Author: cityprepping-lucy

Marti’s Corner – 160

**Here is a list of 15 items you can easily store that you may not have considered. 1. Disposable lighters 2. Toilet paper 3. Trash bags 4. Manual can openers 5. Vinegar 6. Duct tape 7. Baking soda 8. Garden seeds 9. Cast iron cookware 10. Books and educational materials 11. Manual tools 12. Fishing gear 13. Solar chargers 14. Bleach 15. Hand-crank radio

Wondering why you might need these things? Watch here: 15 Things YOU NEVER Think To STOCKPILE But Should!

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

Not much is happening in the garden. Mostly I’m just trying to keep everything from dying! The tomatoes are waning — just a few need to ripen. I see flowers on the bell peppers.

I finally dug up a bag of potatoes. I’m always surprised at how FEW potatoes there are. Planting, fertilizing, watering for such a small harvest. But…. I’m practicing.

I’ll be having some of these for dinner. The others will go upstairs, on the guest bed, on a towel, and covered by another towel for a week or so to let them develop a thicker skin for storing – at least until we can eat them. DON’T WASH THEM. Store them dry.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: milk

When was the last time you bought powdered milk? It has a shorter shelf life than wheat, sugar and beans. You SHOULD be rotating your milk like everything else. (okay, I’m totally NOT doing that – but I SHOULD!) Otherwise, if you don’t rotate it, you’ll eventually have to just throw it away! I think I have #10 cans of milk that are dated 1994. That makes them 32 years old!!! Even if they did taste fine, they probably wouldn’t have much nutritional value. But, as a wise woman said to me once, don’t throw them away. Give THOSE away to people who come begging for food.

Powdered milk today is NOT like it was in the 70’s. It has a much better taste and texture. It is NOT cheaper than buying milk at the store. But like all things I store, if there is NO milk at the store, I’d really like something to have on my cereal!

Recommended: 4 lb. per person per month. If you buy pouches of milk at the Home Storage Center, that would be 2 1/2 pouches per month per person. Milk is $6 per pouch. Five pouches = $30. That’s milk, for a month, for 2 people. Just about the cost of lunch at McDonalds!!!

Find a location here:

Home Storage Center Locations

MISC. PURCHASE: hand crank emergency radio

Like everything, there are varying prices. This one is under $20. There are solar cells on the top, but I suspect it takes many hours to charge from the solar.

Emergency Hand Crank Radio Emgykit – 7400mWh AM/FM/NOAA Solar Hand Crank Emergency Radio with LED Flashlights for Emergencies

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES

Lucky Pancakes

2 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 c. oil

2 c. buttermilk

2 eggs separated – beat whites separately, and then fold in.

French Pancakes

My kids call these Grandma Pancakes.

We cook them for special occasions (Easter morning, Christmas morning, etc.) AND, of course, Grandma makes them every time she babysits overnight.

It’s a “per person” recipe. For Craig and me, I make 1 1/2 times the recipe.

For one person:

2 eggs – I put them in the blender and mix

1/2 c. milk – add and blend

2 TB sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 c. flour

    Blend. I do NOT make paper thin layers in the frying pan, although you could. I just fill the bottom of the pan with a layer of batter. Turning them is a trick because they are so big. When they’re done, I put butter and syrup down the middle and roll them up with a fork. They are SOOO good! My dad used to make them for us and top them with strawberries and whipped cream.

Granola

This is my favorite granola recipe. It’s so crunchy and yummy. This recipe makes 6 c.

3 1/2 c. oats

1/2 c. chopped almonds

1/2 c. wheat germ

1/2 c. sunflower seeds

      You can get all this in the bulk section at my local Winco. Actually, you can add any type of nuts or seeds you want.

      Mix

In a separate small pan

1/4 c. honey

1/4 c. vegetable or olive oil

2 TB brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

    Heat to blend, but don’t boil! Add to the oats.

Spread out on an oiled cookie sheet. Bake 325˚ for 20-25 minutes. Stir once or twice while cooking. Remove.

Add 1 1/2 c. raisins or any other dried fruit you like.

Marti Shelley

August 9, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 159

Hi Everyone,

Here is the email I received this week from Utah State University:

When you think about food storage, you might picture a large walk-in pantry with immaculately stacked mason jars and carefully curated collections of canned goods. But for most people, this type of food storage isn’t always attainable. Instead, here are some quick and easy ways to build a food storage that can be used when an emergency arises.

Slowly buy extra food each week or month. Set aside part of your grocery budget for food storage. Even an extra $20-$50 a month will go a long way.

Prioritize simple, ready-to-eat foods. Stock up on foods that you and your family enjoy. Choose items that are high in calories and good nutrition.

Remember the manual can opener and scissors. What good is stored food if you can’t easily access it?

Avoid storing foods that make you thirsty. Choose salt-free crackers, whole-grain cereals, and canned foods with high liquid content. You can also select high-calorie, foods that aren’t as likely to provoke thirst, such as peanut butter, jelly, food bars, and trail mix.

Don’t forget water. Recommendations for water storage include ½ gallon to 1 gallon for drinking per person per day with an additional ½ gallon for personal hygiene and dishwashing.

You can read more about emergency food storage basics in our Food Storage for Emergency Guide here. Our canning website has more helpful information on canning and food preservation. Our goal is to provide home canning resources so that your experience is satisfying and assures you that the food you preserve at home is safe and of the highest quality possible.

You can also take our Preserve the Harvest online canning course to brush up on your food preserving skills or learn some new ones.

Thanks!

The USU Extension Food Preservation Team

The links should work. In fact, I downloaded the 120 page Food Storage Guide and it is wonderful.

** For all you “canners” out there ( I know there are a few of you), check out this site: 100 Delicious Canning Recipes You Have To Try

** So, although I have collected several pieces of cast iron, I have yet to cook in it. Nonetheless, hope springs eternal and I keep collecting information like this: How to Cook Anything in a Dutch Oven. This is pretty comprehensive.

GARDEN HAPPENINGS

I continue to collect tomatoes as they ripen. I have about a dozen pint jars of tomato sauce. Yes, you can buy them same tomato sauce for about $.85 so it is totally NOT worth it to grown and can them yourself.!!! But, I look at gardening as a giant learning curve that I’m slowly climbing year after year. Plus, I LOVE the taste of ripe tomatoes, right from the garden. Sooooo good!!!

I think I have at least 9 zucchini plants and have not had one zucchini. Are they too crowded? Is it too hot? Are they not getting pollinated? And now I’m battling powdery mildew.

I pulled out all the beans. They were so infested with spider mites they were unsalvageable. I replanted two empty bags with beans and am just waiting for them to sprout.

I think I got maybe 4 cucumbers before the heat set in, and those plants have spider mites as well. Evil little devils.

I think this week I’ll harvest all the potatoes. Why not?

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: dry beans

Make sure you have a variety of dry beans. Without animal sources to provide protein in your diet, beans step up and fill in the deficiency. Combined with grains or other beans, they are your source for protein.

There are two ways to cook beans:

1. Overnight soak – Soak beans for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and discard the water, and rinse the beans. This method is better than no soaking, but it doesn’t remove the complex sugars as well as the short-soak/boil method.

2. Short-soak/boal method – Boil beans in water for 3 minutes. Cover and set aside for an hour. Drain and discard the water and rinse the beans. This method reduces hard to digest complex sugars by 80%. This cuts down on intestinal gas.

Either way, after soaking cook beans in fresh water. Use 3-4 c. water for each cup of dry beans. Don’t add salt or any flavors until the beans are cooked.

1 c. dry beans = 2 1/2 c. cooked beans

Old Beans? I think if we have to dig out our stored beans, we’re going to find some of them are VERY old!!! As beans age, the skin becomes tough and the beans will not soak up the water. Just crack them. You can use a grinder on the largest setting, or use a blender with a pulse button, or put several cups of beans in a bag and smack them with the side of a hammer.

Don’t mix old beans with new beans.

MISC. PURCHASE: – gasoline

Consider getting a 5 gallon can and filling it with gasoline.

Use an approved safety can. Avoid glass or plastic bottles. Leave some room in the container for expansion.

Store gasoline in a detached shed or garage, at least 50 feet away from ignition sources. Keep it away from your house, open flames, or direct sunlight.

Here are some other tips from Exxon: Gasoline Safety and Fuel Storage Tips | Exxon and Mobil

When we decided to do this, our thoughts were that if we needed to evacuate, we wanted to make sure we had gas! We try to rotate the gas each 6 months. We fill our tanks with stored gas, then refill the containers.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Baked Beans

From The Pioneer Cookbook by Miriam Barton

2 c. navy or great northern beans – soak and rinse (see directions above). Then cook in water over medium heat for 1-2 hours until tender.

Preheat oven to 325˚.

Scoop beans into a large baking dish, reserving the broth and add:

1/4 lb bacon diced
1 onion finely chopped
3 TB molasses
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground mustard
1/2 c. ketchup
2 TB Worcestershire sauce
1/4 c. brown sugar

Cover and bake 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally. Add more bean broth if needed to keep the beans saucy.

Claudine’s Baked Beans

From Favorite Recipes, Winchester Ward Relief Society

For those of you who don’t particularly want to soak beans.

2 28-oz cans Bush’s pork ‘n’ beans
1/2 lb. cooked bacon, crumbled
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. catsup
1 TB yellow mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover, stir frequently for 1 hour.

Red Beans and Rice

From The Pioneer Cookbook by Miriam Barton

Great to cook after a ham dinner.

1 lb. dried kidney beans – soaked and rinsed
4 c. water
ham bone (optional)
1 onion diced
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 green or red chili pepper, stem and seeds removed, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tsp salt

     Add all ingredients in a large stockpot. Cover and cook on medium heat for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally.

1 1/2 c. dried rice

    Stir in for the last 30 minutes. Add more water if it cooks out before the rice is soft. Before serving, remove the ham bone.

Marti

August 7, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 158

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

Someone online was talking about a WUSH bag.

“Wake Up, Something’s Happening” – I like it!!

Speaking of which, have you been working on yours?

Fire season is here in my neck of the woods, and you NEVER know when YOU will be the one who has to evacuate. OR when YOU will be stuck on the freeway for hours! OR if YOU will be gone when the earthquake hits that shuts down the highways home. (Ugh, I hate thinking about all this stuff.)

Having a 72 hour kit will bring you peace of mind.

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

You plant, you transplant, you water, you feed and nurture, and then THIS???? This is a BIG animal!!! I’m thinking possum, or squirrel?? Grrrr. I left these two on the vine hoping that if this critter returns, he will go for the already ruined fruit. Then, I put mesh bags around most of the other tomatoes.

How do you prevent this??? There is not much that you can do. 1) You can pick when they first “blush”. They will continue ripening on your kitchen counter, safe from critters and insects. 2) You can put them in mesh bags.



Mine are similar to this, only white, not green. Still it’s like 100 bags for under $15. 3) You can put metal mesh around the plants (like chicken wire??), but that’s impractical for me because everything is in grow bags.

When I went out today, I couldn’t see any damage to anything else. Evidently whatever it is, can’t open the bags. YAY!

Also, time to feed the garden – again.

I’m starting to have empty bags of dirt where I’ve harvested things. I replanted green beans this morning since mine are almost all lost to spider mites. Days to harvest = 50. I’ve got plenty of time if they’ll grow in this heat!

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: Pancake syrup and jam.

Both of these items are part of the “sugar” recommendations. IF you suddenly have no food on the shelves at the stores, cold cereal will disappear fast. We’ll be eating more pancakes, oatmeal, and other hearty breakfast meals. Just get a couple of jars of jam, and maybe 2 large syrups. Date them and stick them in the back of the pantry. The syrup will last a LONG time. The jam for several years.

MISC PURCHASE: Baby, feminine products, pets

Time to think about what you need for special needs people. Think “Three months” and stock up on something – or all three!

If you have a child in diapers, I would seriously consider cloth diapers as a back up.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Mixed-Berry Coffee Cake

So, every once in a while, I’ll be at the store looking at cereal and I’ll think how much I love granola. And I do love granola. But then I buy it, have it once or twice and it sits on the shelf because Craig would rather have Frosted Cheerios.

So, this recipe uses granola as an ingredient. Win-win.

1/4 c. granola

     Place in a zip lock bag and crush with a rolling pin. Set aside.

1/2 c. buttermilk

1/3 c. packed brown sugar

2 TB vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

    Mix all until smooth.

1 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

   Add in dry ingredients until just moistened.

1 c. mixed berries: blueberries, raspberries, blackberries

   Fold in berries and granola

Bake in a greased 8″ or 9″ round pan at 350˚ for 28-30 min or until golden brown and top springs back when touched in the center. Cool 10 min. Serve warm.

Honey-Whole Wheat Bread

I’ve posted a couple of bread recipes before. This one comes from a Whole Grains cookbook by Betty Crocker.

2 packages fast acting yeast

1/2 c. warm water

    Dissolve the yeast in the warm water.

1/3 c. honey

1/4 c. soft butter

2 tsp salt

1 3/4 c. warm water

4 c. whole wheat flour

    Beat with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl frequently. Stir in enough of the remaining 1 to 1 1/4 c. flour to make dough easy to handle.

Knead dough for about 10 minutes or until smooth and springy. Let rise about 1 hour until dough has doubled.

Grease bottoms and sides of 2 9X5 or 8X4 bread pans. Divide dough in 2. Use a rolling pin to flatten each half into an 18X9 inch rectangle. Fold crosswise into thirds. Flatten or roll dough into a 9 inch square. Foll dough up tightly, beginning at one of the unfolded ends. Press with thumbs to seal. Pinch each end to seal. Fold ends under the loaf. Place seam side down in the pan. Brush with additional butter; sprinkle with whole wheat flour of crushed oats if desired. Cover, let rise about 1 hour until doubled.

Bake 375˚ for 25-30 min or until loaves are deep golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Cool.

Creamy Alfredo-Turkey Skillet Dinner

I’m going to be honest with you. I never use ground turkey. But who knows? I might try it someday. I usually use ground beef because I have it canned and sitting on the shelf.

Cook 2 cups whole wheat rotini pasta. Another confession. I don’t use whole wheat pasta, although the whole purpose of this cookbook is to encourage you to do so. In an emergency situation, I can see me grinding wheat, making a pasta dough, and using my pasta maker to make noodles. BUT, in the meantime, something has to be said for convenience and preference, right???

Brown 1 lb. lean ground turkey.

Add 1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp salt and cook until turkey is no longer pink; drain

3 c. firmly packed fresh spinach leaves – stir into the turkey. Cook uncovered over medium heat 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spinach is wilted.

1 jar Alfredo pasta sauce

1 can petite diced tomatoes undrained

    Stir in sauces and heat until thoroughly warmed. Stir in cooked pasta.

1/4 c. shredded Parmesan cheese – sprinkle. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook about 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.

Marti Shelley

July 28, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 157

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

** Check out this link from Kellogg’s Gardening: Summer July Garden Checklist Zones 9-10 | Kellogg Garden Organics™ Other zones are available on the website.

Do you have these:

Spider mites. More information can be found here: Spider Mites–UC IPM. I get them in my cucumbers really bad, but have found them on my squash and peppers as well. Spray, spray, spray!!!

I have an abundance of cherry tomatoes. So…. I decided to try out a recipe for making tomato sauce with them. Now, making tomato sauce is a real pain. It’s not necessarily labor intensive, but it is kind of time consuming because of the roasting, simmering time. Here is what I did: 2-3 pounds of washed cherry tomatoes and maybe a stray small tomato from another bush. Drizzle a little olive oil. Roast on a cookie sheet at 400˚ for 30 min. Meanwhile, cook 1 diced onion in ¼ c. olive oil and add 1 TB garlic. When the tomatoes are out of the oven, add them to the onions. I put in 4-5 fresh basil leaves (only because I had fresh) and a few sprigs of thyme, stems off. I let this simmer for 30 minutes or so. Then I blended it up. I have a small Ninja type blender. I was worried 1) about the taste. 2) I would be able to taste bits of skin. But, it turned out really well. The taste was good (although maybe next time I’ll add a tsp. Or two of sugar) and no trace of skins! Totally smooth and delicious. Was it worth it – when you can buy the same amount for only a few dollars? Probably not, but it’s homemade with no preservatives.

Found this chart with good information on when to harvest.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: Chili / Stew

My favorite kind of chili is Dennison’s. So, my real favorite is homemade chili, but Dennisons is my go-to when I’m making chili dogs or chili over baked potatoes. It’s down to about $1.50 something per can at Winco’s. Which means you can get a case of 12 for about $20. If your local store doesn’t have Dennisons on sale, just get whichever type you prefer. Then, once every few months, rotate in a meal where you can use chili. Here are some suggestions: 67+ Fast Meals from Canned or Leftover Chili. Find one or two of these recipes that you like, and add the ingredients to your storage. That doesn’t work well for chili dogs or chili over baked potatoes but maybe some chili mac? Does anyone actually make and eat this? LOL

As for the stew, pick up a can of corn and/or a can of beans to add to the stew. Make some biscuits, and have a good, hearty meal.

MISC. PURCHASE: first aid supplies

So, Craig got bit by a dog last week — a friend’s dog — roughhousing. Anyway, it drew blood on the top of his wrist and under his wrist as well. I didn’t want to use bandaids, because I didn’t want to rip the hair off his arm. Ewwww.

So I got the brilliant idea to use a few sterile pads and tape them in place. I couldn’t find any in the house, but I KNEW there were some in the 72 hour kit. So far, so good. Now, for the tape. I ALSO had that in the kit. BUT it was about 8 years old, and none of the tape was sticky. I had both clear paper tape – not sticky, and that self sticking brown stretchy stuff – not sticky. Off to the store. I bought a box of sterile pads, and tape for both 72 hour kits. I also bought a roll of bandage to hold the dressings down (with Neosporin) , and then I taped it around. It held for an entire day and was much healed when it finally came off.

In a spurt of energy, I went through both first aid kits, replaced the tapes and bandaids, and checked the medications. Luckily, I had replaced those last October and dated the little baggies.

What is in my first aid kits? Well, I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and then kind of created my own. It’s a combination of bandaids and dressings, medications (Tylenol, etc), a needle and razor blade, a small bag with hotel soap and 1/2 washrag, and a pair of tweezers.

When we went to girls camp, the items we used most were moleskin, bandaids, and Tylenol. If nothing else, start with those. From my own kits, I’ve used bandaids, Neosporin, tweezers, and Tylenol. Everything else is there just in case.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

14 DINNER IDEAS:

1. Beef stew – 1 can beef stew; 1 can corn, drained; 1 can green beans drained; and 2 c. cooked barley.
2. Beef Stew – 1 can beef stew; 1 c. water; 1 packet gravy mix. Serve over cooked egg noodles
3. Chili Mac -1 can chili and 1/2 c. processed cheese spread; 2 c. cooked macaroni
4. Chili – 1 can chili; 1 can kidney or black beans; 2 c. prepared rice
5. Chili – 1 can chili; 2 prepared packages Mac & Cheese
6. Baked beans in tomato sauce; add 1 can flaked ham; 1/4 c. BBQ sauce, 2 c. cooked barley
7. Loaded Chicken Noodle Soup; 4 oz. fettuccine noodles; 1 can chicken; 4 tsp chicken bouillon; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 /4 tsp thyme; 1/8 tsp turmeric; 1/4 tsp onion powder; 1/4 c. dehydrated carrots; 1 TB dehydrated celery – simmer till everything is rehydrated
8. Vegetable Soup – 1 large can vegetable soup; 3 c. cooked rice or barley
9. Corn Chowder – 1 package instant potato flakes, 2 TB nonfat dry milk (or 3 TB instant dry milk) 4 c. water; 1 can creamed corn – makes a thick corn chowder
10. Spaghetti – Add 1 can diced tomatoes and 1 can white kidney beans; add into 1 jar spaghetti sauce. Serve over pasta.
11. Tuna casserole – Cooked macaroni; 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup, 1-2 cans tuna; 1 can drained peas optional.
12. Chicken Rice-A- Roni – Add 1 can chicken to a prepared box of Chicken Rice-A Roni.
13. Chicken Pot Pie – 1 can chicken, 2 cans diced potatoes drained; 1 can peas and carrots drained. White sauce – melt 2 TB butter or fat; 2 TB flour; 1 c. milk; 1/4 tsp salt; Topping – 3 c. flour; 1 c. shortening cut in; 1 egg; 3/4 c. milk; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp baking powder. Mix. Flatten dough between your hands and lay on top of chicken and gravy mix. Bake 350 for 30 min.
14. Chicken Tetrazzini – 2 cans chicken; 1 jar mushrooms drained; 1 16-oz jar Alfredo sauce; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/4 tsp nutmeg – Cook on low for 20 – 45 min. Stir occasionally; Serve over pasta Top with parmesan cheese.

Each time you go to the store, buy ingredients for 2-3 of these meals and store away. Repeat for several months until you have 6 of each meal. Then you will have 3 months of dinners. Add some breakfast items: oatmeal, pancake mix, cold cereal. Start rotating them into your regular menus.

Marti

July 15, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 156

NOTES:

** Have you ever used a clothesline – really??? Well, I have. And, depending on the electricity, you may have to do it as well. I read through this list of do’s and don’ts for drying clothes on a clothesline. 21 Tips for Using a Clothesline Like a Pro

** Want something to do with your kids this summer??? How about candle-making? How to Make a 100-Hour Candle. Kris and the team pushed the Emergency Candle out to 300 hours in this video – How To Make a 300-Hour Candle.

I remember we dipped candles in 5th or 6th grade. We used the old-fashioned method of dipping, letting dry, and dipping again. It seemed to take forever (probably several days).

We did purchase some 100 hour candles CandleLife Emergency Survival Candle 115 Hours Long Lasting Burning Time : Sports & Outdoors, and have saved candles over the years. Also, we have lanterns and have purchased extra wicks. Then we bought some outdoor solar lights. They are several years old now, and you HAVE to replace the batteries each year (or recharge them). Super easy to do, but kind of a pain. The lights create the solar energy, and put it into the batteries. At night, the lights run off the batteries.

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

Everything is covered with shade cloth!!!

I have three buckets of beans. Two of them are bush beans and one of those has produced A LOT of beans!!! I cut the ends off, blanche for just a few minutes, vacuum seal in small portions, and put in the freezer. The second tub of bush beans is right next to the first one. I got one picking of beans, and now I just have a lot of leaves – no beans, no flowers. The last tub is pole beans. This tub gets the most sun. I think I’ve picked maybe 6 beans from these 10 plants. Ugh.

The tomatoes are finally starting to ripen.

These are Bush Steak tomatoes. It’s the first time I’ve tried them and I think they will be my go-to tomatoes from here on out. The cherry tomatoes are ripening, and they are so handy for salads or tacos. And, I like fresh garden tomatoes on my scrambled eggs!!

Meanwhile, I’m spraying for blight, and for spider mites at least once a week.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: jam or jelly

One year’s supply of sugar is about 60 pounds per person. This can include jam and jelly, white and brown sugar, syrup, and honey. The first time I tried making jam, Craig announced that he preferred “store-bought” jam. I figured I was off the hook and just started buying jam – specifically strawberry jam. I’m now finishing up a jar I bought in 2016. Still good. The strawberries have darkened somewhat, but the taste is the same. Luckily, we have had a good crop of blackberries this year, and I was able to “put up” over 20 1/2 pint jars of jam. Craig really likes it. Between having jam on toast and sandwiches and giving it away, I’m not sure how long it will last. My dad said that during the Depression, he remembers many nights of bread and jam for dinner.

MISC. PURCHASE: medical gloves and hand sanitizer

Now that everything is back on the shelves, it wouldn’t hurt to pick up some boxes of medical gloves and hand sanitizer.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Mosquito Bites

This year I’m growing yarrow. So far, all I have is leaves. BUT, I watched a video about yarrow being a natural mosquito deterrent. Just pull the small leaves off of a stem, crush them in your fingers, and rub them on your arms. Now, each day when I go out to work in the garden, that’s what I do!

IF you get a mosquito bite that is driving you crazy, you can get relief with this: 3 parts charcoal (I’ve used charcoal right out of the fire, and have also bought it on Amazon), 1 part psyllium powder (you can get this at Winco in the bulk section). Add a tiny bit of water to make a paste. Roll it out between two sheets of plastic wrap. Then tear off a little piece and place it on the bite and cover with a small bandaid. The charcoal will help draw out the poison. If you keep this plastic in the fridge, it will feel soothing as it does its stuff. I usually make a small batch every year.

Chicken Pot Pie

I’ve made this for years with deboned chicken, celery, carrots, peas, whatever. I usually just make a white sauce and add salt and pepper. Well…….I found this recipe. It’s basically the same thing, BUT it adds some spices to the sauce and wow, it makes all the difference. Craig ate his whole serving! I bought these 5 in pie dishes, and this recipe made two of them and one smaller 3 inch container. So…..probably a 9 X 13? Not sure.

Saute:

1 small onion, chopped (I used dehydrated)

1 medium carrot, chopped (I cut mine in half lengh wise and and sliced)

1 c. diced potatoes (I used one large russet potato)

1/4 c. chopped celery (I used dehydrated)

1/4 c. butter – saute the vegetables in butter. I should have rehydrated the celery first, because when everything else was done, the celery was still a little crunchy. That took extra cooking.

1/3 c. flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried parsley flakes

1/4 tsp dried rosemary, crushed (I didn’t have this, so I used fresh rosemary from my bush outside)

1/4 tsp rubbed sage

1/4 tsp pepper

     Mix the dry ingredients and add to the vegetables. It makes a dry mess.

1 c. chicken broth – add.

1 c. milk

     Now you should have a nice gravy

2 c. cooked chicken in cubes, or shredded or you can use turkey

1/2 c. frozen peas

         Add everything, stir, let simmer for 5 minutes or so. Put in a casserole dish or divide in individual pie pans.

1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry – yes, I used the store pastry. I just didn’t want to be bothered with making my own this time.

Bake 375˚ for 18-22 minutes. (Mine took the whole time)

Those few spices made all the difference!

Berry Granola Bars

1/4 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. brown sugar

       Cream until light and fluffy

2 etts – add and mix

4 tsp corn syrup

2 tsp molasses

1/4 tsp vanilla

        Combine and mix

1 1/3 c. old fashioned oats

6 TB flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking soda

     Mix dry ingredients and add to the creamed mix. Stir well.

1/2 c. chopped pecans

1/4 c. dried blueberries

1/4 c. dried cranberries

      (go ahead and substitute your favorite kind of nut and fruit)

Press into a greased 8X8 pan. Bake at 350˚ for 15-20 minutes or until the center is set and the edges are browned. Cook on a wire rack completely.

Creamy Poppy-Seed Dressing

At several dollars for a bottle of dressing, you can make your own for much less

1/3 c. mayonnaise

1/4 c. 2% milk (We drink full-octane milk over here so I’ll probably use that)

3 TB sugar

4 tsp apple cider vinegar

2 tsp poppy seeds

    In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients.

Marti

July 11, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 155

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

**Still on the fence about dehydrated onions? Check this out.

Prep School Daily: Getting the Most from Dehydrated Onions

20 pounds of fresh onions = 2 pounds DH onions = 1 #10 can

1 onion chopped = 1/4 c. DH onion = 1 tsp onion powder

** I ran out of mayonnaise. Actually, I HAD some mayonnaise on the shelf dated 2020, and it was not good. I threw the entire jar in the trash. I started looking online for mayonnaise recipes, and I found several videos. THEN, I found out that homemade mayonnaise only lasts about 2 weeks in the fridge. There is no way two people can use a pint of mayo in 2 weeks. The store-bought stuff is full of preservatives, of course, which is why we can leave it in the fridge for months. Ugh, what to do? I ended up grabbing a jar of mayo at the store. The price just about kills me!

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

Every day I pick beans, blackberries, and odds and ends of carrots, beets, and zucchini. I love this time of summer. The plants love it too. I’m trying to stay ahead of the spider mites, cabbage worms, and blight.

This is my second year growing beets. I simply can’t get them any bigger, despite thinning and feeding. But, I found if I clean them up, and boil them whole, the skins slip right off and I can quarter them or slice and lather with butter and they are SOOO sweet! I also planted a shorter variety of carrots and have not been disappointed.

There are only three small blackberries because I picked about 3 cups last night, and I found these hiding in the beans.

The cherry tomatoes are ripening. They are first. The larger tomatoes take more time. I have some BIG green ones, so they will ripen soon I hope.

I just remember from past years that once it gets REALLY hot in the summer, nothing does well. So, I’m happy to get most of my harvest in before that time.

And, oh yeah, it’s time to feed the plants again. This week, everything got a healthy dose of compost and a handful of fertilizer.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: canned meat, chicken or beef

The price of beef continues to climb. I was paying about $37 for 10 pounds of 80% meat at Winco. Now it’s $49. But, chicken has stayed pretty low. Canning chicken needs a pressure canner. I bought mine in the 70’s and it still works great. IF you’d like to can, start asking around. I’m sure there is someone you know who has a canner and can help you learn. Otherwise, YouTube is great!!! Same with ground beef. OR you can portion the ground beef into 1 pound packages and freeze it. If you decide to freeze it, you’ll want to vacuum seal it to avoid frost damage. A vacuum sealer is one of the best investments you can get for food storage.

Meat is probably one of the most expensive parts of food storage, but it will be worth it. You can also buy stew with meat, or chili with meat. You want something that will give you protein!! There is a recipe below called Scotch Broth. The beans and rice in this soup will give you a perfect protein as well.

MISC PURCHASE: toilet paper

Time to take stock. Have you worked up to a 6 month supply yet? That should be your next goal.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Scotch Broth

I made several quarts of this soup and gave it to my family as Christmas gifts. Scotch Broth is a combination of grains and legumes that provide a “perfect protein”. By adding meat and vegetables, and by adding different spices you could easily change it to suit your tastes.

You need a 5 gallon food grade bucket with lid

This bucket could feed a family of 4 one hot meal a day for 2 months.

15 lbs rice – put in gallon bags. Don’t zip shut, just fold over.

This will take about 4 1-gallon bags

4 lbs pearl barley – Put in a 1-gallon bag, and fold top over

12 oz. bouillon (can use the cubes or powdered form)

   Put in a quart size zip bag and fold top over

In the bottom of the bucket add

4 lbs kidney beans

4 lbs black beans

2 lbs split peas

2 lbs chickpeas

     Mix together in the bottom of the bucket.

Add the zip lock bags of rice and the gallon bag of barley on top of the beans. Place the bouillon in the bucket. Add the recipe “how to cook”. Add 5 300 CC oxygen absorbers in the bucket. Snap on the lid.

How to Cook:

Soak 1 c. of beans for 6-8 hours or overnight. Cover the beans completely with at least 2 inches of additional water.

In the morning, drain and rinse, then add

8 c. water in the pot with the beans. Bring to a boil and simmer 1 1/2 hours.

Add bouillon and any other spices to taste, along with any veggies or meat you may have. After 1 1/2 hours add

3/4 c. rice and

1/3 c. barley to the pot. Cook until rice and barley are tender but not mushy.

Tips:

Winco has a carrot, celery, onion, tomato, spinach soup mix (bulk food #2172) that can be added.

All the ingredients can be found in the bulk section of Winco except the bouillon, which is in the soup section.

Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli

(a very fancy way to say pasta and beans)

This makes 10 servings, so be prepared to cut it down, give away leftovers, or feed a bunch of growing boys.

In a skillet, brown 1 1/2 lbs ground beef

When brown add:

1 19-oz can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-oz. can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1 small onion, diced (I like to add this to the meat when it is browning)

2 large carrots

2 large celery stalks

2 14-oz cans diced tomatoes with liquid

1 15-oz can tomato sauce

2 TB minced garlic

1 TB Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

6 c. beef stock or reconstituted beef bouillon

   Stir gently to mix

1-2 sprigs fresh Rosemary (optional) – lay on top

Simmer 6 hours

30 minutes before serving, add

8 oz. ditalini or other small pasta

White Chicken Skillet Lasagna

(you can use canned chicken OR fresh chicken breasts)

Using canned chicken:

2 1/2 c. chicken broth

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 c. heavy cream

1 tsp Italian seasoning

    Stir

10 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces – add to the broth

Bring to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 10-15 min until pasta is tender. Stir every few minutes.

When noodles are cooked, add

1-2 cans of chicken or 1 pint jar canned chicken

1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Cover and let melt before serving

If you use fresh chicken:

2 TB oil in a skillet – heat

Add chicken breasts and cook for 3-5 minutes until browned on one side. Chicken should release easily from the pan when ready to turn. Flip the chicken and add the broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat cover and cook for 10-15 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temp of 165˚. Remove chicken to a cutting board and let rest 5 minutes before shredding.

To the chicken broth add the cream and Italian seasoning. Add the broken lasagna noodles and stir well. Bring to a low simmer. Cover and cook 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. When noodles are cooked, stir chicken back in with cheese. Cover and let melt.

Marti

June 23, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 154

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

** Can you dehydrate food in the oven? Short answer is yes, although it’s not ideal. Check out this article. How To Dehydrate In The Oven: Complete Guide

** The City of Seattle sent information to all residents about being prepared. Here is what they sent concerning water storage.

**Most counties should have a website with preparedness ideas and information. Where I live It’s Home | County of Riverside Emergency Management Department. You can sign up for alerts, access information about disaster preparedness, and get updates on active events. Check your own county website for information.

At my local Winco, they had 8 oz. tomato sauce for $.28. I bought a flat of 24 cans = $6.72. I only buy the small cans because all my recipes are modified for only 2 people. Keep your eyes open for “deals” then buy a case or two.

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

** Lemon balm is another herb that I’m growing this year. After battling with roly pollies and slugs, I finally started getting some pretty leaves. I harvested today for the first time, and the leaves are in the dehydrator.

Now, what to do with it?? Benefits and History of Lemon Balm + Tea Recipes

In a nutshell, lemon balm is a nervine, meaning it acts on the nervous system to reduce stress. It’s called a “sunshine herb”. It is also beneficial for digestion, occasional stomach upset, menstrual cramps, headaches, and restless sleep. It is one of the most “precious” essential oils on the market.

So??? What can you do with it? You can use it to make a tea, and combine it with peppermint leaf, or spearmint leaf, or a host of other herbs. Check out this video: (1078) Why You Should Grow Lemon Balm in Your Garden

** I have some really nice tomatoes ready to ripen. Ripen…ripen….ripen. It takes a lot of patience.

** I have bell peppers that are small (3 inches??). HOPEFULLY they will get bigger.

** Each day I get a small harvest: beans, blackberries, herbs, lettuce. Waiting on everything else.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: vegetables

I don’t see the price of canned vegetables going down. In fact, it seems to get higher every week. Even the frozen vegetables have gone from $.99 per bag to $1.79 per bag. Almost a 100% increase!!!

You can get freeze dried green beans and freeze dried broccoli from beprepared.com for $20 a can. The beans have 19 servings, which is just a little more than $1 per serving.

A 1-lb bag of frozen beans says it has 5 servings. So you would need 4 bags of beans ($1.79 each) = $7.16. Just dump the frozen beans onto the dehydrator trays and dry away. They will shrivel up as they dry and not be very appetizing, but they will rehydrate fine in soup, or in some chicken broth.

The same with corn, it dehydrates wonderfully.

Most carrots that you buy are dehydrated dices. (And sometimes those dices are REALLY small). But you can dehydrate your own (that’s what I do). Simply peel and slice (I use a mandolin) and blanch (it makes them stay bright orange) and spread out on the trays. I’ve been doing this for so long, I almost never use fresh carrots anymore.

Of course, you can also just be flats of vegetables. You can probably get 3-4 servings out of a can, especially with children, so you’d need 5 cans @$.85 = $4.25

Whether you dehydrate or buy canned, you will save a lot of money. But if you like convenience, you can always order online.

MISC. PURCHASE: 2 bottles of peroxide and 2 bottles of alcohol

Health Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide This is from WebMD

14 Household Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide | HGTV

26 Rubbing Alcohol Uses: Home Health, Household Cleaning, and More

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

10 Easy Meals You Can Make From Your Pantry – Saving Talents

Soup or Sauce Mix

This is from Utah State University Extension

Attached is a pdf with fifteen pages of recipes and information.

This is a make-ahead mix. It can be used in a variety of recipes including soups, gravies, creamed vegetables, skillet meals, and casseroles. You can use it to substitute for a can of cream soup in any recipe. It is fat free. It is great for people with Celiac Disease because it contains no wheat.

Mix:

2 c. powdered non-fat dry milk

3/4 c. cornstarch

1/4 c. instant chicken bouillon

2 TB dried onion flakes

2 tsp Italian seasoning

    Combine ingredients in a reclosable plastic bag, and mix well. Does NOT to be refrigerated.

To use: Mix 1/3 c. dry mix with 1 1/4 c. cold water. Whisk until well blended. Cook and stir on stovetop until thickened.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/3 c. SOS (soup or sauce) mix

1 1/4 c. cold water

     Whisk to blend. Cook and stir to thicken.

1/3 c. fresh or frozen broccoli

1 c. grated cheese

     Add broccoli and cheese, stir and heat through

Alfredo Sauce

1/3 c. SOS mix

1 1/4 c. water

1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 c. Parmesan cheese grated

1/4 tsp pepper

     Mix and cook until thick. Serve over noodles.

Pizza Sauce

1/3 c. SOS mix

1/4 c. water

1 c. tomato sauce

1/2 tsp sugar

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

    Combine, mix well, cook until thick.

Marti

June 14, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 153

Hi Everyone,

**There has been a marked decrease in the cost of Spam. I know, I know, you either love it or hate it. Me? I kind of like it. But, I was surprised to come across a bunch of articles titled “100 Ways to Use Spam” or “50 Recipes for Spam”. The only thing I’ve even done with Spam is to have it on a sandwich. But some of these recipes look pretty good: 28 Delicious Spam Recipes Even the Haters Will Love

** Here is a reminder of how to shut off your gas in an emergency. How and when to shut off the gas, and how to get it back on. (1055) HOW TO shut off and restart your gas line in case of emergency

** You do not always need a prescription to treat a sickness. Here are some very common, tried and true, ways to alleviate symptoms. 100+ Lost Remedies from Centuries Past – Homestead Survival Site

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

** Growing tomatoes? Something is always going to go wrong! Top Reasons For Tomato Leaf Curling • The Prairie Homestead

Check out this gardening guide: How to Start a Garden in June: A Checklist | Kellogg Garden Organics™ If you search this website a bit, you can find YOUR zone and get help for your zone specifically. Here in So. Cal, Inland Empire, we are in 9B. That means that in the summer we are HOT, HOT, HOT. Okay, not “10” hot, but purty durn close!

Had to cut off 3 more broccoli leaves covered with millions of little eggs. Ugh. It’s those cursed white fluttering moths. Take time to look under the leaves!

The black berries are starting to come on. You have to go out every other day at a minimum and see what’s ripe. I picked about 15 berries today. I’m hoping to get a big batch soon so I can make jam! So delicious!

Blueberries are not ripe yet, but I’ve already covered the bushes with bird netting. Those pesky birds will eat every single blueberry in one day.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: – spices

Spices are how we turn our bland food into delicious food. Turn crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce (canned) into yummy spaghetti sauce with onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning. You can get dried minced onion, and dried minced garlic at Winco. I can get dried minced onion at my local grocery store.

Look for seasonings at WalMart and the Dollar Store. Winco has all kinds of seasonings in the bulk section.

I actually had to go buy some paprika because I ran out last week. I think I have maybe two recipes that call for it, so I don’t use it a lot. I only bought about 1/4 c., but that should last for a LONG time.

Other spices you might want are cumin, nutmeg, chili powder, celery salt, parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano. I also have a few packages of taco seasoning. Just flip through your favorite recipes and make note of what you use most. I use a lot of cinnamon, so I keep it in a pint jar, and have an extra pint jar in the closet. Just thinking of hot, homemade bread with butter and cinnamon sugar makes my mouth water – OR a pan of hot cinnamon rolls. Heaven.

Spices are like everything else, they will last the longest if they are not exposed to air or light. I put mine into small square snack bags, poke a tiny hole in the bag, and vacuum seal. Then they go in the back of the closet in a shoe box. Spices don’t ever go “bad” but they may lose their flavor over the years.

MISC. PURCHASE: matches & fire starters

This is a great time to practice making fires! Find someone with a fire pit, or just buy one for yourself. This one was about $35 on Amazon. You can practice with flint and steel, which are good things to carry in your 72 hour kit, BUT it’s not as easy to use as it looks. Wouldn’t you just rather have A LOT of matches???

Suppose you had to build a fire every day for a year. How many matches would you need?

3 boxes of matches, 300 matches per box = 900 matches for $8.75.

You may also want some fire starters.

Here are 70 pieces for $13. OR you can make your own. Kids can help: 10 DIY Fire Starter Ideas The one with the paper egg carton and dryer lint and paraffin (found in the canning section of most grocery stores) is the one I made. Then I set it on fire to see how long it would burn. 20 minutes! I can put it under a big log (no tinder or kindling needed) and in 20 minutes everything will be burning. No need for liquid gasoline or whatever it is that Craig squirts all over the wood.

I cannot vouch for the fire starters sold above, but the homemade starters are excellent. I have not tried the vaseline and cotton balls, but I have used cotton balls in the egg cartons when I ran out of dryer lint.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Homemade Fudgesicles – a good recipe for kids to try

3/4 c. sugar

3 TB flour

1 TB cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

3 TB cocoa

1 1/4 c. non instant powdered milk (2 c. instant)

Mix in a bowl.

4 c. boiling water. Stir milk mix into the boiling water and cook for 1 minute.

1/2 tsp vanilla – add.

Pour into molds and freeze. You can use small Dixie cups if you don’t have molds. If you cover the cups with Saran Wrap, you can insert popsicle sticks when fudgesicles are starting to thicken up.

Hush Puppies

(From my friend Laurie, who grew up in Georgia and made her kids say, “Yes, Ma’am and Yes, Sir.”) These are SOOOO good. Serve them with hot dogs or hamburgers, chili, or with anything that might taste good with French Fries.

In a blender:

1 egg

1-2 large onions, cut in chunks

A little milk – just enough to help blend up the onions.

Blend!

In another bowl,

1 c. flour

1 c. yellow cornmeal

1/4 c. sugar

4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

     Mix dry ingredients and add wet. You want the batter to stick together so you can drop it into hot oil, but not too runny. If it’s too dry, it won’t stick together, if it’s too runny, you can’t form balls. Add milk if you need to in order to get the right consistency.

Form balls and fry in a small pot of oil until light brown. Drain on paper towels. Mmm, mmm, mmm

And…. I don’t like onions all that much!!! But I love these.

Scones

    This is the perfect thing for dessert! Also the perfect thing for breakfast! Who doesn’t like scones???

It is made with yeast dough, but doesn’t have to rise.

This recipe calls for 4 c. flour, which is a lot of scones for 2 people, so I’ll put in measurements for the recipe, then measurements for 1/2 a recipe.

1 TB yeast

1/4 warm water (feels tepid on the inside of your wrist)

    Let the yeast dissolve.

2 c. buttermilk – heat until barely warm – add the yeast

1 TB sugar

1 beaten egg

3 TB vegetable oil

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

4 c. flour

     Mix and knead. Let rest a few minutes while oil heats up. Tear off pieces, flatten in your hand, and fry on both sides. Drain on a paper towel.

Serve with butter, or frosting, or jam, or fruit, or cinnamon sugar, etc.

1/2 Recipe of Scones

1/2 TB yeast

2 TB warm water Let yeast dissolve

1 c. warmed buttermilk – add the yeast

1/2 TB sugar

1 beaten egg

1 1/2 TB vegetable oil

3/8 tsp salt

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

1 c. flour

Marti Shelley

June 6, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 152

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

** As you are looking forward to having all your children home for the summer, check out justserve.org.

There are nearly 80 service projects available. Some are one and done and some are ongoing. Just Serve is nationwide, maybe even worldwide. Just put in your zip code. It is free to match up your time available and your talents with others who could use your help. If you work with a charity who could use volunteers, there is a place where you can sign up for free.

** Also, check out this list 100 Summer Fun Ideas for Kids and Parents.

** Home Storage Centers. Did you know that over 60% of the people who shop at the Home Storage Centers are NOT members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. All are welcome there. The food is packaged in #10 cans and sold at cost. The church does NOT need to make money by selling this food. Most of the growing, packaging, and shipping is done by volunteers. Here is a current list of locations. Home Storage Center Locations

This TikTok shows the Storage Center in Houston. Mine is similar.

Find ‘Home Storage Centers’ on TikTok

**No place to put your food? Here’s Maureen: Family Home Storage – Meet Maureen

GARDEN HAPPENINGS

I checked the back of my broccoli leaves and found these eggs on every plant!!! If there are only a few of them, I just squish them with my thumb. If there are a lot, I cut that part of the leaf off! Don’t wait until they hatch!

**This site, by Utah State University, lets you look up your specific plant to find what garden pests to expect and how to deal with them. Agricultural Pests by Crop | USU

** Now that the weather is warming up, my lettuce is starting to bolt. This is normal and part of the life cycle of a plant.

When this happens, though, the leaves can taste bitter. No worries, just pull it up and plant more. During the hot summer, from seed to bolting can be as short as 5-6 weeks. So, about every 3 weeks, try to plant another tray of lettuce. Currently I have 7 trays of lettuce. It’s just WAY too much for 2 people (as most of you know because I’m always trying to give it away.) I’ve found a shady spot under some trees and I’m going to move the lettuce there. I’m also going to downsize to 3 trays. This will be much more manageable.

I also have celery that is bolting.

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: Wheat

I’ve attached a pdf labeled Minimum Year Supply

It is suggested we have 300 pounds of grain per person per year. You don’t need to store all that in wheat. Grains can include flour, oats, pasta, rice, cornmeal, corn, and mixes – like pancake mix and muffin mix.

So, what are you going to do with wheat, because if you are like me, I just don’t grind and bake with wheat on a weekly basis.

But what if all the supply chains stopped. Like 2020. You can live without wheat. My grandson has Celiac’s disease so he is totally gluten free. But me??? I LOVE bread. That smell when it comes out of the oven! It’s heavenly. And hot bread with butter (and jam or honey) is so delicious. And then there are homemade rolls and cinnamon rolls. Or English muffins and tortillas.

If you have older children (yes, boys too) make it a project this summer for all of them to learn how to make bread. I have a friend who says her daughter used to earn money by selling homemade rolls!

But, “Who will grind my wheat,” said the Little Red Hen? Start by asking people in your church congregation if anyone has a wheat grinder. Not a church goer? Ask at a PTA meeting, ask your neighbors, post on FB you are needing to grind some wheat. SOMEONE will have one.

Anyone who lives near a Winco can get ground wheat in the bulk section. You can also get wheat berries (kernels) there as well.

One case of 6 cans of wheat is over 30 pounds and will fit under your bed. AND at the Home Storage Center it is only about $6.50 a can.

Are you one of those families that has cans of wheat from LONG LONG ago??? Time to break open those cans and use it up. Start by using just a cup or so in each recipe you bake. My only suggestion is that when you add the liquid, let it sit for 4-5 min for the liquid to absorb the wheat. Wheat is heavier and you may need another TB or two of liquid to get the right consistency.

One further note: Wheat flour wants to go rancid rather quickly after it has been milled. Once ground, it will stay fresh for about 4-6 weeks sitting on your kitchen shelf. In a sealed container in the refrigerator, it will stay good for a year or so. In the freezer, it will keep for years. Better to store the wheat unground, and grind it as you use it.

MISC. PURCHASE: folding shovel – This is great to keep in the car. For anyone who has been stuck in mud or snow, you know how valuable this can be. Also great for digging a fire pit, or putting out a fire. They are not expensive. This one was about $15.

Everyone should have a car kit with flares, a small first aid kit, a shovel, and some granola bars. You can ALWAYS use granola bars. LOL PLUS, in my car kit, I have an old pair of tennis shoes in case I’m wearing heels and have to walk.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Cinnamon Muffin Recipe

4 c. flour

2 c. sugar

4 TB cinnamon (seems like a lot to me) I wonder if it’s supposed to be 4 tsp? Even that seems like a lot.

1/2 tsp salt

8 tsp baking powder

    Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Add

2 c. of oil, 2 c. milk, 4 eggs or egg substitute. Mix just unti the flour is coated. Bake in greased muffin tins or in paper muffin liners. 350˚ for 20-25 minutes. Serve with canned cold peaches.

Cream of Chicken soup substitute

Makes the equivalent of 9 cans of soup. Store in a quart jar.

2 c. instant dry milk

3/4 c. cornstarch

1/4 c. chicken bouillon

2 TB dried onion flakes

1 tsp basil

1 tsp thyme

    To use: combine 1/3 c. mix with 1 1/4 c. water. Heat over medium heat until thickened.

Prize-Winning Brownies

from Wheat For Man, by Vernice Rosenvall

1 c. sifted whole wheat flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

     Sift together dry ingredients

2 TB butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 c. brown sugar

     Cream sugar, butter and vanilla

Add 1 egg and beat well until light and fluffy

2 squares chocolate, melted – add

Add dry ingredients and 1/2 c. canned milk

1 c. nuts optional – stir in.

Pour into a buttered 9X9 baking pan. Bake 30-35 minutes at 350˚

Marti Shelley

June 3, 2024
Marti’s Corner – 151

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

This year I’m growing 2 types of medicinal flowers. One of them is calendula. Check out this article for how to grow, and how to use it. How to Make Homemade Calendula Salve for Healthy Skin ~ Homestead and Chill

If using medicinal plants is something you are interested in, you should order some beeswax pastillles. I got something like this:

Howemon White Beeswax Pellets 2LB 100% Pure and Natural Triple Filtered for Skin, Face, Body and Hair Care DIY Creams, Lotions, Lip Balm and Soap Making Supplies. You only use a couple of Tablespoons at a time, so it lasts forever! I think this one is about $12?

** Did you know you can take Utah State University extension courses for very little money? They have an extensive course list. Check it out: USU Extension Online Courses

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

**Virtually everything I have in my garden is grown in a grow bag, or some type of pot. Here is a great article about “bucket” growing: Best Vegetables For Bucket Gardening – Part I

His best suggestions include beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers. This is only part 1. I’m curious to see what is next. I also grow, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, celery, zucchini, lettuce, and raspberries in pots.

** May Gardening Ideas

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: Pasta (macaroni, spaghetti)

I feel like the price of pasta peaked, and has settled down a bit. It’s still more expensive than it was 3 years ago, but relatively cheap to use, store and prepare.

Pasta is a great meal extender. Just a little meat, some sauce, and you have a meal.

I bought a pasta maker and still haven’t ever used it!

If someone in your family is gluten free, consider storing extra rice, or potatoes for them, and pasta for everyone else (occasionally).

I like to keep a supply of spaghetti, fettucini, macaroni, and small salad pasta on hand. Sometimes I will buy wide noodles, but this type of pasta is so bulky! Don’t feel like you need to rush out and buy 50 pounds of pasta. Next time you cook a meal needing pasta, just buy 2 or 3 and stick the others aside. I usually cut a small slit in the original bag, and vacuum seal it as is. Otherwise, I get pantry moths. The moths are supposed to be able to eat through the vacuum sealing, but everything I have sealed has been moth free!

MISC. PURCHASE: How about some glue? Maybe a tube of shoe-glue – when tennis shoes wear out and we can’t just “go buy another pair.”

Maybe some individual packets of Super Glue. I just got a pack at Walmart for a couple of dollars. I think you can also get it at the Dollar Store if you look.

Probably, you should have some patches for blow-up mattresses. NO ONE wants to sleep on hard ground. Get the patches now, before you need them.

Also, I keep a small bottle of Elmer’s glue in the junk drawer. If I get any type of sticker in my hands (mostly from the blackberry bushes) I just cover with some glue, let it dry, and then peel it off. The stickers come right off with the glue.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Today’s recipes come from Cooking With Basic Food Storage, by Church Welfare Services.

Soft and Delicious Two Hour Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 4 loaves

Dissolve 2 TB yeast in 1/2 c. warm water. If you have never done this, drizzle some warm water on the inside of your wrist and it should feel neutral – not hot or cold.

Add 4 1/2 c. additional warm water

1/3 c. honey

1/3 c. oil

1/3 c. potato flakes

2 eggs

1 TB salt

6 c. whole wheat flour

   Mix with a hand mixer. Let rest about 10 minutes to let the wheat be absorbed in the liquid.

Add 4-5 c. unbleached flour, 1 cup at a time. After 4 c., let it rest for 5-10 minutes more to absorb the flour.

Add remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. Knead on a floured surface. Put in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap to let it rise. Punch down and form into 4 loaves. Place in greased bread pans. Cover and let rise again. Bake 350˚ for 30-40 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes or so, then dump out onto a towel to finish cooling.

Pioneer Stew

1 1/4 c. (1/2 pound) dried pinto or kidney beans

    Wash and drain the beans.

3 c. cold water

    Add beans to water, bring to a boil, cover and simmer 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 hour. Replace the water and add

1 tsp salt

Return to the heat and simmer 1 hour and 15 minutes.

In a skillet: Cook

1/2 – 1 lb. ground beef (or 1 can chunk turkey or beef)

1/2 c. chopped onion

1/2 c. finely diced green pepper

    Cook until meat is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain off fat. Add to meat:

1 can whole kernel corn, undrained

1 can diced tomatoes, undrained

1/2 tsp chili powder

Additional salt to taste

Simmer 20 minutes.

    In a small dish: combine

1 TB flour with 2 TB water.

Stir into stew. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.

1/2 c. shredded cheese – add if desired, or sprinkle on top.

Rice Pilaf

Makes 8 servings

2 c. rice

2/3 stick butter

    Brown rice lightly with butter in skillet. Place in a casserole dish and cover with

4 c. liquid (chicken broth if served with chicken, beef broth if served with beef).

Cover with tin foil and bake 1/2 hour at 375˚. Take out of oven and add:

3/4 c. chopped celery

3/4 c. chopped green onions

3/4 c. chopped carrots

1 c. slivered almonds

1 can chunk turkey or beef (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Mix well with a fork. Return to the oven for 30 minutes.

Marti Shelley

May 16, 2024