My Home Pharmacy - By Tracy Gibbs, PhD

I was able to attend a book launch for "My Home Pharmacy" by Tracy Gibbs last week at The King's English Bookstore.  This book fits perfectly into any preppers home library.  Tracy feels his book is different, in that, it's a cookbook of lost recipes and how foods and herbs can be your medicine.  He said most other books let you know what to use for a certain ailment but doesn't act like a cookbook with exact recipes, like his does.  Tracy has several chapters explaining the history of herbal medicine and how we have lost touch with it.  He also goes through what should be in your home pharmacy, descriptions of all the herbs you will need, and then recipes on how to make different formulas.  

 I was very impressed by Tracy, his knowledge, and the recipes that he shared.  He made a cold/flu drink for us that night, and it was interesting to say the least.  It consisted of apple juice (for taste), honey, garlic, and cayenne.  That drink would kill any kind of germ inside your body.  I had clear sinuses when we left. It was like drinking fire :)  But if conventional medicine wasn't available you would need to know how to make these recipes.  I know I could drink the cold/flu mixture, but it would be a hard sell to my kids.  But I feel that having the knowledge of how foods and herbs can be our medicine is really important.  I am not going to wait until an emergency to try these out.  I feel it is worth trying and implementing these recipes into my life now. And for only $10 it's a great deal as well!

You can find it on amazon.com HERE.

Reality Preparedness with Barbara Salsbury

Knowledge is power!  I don't think you can ever be done learning and studying.  I love to find new preparedness gadgets and books.  So, when I found out Barbara Salsbury was speaking at Honeyville Grain, I was so excited!!  Barbara is what you would call, an emergency preparedness expert.  She has lived through major earthquakes, family job losses, and has written several books on her experiences.  Click HERE to view her website with all of her information and books. 

Barbara has so much knowledge about how to survive AFTER the disaster, and with her sense of humor, we had a fun class!

 As you cans see by her real Preparedness Basics, Barbara is hilarious!  But she really does know her stuff.  Depending on the type of disaster there will be different ways of cooking, heating, and hunkering down.  If you are staying at your home or packing up and leaving, there will be very different things you will need for each situation.  Evacuating will require backpacks and portable foods and necessities.  Hunkering down will hopefully allow you to use your storage, and in worst case scenario you can live in a tent in the backyard.  It was really interesting to listen to someone who lived through a major earthquake and to know what really happens.  After the initial shock the city was silent, and it was days before help arrived to those that needed it.  Does that sound familiar??  Hurricane Sandy is in that same situation!

The sign in the picture says it all:  "You're really on your own!  It's called responsibility.  There is no knight in shining armour!  What the government (city, state, federal) won't/can't be...."  You need to be prepared for the weeks following a disaster.  No one will be there to help you, but you and your family!! Take her advice seriously and be ready.

 Make all crises and disasters more bearable!  Having the visual of a teddy bear will help you think of what things provide comfort for your family.  For one family it may be a generator so movies can be watched, or chocolate/candy for another family.  Know what it is for your family and be prepared.  It may sound silly to have comfort items, but think about the stress and uncertainty if your world was torn apart.  And the only thing that seemed normal was having some chocolate after dinner.  

I learned so much from Barbara and had such a good time!  Are you jealous yet?  Don't worry, you are in luck! If you would like to hear her speak come this Saturday, November 10th at 4:00 pm at Honevyille Grain in Salt Lake City.   1850 S. 389 W.  She will be speaking about having to evacuate your home and all the details that go along with that situation.  In light of recent hurricanes I would highly suggest you get your homes and families prepared, and this class is a great way to begin, or supplement what you already have. 

Grocery Deals 11/7-11/13

Smiths is continuing their buy 10 get $5 off sale.  They have some great stock up items that go well with the holidays, and you won't see some of these prices again until next year at Thanksgiving time.

•  KROGER CHEESE 32OZ. $5.99

 BUY 10 ITEMS GET $5 OFF INSTANTLY PROMO:  PRICES SHOWN BEFORE AND AFTER DISCOUNT.  BUY IN GROUPS OF 10!

• AMERICAN BEAUTY PASTA .99/.49
• C&H SUGAR 4LB $2.99/$2.49
• CAMPBELLS CREAM OF MUSHROOM OR CHICKEN SOUP $1.19/.69
• CARNATION EVAPORATED MILK $1.19/.69
• FRENCH'S FRIED ONIONS $2.99/$2.49
• GREEN GIANT VEGETABLES .99/.49
• JET PUFFED MARSHMALLOWS $1.19/.69
• HEINZ GRAVY $1.29/.79
• OCEAN SPRAY CRANBERRY SAUCE $1.49/.99
• STOVE TOP STUFFING $1.29/.79
• SWANSON BROTH .99/.49
• COOL WHIP $1.39/.89
• QUAKER POPPED RICE CAKES $1.39/.89

Many of these deals are even better with coupons!!  Click HERE to view the list and save even more!

• BANANAS .49LB
• GREEN BELL PEPPERS .49EA
• CUCUMBERS .49EA
• APPLES .99LB
• AVOVADOS .33EA
• QUINOA (BULK BIN AREA) $2.49LB

 

Prepare Today Homemade - Shirley J Tomato Basil Soup

I first tasted this soup at a womens meeting at Church and I couldn't get enough of it!  What surprised me even more was my children loved it!  My friend Melanie had made it and after the meeting my children kept asking me to get the recipe from her.  When I found out it used the Shirley J Whisk Bliss I was even more excited to make it.  If you have never used Whisk Bliss before you are in for a treat.  It is a white soup base that whisks right up with no lumps and tastes great!!  It makes cooking so simple and fast.  I also found the recipe for the Tomato Basil Soup on the Shirley J website.  Click HERE to see that recipe.

This recipe is great for quick dinners, emergency dinners, meals your kids can make, and meals using pantry items.  It literally took me 15 minutes to get this on the table.  This is how simple it was to make.

Gather your ingredients.

 

   That's it!!  If you use real tomatoes it may take a few extra minutes to cut them up, but other than that, dinner is ready!!

Shirley J Tomato Basil Soup
1 C Shirley J Whisk Bliss*
1 t Shirley J chicken bouillon
3 C water
2-3 tomatoes OR 1 14oz can diced tomatoes
5 fresh basil leaves (I used about 2 t dried)
1 Bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine the Whisk Bliss, bouillon, and water in a large pot.  Whisk until blended.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce to a simmer.
2. Add tomatoes and stir.  Use an immersion blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
3. Add Bay leaf, basil, salt, and pepper, and simmer 10-15 minutes.    

*I buy my Whisk Bliss from Honeyville Grain on 1850 S. 389 W.     

Preparedness Begins With You!

Images from Hurricane Sandy are everywhere and they are shocking!  The nightly news is filled with victims who are in shock and don't know how they are going to start their lives over again.  My heart goes out to all of these people and I hope some sense of normalcy will come to their lives soon!  

While watching one news story I listened to a woman who lived on the 19th floor of an apartment building and she had to walk down 19 flights of stairs to try and find water.  When she got to her neighborhood store there wasn't any water to buy.  

Gas stations are out of gas!  Cars are lined up for miles waiting because news of more gas was coming, but none has shown up yet.  
 Homes are literally gone in some areas.  One woman walked a mile to finally find what was left of her home among the debris.   

 Each of these stories led to an angry rant from the people in them.  They were yelling at the cameras that the government needed to be there to help them immediately! I couldn't get that out of my mind.  Yes, these people were in shock, but to blame the government for not being there the next morning to fix everything, was not going to solve anything !!  Being prepared will allow you to survive the days and weeks following a disaster.  YOU will be responsible for your own well-being, not someone else or some agency.  The woman who lived on the 19th floor had proper forewarning of the storm, but didn't she think that she would need enough water for a week or so after the storm?  Did she not play the what if game?  What if the power goes out?  How many times will I need to walk up and down 19 flights of stairs?  If the whole city is in chaos will I have enough food and water until there is help on the way? How will I get my dog outside for bathroom breaks? And the questions could go on and on!!  I don't think many of these people asked themselves the basic questions like these, or even thought they would be without power or gas!!  I thought Katrina was a wake-up call, but it obviously didn't wake up too many people in America.  It CAN happen, it CAN happen to you, and YOU need to be prepared!!!!! 

Have a 72-hour kit ready to go! Many people left their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs!  Keep a car kit in your vehicle!!  If you were working in downtown New York and the subways were flooded, how would you survive until you got home?  These situations can be applied to more than just a hurricane.  I live in earthquake territory and the same applies here too.  My husband and children could very well be at work and school when an earhtquake hits.  They need emergency kits!!  Think ahead, plan ahead, and be prepared!! YOU can do it!!  YOU can help yourself and your family!!  

After watching several news stories I was watching a late night talk show and Jamie Lee Curtis was a guest.  She came out onto the set with a backpack filled with emergency supplies that you should keep under your bed for an emergency situation.  I was so excited that she was promoting this on national television!! Maybe, just maybe, people in America will start to get prepared!!  Watch the video clip below.

For more information:
Before The Disaster Strikes  
Preparedness 101  
Cold Weather Preparedness  
Several posts on preparedness...

Or check out the 72-Hour kit list on the side bar of this blog.

We All Need A Little Chocolate-How To Store Candy

Yes, candy has a place in food storage!!  It is a great way to provide comfort in an emergency, along with just keeping mom sane.  {at least in my house}

Check out this post I wrote last year on how I keep candy stored in my house.

Click HERE to read it. 

Grocery Deals- Pre-Thanksgiving Deals!!

The holiday stock up deals have started!  I love this time of year, when I can stock my pantry for not a lot of cash!!

•  KROGER CHEESE 32OZ. $5.99

BUY 10 ITEMS GET $5 OFF INSTANTLY PROMO:  PRICES SHOWN BEFORE AND AFTER DISCOUNT.  BUY IN GROUPS OF 10!

• AMERICAN BEAUTY PASTA .99/.49
• C&H SUGAR 4LB $2.99/$2.49
• CAMPBELLS CREAM OF MUSHROOM OR CHICKEN SOUP $1.19/.69
• CARNATION EVAPORATED MILK $1.19/.69
• FRENCH'S FRIED ONIONS $2.99/$2.49
• GREEN GIANT VEGETABLES .99/.49
• JET PUFFED MARSHMALLOWS $1.19/.69
• HEINZ GRAVY $1.29/.79
• OCEAN SPRAY CRANBERRY SAUCE $1.49/.99
• STOVE TOP STUFFING $1.29/.79
• SWANSON BROTH .99/.49

Many of these deals are even better with coupons!!  Click HERE to view the list and save even more! 

If you live near a Fresh Market store there are a few deals there too!

• WESTERN FAMILY CAKE MIXES .88
• WESTERN FAMILY CHOCOLATE CHIPS $1.50
• POWDERED OR BROWN SUGAR 2LB. $1.25
• WESTERN FAMILY PUMPKIN 29OZ CAN $1.50