Hi Everyone,
NOTES:
**This is a great video about looking for and filtering water in an emergency. He compares the life straw to a Pur water bag and a Burkey filter. He cuts them apart to see what is inside them and lists pros and cons and prices. THEN he shows you how to make your own Berky filter for $60!!! AND, he shows you step by step, demonstrating each step. I can even follow these directions. Millions Will Die From This
GARDEN HAPPENINGS
Just about everything is planted in the garden. It’s still early for the tomatoes, but they are out there anyway. They won’t really grow much until the weather warms up. Same with the cucumbers. In fact, cucumbers like 80 degree weather. So, they are just hanging out. The peppers are still inside. I’m not even going to try with those.
I got 4 big pots of green beans planted. Hopefully it will stop raining soon and they can come up. I’ve found that the secret to beans is just keeping them alive while they are seedlings. Do whatever it takes to get them started! The lettuce and potatoes seem to like this weather.
THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: wheat
Reactions to storing wheat include everything from:
I don’t like whole wheat bread, and I am allergic to gluten, to why am I storing something I will never eat?
For heaven’s sake, if you are not going to eat it, don’t store it!!!
BUT, here are my reasons for storing wheat.
1) it’s food
2) it’s nutritious
3) it stores for a long time
4) I like bread. period. Oh, and cake, and cookies and brownies!
I lived in China for a month during the summer of 2004, teaching school in Shanghai. The Chinese don’t have a lot of bread – mostly rice. After a week, I REALLY missed it. THEN, we found a Subway Sandwich place and started going there several times a week for our “bread” fix.
My brother, Michael, started making bread every other Saturday. Now, he makes one loaf of bread and one pan of cinnamon rolls. It’s one of his family traditions. He often gives the bread or rolls to another family. Okay, MOST of the rolls!
I actually have 2-3 recipes for bread that I like.
YOU should know how to make bread! Even if you only do it once a year! It’s not hard, but takes a little practice. Start with 1/2 white flour and 1/2 whole wheat. Switching to whole wheat suddenly can cause some stomach issues. Ease into it gradually. One hot loaf of bread right out of the oven will disappear in a matter of minutes.
Meanwhile, buy some wheat and store it. Even if YOU are not going to eat it, you might trade it for something else, or feed someone else.
I’ve listed some ways to cook and use wheat below.
MISC. PURCHASE: yeast
Keep it in the fridge and it will last at least a year. You CAN store yeast in the freezer in an airtight container (vacuum sealed!). A lot of people do this, then keep a smaller jar in the fridge to work from.
If you get brave, you can learn to use sourdough yeast starter. It will last for many, many years, but must be used or replenished weekly to keep its effectiveness. I think my starter is about 10 years old, and I’d be happy to share.
At first, I experimented with bread until Craig would eat it, now I just use it for waffles once a week and then refill it.
FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:
Whole Wheat Cereal
recipe from Simple Recipes Using Food Storage from Cedar Fort, Utah
I actually made this once. It wasn’t my favorite, but if I were very hungry, I’m sure it would taste delicious!
Slow Cooker Method:
1 c. whole wheat kernels (you can get these in the bulk section at Winco so you don’t have to open one of your #10 cans)
2 1/2 c. water
1/2 tsp salt
Combine in a slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours or overnight on low. Add milk and a sweetener. Add fruit and nuts and whatever else sounds good.
Thermos Method:
( I did this, too, and it really worked!)
1 c. whole wheat kernels
2 c. boiling water
1/2 tsp salt
Combine in a quart-sized thermos, screw the top tightly and leave overnight.
Wheat Treats
Soak the wheat berries until triple in size by either
1) soak for 24 hours, changing the water once or twice
2) boil for 30 minutes, then let the wheat sit for an hour or two
Drain and rinse. Roll the wheat on a cloth or paper towel to remove any water.
In a heavy kettle, heat vegetable oil to 360˚. Put a small amount of wheat (1 1/2 c.) in a wire basket or strainer and deep fry in hot oil for 90 seconds. Drain on absorbent paper.
When all the wheat is fried, put it on a cookie sheet.
Make a honey glaze:
1 TB water
1 c. honey
Boil to a hard-crack stage (300-310˚) Pour over the wheat.
Cracked Wheat
Cracked wheat is a wheat berry that has been broken into small pieces. It has the same nutritional value as whole wheat. Most wheat mills or grinders have a setting for making cracked wheat. Only grind the wheat you will be using. Any extra cracked wheat should be placed in a sealed container and stored in the freezer. Somewhere I read that you can put the wheat in a baggie and just run over it with the car! Or pound it with a hammer or rolling pin. That might be a good way to take out some frustrations!
Cooked Cracked Wheat
Makes 2 1/2 c. cooked cracked wheat.
3 c. liquid (water, fruit juice, broth)
1 c. cracked wheat
1 tsp salt
Combine and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat and simmer 20-30 min or until tender. Use fruit juice if wheat is to be used in a fruit salad; water or broth for main dishes, bread, or cereal.
For cereal, add milk and sweetener.
Michael’s Bread
1/3 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. honey
1 1/2 TB sugar
3/4 TB salt
Add to the bowl.
In a large measuring cup
2 1/2 c. warm water
2 TB yeast
Let rest for 5 minutes
Add the yeast and water to the oil,
5 c. flour
2 TB vital wheat gluten
Add. (You can also get vital wheat gluten in the bulk section at Winco)
Slowly add an additional 1 – 1/2 c. flour (as needed) NEVER more than 7 1/4 c.
Knead 8 minutes
Let rise
Form loaves
Let rise
Bake 350˚ for 30-40 min.
If you have never made bread, just watch a video or two
(How to Make THE BEST Homemade Bread |
Homemaking Basics
How to make a loaf of bread from scratch (Beginner friendly!)
Marti Shelley
