Marti’s Corner – 67

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

*  Equipment for preserving food is not outrageously expensive.  If you want to “can” vegetables, you need a pressure canner.  This one will work fine. 

Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker: Home & Kitchen about $150

You can also dehydrate A LOT of food.  You want a dehydrator that blows from the back, NOT one that blows from the bottom up.

Cabela’s has one for $150. Cabela’s 10-Tray Deluxe Dehydrator | Cabela’s

Finally, you will want a vacuum sealer to preserve your food.

I got a FoodSaver at Walmart for about $75.  

I decided what I wanted, saved up, and bought them one at a time over several months.

*  Worried about the power going out?  Need a cheap stove to cook on?  Check these out: 13 DIY Emergency Stove Tutorials | Urban Survival Site

*  Did you forget to put your crock-pot dinner in?  Now you want to just put it in the oven?  Or….. how can you convert an oven recipe so that it can go in the crockpot?  

       **** 1-1.5 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low equals 30 minutes in the oven.
       **** 2-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low equals 45 minutes in the oven
       ****4-6 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low equals 1-1 1/2 hours in the oven.

A slow cooker makes its own moisture and does not reduce a liquid like a regular oven might.  Not all recipes convert well.  Pasta does NOT cook well in a slow cooker.

GARDEN HAPPENINGS

**  Here is what I got from USU Extension for the month of May.  

It’s time for your May gardening checklist. Below are some highlights, and the full May gardening checklist can be found here.

• Plant warm-season vegetables and annual flowers once the threat of the last frost has passed. Click here for a listing of the average last and first frost dates.
• Thin out overcrowded seedlings using a pair of scissors, trying to avoid disturbing the young roots.
• Protect fruit blossoms and tender garden plants from late freezing temperatures. Click here for critical temperatures in fruit.
• Turfgrass needs minimal irrigation each week. 
• Control broadleaf weeds in the lawn when temperatures are between 60-80°F. Follow the label and stop use of broadleaf herbicides once the temperature is above 85°F.
• Apply a slow-release lawn fertilizer to provide a long-lasting effect throughout the summer months.
• If pest problems are surfacing. Our Integrated Pest Management team keeps you up-to-date on when, how, and where to treat pests of all kinds. 

New to gardening? Consider taking an online gardening course and use promo code “Grow5” for $5 off! 

The USU Extension Gardening Team

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: flour

Why do we care about Ukraine?  It so happens that Ukraine is the world’s largest wheat producer.  This war will decrease their output by about 1/3.  Add to that bizarre weather patterns of drought and floods and a historic fertilizer crisis, and no wonder that even the government is predicting a food crisis.  In 2020, it was soap products and toilet paper.  Now it has begun with baby formula and diesel fuel.  

In light of all that, you may want to get a little flour.  You might also want to stock up on things made with flour like pasta, and/or things you need to make bread like yeast.

MISC PURCHASE: fruit punch/lemonade

Heading into summer, this is always handy to have.  AND….. in an emergency (and heaven forbid there is no Diet Pepsi), I may want to sweeten my water with some flavoring.  I like the large containers that run $7 – $10.  May get one or two Tang, for a little Vitamin C. 

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES

Hamburger Pie
from Wendi DeWitt

1 pint bottled beef
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1 can tomato soup
1 TB dried onions
Mix everything in a casserole dish and heat on the stove or in a solar oven.
At the same time, heat
3 c. water and
1 1/2 c. potato pearls (add water only type)

When the mix is hot, and the water is hot, add the potatoes to the hot water and put on top of the meat mixture.

Bean Burritos and Spanish Rice

1 can refried beans

Cheese if you have it

Flour Tortillas Recipe

3 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder

    Mix dry ingredients.  

3/4 c. shortening – cut in with fork or pastry cutter until crumbly.
Add 3/4 c. very hot water and mix until the dough comes together.  Place on a lightly floured surface and knead for a few minutes until smooth and elastic.  In a bowl, cover with a slightly damp dishtowel and let sit for an hour.  Divide dough into 5-6 equal pieces and roll into a ball.  (If you are making soft taco-size tortillas, divide them into 10-11 pieces).

Use a well-floured rolling pin to roll balls into a thin, round tortilla.  Warm on a dry skillet for about 1 minute.  Flip and cook on the other side.

Spanish Rice

1/3 c. oil – heat in large frying pan on med heat.
1 1/2 c. white rice – Add and cook until golden brown.
1 chicken flavored bouillon cube (1 tsp)
4 1/2 c. water – add to rice
1/2 c. tomato sauce (I usually use catsup)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic
dash cumin
dash pepper

    Stir and cover the pan.  Let simmer on VERY low for 40 min-1 hour.

Marti