Complete Proteins and More!

This month we are storing grains.  As a vegetarian I love grains, but I also need to make sure I get enough protein in my diet.  I am sure that many of you know that if you eat beans and rice together you are eating a complete protein. Longer term storage is kind of tricky when you need to store meats and dairy products.  In the event we don't have meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and fresh milk products you can eat grains along with a complementing protein, and have a protein equivalent to meat!

From peaceofpreparedness.com:

"Planning meals around these complementary food combinations will provide the complete proteins needed by the body.  In many cases it will be better than a meat protein.  Complementing proteins should be eaten withing the same day."
WHEAT + BEANS                         RICE + LEGUMES
WHEAT + MILK                            RICE + MILK
BEANS + MILK               
CEREAL + MILK                         

WATER STORAGE GOALS: 
Have you stored any water this week?

3-MONTH STORAGE GOAL: 

Store  your water in different containers as well as in different locations.  If you keep all your water in your basement and your house collapses, where are you going to get your water from.  Keep water in your car, basement, kitchen, backyard, under the stairs, etc.

I found a great recipe this week for Creamy Chicken Taquitos and it uses mostly items that you would have in your 3-month storage.  Remember that your 3-month storage includes the food in your refrigerator and freezer.  Items like green onions and cilantro would be in my fridge because I use them quite often.  Don't think of your 3-month storage as only items in a can or box!!
Click HERE To see this yummy recipe from Our Best Bites! 

 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GOAL:

How are your car kits coming along?  Have you thought of how you would stay warm?  I made a #10 can heater to keep in my car.  It is VERY easy to put together and requires just some household ingredients.  CLICK HERE to see the instructions from Food Storage Made Easy!! Just a note, they use a hot cocoa can in the picture and that won't work for a heater as the can in not made out of metal.  You need a metal can like a #10 can.  For a more advanced heater check out their post HERE.  


FINANCIAL GOAL:

Did you put away a few extra dollars this week?  Keep your money in your 72-hour kits or another safe place.  Have your money in small bills only.  You don't want to have to pay for something with a $20 because you don't have a smaller bill, assume you won't be able to get change. 

Click HERE to view the complete list of goals for January.  You can get most of them accomplished by shopping at the case lot sales!! Grains, water, and 3-month supply items are all on sale!!!
 



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

Live Your Best Self-Reliant Life in 2011!!

Live Your Best Self-Reliant Life in 2011!!!

This is our goal for 2011, to live our lives without having to rely on others.  Every month we will have goals to help us get closer to becoming self-reliant!  "When we accept the responsibility for our own and our family's well-being, we are better able to sustain ourselves in our everyday lives.  We are better prepared to endure times of adversity without becoming dependent upon others." (Providing In The Lord's Way p. 5) 

When we become self-reliant it enables us to help others!!  I know that food storage and emergency preparedness can seem daunting and overwhelming, but "we can not be self-reliant without being willing to work.  Work is physical, mental, or spiritual effort.  The Lord has commanded us to work (see Genesis 3:17-19), for work is the source of happiness, self-esteem, and prosperity"

I challenge all of you to commit to the goals we have set for 2011 and provide your family with a feeling of peace.  Knowing that you have provided a way for your family to be prepared will ease your mind and allow you to help others.

3-Month Goals:  

Have you inventoried your pantry to see what grains you need to purchase? There are many types of grains to choose from!!

• Wheat 25lbs $7.65 at the LDS Cannery
• Store your wheat in 5 gallon buckets with Gamma Lids.  Gamma Lids are on sale in January for $5.99 ea at Emergency Essentials (33rd S. West Temple)
• Pasta is on sale at Harmons during the case lot sale!
• Flour is also on sale at Harmons for $3.00 for 10lbs!
• Check out all the grocery deals HERE!!

Water  

• Get 24 packs of Kroger water for $2.50 during the case lot sale!
• One 24 pack of water=3 gallons (1 gallon per person per day for storage)

Financial Goals  

• Have you saved a few dollars this week?  
• You can save for a rainy day or save to buy food storage.  

Emergency Preparedness Goal:   

• Do you have water in your car?
• What about food?  Granola bars are a great food item to store in your car.  
• Make sure to have blankets and gloves in your car kits!!

Click HERE to view the January goals.

Enjoy the Journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the Peace!!

Welcome to 2011!!

Happy New Year and Welcome to 2011!!  A new year means time to organize, set goals, get healthy, and get prepared!!!

This year we will have long-term food storage goals along with emergency preparedness goals, water storage goals, 3-month supply goals, and financial reserve goals.  I am following the plan from the First Presidency (LDS church leaders) and the information from the Family Home Storage pamphlet. {click HERE to read the pamphlet}

We will have goals in all five areas each month!  Don't get scared :)  They are relatively easy and only take some effort on your part to accomplish them each month.  I will list the long-term goals on the side of the blog for reference. All the other goals will come out in the monthly newsletter at church and the first Saturday of every month on the blog.


Gather a 3-Month Supply

• Build a small supply of food and supplies that are part of your everyday, normal diet!
• Our goal for January is to buy extra items (you decide if you buy 1 or more) EVERY TIME you run to the store!
• Watch for sales on soups, vitamins and health food.
• Stock up when items are on SALE!!

Store Water 

•  Store 14 gallons of water per person.
• This is an approximate 2 week supply. I would recommend you store as much as you can.
• The goal for January is to store at least 1 gallon per person every week of the month.

Financial Reserve 

• Establish a financial reserve by saving a little money each week and gradually increasing it to a reasonable amount.
• Read the advice from the Church HERE.
• The goal for January is to set aside a few dollars each week in the month.

Emergency Preparedness

• Although this category is not listed on the Home Storage pamphlet, it is really important and we will have a goal each month.
• The goal for January is to have a fully stocked car kit in every vehicle you own.  
• Include blankets, water, food, flashlights, folding shovel, candle, matches, gloves, hats, boots (for those who wear work shoes), toilet paper, extra cash, baby items, etc! Customize it to your family's needs.

Not to add more to this months goals, but I would recommend having a family night and establishing your family plan.  Click HERE to see a wonderful outline on what to have in your family plan.


I know the importance of preparing and we will all be blessed when we follow the Lord's commandments!  This will be a year full of learning and preparing! 

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

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas To All!!

More 3-Month Recipes

How is all of your Christmas and holiday baking going?  I love this time of year and baking in the kitchen with my children.  We make gingerbread houses, cookies, pumpkin bread and sometimes candy.  I thought I would add a couple more recipes to the blog so you could expand your 3-month menu. These recipes are from some of my favorite food storage cookbooks. (don't think of food storage cookbooks to be only used on food storage.  They are wonderful, easy and delicious recipes!)

Easy Spanish Rice  (from "The Everyday Gourmet:  Cooking With Long Term Food Storage)
1-2 T oil
2 cups cooked rice
8 T Italian tomato sauce
3 t dried peppers (soaked in hot water and drained)
3t dried chopped onions (soaked in hot water and drained)
1/8t chili powder
dash of cayenne to turn up the heat

In a heavy skillet pour the oil and toss in cooked rice.  Stir well to coat rice.  Add the rest of the ingredients and stir well.  Once the tomato sauce has absorbed, it is ready to serve.

Chicken Capri (from "100 Day Pantry" by Jan Jackson)
1 can chicken, undrained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato juice
1 can mushrooms, undrained
1 can chicken broth
1 C couscous
1/2 C dried bell pepper
1/2 C dried onion
1 T garlic flakes
1/2 t rosemary
salt and pepper
Cook couscous in broth according to the directions on the package.  Combine the remaining ingredients and heat through.  Serve over couscous.
(for everyday cooking replace the dried veggies with double the amount of fresh.  Omit tomato juice)

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (from "The Essential Food Storage Cookbook")
2 C whole wheat flour
1/2 t baking soda
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 1/2 C mashed banana
2/3 C brown sugar
2 large eggs (can use powdered eggs!)
1/4 C oil
1 t vanilla
1/2 C chocolate chips
Preheat oven th 400 degrees.  Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and brown sugar in a bowl.  In a small bowl, mix bananas (can use applesauce to make up the difference if you don't have enough bananas) oil, eggs, and vanilla.  Add wet to dry and mix.  Fold in chocolate chips.  Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake 15 minutes.  Makes 12 muffins.

Salsa Chicken and Rice  (not sure where I found this recipe)
1 lb chicken cubed and dipped in taco seasoning
1 T oil
1/4 t salt & pepper
1 can broth
1 8oz jar salsa
2 C instant rice
8 oz. cheddar
Optional:  add one can black beans and corn
Brown the chicken in oil and salt and pepper it.  Add the broth, salsa, and boil.  Turn off the heat and stir in rice.  Sprinkle cheese on top.  Cover and let sit 5 minutes.  Serve with tortillas.


December Goals:



1.This month we are storing FLOUR (75lbs per person) and SUGAR/HONEY (60lbs per person). Make sure to include brown sugar and powdered sugar, molasses, flavored gelatin, corn syrup, etc. in your supply. These are longer term storage items and the amount needed reflects the need for a year supply. Purchase enough for 3 months and then work your way to a year supply.


2.The non-food goal for December is to have a good stock of BATTERIES. There will be many deals this month with all the Christmas gifts that require batteries. Watch for sales and stock the size of batteries that you use. Place extra batteries by all flashlights, in 72-hour kits and make sure to buy 9-v batteries for your smoke detectors!




Enjoy the journey!


Enjoy the blessings!


Feel the peace!


I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!  I will post in 2 weeks.

3-Month Menu Ideas

Recently I have received some great feedback from those of you who are actively preparing.  This makes me so happy to hear!!!  One of the questions I have heard is that many of you just don't know what to have on your 3-month menu.  It is great to have the meals that you eat everyday, but sometimes these meals require many fresh ingredients and it can be hard to substitute a canned or dehydrated ingredient. 

I have some great recipes that I'll share in this post, but there are also great websites that have food storage menus.

• Check out a very informative website called Peace Of Preparedness,  {Click HERE to read a 30 day menu plan by Peace of Preparedness.}

• Everyday Food Storage is a wonderful website to get easy and useful information.  {everydayfoodstorage.net}

• Or you could order "100 Day Pantry"  {100daypantry.com}and have EASY, delicious recipes using only canned food storage.

Onto the recipes!  I hope these help you in putting together your 3-month menu plan.

Spicy Crunchy Chickpeas (from All You magazine)

2 T oil
1 t cinnamon
1 t cumin
1 t allspice
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained, thoroughly patted dry (for maximum crunchiness)  

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil.  In a large bowl, combine oil and spices.  Add the chickpeas and toss to coat.  Turn chickpeas out onto baking sheet and roast, stirring and shaking baking sheet often, until chickpeas are browned and crunchy, 45-50 minutes.  Let cool before eating.

Basil Tomato Soup (from 100 Day Pantry cookbook)
serves 4
1 can tomato soup
1 can diced tomatoes
2 cans vegetable broth (I used chicken broth)
1/4 C Parmesan cheese

1/2 C corkscrew pasta
1 1/2 t basil
1 T sugar

Combine all ingredients except Parmesan.  Simmer until pasta is done.  Sprinkle Parmesan on each serving.  (How easy is that AND it's delicious!!)

Mashed Cauliflower  (from All You magazine)
This recipe is also a great alternative to carb filled mashed potatoes.

 picture from foodnetwork.com

4 cloves garlic
salt & pepper
2 large heads cauliflower (using dehydrated cauliflower would work well!!)
3 T oil
1 C low fat buttermilk (add 1 T lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 C milk and let stand-you've now made buttermilk!!)
2 T parsley for garnish

Place garlic in a large of pot of salted water and bring to a boil.  Separate cauliflower and add to water.  Bring back to a boil and cook until cauliflower is very tender, 10-12 minutes.  Drain well and return to pot and cook over med-high, stirring constantly until dry, about 3 minutes.  Combine the garlic, cauliflower, oil, and buttermilk and mash with a potato masher until thick and pulpy.  Simmer over med-high heat until heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley.

Pinto Bean Burgers (from safelygatheredin.blogspot.com)

picture from foodnetwork.com

 makes 4 small burgers
1 can pinto beans
1 T whole wheat flour
1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce 
salt and pepper to taste

Rinse the beans and mash with all the ingredients.  Form into patties and cook in oil in a skillet 3-4 minutes each side.  These are great with a slice of cheese on each patty!  Serve on buns with all the fixins' for hamburgers.

  
 December Goals:

1. This month we are storing FLOUR (75lbs per person) and SUGAR/HONEY (60lbs per person).  Make sure to include brown sugar and powdered sugar, molasses, flavored gelatin, corn syrup, etc. in your supply.  These are longer term storage items and the amount needed reflects the need for a year supply.  Purchase enough for 3 months and then work your way to a year supply.
2. The non-food goal for December is to have a good stock of BATTERIES.  There will be many deals this month with all the Christmas gifts that require batteries.  Watch for sales and stock the size of batteries that you use.  Place extra batteries by all flashlights, in 72-hour kits and make sure to buy 9-v batteries for your smoke detectors! 

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

December Goals: Flour, Sugar & Batteries!

I really can't believe it is December and that means we have concluded a whole year of food storage goals!  If you didn't finish look on the right side of the blog for the monthly goal list.  For our last goal this year we are going to store FLOUR & SUGAR.  

FLOUR:  75LBS PER PERSON (yearly amounts)

• STORES 8-10 YEARS IF KEPT DRY AND BUG PROOF
• USE 5 GALLON BUCKETS WITH GAMMA LIDS 
• EVEN IF YOU WANT TO ONLY COOK WITH WHEAT YOU SHOULD STORE WHITE FLOUR AS WELL. YOU MAY FIND OUT THAT WHEAT DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU AND YOU MAY NOT FIND OUT UNTIL YOU EAT WHEAT.

SUGAR:  60LBS PER PERSON (yearly amounts)  AND INCLUDES:

• WHITE SUGAR 40LBS PER PERSON
• BROWN SUGAR 3LBS PER PERSON
• MOLASSES 1LB PER PERSON
• HONEY 5LBS PER PERSON
• CORN SYRUP 16OZ PER PERSON
• JAMS OR JELLIES 3LBS PER PERSON
• POWDERED FRUIT DRINK MIX 6LBS PER PERSON
• FLAVORED GELATIN 1LB PER PERSON

 Storing granulated sugar is really easy!  If it is kept dry it will last 30+ years.  If it gets damp and clumps, put it in a blender and blend until sugar again! Honey may crystallize but it is still safe to use.  Warm the honey jar in warm water and use as usual.  To keep brown sugar from hardening, place a small terracotta piece that has been soaked in water in the bottom of your container and the brown sugar will stay fresh!  **We are counseled to have a 3-month supply, but sugar and flour are long lasting and easy to store. The amounts listed for flour and sugar are all yearly amounts.**

The non-food goal for December is to store BATTERIES.  A  good idea would be to go through the batteries you have now and look at the expiration dates on them.  Then watch for sales and purchase enough batteries to last at least a year.  Store extra batteries with all flashlights, radios, and for smoke detectors. 

Emergency Essentials "Bee Prepared" from the Festival of Trees

**Have a Very Merry Preparedness Christmas!** Give the gift of preparedness!!! 

• "100 Day Pantry" by Jan Jackson (100daypantry.com)
• "The Essential Food Storage Cookbook" by Tami Girsberger & Carol Peterson
• buckets & gamma lids
• porta potty: bucket and lid with all the goodies that go with it :)
• water containers
• fun food in #10 cans (dried fruit, veggies, etc.)
• manual wheat grinder
• sleeping bags/tents
• 72-hour & emergency car kits
• shelves for the storage room (check out stevessos.com)
• The Ideas are limitless!!

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