock)
 

Emergency Preparedness Goal:  April and October are our 72-hour kit months.  You will need to get yours out and go through them.  Eat the food near expiration and rotate warm and cold weather clothes.  If you don't have a 72-hour kit PLEASE have a basic kit with a backpack, water, and at least some granola bars.  Then work on expanding your kit.  Look on the side bar of the blog for more ideas to add to your kits. 

This is such a great time to catch up if you haven't been stocking your pantry!  Don't waste any more time, get those cases of food and start cooking with them!  

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!!

April Goals

April is here and it's time for new goals.  This month will be relatively easy.  It is case lot sale time and that makes it really easy to stock up on canned goods, etc.  Read the blog on Wednesday's to see the great deals at the grocery stores. See this week's deals HERE!

April Goals

3-Month Supply Goal:  Use your ingredient lists (made from all the recipes that you are including in your 3-month menu) to shop the case lot sales.  Buy at least one case of food for your storage.

Water Storage Goal:  Look for deals on water. (Smiths has a 24ct case of water for $2.50).  Also use this month as your water rotation month. Empty those large water containers and fill them with fresh water.

Financial Reserve Goal: Use some of your savings (from Feb. & March) to purchase a few cases of food from the case lot sales.

Long-Term Goal:Purchase food and supplies from the case lot sales.  Do you see a trend?:)  It is your choice as to what to purchase, but don't let the sales end without purchasing a few items. I love to get all my paper towel and toilet paper from Maceys grocery store.  I try to get at least 6 months worth (the next case lot sale will be in Sept. to restock)
 

Emergency Preparedness Goal:  April and October are our 72-hour kit months.  You will need to get yours out and go through them.  Eat the food near expiration and rotate warm and cold weather clothes.  If you don't have a 72-hour kit PLEASE have a basic kit with a backpack, water, and at least some granola bars.  Then work on expanding your kit.  Look on the side bar of the blog for more ideas to add to your kits. 

This is such a great time to catch up if you haven't been stocking your pantry!  Don't waste any more time, get those cases of food and start cooking with them!  

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!!