Marti’s Corner – 114

Hi Everyone,

I belong to a FaceBook group called “Self Reliance in Davis County”.  The administrator posts some really great articles.  The one posted on May 17 was about Storing Food in 5-Gallon Buckets and 10 Myths you should know.  I’ve linked it below.

I also receive daily “deals” on emergency items.  Check here:  PreppingDeals.net – Deals, Discounts and Coupons for Prepper Supplies, Survival Gear, and Augason Farms

I got Augason Farms Fettuccine Alfredo for $19.61 for 16 servings.  That’s $1.23 per serving.  Not bad.  Keep an eye on this page, because the “deals” expire quickly.

GARDEN HAPPENINGS:

I pulled up all the carrots that had been in the grow pots since November.  They never really started growing until it warmed up.  Growing carrots is really interesting.  You never know what you’re going to get—-at least “I” don’t.  

There’s the “Good”:

Then there’s the “Not As Good”

And…… “The Ugly”

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: pasta sauces

Time to stock up on pasta sauces.  You can either buy spaghetti sauce, or make sure you have the ingredients to make it.  I’ve shared MY spaghetti sauce recipe as recently as last January.  If you’d like that recipe, just LMK.  I have everything on the shelf needed, including jars of ground beef that I’ve canned.  It has chopped carrots which you wouldn’t necessarily think would GO in spaghetti sauce, and also bell peppers, which I don’t like by themselves but add flavor to several recipes I make.  Both of these I can add fresh, but usually I use dehydrated.   Tomato sauce, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes are canned goods that I stock and have to rotate or they will turn brown.  

I LOVE Alfredo sauce.  Who doesn’t like all that creamy buttery, cheesy goodness?  But, frankly, I’ve not found a brand that I really love.  I did find a recipe for canning alfredo sauce, but the FDA frowns on canning cheese and butter.  I have shared my “Food Storage” recipe for Chicken Tetrazzini that uses alfredo sauce several times.  If you’d like THAT recipe, just LMK.  

This week, I’ve shared a recipe for dried alfredo sauce which you can check out below.

Anyway, pick up 10 cans/jars of sauce this week.

MISC. PURCHASE: Fire Extinguisher

Everyone SHOULD have a fire extinguisher!!!  I will admit that when my kids were small, we did NOT have one.  I never THOUGHT about having one.  But now that I’m married to a former police officer, we have FOUR.  One under the kitchen sink, one upstairs in the laundry room, one as you go into the garage, and Mr. Shelley keeps one in the trunk of his car.  

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher There are different sizes and prices, and you can order them online or get them at Lowe’s or Home Depot.  AND, although my husband claims that they will last for years and years, this is only partially true.  How long do fire extinguishers last?

Evidently, there are two types, disposable and rechargeable.  Rechargeable extinguishers should be taken to a fire equipment service company and inspected every six years.  Disposable extinguishers should be replaced every ten years.  The last thing you need is to grab your fire extinguisher and have it NOT work!!!

I just googled “Where can I get my fire extinguisher recharged,” and 4-5 places popped up that were pretty close to me.  Who knew???

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES:

Palestine Stew

This comes from “Feasting on Food Storage”

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 onion chopped, or 2 TB dry chopped onion

    Brown in heavy pan.

• 1 c. whole wheat kernels
• 1 c. lentils
• 4 c. water
• 2 14-oz cans crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 TB vinegar
• 1 TB brown sugar
• 1/2 c. ketchup
• 1 TB Worcestershire sauce

    Add all the rest of the ingredients.  Cover and simmer slowly for 2-3 hours.  Thin with water or tomato juice if desired.

NOTE:  At my store they do not sell 14 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes.  I usually take a can of diced tomatoes and put my immersion blender right down into the can and blend away.  

Also…… at my Winco store, you can get wheat kernels in the bulk section.  That way you can get a cup or two and not have to open one of your #10 cans.

Dried Alfredo Sauce

From the book “Touch of Gourmet” by Beth Hansen

• 3 c. flour
• 3 c. powdered milk
• 1 c. 2 TB dried buttermilk  Hoosier Hill Farm Buttermilk Powder, 1 Pound
• 3/4 c. garlic powder
• 1 tsp, 4 dashes pepper
• 1 tsp 4 dashes salt
• 3 TB parsley
• 3 TB Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp 4 dashes red pepper flakes (hmmmmm? )
• 1 c. 2 TB Cheddar cheese powder  Premium Cheddar Cheese Powder, No artificial colors, by Hoosier Hill Farm, 2.5 LB (Pack of 1) : Grocery & Gourmet Food
• 3 3/4 c. Parmesan Cheese 

NOTE:  Unopened grated Parmesan cheese that has been sold unrefrigerated will generally stay at best quality for about 12-18 months at normal room temperature.  For this reason, after you have made your alfredo sauce, you should keep it in the refrigerator.  OR, make the sauce, but add the Parmesan cheese just before you use it.  

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo (using the dried sauce)

This recipe uses all freeze-dried and powdered foods.  If you are wanting to rotate the #10 cans of freeze-dried broccoli that you purchased, or if you want to make and give away several of these meals, then open and use what you have.  Otherwise, stick this recipe aside and plan to use it when you have no other options but to dig into your stored food!!!

Add

• 3/4 c. of dry Alfredo mix and
• 1/4 c. butter powder
• 1/2 c. water

     Mix like a rue then slowly add approximately 2 c. water, allowing time for the sauce to thicken to desired consistency.

In a small saucepan add:

• 1 c. freeze-dried broccoli
• 1 c. freeze-dried chicken
• 2 c. penne pasta
• 4 c. water

    Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked.  Add the sauce and enjoy.

Here is the same thing using fresh food:  Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Recipe by Tasty.  It looks so good, I think I’ll put it in my recipes for next week!!!

Country Style Hamburger Stew

From the book “Touch of Gourmet” by Beth Hansen

• 1 c. quick cook red beans  Mother Earth Products Dehydrated Fast Cooking Red Beans, quart Jar : Kidney Beans Produce : Grocery & Gourmet Food
• 1 c. freeze-dried mixed vegetables (I would probably substitute dehydrated vegetables.  They just have to rehydrated longer)
• 1 c. freeze dried ground beef (can substitute “canned” ground beef)
• 1/4 c. dehydrated onions
• 1 c. dehydrated diced potatoes
• 1/4 c. tomato powder
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1 TB beef bouillon

   Mix with 6 c. water.  Simmer 20-30 min.

Marti