Marti’s Corner – 15

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

* All of my vegetables are planted in containers. Here is a good article about planting in 5-gallon buckets. Bucket Container Planting Vegetables – Using Buckets For Growing Vegetables These buckets are under $3 at Lowes and Home Depot. Considering the cost of planting containers, and if you don’t mind having buckets in your yard, it might be worth it. We’ve collected a lot of our containers at estate sales and such. I’ve also used those fabric bags. I like the 7-gallon size. They are deeper and seem to give the plants more room to grow.
* I also found this FaceBook page: Tomato Bible. It is NOT just about tomatoes. There are a lot of interesting facts about insects, nutrition, etc. of your garden
* I found this website where you can download a guide explaining 5 steps for getting prepared Listos California | IECF

• Get official alerts
• Make a plan
• Pack a GO bag
• Build a STAY box
• Help friends and neighbors

There is information explaining each of these things in more detail.

LONG TERM FOCUS: Eggs

So, let’s assume you have run out of eggs, you are allergic to eggs, or you are now vegan and won’t eat eggs.  How do you make your favorite foods?  There are substitutes.  Check out this article, 13 Effective Substitutes for Eggs.  Eight of these substitutes are listed here:  applesauce 1/4 c. = 1 egg; mashed bananas 1/4 c. = 1 egg; ground flaxseeds or chia seeds 1 TB seeds _ 3 TB water until fully absorbed; silken tofu 1/4 c. = 1 egg; vinegar and baking soda 1 tsp soda + 1 TB vinegar; yogurt or buttermilk 1/4 c. = 1 egg; Arrowroot powder (it resembles corn starch.  2 TB + 3 TB water = 1 egg

You can buy dehydrated eggs here: Amazon.com: Augason Farms Dried Whole Egg Product 2 lbs 1 oz No. 10 Can: Sports & Outdoors.

SHORT TERM FOCUS: Peanut Butter

“Peanut butter is a very nutrient-dense food that is full of fats, proteins, and carbs.  Peanut butter is also a source of calcium, iron, potassium, vitamin E, and niacin.  As a survival food, this is a great source of energy that can keep your body going for a long time.

Peanut butter is generally regarded as healthy food and would provide plenty of nutrients in the short term.  However, this food is not a complete source of nutrition and needs to be incorporated into a more balanced diet in the long term.  

Put simply, peanut butter is a great stop-gap measure for getting calories that you need in a survival situation and can help keep you going short term. Still, you need to incorporate the nutrients found in vegetables, fruits, and meats to maintain your health.” (Is Peanut Butter a Good Survival Food? How Should It Be Stored? – Survival Freedom )

The storage life of a can of PB powder is about 5 years.  $23 Peanut Butter Powder 

72-HOUR KIT FOCUS: First Aid Kit (FAK)

We went out to Anza-Borrego State Park yesterday.  The very first bench I sat on gave me a sliver in my hand.  A redwood sliver.  These are sometimes hard to remove because the wood breaks so easily, and it doesn’t just “pull” out.  Never fear, I think. I have a FAK (First Aid Kit) with a needle and tweezers.  But, alas, no.  Oh, I had the kit.  But there was no needle, no tweezers.  We stopped at a local market and bought both to save the day.  It looks like I need to review the contents of my FAK.  As you go through your week, every time you need something from the medicine cabinet, think to yourself that you should have that in your FAK.  Be sure to put the needle in a piece of cloth, so it doesn’t get lost in the kit.  I know someone who has one of these:  Tin Box First Aid Kit | Altoids Tin – YouTube.  I thought it was a great idea.

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES

Beef Ragu

This is one of my favorites, and I make it several times a year to rotate the ingredients.

2 large carrots – chopped fine
2 large celery stalks – chopped fine

    I pretty much use dehydrated carrots and celery exclusively.  I throw them into the mix. No chopping is needed.

1 onion – chopped (also use dehydrated)
4 cloves garlic (don’t chop garlic anymore either.  I use the jars of minced garlic – SO much easier)
1 jar ground beef (or 1 lb. beef browned and drained)
1 can diced tomatoes undrained
1 can beef broth (I use dry bouillon and water to make 2 cups)
1 can garbanzo beans.  I have dry garbanzo beans and could use them in a pinch, but cans are easier for now)
3 TB tomato paste (I hate opening a whole can of tomato paste for just 3 TB.  You can get tomato paste in a squeeze tube, but many stores don’t offer that.  If I only use part of the tomato-paste can, I will try to have another meal with tomato sauce, and I’ll use the paste diluted with water.
2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp crushed red pepper (I usually reduce this – we are not very spicy people)

Just put everything in the crockpot for 6 hours – OR simmer it on the stove for about 1 1/2 hours if you forget.  

Serve over cooked pasta.  I like rigatoni. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Chicken and Veggie Filled Biscuits

Biscuits:  

3 c. flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp cream of tartar
4 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 TB sugar

    Mix dry ingredients.  Cut in:

3/4 c. butter (3/4 c. butter powder + 1/2 c. water)

      Amazon.com: Augason Farms Butter Powder 2 lbs 4 oz No. 10 Can: Sports & Outdoors

Then add:

1 c. milk
1 egg (1 TB egg powder and 2 TB water)

Knead smooth.  Roll out to 12 X 6.  Fold over and roll again.  Do this 3 times.  Roll to 3/4 inch thick and cut into 3-inch rounds.  (You need 24 circles)  Press one circle into muffin tins to make little cups.

Filling:

Gather about 1/2 c. of peas, corn, carrots, potatoes.  Use “canned” or dehydrated veggies that have been reconstituted or frozen (probably the easiest).

Use leftover chicken diced

Cream Sauce:  

recommended:  Universal Cream Soup and Sauce Mix (10 oz.) – Shirley J  Add 1 c. mix and 2 c. water
1/2 tsp dried and crushed rosemary
salt and pepper
Add vegetables to each biscuit cup
Add 1 TB sauce mix

Top with another biscuit round.  Crimp edges with a fork.  Prick the top with a knife tip.  Bake 425 degrees 10-12 minutes till lightly browned.  Spoon remaining sauce on top to serve.

***** alternate white cream sauce recipe:  

2 TB butter – melt in a saucepan.
2 TB flour – whisk in
1/8 tsp salt, dash white pepper – add
1 c. milk – slowly whisk in milk.  Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Easy Chili 

This is one of my food storage recipes.  Nothing fancy, and everything shelf-stable.

1-pint ground beef (or 1 lb. hamburger, browned and drained)
1 diced onion (1 1/2 TB dehydrated onion
1 large can pinto beans (1 c. dehydrated beans = 3 cups cooked beans)
1 can tomato soup
1 can diced tomatoes

This recipe is so easy to add to mushrooms? Bell peppers? Chilis? Chili powder? Whatever.  Serve with biscuits (because you forgot to start the yeast rolls) or cornbread.    Top with cream cheese or grated cheese.  

If chili is one of your 19 recipes, then for 6 months, you would need:

10 pints hamburger
2 c. dehydrated onions
3 lbs dried pinto beans or 10 large cans
10 cans tomato soup
10 cans diced tomatoes

When you go shopping this week, decide ahead of time to buy 5 things, 5 things, toward your storage.  Then stick them in a closet.  (You probably should make a list of what you buy and tape it inside the pantry door. You don’t want to forget what you bought and where you put it!  Just sayin’.)  Example:  2 cans tomato soup, 1 large can pinto beans, 1 box Kraft Mac and Cheese, 4-pack of bars of soap, a jar of spaghetti sauce.  Just 5 things.  It’s a start!

Marti