Marti’s Corner – 113

Hi Everyone,

I had a SHOCK at the grocery store last week.  The price of eggs actually went DOWN— A LOT!!!  I think they were about $1.95 for 18 eggs at Winco.  Time for deviled eggs and potato salad!

      If you went out and bought some powdered eggs, here is a great article about cooking with them.  How to Use Powdered Eggs in Everyday Cooking

      Here are a few basics

• Dried eggs should be rotated every three years, but under optimum conditions can still be good up to 10 years
• Keep in a cool, dark area

Just add water to use in omelets, scrambled eggs.  In recipes needing eggs, the dehydrated eggs can be used in powdered form, the eggs can be added dry with the water.  No need to mix ahead of time.

• 1 TB egg powder + 2 TB water = 1 medium egg
• 2 TB egg powder + 1/4 c. water = extra large egg

​It would be nice to have some powdered eggs stored, but they are not a LONG-TERM storage item.  AND, right now, the​ price is super high:  Augason Farms whole eggs are $72 for a #10 can!!!  But if store eggs are coming down in price, maybe the dried eggs will as well.  Fingers crossed.

I’ve been doing some canning this week.  I’ve been canning “Dinner In a Jar” meals.  I’ve made chicken thighs with tomato sauce, pot roast with carrots and potatoes, and some Hungarian Beef to serve over rice.  Still on my list for the week are Hawaiian Chicken, chicken vegetables and gravy, and pulled pork.  You can save money by buying on sale and preserving for later!!! 

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

The garden is CRAZY!!!  Tomato plants are taller than I am.  Of course, there aren’t any ripe tomatoes yet, but lots of green ones, so I’m hoping!!!  I have more lettuce than I can eat, and we’re giving bags of it away.  Cucumbers are plugging along – and the funny thing is I don’t really like them, so I give them away to anyone who knocks on the door.  Potatoes are supposed to flower and die.  Well, mine are dying, and they never flowered.  What does THAT mean???  I planted them in February, so they’ve been in the ground 90 days.  I’ll wait until they are totally dead, then dig them up and see what I’ve got.

No squash yet.  Celery is doing really well.  I’ve already picked some and used it.  The stalks aren’t very fat (I think they are too crowded) but they smell and taste celery-ish, so I’ve been using them.  Beans are climbing up the poles.  All is right with the world!!!!

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE:  Sugar, honey

I just listened to a video that claimed the price of sugar will probably be going up soon.  Of course!  The price of EVERYTHING is going up!  Basic storage should include 5 pounds of sugar per person per month.  Right now, a 4-pound bag of sugar is climbing up to $3.  The good news is that sugar lasts a LONG time!  You can get #10 cans of sugar at the Bishop’s Storehouse 5.6 pounds for $9.  You can buy 12 pounds of sugar at the store for that price.  BUT, you’ll have to either repackage it or put it in buckets to store.  Me??? I vacuum-seal the entire sugar package and stick it in the closet.  When I open them, I just sift the sugar, and all the lumps come right out.  It’s the moisture in the air that makes sugar go hard.  AND, you’ll want to protect your sugar from ants and rodents!  

    If you decide to invest in some honey….. there are a lot of good reasons to do so!  

• It is rich in antioxidants, which can help lower blood pressure
• It less “bad” for you than white sugar
• It reduces “bad” cholesterol and raises “good” cholesterol
• It can lower triglycerides
• It can heal wounds and burns.  It is also effective for diabetic foot ulcers. 

It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.  It can also treat psoriasis and herpes lesions.

Manuka honey is especially effective for wound care.

• Honey water can help with coughs

DO NOT GIVE TO CHILDREN UNDER ONE YEAR OF AGE.

You can substitute honey for sugar in recipes, and here is how:

Sugar to Honey Recipe Conversion Rules — Peachtree Road Farmers Market

MISC. PURCHASE:  Soap – whatever you use….get more

After COVID, we are all a little more conscientious about washing hands, and clothes, and everything else.  

In my 72-hour kit, I cut a washrag in half, wrapped it around a motel-sized bar of soap, and put them in a baggie.  Soap is great for killing bacteria and germs.  Being able to wash a wound with soap and water might sting, but it could prevent infection.  It wouldn’t hurt to get 3-4 extra bottles of dish soap.  If power goes out, we’ll be washing dishes by hand!  They can go in the garage and be out of the way.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Garlic Infused Honey

(I posted this about two years ago)

Garlic is a staple found in just about every home.  It is the foundation of many flavor combinations and has many health benefits as well.  People have been using garlic medicinally since ancient times.  It helps boost your immune system, lower cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.

There are many ways to incorporate the healing power of garlic.  If you infuse garlic with honey, the garlic will ferment and add beneficial probiotics to the mixture.  It is great for colds and the flu.

Place garlic in a glass jar, and cover it with honey.  Make sure you leave plenty of headspace at the top of the jar for the additional liquid and bubbles that will be created in the process.  Flip the jar daily to ensure the garlic stays coated in honey.  This will help prevent mold from forming.  After several days, you should see bubbles begin to form.  This is a sign that fermentation has begun.  Loosen the lid daily to release the gasses.  Over time, the activity in the jar will decrease, and you can burp less frequently.  When the bubbling stops, the fermentation is complete.  This can take several months, but the end result is worth it.  For best results, use organic garlic and raw honey.

Crock Pot Beefy Potato Taco Casserole

The nice thing about using potatoes in a casserole is that they are gluten-free and relatively cheap!  I saw this recipe this week and added it to my menus to try.

• 1 lb. ground beef – brown (I’ll just use 1 jar of canned ground beef.  Ask me how to do this, and I will help you put ground beef on your shelf)
• 2 cloves garlic – add at the end.  Then drain the meat.

    In the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot, put 

• 4 c. sliced potatoes.  

     Spread the ground beef evenly on top of the potatoes.

• 1 packet of taco seasoning – sprinkle on top of everything
• 1 can cheddar cheese soup – spoon soup evenly on top
• 2 c. shredded cheddar cheese – sprinkle evenly across the top of everything.
• 1 c. beef broth – gently pour evenly around the crock pot.

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2 – 2 1/2 hours.

If desired and using an oven-safe crock, place in broiler on high for approximately 90 seconds to brown cheese.

Let cook 10-15 minutes before serving.

Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole

Preheat oven to 300˚

• 1 c. long grain cooking rice (NOT minute rice!!)
• 1 can Cheddar Cheese soup
• 1 can Cream of Chicken soup
• 1/4 c. chicken broth
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/2 c. onion chopped

     Mix above ingredients and spread evenly in a slightly greased 9X13 baking dish.

• 2 1/4 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs

     Place chicken on the rice and push them down into the mixture.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

• 1 1/2 c. shredded cheese – Sprinkle evenly over everything
•  1/4 c. butter – Cut into pats and place evenly across the top.  Cover with foil and cook for 1 hour.

     Remove foil and cook for another 30-60 minutes until your chicken is cooked through and your rice is plump.

Note:  I’ve made a similar chicken and rice dish in the oven and used chicken pieces WITH bones and skin.  I think the bones add flavor and frankly, they are much cheaper.  But it DOES take a long to bake!!!

Marti Shelley