I found this by chance. It was supposed to be cooked in microwave, but since I don't believe in microwaves being safe, we bake it. And it works out great! YOU need to use the GF flour mix recipe I have on the site, as it has the baking powder in it.
GF Mini Loaf
1 egg or 1 TBS flax meal AND 3 TBS water
3 TBS buttermilk*
1/3 cup gluten free flour mix
1 tsp. honey or sugar or agave
Combine wet ingredients first, then dry. Stir well. Pour into small loaf pan (SMALL, like one from a kids baking set). Bake at 375 for 20 minutes in the MIDDLE of the oven.
*you can use dairy free milk. Just add a tsp. of lemon juice or vinegar to make it "buttermilk" to make a total of 3 TBS of "buttermilk".
Depending on your flours, and liquids, and weather, the middle can sometimes be sticky, but we like the ease of this recipe, quickness of it, and the flavor can always be changed by adding dry herbs.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Flour Mix for Gluten FREE
Our flour mix changes depending on what I have in stock. BUT, the more flours you use, the better the mix! I highly recommend millet flour (protein!!) and buckwheat flour (texture, protein, low glycemic index).
Gluten FREE flour mix
1 cup white rice flour
1 cup millet flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
2 tsp. xanthum
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix well and store in airtight container.
Now that all said. I have also done this:
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup potato OR tapioca starch
2 tsp. xanthum
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Basically, the 1 cup of white rice flour stays the same. But I will mix and match my other flours depending on what I have. We use these mixes to make muffins, cookies, and an easy to make GF bread.
NOTICE we NEVER EVER use soy or corn flours. Due to allergies, but also because all corn and all soy products are GMO, AND our bodies do not digest soy at all. It is actually toxic. And corn (unless you can get it from the people in Mexico that grow the non-GMO heirloom corn that they have grown for centuries) is bad for us as well.
Gluten FREE flour mix
1 cup white rice flour
1 cup millet flour
1/2 cup brown rice flour
1/2 cup potato starch
2 tsp. xanthum
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix well and store in airtight container.
Now that all said. I have also done this:
1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup millet flour
1/2 cup buckwheat flour
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 cup potato OR tapioca starch
2 tsp. xanthum
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Basically, the 1 cup of white rice flour stays the same. But I will mix and match my other flours depending on what I have. We use these mixes to make muffins, cookies, and an easy to make GF bread.
NOTICE we NEVER EVER use soy or corn flours. Due to allergies, but also because all corn and all soy products are GMO, AND our bodies do not digest soy at all. It is actually toxic. And corn (unless you can get it from the people in Mexico that grow the non-GMO heirloom corn that they have grown for centuries) is bad for us as well.
Chocolate Pots De Creme
Yes it is a dessert. But do you know how hard it is to find a dessert that is CF, GF, DF, & SF that isn't just cut up fruit????? Super difficult! You can use any milk, any sweetener, and any extract you desire. Sorry, no picture, I have made this twice this week, and it just disappears too quickly!
Chocolate Pots De Creme
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips*
1 cup half and half **
2 eggs***
3 tablespoons sugar ****
2 tablespoons rum*****
dash of salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat chocolate chips and half and half, stir until melted and combined. Take off heat. Cool slightly. Beat remaining ingredients. Gradually stir into chocolate mixture. Pour through a fine strainer into four 6-ounce custard cups or a corning ware dish.
Place cups or corning ware dish in pan on oven rack. Pour boiling water into pan to with in 1/2-inch of tops of cups. Bake 20 minutes for cups and 25 to 30 minutes for corning ware dish. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serves 4
*we used GF, CF, SF, DF semisweet chocolate, or dark baking chocolate (we prefer dark chocolate, for flavor and health benefits)
**I have used half and half, whole cow milk, coconut milk, almond coconut milk..
***we used organic farm fresh eggs (our own)
****I have used sugar, honey, and agave nectar. I prefer honey. If using honey or agave nectar only use half as much as called for in recipe
*****NO rum here. But I have used a tablespoon of GF, CF REAL vanilla extract, GF/CF almond extract (1/2 tsp and then the rest vanilla)
This recipes is super easy to make, super easy to make dietary restrictions work in. ALL my kids love it. NO I do not refrigerate it for 4 hours. I let it cool 20 minutes, then stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes, and whalaa, yumminess.. if I can keep the kids out of it that long. Yes I do strain it so there are no chewy egg chunks, which happens when the eggs curdle.. yuck.. But it still tastes good.
Chocolate Pots De Creme
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips*
1 cup half and half **
2 eggs***
3 tablespoons sugar ****
2 tablespoons rum*****
dash of salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Heat chocolate chips and half and half, stir until melted and combined. Take off heat. Cool slightly. Beat remaining ingredients. Gradually stir into chocolate mixture. Pour through a fine strainer into four 6-ounce custard cups or a corning ware dish.
Place cups or corning ware dish in pan on oven rack. Pour boiling water into pan to with in 1/2-inch of tops of cups. Bake 20 minutes for cups and 25 to 30 minutes for corning ware dish. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Serves 4
*we used GF, CF, SF, DF semisweet chocolate, or dark baking chocolate (we prefer dark chocolate, for flavor and health benefits)
**I have used half and half, whole cow milk, coconut milk, almond coconut milk..
***we used organic farm fresh eggs (our own)
****I have used sugar, honey, and agave nectar. I prefer honey. If using honey or agave nectar only use half as much as called for in recipe
*****NO rum here. But I have used a tablespoon of GF, CF REAL vanilla extract, GF/CF almond extract (1/2 tsp and then the rest vanilla)
This recipes is super easy to make, super easy to make dietary restrictions work in. ALL my kids love it. NO I do not refrigerate it for 4 hours. I let it cool 20 minutes, then stick it in the freezer for 20 minutes, and whalaa, yumminess.. if I can keep the kids out of it that long. Yes I do strain it so there are no chewy egg chunks, which happens when the eggs curdle.. yuck.. But it still tastes good.
Tummy aches
It has not been something I have shared. But here goes.
I have tummy aches, pains, sharp pains.. Pains that send me to the ER to have them tell me, we can't find anything, but would you like some pain meds (even though you are pregnant!)! AAARRRGGGHHHH
The article on CELIACS is fantastic and tells you about how being celiac or even just gluten intolerant can cause problems from head to toe! Including depression, ADD/ADHD, headaches, vitamin deficiencies and more.
It wasn't until I started going gluten free again that the pains lessened. But then with cravings, yup, I started eating gluten again.. ugh.. OUCH.. In my search for help with my and Peaches tummy aches and other health issues we came across an article that sounded like it was written about us! I will share it at the end. BUT, as many of you know I grind all my own grains. Soft wheat, oat groats, buckwheat (which is NOT related to wheat), hard wheat, triticale, kamut, lentils, rice... millet, quinoa.. I can't remember them all.
I also sprout alot of them too, then dry them in my dehydrator on low heat (about 85 degrees), then grind them. Sprouting changes the proteins, enzymes and vitamins and minerals in your grains. It also makes the grains much easier to digest.. BUT, it wasn't helping Peaches or me. Now I know why.
The wheat of Jesus' time only had 10 to 12 gluten strains in it. The wheat of today, that has been bred for shorter height, higher yields, and faster growth, not to mention the GMO stuff from Monsanto has over 100 strains of gluten in it, AND scientists don't really know how are bodies are reacting to these new glutens!
Well for us, we aren't reacting well to them. There is Einkorn, and Jovial wheat, which is like the stuff Jesus had.. but I have alot of kids, and I make a lot of bread... At $6 to $18 per POUND, I just can't afford it.. So what to do??
No bread. Well, not with wheat or gluten in it. We have discovered the GF diet (gluten free). Actually I prefer it. I lost 30 pounds on it!! And it was weight I could afford to lose! Peaches, has not gained or lost weight. BUT she can bend her fingers now! HUGE bonus. But, we prefer to stay away from GF breads because they usually contain corn or soy to replace the wheat. We make our own, but the FRANZ bakery also make some in a GF certified plant. They have one bread that tastes like a Poulsbo bread and it has quinoa and millet in it, my favorite.. They also have a white bread that is made with rice (great for eggs and toast). But we have discovered a quick bread to make for when we are having soup, or really want a bread sandwich. I will try to post more GF recipes on here, especially tried and trues!!
People think it is sooo hard to be GF, and when you are just starting it is, but you have to focus on what you CAN eat, not what you may not.
Lettuce wrapped burgers (love the crunch!! and it is soooo much lighter and you feel better after eating it)
chicken salad in romaine lettuce (rolled up, like a wrap)
fruits
veggies
meats
cheeses
buckwheat pancakes or waffles
GF certified oatmeal (usually ok for celiacs too)
If you think about it, eating GF is better for you. Highly processed grains (white flour) is really hard on your adrenal glands, pancreas, liver, GI tract, and brain. It is usually rancid before you buy it, and causes malabsorbtion in most! Ever wonder why you are hungrier after a sandwich or piece of toast?? Because white flour makes you hungry.
Don't even get me started on the evils of corn syrup, splenda, white and brown sugars... That is another posting..
Anyway, I will try to post GF recipes that are tried and true this coming week.. if I remember. BUT here is an excellent article written by a nurse that explains many of my and Peach's symptoms.. and why we are GF now. Most likely Princess will be GF soon as well.
CELIAC DISEASE HEAD TO TOE
I have tummy aches, pains, sharp pains.. Pains that send me to the ER to have them tell me, we can't find anything, but would you like some pain meds (even though you are pregnant!)! AAARRRGGGHHHH
The article on CELIACS is fantastic and tells you about how being celiac or even just gluten intolerant can cause problems from head to toe! Including depression, ADD/ADHD, headaches, vitamin deficiencies and more.
It wasn't until I started going gluten free again that the pains lessened. But then with cravings, yup, I started eating gluten again.. ugh.. OUCH.. In my search for help with my and Peaches tummy aches and other health issues we came across an article that sounded like it was written about us! I will share it at the end. BUT, as many of you know I grind all my own grains. Soft wheat, oat groats, buckwheat (which is NOT related to wheat), hard wheat, triticale, kamut, lentils, rice... millet, quinoa.. I can't remember them all.
I also sprout alot of them too, then dry them in my dehydrator on low heat (about 85 degrees), then grind them. Sprouting changes the proteins, enzymes and vitamins and minerals in your grains. It also makes the grains much easier to digest.. BUT, it wasn't helping Peaches or me. Now I know why.
The wheat of Jesus' time only had 10 to 12 gluten strains in it. The wheat of today, that has been bred for shorter height, higher yields, and faster growth, not to mention the GMO stuff from Monsanto has over 100 strains of gluten in it, AND scientists don't really know how are bodies are reacting to these new glutens!
Well for us, we aren't reacting well to them. There is Einkorn, and Jovial wheat, which is like the stuff Jesus had.. but I have alot of kids, and I make a lot of bread... At $6 to $18 per POUND, I just can't afford it.. So what to do??
No bread. Well, not with wheat or gluten in it. We have discovered the GF diet (gluten free). Actually I prefer it. I lost 30 pounds on it!! And it was weight I could afford to lose! Peaches, has not gained or lost weight. BUT she can bend her fingers now! HUGE bonus. But, we prefer to stay away from GF breads because they usually contain corn or soy to replace the wheat. We make our own, but the FRANZ bakery also make some in a GF certified plant. They have one bread that tastes like a Poulsbo bread and it has quinoa and millet in it, my favorite.. They also have a white bread that is made with rice (great for eggs and toast). But we have discovered a quick bread to make for when we are having soup, or really want a bread sandwich. I will try to post more GF recipes on here, especially tried and trues!!
People think it is sooo hard to be GF, and when you are just starting it is, but you have to focus on what you CAN eat, not what you may not.
Lettuce wrapped burgers (love the crunch!! and it is soooo much lighter and you feel better after eating it)
chicken salad in romaine lettuce (rolled up, like a wrap)
fruits
veggies
meats
cheeses
buckwheat pancakes or waffles
GF certified oatmeal (usually ok for celiacs too)
If you think about it, eating GF is better for you. Highly processed grains (white flour) is really hard on your adrenal glands, pancreas, liver, GI tract, and brain. It is usually rancid before you buy it, and causes malabsorbtion in most! Ever wonder why you are hungrier after a sandwich or piece of toast?? Because white flour makes you hungry.
Don't even get me started on the evils of corn syrup, splenda, white and brown sugars... That is another posting..
Anyway, I will try to post GF recipes that are tried and true this coming week.. if I remember. BUT here is an excellent article written by a nurse that explains many of my and Peach's symptoms.. and why we are GF now. Most likely Princess will be GF soon as well.
CELIAC DISEASE HEAD TO TOE
Saturday, March 23, 2013
March Madness
I think the real meaning of March Madness is about all the cabin fever, and then Mother Nature teases you with a day of sunshine, even though pretty chilly out still. Then the next day you wake up to rain, or snow.. Yup, that is March Madness..
What have we been up to over here? Well, we are getting Amber's garden ready for planting. We will be doing a hoop house over it and also the other bigger garden. In Amber's garden we plan on planting lettuces, spinach, beets and peas. In the other garden we are planning squashes, onions, garlic, cucumbers and carrots. In the upper garden we are planning on some heirloom tomatoes, runner beans, ground cherries, chives, and maybe chamomile. In the back garden we are planning on some more lettuces, spinaches and maybe some cold tolerant herbs.
We were expecting our first litters this month, but sadly the mommas didn't do a very good job and we lost every baby. We got our chicks, and they are doing great! We are excited for more eggs, as we use sooo many when we have them available.
The last couple days it has rained, snowed, sleeted, hailed, frosted, been sunny and windy. Today it is sunny and breezy right now.. but cold out. It frosted last night, so I my bark piles that need moving are still frozen..
We still need to turn the compost, get the dirt for Amber's and other gardens so we can finally plant. Buy the hoops and plastic for the gardens as well. I hope to be able to do that today.
This next week, we will be sprouting some grains and beans for making bread. Working on a baby quilt, baby drawstrings, getting my room organized, and hopefully finishing up the hoops gardens with planting!
What have we been up to over here? Well, we are getting Amber's garden ready for planting. We will be doing a hoop house over it and also the other bigger garden. In Amber's garden we plan on planting lettuces, spinach, beets and peas. In the other garden we are planning squashes, onions, garlic, cucumbers and carrots. In the upper garden we are planning on some heirloom tomatoes, runner beans, ground cherries, chives, and maybe chamomile. In the back garden we are planning on some more lettuces, spinaches and maybe some cold tolerant herbs.
We were expecting our first litters this month, but sadly the mommas didn't do a very good job and we lost every baby. We got our chicks, and they are doing great! We are excited for more eggs, as we use sooo many when we have them available.
The last couple days it has rained, snowed, sleeted, hailed, frosted, been sunny and windy. Today it is sunny and breezy right now.. but cold out. It frosted last night, so I my bark piles that need moving are still frozen..
We still need to turn the compost, get the dirt for Amber's and other gardens so we can finally plant. Buy the hoops and plastic for the gardens as well. I hope to be able to do that today.
This next week, we will be sprouting some grains and beans for making bread. Working on a baby quilt, baby drawstrings, getting my room organized, and hopefully finishing up the hoops gardens with planting!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
How are you doing?
I was looking around one of my new friends blogs and was impressed to talk about something. The toughest time of year for many seems to be AFTER Christmas. Why? Because many spend beyond their means, and then the bills start coming for using that darn plastic card.. and to top it off, the low percentage rate you thought you were getting is actually over 20% up to 35% on what you owe! That adds up super fast, especially if you are only doing the minimum payment. You will never pay it off that way.
I was talking with my son about credit cards. After our discussion, he said,"It seems to me that the credit card is just another of the Devil's vices. I mean, you use it to help your family and then it turns out to hurt you instead.".. YES!! He understood!
When I was leaving home, I was told the only way to build credit was to use a credit card. This is not true! You can also build credit by saving for your purchase and then buying it outright. Credit is a two edged sword. When you pay for everything in full, your credit score doesn't matter. Being debt free does!
Ok, so now onto what I was really impressed to write about. FOOD STORAGE.
Food storage or what is in your pantry/larder is important for those times when you can't shop, for whatever reason. I have been on medical leave from work since October! I have not gone grocery shopping since then. My hubby will pick up milk, cheese, maybe a bag of onions.. but we have been living on food storage. It isn't that hard, what is hard is diversity. I don't need to go to the store, I just need a menu plan and I am set. I have everything I need. Well, if the chickens lay their eggs I have all I need. But in December, like clockwork they stopped laying.. So what did I do??? I pulled a bag of flax seed meal out of my freezer and used it to substitute for eggs in my baking. Not loving it to death, but it works. I prefer the eggs to be honest, but be honest with yourself. When the SHTF, you will be in survival mode along with everyone else, and unless you have all your animals in bed with you, most likely you will see them disappear either slowly or quickly overnight.
OK, now on to more of the topic.. Planning weekly to build up your storage. Now if you don't already have at least a 3 month supply, then you need to do that first. Here is a link to Valerie's site. She has a way to build up your 3-month supply.
After you have your 3-month supply, you need to get your water storage. Now some places I know are unable to store water bottles. But I know of many places, even in the U.S. where they catch rainwater and use that. Just remember to boil it before drinking! Again, Valerie to the rescue. She mentions that Fred Meyer or Kroger usually has sales on their bottled water of 24 count 16.9 ounce bottle cases for about $2.50. AND Sam's/Costco also has a 32 count 16.9 ounce bottle cases for about $4.48. If you were to pick up 1 to 4 a week, you could have your water storage super quick! You can store these under beds, in closets, and even make a table out of them, and cover them with a table cloth. Get creative.
Next you need to build up your financial reserve. Now if you are in debt this may seem impossible. But it isn't. Set aside $2 per person per week in your family. So if it is only two of you, that is only $4 a week, put into savings. If it is 10 of you, then you put aside $20 a week. I know that seems like a lot when you don't seem to have any money. But pay your tithing on your gross first, then pay your savings, then pay your bills. The key to this is to not touch it! Don't think, oh I really want to go shopping, and pull out your savings.. that defeats the purpose. It is your rainy day fund, it is for your future, not for your whims.
Finally, you can work on your long term supply.. Which is super easy. No need to make a major purchase. Remember we are building, not blinking, into existence our food storage. So if you see something your family eats, and it is on sale for a good price, and you can afford the purchase, get it, but not just one (unless the sale says limit one). If you use one per meal, get 4 or 6 or more. What you can afford. BUT don't get greedy. Will you honestly eat that amount in a year? or 3-years? before it goes bad? Put logic into your purchases. Yes, grains go rancid, cans leak, plastic breaks down, freezers die, power outages.. Don't put all your food storage into only one element.
Store bought canned goods
Home canned goods
Food grade buckets
Freezer
Dehydrated
See many options for how to store your food.
NOW, conditions will play a role in what you can store. If you don't have a freezer or canner, you aren't about to buy half a cow (side of beef) because you haven't a way to preserve it. Same goes for any meat.
And if you don't have a way to store grains without mice getting into them, then it wouldn't be prudent to buy 600 pounds of grains in bags. Mice love bags, they also love mylar. Even if Walton feed says it is ok to store in the bag, you will hate it and the mice will LOVE you for it.
We house sat for about 9 months while the owners were away. In the basement, they had their food storage. They did almost everything right. They blocked the light from coming in the windows, closed and sealed the forced air heater vent. And they had some amazing shelves for food storage. Problem was, the rodents found a way into this oasis of food.
The top shelves were all empty canning jars, stored upright without lids. EVERY single jar had rodent urine and feces in it, and a few had dead trapped mice in them.
Next shelf down was canned goods.. um.. Rodent urine is caustic and smelly! Turns out every single can had to be thrown away because the urine ate through the lids! And so what was in the jars was now rancid and stinky, and leaking all over.
The bottom shelves had bags upon bags of wheat from Walton Feed. It looked good, but when you went to move a bag, you discovered it was empty, or nearly empty!! ALL 30 bags had a hole chewed into it, and all the bags were supposed to have 50-lbs of wheat in them. A couple were about half full, the rest were way less than half full. One only had a cup of wheat left in it!
There was also a built in shelf on one wall, this had bags of cereal, small bags of beans, small bags of rice, sauce packets from McDonald's, boxes of hot cereal..... It was rather comical to find a pile of shredded silver stuff. Upon further investigation, we discovered it was the backs of and lids to the sauce packets! The mice literally shredded the backs and lids off, licked them clean and put them into a pile! The packet containers were also licked clean. In this same shelf area, we discovered the hole the rats and mice had made to get into the food storage room, it was HUGE!
We banged on an exterior wall (same one with the hole), and you could hear the grain moving in them! YUP, hundreds of pounds of wheat storage were now in someone else's larder! And we would have to tear walls open to get to it!
Into the next room, the bathroom, we discovered piles upon piles of old newspapers. I know they were saving them for making fires, but no one used the basement or 2nd story fireplaces because the draft was wrong in the chimneys and you would get smoked out. Also this is where they had a linen closet full of toilet paper. Well, we removed all the newspaper and recycled it. Then, as we pulled the toilet paper out, we discovered nests, lots and lots of nests. Those darn mice had pulled the toilet paper rolls apart and made nest after nest! Cases and packages of TP.. AND Yup, every single roll was covered in urine and feces, and blood (from birthing).. It was gross.. We pulled everything out and threw it away, only to discover the mice had chewed a hole in the back of the cabinet to get in..
One night my brother was babysitting while we went to the Temple. He saw a little mouse claw reaching for a cheerio on the forced air register!! FROM THE BOTTOM!! Yup this house also had the mice using the heating system as a highway!
Well, we no longer live there. Now we are on our farm. We have all sorts of wild life here: Bald Eagles, Elk, deer, black bear, cougar, opossum, skunk, raccoon, rats, mice, squirrels, lots of birds... I am not fond of the Elk, deer, bears, skunks, opossums, coons, rats or mice or squirrels.. BUT I do work at keeping them at bay so my garden and orchard may grow. Nothing a few mice/rat traps and cats can't take care of. As for the coons, as long as they leave my animals alone, they are fine. I know the Bald Eagles are eyeing my chickens, but nothing I can do about them. OH, they eye cats too, and small dogs, small kids, rabbits, baby animals.. yes, they are aggressive, specially when they have eaglets!
OH, sorry for that tangent.. My goodness.. OK, OPTIMAL FOOD STORAGE CONDITIONS!!!!
The cooler the storage area, the longer the food will store. Under 60 degrees is preferred, under 50 degrees is better and under 40 degrees but above 34 degrees is optimal! This would be for canned goods, grains, oils and fats, herbs, etc...
My food storage room has an air conditioner in it for summer, and NO HEATER. Because my freezer is in there, it usually keeps everything above freezing. OH, if your oil looks like it has mold growing in it.. It does NOT, it is just cold and is solidifying. It will go back to "normal" when you bring it closer to 50-60 degrees.
How do I store my food??? In a temperature controlled room:
Fruit: dehydrated, frozen, home canned
Vegetables: dehydrated, frozen, home canned
Meat: dehydrated, frozen, home canned, in coops (still alive)
Herbs: dehydrated, home vacuum sealed in jars
Grains: canned in #10 cans with O2 absorber, food grade buckets
Pet Food: Metal garbage cans
Toilet Paper: linen closet, "table", top shelf of food storage room
Soaps and toothpaste: on shelf in food storage room
Seasonings: home vacuum sealed jars, in jars they came in
Pasta: #10 cans with O2 absorber, food grade buckets in store packaging, bulk in food grade buckets
Crackers: in store packaging in food grade buckets
Medicines: food grade bucket, on shelf
BEANS: #10 cans with O2 absorber, home vacuum sealed in jars, home canned, food grade buckets
One problem with home vacuum sealed jars, is sometimes the seal fails, specially with powdered items. Works fine for nuts, dried fruits/veggies, herbs.. usually
I LOVE my food grade buckets. They hold between 20 and 25 pounds, are square, 4 gallon size, and most have handles for easy carrying. My round 5 gallon buckets hold 25 to 30 pounds. I have had buckets since 1993. I use them DAILY!
Well my goodness, I hope this helps some of you. I seems to write about more than I was planning. Please get your 3-month supply, water supply, financial reserve started and then start your long term storage!!
I was talking with my son about credit cards. After our discussion, he said,"It seems to me that the credit card is just another of the Devil's vices. I mean, you use it to help your family and then it turns out to hurt you instead.".. YES!! He understood!
When I was leaving home, I was told the only way to build credit was to use a credit card. This is not true! You can also build credit by saving for your purchase and then buying it outright. Credit is a two edged sword. When you pay for everything in full, your credit score doesn't matter. Being debt free does!
Ok, so now onto what I was really impressed to write about. FOOD STORAGE.
Food storage or what is in your pantry/larder is important for those times when you can't shop, for whatever reason. I have been on medical leave from work since October! I have not gone grocery shopping since then. My hubby will pick up milk, cheese, maybe a bag of onions.. but we have been living on food storage. It isn't that hard, what is hard is diversity. I don't need to go to the store, I just need a menu plan and I am set. I have everything I need. Well, if the chickens lay their eggs I have all I need. But in December, like clockwork they stopped laying.. So what did I do??? I pulled a bag of flax seed meal out of my freezer and used it to substitute for eggs in my baking. Not loving it to death, but it works. I prefer the eggs to be honest, but be honest with yourself. When the SHTF, you will be in survival mode along with everyone else, and unless you have all your animals in bed with you, most likely you will see them disappear either slowly or quickly overnight.
OK, now on to more of the topic.. Planning weekly to build up your storage. Now if you don't already have at least a 3 month supply, then you need to do that first. Here is a link to Valerie's site. She has a way to build up your 3-month supply.
After you have your 3-month supply, you need to get your water storage. Now some places I know are unable to store water bottles. But I know of many places, even in the U.S. where they catch rainwater and use that. Just remember to boil it before drinking! Again, Valerie to the rescue. She mentions that Fred Meyer or Kroger usually has sales on their bottled water of 24 count 16.9 ounce bottle cases for about $2.50. AND Sam's/Costco also has a 32 count 16.9 ounce bottle cases for about $4.48. If you were to pick up 1 to 4 a week, you could have your water storage super quick! You can store these under beds, in closets, and even make a table out of them, and cover them with a table cloth. Get creative.
Next you need to build up your financial reserve. Now if you are in debt this may seem impossible. But it isn't. Set aside $2 per person per week in your family. So if it is only two of you, that is only $4 a week, put into savings. If it is 10 of you, then you put aside $20 a week. I know that seems like a lot when you don't seem to have any money. But pay your tithing on your gross first, then pay your savings, then pay your bills. The key to this is to not touch it! Don't think, oh I really want to go shopping, and pull out your savings.. that defeats the purpose. It is your rainy day fund, it is for your future, not for your whims.
Finally, you can work on your long term supply.. Which is super easy. No need to make a major purchase. Remember we are building, not blinking, into existence our food storage. So if you see something your family eats, and it is on sale for a good price, and you can afford the purchase, get it, but not just one (unless the sale says limit one). If you use one per meal, get 4 or 6 or more. What you can afford. BUT don't get greedy. Will you honestly eat that amount in a year? or 3-years? before it goes bad? Put logic into your purchases. Yes, grains go rancid, cans leak, plastic breaks down, freezers die, power outages.. Don't put all your food storage into only one element.
Store bought canned goods
Home canned goods
Food grade buckets
Freezer
Dehydrated
See many options for how to store your food.
NOW, conditions will play a role in what you can store. If you don't have a freezer or canner, you aren't about to buy half a cow (side of beef) because you haven't a way to preserve it. Same goes for any meat.
And if you don't have a way to store grains without mice getting into them, then it wouldn't be prudent to buy 600 pounds of grains in bags. Mice love bags, they also love mylar. Even if Walton feed says it is ok to store in the bag, you will hate it and the mice will LOVE you for it.
We house sat for about 9 months while the owners were away. In the basement, they had their food storage. They did almost everything right. They blocked the light from coming in the windows, closed and sealed the forced air heater vent. And they had some amazing shelves for food storage. Problem was, the rodents found a way into this oasis of food.
The top shelves were all empty canning jars, stored upright without lids. EVERY single jar had rodent urine and feces in it, and a few had dead trapped mice in them.
Next shelf down was canned goods.. um.. Rodent urine is caustic and smelly! Turns out every single can had to be thrown away because the urine ate through the lids! And so what was in the jars was now rancid and stinky, and leaking all over.
The bottom shelves had bags upon bags of wheat from Walton Feed. It looked good, but when you went to move a bag, you discovered it was empty, or nearly empty!! ALL 30 bags had a hole chewed into it, and all the bags were supposed to have 50-lbs of wheat in them. A couple were about half full, the rest were way less than half full. One only had a cup of wheat left in it!
There was also a built in shelf on one wall, this had bags of cereal, small bags of beans, small bags of rice, sauce packets from McDonald's, boxes of hot cereal..... It was rather comical to find a pile of shredded silver stuff. Upon further investigation, we discovered it was the backs of and lids to the sauce packets! The mice literally shredded the backs and lids off, licked them clean and put them into a pile! The packet containers were also licked clean. In this same shelf area, we discovered the hole the rats and mice had made to get into the food storage room, it was HUGE!
We banged on an exterior wall (same one with the hole), and you could hear the grain moving in them! YUP, hundreds of pounds of wheat storage were now in someone else's larder! And we would have to tear walls open to get to it!
Into the next room, the bathroom, we discovered piles upon piles of old newspapers. I know they were saving them for making fires, but no one used the basement or 2nd story fireplaces because the draft was wrong in the chimneys and you would get smoked out. Also this is where they had a linen closet full of toilet paper. Well, we removed all the newspaper and recycled it. Then, as we pulled the toilet paper out, we discovered nests, lots and lots of nests. Those darn mice had pulled the toilet paper rolls apart and made nest after nest! Cases and packages of TP.. AND Yup, every single roll was covered in urine and feces, and blood (from birthing).. It was gross.. We pulled everything out and threw it away, only to discover the mice had chewed a hole in the back of the cabinet to get in..
One night my brother was babysitting while we went to the Temple. He saw a little mouse claw reaching for a cheerio on the forced air register!! FROM THE BOTTOM!! Yup this house also had the mice using the heating system as a highway!
Well, we no longer live there. Now we are on our farm. We have all sorts of wild life here: Bald Eagles, Elk, deer, black bear, cougar, opossum, skunk, raccoon, rats, mice, squirrels, lots of birds... I am not fond of the Elk, deer, bears, skunks, opossums, coons, rats or mice or squirrels.. BUT I do work at keeping them at bay so my garden and orchard may grow. Nothing a few mice/rat traps and cats can't take care of. As for the coons, as long as they leave my animals alone, they are fine. I know the Bald Eagles are eyeing my chickens, but nothing I can do about them. OH, they eye cats too, and small dogs, small kids, rabbits, baby animals.. yes, they are aggressive, specially when they have eaglets!
OH, sorry for that tangent.. My goodness.. OK, OPTIMAL FOOD STORAGE CONDITIONS!!!!
The cooler the storage area, the longer the food will store. Under 60 degrees is preferred, under 50 degrees is better and under 40 degrees but above 34 degrees is optimal! This would be for canned goods, grains, oils and fats, herbs, etc...
My food storage room has an air conditioner in it for summer, and NO HEATER. Because my freezer is in there, it usually keeps everything above freezing. OH, if your oil looks like it has mold growing in it.. It does NOT, it is just cold and is solidifying. It will go back to "normal" when you bring it closer to 50-60 degrees.
How do I store my food??? In a temperature controlled room:
Fruit: dehydrated, frozen, home canned
Vegetables: dehydrated, frozen, home canned
Meat: dehydrated, frozen, home canned, in coops (still alive)
Herbs: dehydrated, home vacuum sealed in jars
Grains: canned in #10 cans with O2 absorber, food grade buckets
Pet Food: Metal garbage cans
Toilet Paper: linen closet, "table", top shelf of food storage room
Soaps and toothpaste: on shelf in food storage room
Seasonings: home vacuum sealed jars, in jars they came in
Pasta: #10 cans with O2 absorber, food grade buckets in store packaging, bulk in food grade buckets
Crackers: in store packaging in food grade buckets
Medicines: food grade bucket, on shelf
BEANS: #10 cans with O2 absorber, home vacuum sealed in jars, home canned, food grade buckets
One problem with home vacuum sealed jars, is sometimes the seal fails, specially with powdered items. Works fine for nuts, dried fruits/veggies, herbs.. usually
I LOVE my food grade buckets. They hold between 20 and 25 pounds, are square, 4 gallon size, and most have handles for easy carrying. My round 5 gallon buckets hold 25 to 30 pounds. I have had buckets since 1993. I use them DAILY!
Well my goodness, I hope this helps some of you. I seems to write about more than I was planning. Please get your 3-month supply, water supply, financial reserve started and then start your long term storage!!
Monday, January 14, 2013
Cheese Crackers
I tried these today! Super easy, super yum! I found it at Tasty Kitchen. If you want to see pictures go there, but here is the recipe!
Cheese Crackers
8ounces, weight Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
4 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons COLD water
Pulse everything (EXCEPT water) together in food processor until it looks like coarse sand. Pulse in the water, 1TBS at a time.
Remove dough from processor, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes.
Roll out on lightly floured surface to make a thin sheet, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes. Place on parchment paper if wanted or just put on cookie sheets, not touching, and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until crispy.
Using mild or medium cheddar makes a less flavorful cracker, but they are still yummy!
Cheese Crackers
8ounces, weight Sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
4 tablespoons butter, cut into cubes
1 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons COLD water
Pulse everything (EXCEPT water) together in food processor until it looks like coarse sand. Pulse in the water, 1TBS at a time.
Remove dough from processor, wrap in plastic, and chill for 20 minutes.
Roll out on lightly floured surface to make a thin sheet, about 1/8-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes. Place on parchment paper if wanted or just put on cookie sheets, not touching, and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until crispy.
Using mild or medium cheddar makes a less flavorful cracker, but they are still yummy!
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