November and December Challenge: Week 4 Nov 23 - 30

So how are you doing so far? I am going to tell you right now. Brands only matter if you really taste a difference. I love Hunt's tomato products, they for some reason to me, taste better. I also like to have some Rotel on hand to make salsa. Do you make your own? What about spaghetti sauce? Woops off track, it was just what popped into my mind.

This week we are working on:

#23: Baked Potato Soup (ready to eat)
#24: Refried Beans
#25: Canned Chicken
#26: Canned Chicken (Yup, another can, because you will use it!)
#27: Chicken Broth
#28: Chili
#29: Black olives
#30: Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup (add water)

First month done! Whew!

It feels so good to have food in your larder, cupboard, pantry, etc. We are getting into that busy time: parties, dinners, shopping, more shopping, maybe buy something. Don't let life overwhelm you. Do your normal grocery shopping, but add an extra can  of whatever canned good you buy. The other day I was shopping, needed tomato paste, so I grabbed 2. I also needed some olives for the salad, so I grabbed 2 cans. And I grabbed 2 jars of spaghetti sauce, you see easy.

It's also that time of year for the creapy crud, colds, vomiting, diarrhea and body aches from fevers. Chicken noodle soup, or broth always helps. So make sure you grab atleast 1 can to have on hand. Sometimes Campbell's soups are in 4-packs and even 6-packs. When we had a Costco nearby us I bought it in a case. Now I can't eat it, but my kids will drink the broth and maybe slurp down a noodle or two when sick.

Why am I suggesting ready to eat soups? Well, for one, we are in winter, and when the power goes out, so does your well pump. You won't have water to add to your soup. This is why I suggest getting a few cans of ready to eat items. OH, and also, I love the Wal-mart brand of chicken breast in a can. It is yummy, GF and soy free, and ready to eat.

November and December Challenge: Week 3 Nov 15 - 22

Well I am not satisfied. I feel the list for canned goods is lacking. So many things you can put into your larder. What about stock or broth? This can come in a can or in a 1 liter (quart) mylar box. What about beans? What about tomatoes? What about? What about?

So many items to choose from, but I will repeat, if you will not eat it, DO NOT BUY IT. It is a waste of money to buy something you absolutely will never eat. I mean you could by one can, try it to see if you like it, and if you do then add more. That makes sense. But buying something you won't eat like chipotle chilies in adobo. If you don't like it, won't use it, don't waste you money buying it.

Let's take a look at this weeks list.

#15: Chunk Pineapple
#16: Fruit Cocktail
#17: Green beans (french? cut? wax?)
#18: Corn (niblets? creamed? regular?)
#19: Canned Pasta (chef boy-r-dee?)
#20: Can of Veg-All or can of vegetables
#21: Chicken Vienna Sausages (My kids love these! I gag from the smell of them)
#22: Sirloin burger with Vegetables soup (ready to eat)

Due to our corn and gluten allergies, I don't buy a lot of convenience foods, including canned soups or pastas. But I will can my own bone broth and vegetable stock. I will can meat, I can veg, I can fruit. That said, I do have family members that can eat some ready to eat soups. So I will get some.

Anyone remember Libby's Chicken Noodle Dinner?  It was my favorite ready to eat meal from a can. Guess what? I can't find it. It was delicious with fresh homemade biscuits.

Nalley's Chili company moved from Tacoma WA to somewhere else. BUT you can still go to the Nalley Valley in Tacoma and see the old factory. When they moved the recipes changed, and they added wheat flour, lower quality meat, and the flavor is different. So I make my own now and either pressure can it or freeze it.

Do you know about TURMERIC?

This beautiful root is amazing!  It has so many benefits, and is so good for you.
What is it? It is a rhizome root, kind of like ginger.
It has a warm, bitter taste and is frequently used to flavor or color curry powders, mustards, butters, and cheeses. But the root of turmeric is also used widely to make medicines. The active ingredient that is so good for you is curcumin. Since curcumin is a fat-soluble compound, the most effective way to get raw turmeric into your system is by combining it with fat and black peppercorns. This is also true for ground turmeric.

Isn't it pretty?!

Today I made "Golden Milk" for my soon to be DIL and for my dear little guy. She is super sick, but he has a kidney and bladder infection. Hopefully this will help both of them. It is creamy, and warming, and pretty yummy.

I will say this. Using fresh ginger and turmeric is always going to be better, but to be honest.. Fresh turmeric is $$$$ at my local store is it $18 for 8 ounces!  I just can not afford that. BUT I do buy fresh ginger.  The link is in the Golden Milk. Here is what I used:

I used the coconut milk can to measure the almond milk as well, so I didn't have to dirty another dish.

1 full fat canned coconut milk (so didn't need the coconut oil)
 Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk
2 inches of fresh ginger that was peeled and that I cut into small pieces and put through my garlic press OR 1/2 tsp ground ginger
fresh ground black pepper (about a pinch or 1/8 tsp or so)
2 tsp of ground turmeric
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
RAW honey to taste

In my 3-qt sauce pan, I put the coconut milk, almond milk (measured with coconut milk can), ginger, pepper, turmeric, and cinnamon. I heated this over med-low heat until it was very warm. DO NOT BOIL. I wanted this warm enough that the turmeric and cinnamon would be activated by the coconut oil in the milk, but not too hot. I kept it very warm for about 15 minutes. Then I pulled it off the heat, gave it another good stir and let it sit. When it was finally cool enough, I added 1 TBS of raw honey and stirred well. Then I tasted it, and put in a little more honey. I strained this as I put it into jars so as not to have that ginger sitting in there too long and getting bitter.

This is DELICIOUS, but I am saving this for my DIL and my lil one. So he will have it tonight before bed. So simple to make, so yummy.  It is in the fridge right now, and I pulled it out to take a picture, and it smells so yummy I had to taste it.. WOW.. gonna have to make more!

November and December Challenge: Week 2 Nov 8 - 14

This one is a little early, but something has come up.

Last week's was hard for me. I looked and looked, but could not find a canned soup that would be safe fore me to eat. So I will have to make some soup and can it myself. Hopefully get that done this next week. These are only suggestions, again only buy what your family will eat.

BY #8: Canned Potatoes (usually these are called new or baby potatoes)
BY #9: Beef Tamales (we won't do this, but will do canned hamburger instead)
BY #10: Bean Soup
BY #11: Mandarin Oranges (yum, these are great in salad and smoothies)
BY #12: Chicken Vienna Sausages (kids like these, we have added them to spaghetti sauce mashed up)
BY #13: Salisbury Steak Soup (do not add water)
BY #14: Green Beans (cut? french? wax?)

I have used the canned potatoes in stew. I haven't had canned tamales in years (corn allergy). My dad LOVES bean soup from a can.

GF pancakes and yum

I love to cook. I love to bake. I love to can. I love to sew. I love my family. I love to know.

I also love to eat. You could say I am addicted, but can you really be addicted to something you have to do to survive? Yes, you can be addicted to the wrong foods, like sugar. And it is in EVERYTHING!

So this morning I was hungry. I of course needed to eat. But I have to make everything from scratch. I did a quick search and found a recipe for GF banana oat pancakes. Then I had a craving for something my dad made once.. so here goes. These have a strong banana flavor, you HAVE to use a very ripe banana.

Also the topping you see is something my dad made when I was young. He ALWAYS made a big breakfast on Sundays, pancakes or french toast or waffles, sausage, bacon, eggs. It was too much, and he would get upset that everyone didn't eat enough. But I LOVED this topping he made.

Banana Oat Pancakes

1 very ripe banana

1 cup GF oats (quick or regular)

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup milk (any kind you can use) plus maybe a little more if needed

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 TBS honey, agave, maple syrup, etc

1 TBS ACV (apple cider vinegar)

Blend all in blender or blender cup until smooth. May need to add a little more milk if it gets too thick. Let stand a few minutes to let the oats soften after the blend.

Heat cast iron pan over med-low heat, you can use non-stick if you prefer. Grease your cast iron with grease of choice (bacon grease, coconut oil, butter). Pour or scoop 1/4 cup of batter and put onto hot pan, spread out. Cook until golden brown, flip pancakes, again cook until golden brown.

Serve with  your preferred topping. This made six 4-inch pancakes that were thick, and a bit dense. Three filled me up!

The topping my dad made he did with I think Mrs. Buttersworth maple syrup, but I just use whatever maple syrup I have, real or fake. He also used Jif Peanut butter, but I can't use that kind it has soy in it.

PB YUM

1/4 cup soft butter

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup maple syrup

Put all in a bowl, mix with whisk, hand mixer or wooden spoon until everything is mixed together and there are no lumps. Put into a jar or other storage container, store in fridge. No worries it softens on hot toast, hot pancakes and hot waffles no problem. 

I have a couple kids that will get a spoon and eat this that way as well. I think one even made a sandwich with it, no jelly, just this PB yum on bread. 

I hope you like it, let me know.

November and December Challenge: Week #1 Nov 1 - 7

So I was thinking. We are getting into the lean part of the year.
What do I mean? I mean we are spending money on things for Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving.. usually more than we meant to. And then January and February hits and everyone stays home, no one goes to the store.. and the pantry gets rather lean, so does certain sections of the freezer.

Thinking about this, I thought this challenge for November and December make sense. AND it will build your larder, aka food storage. How? Very simple.

So here is it.. Now granted we only have 60 days until January 1st, but that is still 60 days!!!  So the challenge? Buy at least one can of canned food to add to your food storage a day. Now I know we live a little further from stores than some. So when you go to the grocery, it's ok to pick up 7 different items so you don't have to drive to town everyday. Now you all know I can weekly. So in October I canned pear butter, pears and pear preserves and chutney. I am hoping to get some meat canned soon too.

REMEMBER: Only put food in your food storage that your family will eat. Don't eat canned ham? Not a problem substitute with what you do eat, chicken? chili? stew? you get the idea. Store what you eat, Eat what you store.

They are fun. It's a great idea! And a great way for us all to be able to help our food storage to be more flavorful!


BY #1: Chicken Noodle Soup (ready to eat)
BY #2: Evaporated Milk
BY #3: Canned Pasta
BY #4: Sliced Peaches
BY #5: Canned Ham
BY #6: Chili
BY #7: Evaporated Milk (we use milk more than we think!)

Now, if any of this is in your regular pantry rotation, fabulous, add another can or two. DON'T buy stuff if you will never eat it. These are only suggestions. You can look through your pantry and see something your family might prefer.We do not do the beef tamales due to corn allergy, so instead, I would can some hamburger.

If it makes it easier, you can do several items at once if you are already grocery shopping. Don't make a special trip to the store just to buy one thing. And if you see, there are duplicates, so you could pick up several of one item to count towards your 60 cans.
I already buy canned chicken, so I will buy the 2 or 4 pack instead of just one can. But I always check to see what is the cheapest way. We really like the great value chicken breast in cans at Wal-Mart, it is tender and yummy.
Campbell's chicken noodle and the Tomato sometimes come in a four pack that is cheaper.  If there is a case-lot sale, sometimes you can really save on several items. This is not all we will be adding to our larder these 2 months, baking supplies go on sale now too. So I will have more posts coming.

It's that time of year again...

So this is the time of year when baking items go on sale. Mostly nuts, sugar and flour, and sometimes if we get lucky spices.

I am not sure why there is such a baking boom in November and December, I mean we eat year around. But there is, and so we must stock up on what is on sale, when it is on sale.

What do you stock up on for baking during this time of year?
Flour
Sugar
Brown sugar
Chocolate Chips
nuts
cinnamon
nutmeg
cloves
allspice

Plus, I just picked up 100 pounds of gourds to can. Why? We use gourds (pumpkin, banana squash, sweet meats) to make a lot of things like pie, cake, muffins, cookies, pancakes, waffles, quick bread and yeast bread. We love pumpkin! I hope we have enough. We are down to our last few jars of pumpkin from last year so we are glad we found some.