Tuesday, August 18, 2015

April 2014 Newsletter

This month’s food deals:  Pick up a ham or two and freeze.  The best deals on ham are about 1 week before Easter.  Strawberries are also in season and will be available for the lowest prices of the year in April and May. Some stores will offer strawberries by the flat (large box).   Wash, slice and freeze or make strawberry jam. There are already great deals on asparagus.  It can be blanched and frozen or pressure canned. If you “pickle” the asparagus it can be done in a water-bath canner.

The Gardening Corner: Cold Weather Vegetables
If you have not planted peas yet, get those planted right away.  Other veggies that do well now are lettuce, carrots, beets, radishes, broccoli.  Plant a few more radishes and lettuce about every 2 weeks to extend the harvest.

Product Highlight of the Month: Tote-able Toilet with 2 Enzyme packets
Good Sanitation after any kind of disaster or if your water supply has been cut for any length of time is vital.  It can make the difference between life and death after a major disaster.  Most deaths after the initial disaster happen as a result of lack of proper sanitation and then disease.  One of the most important things we need to prepare in addition to having water and food is to have proper sanitation.    Cholera, Typhoid Fever and Dysentery have killed hundreds of millions of people throughout history and these diseases still kill people in undeveloped areas of the world today.  As a minimum, each family should have at least one port-a-potty or a tote-able toilet such as the one pictured above.  A person who already has a spare 5-6 gallon bucket could just buy the lid-seat combo and place on top.  I suggest filling the bucket with the following to make your kit complete:  plastic trash bags to line the bucket, toilet paper, disposable gloves, cleaners such as ammonia, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide.  You can also include fly swatters and rat traps, soap and hand sanitizer.


Food Storage Recipe: Ham Fried Rice
 2 + Cups Chopped ham                                       2 Cups white rice
1 onion chopped or dehydrated onions            soy sauce
2 eggs, beaten                                                        bok choy, chopped (optional)
1 C. fresh or frozen peas                                       vegetable oil, for frying, several Tablespoons
(Could also use re-hydrated peas)

In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil.  Add the rice to the water and let it cook for 20 minutes until rice is done.  While rice is cooking, chop the ham and proceed with the rest of the recipe. This is a good use for any left-over, chopped ham that was put in a freezer bag after the holidays.

In a large skillet fry the diced ham with the onion until onion is done.  Remove the ham from the skillet and cook the scrambled eggs.  Chop the eggs finely while they cook.  Now add the ham, the peas and the rice to the skillet.  Stir while cooking and add-in some soy sauce (several Tablespoons).  Some people like to add-in fresh, chopped bok choy to this and cook until the bok choy is wilted.  It adds more color and vitamins to this yummy dish. This is very easy and inexpensive to make.  This can be a side dish to stir-fried vegetables or teriyaki chicken.  

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