November 2013 Newsletter

We are just starting on our food storage, what should we store first?

I get asked this question a lot.  Here is my advice:

1)      Store a little bit of water, even if you do not have much room such as living in an apartment.  You can buy nice, sturdy containers that are stackable.  There are many styles, sizes and prices.  Do what you can afford to do.  You can also start with re-using empty juice or soda bottles. Rinse, fill with clean tap water and store in a dark place.  It is not a good idea to re-use milk bottles.  You do not need to pre-treat the water with Clorox if you are using a reliable source such as treated city water.

2)      Think of your family’s favorite meals.  What do you eat the most often?  Start with storing those foods.  If your family eats lots of rice, store lots of rice.  If you do not like rice, but eat lots of pasta, store pasta. Do not spend time or money on storing things your family does not like! The kids eat a lot of peanut butter?  Buy a lot of that!

3)      Try to have a variety of foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains and meats.  Also have some oils and basic spices on hand so you can prepare as many different meals as possible.  After you have a little bit of lots of things, keep adding to your stockpile.  

4)      In case of a power outage or some other disaster I think it is a good idea to have a few quick and easy to prepare foods on hand that you can eat while you are getting other things settled.  Some things that could fit in this category would be canned stew, soups or chili or MRE’s that you do not even have to heat up to eat.  Have at least one non-electric can opener on hand for all of your canned foods.

How do I work on my food storage on a budget?

We have always had a tight budget and have never been able to spend a tax return on a bunch of food storage.  What we do have has been built up over many years and by employing several methods. I will list them below.

1)       Study the grocery store ads and buy the things you use when they are on sale.  When an item in on sale buy more than 1 of that item.  Take advantage of 2 for 1 sales.

2)       Use coupons and shop case lot sales.

3)      Go to the Home Storage Center (HSC) several times a year and buy a little bit of dry packed foods each time.

4)      If you have a yard, plant a garden.  If you live in an apartment ask a friend or family member is you can share garden space in their yard.

5)      If you have a yard, plant at least 1 fruit tree.  Learn how to can, freeze or dry the fruit.

6)      Watch for sales on non-foods too.  I have noticed that at least 1 time a month such things as tooth paste and deodorants are on sale for $1 each.  If you use coupons you can get them for free or only 50 cents each.  Even if you only buy 2 extra each month for that price, soon you will have a bunch and get to where you are never paying full price anymore.

7)      I only buy the meats that are on sale for my budget.  When there is a spectacular deal on meat I stock up on a bunch of it and freeze it.  You can also pressure can meats in quart jars if you have the equipment.

8)      The less you eat out the cheaper your food budget will be.  Take the money you would have spent on a couple restaurant dinners and put that toward longer term foods.  This is a big deal.  I know lots of families that spend as much on restaurant meals each month as our family’s monthly food budget.

December 2013 Newsletter

Now that Winter is here, here are a couple things you can quickly do this month to better prepare for a winter emergency:   

1.        Gather blankets and take an inventory.  You should have at least 2 per bed in your home.  Do you have enough to keep warm if there was a prolonged power outage?

2.       Take inventory of your coats, hats, gloves, boots and snow pants. Children grow fast, do they all fit?  Winter clothing will already be on sale at many stores.

3.       Check your power outage kit.  Or assemble one if you do not have one.  We assembled one of our own.  In a plastic tub with a lid, fill it with a few items such as:  2 or more flashlights, batteries, matches, an old fashioned oil lamp, oil lamp accessories such as an extra chimney, extra wicks, and oil.  We also put in an emergency radio, candles and you can throw in anything else that would be helpful.  The new LED flash lights are very bright and many are inexpensive.  Put your kit in an easy to reach and “easy to find in the dark” place such as a front hall coat closet. (The oil lamps are very affordable and can be bought at Wal Mart stores in the home décor department.  I like them because one can provide enough light for an entire room.) 

4.       Throw some extra things in your car or truck for the winter such as extra blankets, an emergency car kit, a flashlight and some water and non-perishable food.  If you live where it snows, add a folding shovel and a bag of inexpensive kitty litter.  When traveling in the winter, always take along heavy coats, gloves etc just in case you run into trouble.

A few things we can learn from Typhoon Haiyan and other natural disasters:

1.       Some disasters we cannot move away from or predict like an earthquake. But there are disasters that we can see approaching and we need to be aware of what is coming and take head of the warnings we are given.  We need to pay attention to our surroundings and prepare the best we can.  Over the last 8 years I have seen several times the people most likely to survive were those that prepared to the best of their ability and circumstances and they headed the warnings that were given.

2.       Any kind of preparation will help us and possibly others.  It is never a waste of time.  Do a little here and there and over time we can accomplish a lot.

3.       Do not expect that the government or even church or other agencies can come to the rescue within hours.  It is usually days.  That is why a 72 hr kit (3 day kit), is just a start. Search the internet for “72 hr kits”, or  “grab and go bags” etc for lists. 

4.       The first things people seem to need immediately is WATER and SANITATION.  More people die not from the initial disaster but from the effects of lack of water and sanitation and the diseases that follow.  Store as much water as possible.  Get the best water filtration equipment you can afford and learn how to use it.

5.       Assemble at least one port-a-potty (toilet system) for your family.  Include toilet paper, cleaners, wipes etc to keep things as clean as possible.  You can never have too much of these items.  Your neighbors probably are not prepared.  Most people aren’t.  Learn safe practices for disposing of human waste.

6.       Stay up to date on all immunizations.  People in refugee camps are dying now from preventable diseases that most of us have had immunizations for.  We are lucky that these are so available to us.  Adults need to ask their doctor what boosters they may need now.

Canning Butter

WARNING:  This is currently NOT recommended by the USDA or the County Extension Offices.  You do this at your own risk.  I have heard of it done several times over the last few years and wanted to try this.  I am posting this as a learning opportunity and option for those who want to be more self-reliant.  I am always looking for ways to learn from how things were done in the old days, before electricity and modern Super Markets.

These are videos posted to Youtube by blogger Katzcradul.  I liked her video turoral the best.  I am JUST now learning how to do this.  There are several different bloggers and Youtubers out there who have canned butter. You may want to study up on turning your butter into Ghee which is safe for long term, non-refrigerated storage. Ghee is used all over India and has been in use for thousands of years. After watching their videos and from what I have read I am giving it a try by keeping some things in mind.
1)  Everything must be sterilized and as fresh as possible.
2)  I added some salt to my butter to help with preservation.
3)  I am only going to PRESSURE can my butter.  I am treating it just like I would any meat.
4)  I melted and then simmered the butter in a large pot on the stove for about 45 minutes to reduce a      bunch of the water in it.
5)  As the butter simmered, I skimmed off most of the foam as per the videos above.  It helps with            the appearance of the final product.
6)  I will still store it in as cool a location as possible and will not eat it if the lids ever come unsealed.

If you are not a canner, or will not take on this adventure you have other options.
Option #1--buy butter powder in a #10 can.
Option #2--buy commercially canned Red Feather Butter in a small tin can.

Pressure Canning Meats

If you have successfully canned vegetables or fruits and you own a PRESSURE CANNER, you can also can meat in canning jars. If you buy a lot of meat when it is on sale it can save you a lot of money.
For example:  Commercially canned chicken in the little 5 oz can, on sale costs a minimum of $8/lb. But, if you were to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts at $2/lb you can see how much you just saved.  It is also a great, affordable way to store some protein in your food storage.  And, you don't have to worry about a power outage ruining all of your meat.
Follow tested recipes that you will find in The Ball Blue Book of Preserving.  Be sure to adjust the pressure gauge for your altitude.  See the altitude chart in your canning book.  If you are still a little nervous about canning meats for the first time, I have shared a video from Youtube that I watched.  Renee aka Michigan Snow Pony, made this video and I feel that she is a good teacher and I liked her video and it was easy to follow.  The video is for those of us who are visual learners and is meant to be a helpful guide.  Follow USDA tested recipes and NEVER eat home canned foods if there is any sign of spoilage!
I highly recommend that for beginners, you buy some boneless-skinless chicken to make things easier.  You can can it with salt, without salt or with some chicken boullion added to the water.

You may can meats after you have cooked it or you may raw pack it and then can it.  It is suggested to remove as much fat from your meat as possible to improve not only your health but also the smell and appearance of the meat in your jars. No matter which method you choose, the meat will be completely cooked by the time you are done.

As with any canning, you should remove the jar rings and wash your jars in very hot, soapy water after they have sealed and cooled. They WILL be oily to the touch after they are done.  Label and date each jar and store in a cool and dark place.
You can can chicken, other poultry, beef, pork, or venison.

January 2012 Newsletter

Product Highlight of the month:  Dehydrated Celery in #10 cans.  I picked up 3-4 cans this past year and finally opened one.  This is a great product to have on hand.  I grow lots of vegetables but have never grown celery.  I use celery in many soups, casseroles and in stuffing.  I just add a handful to the other ingredients and it softens as it cooks and you would never know that it was dehydrated previously.  And better yet…no chopping involved.

Equipment Highlight of the month:  Slow cooker.  This is not a new piece of kitchen equipment but I think many people don’t use it often enough. As so many mothers are so busy, and many work outside the home, it can be a dinner life-saver.  Early in the day you can throw a few cheap ingredients in and then forget it.  It is perfect for soups and stews of course…but it is also terrific for cooking cheaper and tougher cuts of meat.  Even the toughest meats cooked “low and slow” come out fall apart tender at the end of the day.  I always buy whatever meat is on sale and freeze it.  For dinner I often simply put the meat in the crock-pot and add a little water and a bottle of sauce or a homemade sauce/marinade and let it cook most of the day.  For dinner I just add some vegetable and a simple side of noodles, rice or stuffing and dinner is done! This is a much better dinner alternative than eating out all the time.  Restaurants are a major budget-buster!  Don’t have time in the morning?  Cook a meal in the evening after work. Take it out when you go to bed.  It will be ready to re-heat and serve the next day.

Tip:  If you have less than 6 hours to cook the dinner…turn the dial up to High so it will cook in about 3-4 hours.  If you have all day, you can cook it on Low and double the cooking time.

There are many websites now devoted to slow cooker recipes and tips.  A couple popular ones are www.crockpotgirls.com, www.crockpot.com and www.maceys.com and click on “crock talk” recipes.

  Crock Pot recipes:  Chicken Fajitas

Fresh or frozen, boneless, skinless chicken pieces                   1-2 onions, sliced

3-4 bell peppers, sliced                                                                 dry fajita seasoning

I place the chicken pieces, usually not even cut up, into the crock pot.  Add just a little water, maybe 1/2 C.  Sprinkle on a generous amount of fajita seasoning. About 2 hrs. before serving add the veggies.  Slice the onions into rings and separate.  Slice the bell peppers into ½ slices.  Place all the vegetables on top.  Total cooking time:  Cook on High for about 4 hours, or on low for 7-8 hours.  Just before serving, remove the chicken and shred or chunk up.  Return to pot and stir.  Serve fajitas in flour tortillas with sour cream. Cheese is optional.

I do this same recipe sometimes with beef such as round steak which can be tough.   For the seasoning I use Montreal Steak seasoning.  Everything else is the same.  The beef just falls apart and makes yummy steak fajitas.

Lazy Crock Pot Meat

I place some chicken, pork or beef, whatever we have, in the crock pot.  Add a little water.  Pour a bottle of whatever kind of sauce I have on hand and let it cook all day or afternoon.  I cook some side dishes or vegetables to go with.  If I used a teriyaki sauce we will eat some white rice and stir fry veggies with it.  I don’t have time to be a gourmet cook or the money to eat out very often, so this makes for some healthy and affordable easy meals.

I stock up on the bottled sauces when they are on sale and I try to have a variety on hand.

Another way to stock up on fresh meats:  Canning

If you already know the basics of home canning/bottling and you have a pressure canner you can bottle your own meats.  This would become extremely handy if your power went out for an extended period of time.  The meat would already be completely cooked and ready to eat and would not spoil like the meat in your freezer.  Caution:  You must use a pressure canner for any meats!  You do not have to pre-cook the meat before canning but some people choose to.  Refer to the booklet that came with your canner or use the Ball Blue Book for instructions.  Take advantage of really good deals on meats and stock up with this method.  Store-bought canned chicken is usually well over $2 for a can of only a few ounces.  Doing this yourself would cost you much less than $2 for a pound.

Make a New Year’s Resolution toward preparedness

Resolve to learn a new skill such as sewing, dehydrating, canning etc. Grow a garden, pay off your debt, get some equipment, store water, earthquake proof your home……..

September 2015 Newsletter

The Utah Prepare Conference   This Expo will be Saturday, Sept. 12^th 8am-7pm at the South Towne Expo center in Sandy, Utah.  Cost is $5 and covers all activities inside.  There will be a large area with vendors and there will be several class rooms with over 30 different classes offered.  To see more details or the list and times of classes go to www.utahprepare.com  I went to the expo last year and the classes were really worth the time.  Many of the vendors will offer their products at a great discount for the expo.

Bulk Dehydrated Hash browns

I am happy to report that I have found a source for bulk 25 lb bags of dehydrated hash browns, also known as potato shreds.  Who doesn’t love potatoes?  Potato Pearls can only be stored for about 2 years and then they start to go rancid.  Hash browns if stored under ideal conditions will last at least 10 yrs.  Store in 2-3, 5-gallon buckets with a tight lid in a cool, dark place. You can also store them in 12-13 #10 metal cans.  I have been using some that I canned 10 years ago and they are just like new.

To use these hash browns just put some in a bowl, keeping in mind that they will double in size at least.  Pour some warm water over them and cover. Let them sit for at least 30 minutes.  Then fry in a skillet with a little oil and some chopped onions and salt and pepper.  These also work in funeral potatoes or any potato casserole.

Alpine Food Storage                       www.alpinefoodstorage.com    they do have a Facebook page

11800 N. 6000 W.                            open Mon-Sat.

Highland, UT                                    email;  info@alpinefoodstorage.com

 

dehydrated hash browns 

dehydrated hash browns, cooked.

                                            

How much food do you have stored?  Back to school, back to the basics:  Step 1:  We have been told for many years to have food stored in our homes for any emergencies in life.  The amounts have changed over time but the advice still stands.  Right now we are advised to have AT LEAST 3 MONTHS of foods that we eat on a daily basis.  These are the things that we eat all the time. Things that are easy to prepare and that our children will eat.

Step 2:  Then, we are advised to store a MINIMUM of a 1 year supply of long-term foods that would keep us alive if we had nothing else.  These things are wheat, milk, salt, sugar, flour, white rice and various beans and pastas.  These things are easy to get and very affordable in normal times.  They store well in buckets or #10 cans.  Alone, they don’t sound that healthy and they sound boring to be honest.  But they will be very useful and keep you alive.  After you have these it is time to go to step 3.

Step 3:  After we have the basics we need to have fruits, veggies and meats and seasonings as well.  And we need to have recipes for cooking.  If you have wheat, do you have a wheat grinder?

Figure out how much you have on hand, right now.  How long would it last you if you could not go shopping anymore, starting today?  Thoughtfully figure out what you need to do to be more prepared and pray for guidance in your preparations.  We have been promised to be blessed with protection from the worst of the calamities.  But, that protection comes from us being obedient to the council we have been given.

New Preparedness Store info:  Prepper Center   www.preppercenters.com

6874 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, Ut     801-566-0960

This is a really new store but they carry many well-known name brands such as Eden Valley Foods, Harvest Right Goedesic Domes, Fortress Clothing, Seychelle Water Purification, Saratoga Jacks products and several sizes of military tents.  They also carry preparedness books and hold classes and workshops.  They receive regular deliveries of Dave’s Farms wheat and raw honey.

Do you have cash on hand?  It is a very good idea to have some cash on hand in small bills.  I would advise having as much as possible.  Keep the bills to denominations of $20 and smaller.  Keep this money hidden in a secure place where only you know where it is.  This is for an emergency such as when you are not able to withdraw any money from a bank or ATM.  If the power grid is ever down, you will not be able to withdraw money from any ATM or bank.  People in Greece right now are limited to only being able to withdraw a maximum of $20 per day.  They have been reduced to bartering and doing without.  As you can imagine, you cannot live on only $20 per day. 

Communication:  FRS Radios

This paragraph is to get you thinking of communication if the power grid is down as a result of a disaster.  If one parent is at work and the other is at home etc, how are you going to communicate?  This is NOT to tell you what brand to buy or how many.  That is for you to decide for your family.

 I have been told that LDS wards and stakes ARE NOT to pay for the purchase of any of these radios.  But, the LDS church does encourage members to buy the radios of their choice to have in the event of an emergency.  It would be wise for members who do have some of these radios to inform their Ward Emergency Preparedness Specialist or Bishopric.  Then, if and when there is a need, those people who are in charge of disaster relief could use those radios to help everyone.  

Look at your budget and study the different kinds of FRS radios and check reviews and buy at least 2 for your family.  Our local CERT trainers used these and they were great!

Canning Jar Sizes

Once in a while I am asked about canning jar sizes and what I recommend.  If you are a family of two, you may choose to can most things in pints.  If you have a large family, you may choose to use mostly quarts.  It would also depend on how fast you would eat that product.

For example, whole tomatoes take up a lot of space and you can easily use 1 or 2 quarts in one meal. Use quarts.  But, if you are using a jam or salsa, a pint is big enough.  Keep in mind there are no hard and fast rules about it.  Sometimes you need to use what you have on hand at that moment.

Below is a picture I found on-line in preparation for a canning class I taught.  I found it at 

www.freshpreserving.com   (the website for Ball Canning).

They have also started to print this directly on all new jar boxes.