Friday, July 31, 2009

Zucchini Casserole

This recipe had rave reviews from my family! For a slightly different flavor, try sauteing the zucchini, carrots, and onion together. Then mix and bake as directed.


3-4 medium zucchini, sliced 1/2 inch thick or cubed
3/4 c. carrots, pared and sliced
water, salted
1/2 c. onion, chopped
6 T. butter, divided
1 package (or 2 1/4 c.) stuffing mix, divided
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 c. sour cream (I used milk)

Set 3/4 c. stuffing mix aside. Bring salted water to a boil. Add zucchini and carrots and simmer 15 minutes. Meanwhile, saute onion in 4 T. butter. Add cream of chicken soup and sour cream to onions. Stir remaining 1 1/2 c. stuffing mix into onions. Drain vegetables and add to onion mixture. Place in 9x13 pan. Melt 2 T. butter and add to reserved stuffing mix. Sprinkle over casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

I found this zucchini blossom here.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Cloth Diapers

This may sound totally crazy to a lot of people, but I wanted to do a post about it anyway. Back in February, I made my family switch from using disposable diapers to cloth diapers. (Am I crazy or what?!) I had a couple reasons for this. The first had to do with preparedness. In order for my family to have a year supply of diapers, we would have needed to purchase 42 cases. Where in the world do we find room to store 42 cases of diapers?! Not to mention the price: 42 x $20.00, not really possible. And then there's the whole size issue: what sizes and how many do we purchase of each one? Disposable diapers were not an option for storage so I said to myself "Well, we can store cloth diapers; but, if I'm going to store them, I'm going to use them." And that was that.

After much research and debate, the one I finally decided to use was the Bum Genius because of convenience. The wash tabs (where the Velcro tabs attach for washing) have worn out and it's only been six months, but the rest of the diaper still works fine. (A few of the reviews I read mentioned this issue, and because of their price tag, I wish they would last longer; but, that piece would be easy to replace).

It took six months of using them to break even, but I think they're worth it. (And after using these, I'd even start using prefolds 'cause the whole diapering issue is so easy)! Here's a diagram of the diapers I bought.


Here's a couple links I checked out for cloth diapers. Seriously though, for a plethora of information, instructions, free patterns, and supplies, just Google cloth diapers. You will find a ton!!!

Diaper Pin
Cotton Babies (Where I ordered Bum Genius. I also bought some from a shop in Riverton).
Tallulah Baby
Very Baby
(Tallulah Baby diaper pattern - similar to Bum Genius - $10.95)
Very Baby Blog
(Diaper making tutorials)
Celtic Cloths
(One of many free patterns on line, but don't actually know how it works).

Wednesday Prep Day - One Day Late

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping! What a lovely morning! Now it's time to work on our 72 hr. kits. This week, we're going to continue collecting $100.00. (I just want you to have an amount you're comfortable with. Some people only keep $20.00 in their kit. That's o.k. too). One of my friends just adds a dollar here or five dollars there. If you do this, it will be less stress on your budget all at once. What ever amount you decide to save, make sure you keep it in small bills and change. You'll be glad you did!

Now, how is your three months of storage coming? Do you have a plan? If so, keep pluggin' along. You'll get it. If you don't have a plan for your three month supply, lets make one together. To start, make a menu: seven breakfasts, seven or fourteen dinners. Seven's easier to plan, fourteen gives you more options.
  1. Write the recipes for each breakfast and dinner down.
  2. If you do seven meals, multiply the ingredients by 13 to find out exactly how much of each item you need for three months. If you do fourteen, you can multiply all of the meals by seven or half by seven and half by six. It's up to you.
  3. Make a master shopping list.
  4. Begin shopping always remembering to stick to your budget. Little by little you will cross all the items off. Just be persistent and patient.
This month, we are collecting Oats for our long-term storage. Liesa Card suggests a food storage program that fits the way we collect long-term storage on this site; although, there are many ways to go about gathering your storage.

Another way that makes sense is gathering a one year supply for one person at a time. (When you have one year gathered, just do it again). If you have one year for one person, you will also have a six month supply for two people, a four month supply for three, and so on. Isn't that COOL?! (I thought you might like it)! Happy collecting...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vegetable Soup with Dumplings and Apricot Jam Recipes

Even though it's not Tuesday, here's my Vegetable Soup recipe. I know it's hot outside, but I like soup. When I made this, I added dumplings 'cause I love 'em, so that recipe is at the end of the soup. And...I had a request for Apricot recipes, so I've also included a few of those! If you would like to see a couple more, please click here. Have a great day and happy cooking!

Vegetable Soup

5 small potatoes
2 celery stalks
13 baby carrots
1 can corn, undrained
3 T. dried onion
1 t. onion powder
beef bouillon to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste
water

Chop vegetables and put in a pot. Add corn. Cover with water and add dry onion and seasonings. Bring to a boil and simmer until crisp tender.


Dumplings

1 c. flour
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 c. milk
2 T. butter, melted

Mix dry ingredients together. Add milk and butter to form spongy dough. Drop by spoonfuls into boiling soup. Cook 15 minutes or until dumplings float to the top. (These seem to like hanging out around the top anyway, so just watch them. They poof up while cooking, so if the balls are a little bigger to start out with, they'll take longer to cook. Mine are usually done at about 8 min.).

All of these recipes are from the Ball Home Canning link on the right side of the page. (It's a new link). These processing times are for sea level, so remember your altitude conversion!

Silky Apricot Butter

Makes about 6 (8 oz) half pints

You will need:
2 lb apricots, peeled, halved and pitted (about 24 medium)
1/2 cup water
3 cups granulated sugar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
6 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Directions:
1.) COMBINE apricots and water in a large stainless steel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, until apricots are soft, about 20 minutes.

2.) TRANSFER apricot mixture to a food mill or a food processor fitted with a metal blade, working in batches, and purée just until a uniform texture is achieved. Do not liquefy. Measure 6 cups of apricot purée.

3.) COMBINE apricot purée and sugar in a clean large stainless steel saucepan. Stir until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and holds its shape on a spoon. Stir in lemon juice.

4.) PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

5.) LADLE hot butter into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.

6.) PROCESS jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

Fresh Apricot Jam

Makes about 6 (8 oz) half pints

You will need:
3-1/2 cups finely chopped apricots (about 30 medium)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 3-oz pouch Ball® Liquid Fruit Pectin
1/2 tsp butter or margarine, optional
5-3/4 cups sugar
6 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands


Directions:
1.) PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.

2.) COMBINE prepared apricots with lemon juice and sugar in a 6- or 8-quart saucepan. Add up to 1/2 tsp butter or margarine to reduce foaming, if desired. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring frequently.

3.) ADD pectin, immediately squeezing entire contents from pouch. Continue hard boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary

4.) LADLE hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center lid on jar. Apply band until fit is fingertip tight.

5.) PROCESS jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

Apricot Freezer Jam (with Original Pectin)

Makes about 6 (8 oz) half pints


You will need:
2-1/2 cups chopped pitted apricots (about 21 medium)
2 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup water
1 1.75-oz pkg Ball® Original Fruit Pectin
5-1/2 cups sugar
6 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Directions:
1.) COMBINE prepared apricots with lemon juice in a large bowl. Add sugar, mixing thoroughly. Let stand 10 minutes.

2.) COMBINE 3/4 cup water and pectin in a small saucepan. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, stirring constantly. Boil hard for 1 minute, continuing to stir.

3.) ADD cooked pectin mixture to fruit mixture. Stir for 3 minutes.

4.) LADLE freezer jam into clean freezer jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Apply caps and let jam stand in refrigerator until set, but no longer than 24 hours. Serve immediately, refrigerate up to 3 weeks, or freeze up to 1 year.

Apricot Freezer Jam (with No Sugar Needed Pectin)

Makes about 4 to 5 (8 oz) half pints

You will need:
3 cups finely chopped apricots (about 27 medium)
1-3/4 cups unsweetened white grape or apple juice
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 1.75-oz pkg Ball® No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin
Up to 3 cups sugar, 1-1/2 cups SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granular, 3/4 to 1 cup honey, or desired amount of other artificial sweeteners (optional)
4 to 5 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands

Directions:
1.) GRADUALLY ADD pectin into white grape or apple juice until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

2.) IMMEDIATELY ADD prepared apricots into hot pectin mixture. Stir vigorously for 1 minute. Stir in sugar, SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granular, other artificial sweetener, or honey according to the directions above.

3.) LADLE freezer jam into clean freezer jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Apply caps and let jam stand in refrigerator until set, but no longer than 24 hours. Serve immediately, refrigerate up to 3 weeks, or freeze up to 1 year.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Motivational Monday

"Because of Christ there is hope smiling brightly before you, and you need not worry too much about sickness, death, poverty, or other afflictions. The Lord will take care of you. Your responsibility is to keep the commandments, feast upon the words of Christ, and stay in the path to your heavenly home."

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wednesday Prep Day

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm taking a break from blog-land for the rest of the week. You see, we have a family reunion, so I'll be a little occupied. For our 72 hr. kits, we're working on collecting $100.00 in small bills. This will be handy. Just work at it - a little here, a little there - but be persistent. Have a wonderful week!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Pancake and Waffle Mix

Today, I thought we'd do something fun with our food storage. I like mixes and think they're very convenient. I'd also prefer to make my own because: one, I typically have everything I need in my pantry; and two, it's cheaper to make my own then buy pre-made mixes. I have a lot of mixes - everything from pancakes and muffins to breads, cookies, meat, and beans. They are wonderful. The book I like to use, which I borrowed from my in-laws, is Make-a-Mix by Karine Eliason, Nevada Harward, and Madeline Westover. (I included the link just so you could get an idea of what's in it. Click on the book to see).

Pancake and Waffle Mix


2 c. powdered milk (can use buttermilk powder if desired)
8 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients with wire whisk until evenly distributed. Pour into airtight 12 cup container. Label with date and contents. Store in a cool dry place. Makes about 10 1/2 cups Pancake and Waffle Mix.

Pancakes

1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. oil
1 c water
1 1/2 c. Pancake and Waffle Mix

Mix all ingredients in medium bowl and cook on hot greased griddle. Add fruit or nuts to batter, if desired; and, enjoy with your favorite syrup.

Waffles

2 1/2 c. Pancake and Waffle Mix
2 c. water
3 eggs
1/4 c. oil

Preheat waffle iron. Mix all ingredients and bake according to waffle iron directions. Before cooking, and if desired, add fruit or nuts to batter.

For fluffier waffles, and if you have the patience, whip your egg whites until stiff, and fold gently into batter.


I have two more recipes to add, but we'll get to that later.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Friday, July 17, 2009

Homemade Washing Machine

A few months ago, I ran across a really nifty idea on Preparedness Brings Peace! You will all want one of these! Now, I know you are all asking yourselves, "What is this really cool, amazingly nifty thing that I have to show you?!" Well, everybody, it's your very own personal homemade washing machine! It's all man-powered, but I can just imagine kids standing around in long lines waiting to try it out! (It reminds me of white-washing in Tom Sawyer, or was that Huck Fin? I just can't remember, it's been too long...) Not only can you use this in an emergency, but you can even take it camping! What a cool idea?!

Clothes Washing Kit

Yet another idea from a Preparedness class I attended...a way to do your laundry in an emergency. You can easily put this together yourself.

CLOTHES WASHING KIT
5-gallon bucket with lid (cut hole in middle of lid for plunger handle to fit through)
Toilet plunger (brand-new, clean)
Store in bucket:
Liquid laundry detergent
Stain remover/stain stick
Vinegar (add 1/2 cup to rinse water) helps remove soap
Rope (for clothes line)
Clothes pins

To Use:
Empty contents of bucket.
Place water, small amount of detergent, and clothes in bucket.
Move plunger up and down for a few minutes or until clothes are clean.
Remove soapy clothes and ring them out.
Dump out soapy water (on your garden or lawn.)
Place soapy clothes in bucket and fill with clear, clean water.
Add 1/2 cup vinegar to rinse water.
Move plunger up and down to rinse clothing.
Wring out clothes and hang to dry.
Conserve water - use rinse water for next load of laundry.

NOTE: You could store two 5-gallon buckets, stack one inside of the other. Use one bucket for the soapy water and the other for the rinse water. You may be able to wash and rinse a couple of batches of clothes without changing the soapy water depending on how dirty the clothes are.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Helping Our Home's Be More Energy Efficient

I know we can't always run out and buy new appliances; but, here's a list of things we can do to help lower our monthly utility bills. For more ideas, visit Therm - the Energy Wise Guy at thermwise.com. (If you live outside of Utah or Wyoming, check your local gas provider's website to see if they offer information).

Energy-smart consumers buy natural gas appliances. And the best way to get the most out of every energy dollar is to have a qualified professional periodically make sure your appliances work at peak performance. Saving energy means saving money. Here are some tips that will help you do both:

FURNACE TIPS The single largest user of natural gas in the home is the furnace. A well-maintained furnace will work more efficiently and last longer. And when it’s time to buy a new furnace, an expert can advise you on the best solution for your home-heating needs.

  • Choose an ENERGY STAR furnace – If it's time to replace your existing furnace, consider buying a furnace that's earned the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR furnaces have an annual fuel efficiency rating (AFUE) of 90% or higher, making them up to 15% more energy efficient than standard models.
  • Professional tune-up – A periodic furnace inspection by a heating professional will ensure safe, efficient operation. Change the filter – changing the furnace filter regularly will help keep clean air flowing throughout your home. If the filter becomes dirty or clogged, it will restrict airflow and cause the furnace to stay on longer – using more fuel. Note: If you have a central air conditioner, your filter may need to be changed more frequently because it’s working during the summer too.
  • Keep vents and registers unobstructed – Move drapes, rugs and furniture away from heat registers and return-air vents. Free-flowing air through the furnace provides quick comfort for less money.
  • Install a programmable thermostat – You won’t have to remember to turn the furnace down when you go to sleep or leave for work. Consistent temperature control will help reduce your fuel usage and lower your energy costs.

WATER HEATER TIPS – This is the second-largest energy user in the home. Even though natural gas water heating is economical, there are ways to stretch your energy dollar.

  • Lower the temperature – Reduce the temperature setting on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or turn the dial from high to medium. Turn the dial to low if you are going to be gone for a few days or more.
  • Reduce hot water usage – Take showers instead of baths to reduce hot water use. Fix leaky faucets and run clothes- and dishwashers with a full load. Install water-flow restrictors in showerheads and faucets. Restrictors can cut hot-water use without affecting comfort.
  • Insulate the water heater and hot-water pipes – Install a water-heater blanket and hot-water-pipe insulation. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
  • Choose an energy efficient water heater – When replacing a water heater, the best way to assure performance is to purchase a model with a high energy factor (EF) rating. The higher the EF, the better. Natural gas water heaters with an EF rating of 0.63 qualify for ThermWise Appliance Rebates.

CLOTHS DRYER TIPS – Dry clothes faster and for less money with natural gas. These natural gas dryer tips can help save you money and leave "nothing out to dry."

  • Choose a dryer with a moisture sensor – Many new clothes dryers have moisture sensors available. When your clothes are dry, the dryer shuts off, which will save you money.
  • Dry full loads – You’ll use less energy per clothing item. And when one load is done, follow up with another load to benefit from the residual heat.
  • Clean the lint screen between each load – A clean screen allows for quick drying cycle.

GENERAL TIPS – There are a number of ways to cut your energy costs by making your home more energy efficient.

  • Choose products that have earned the ENERGY STAR label. Products in more than 50 categories are eligible for the ENERGY STAR. ENERGY STAR is the trusted national symbol for energy efficiency, backed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. ENERGY STAR products use less energy, save money and help protect the environment.
  • Windows are a major source of heat loss. Consider installing storm or thermal windows. ENERGY STAR windows save you energy and money, increase the comfort of your home and protect your valuable possessions from sun damage. A less expensive alternative is plastic sheeting, which can be fastened over windows to retain heat.
  • Set the thermostat between 65 and 70 degrees during the winter, and 58 degrees when away from the house for more than a few hours. Before sleeping, lower the thermostat and add an extra blanket for warmth. Bear in mind that warmer temperatures are recommended for homes with ill or elderly people or infants.
  • Keep heat registers and air-return vents unobstructed. Your furnace must be able to circulate air freely to work efficiently. Arrange your furniture with heating economy in mind.
  • Heat rises so use registers to direct warm air–flow across the floor. Ceiling fans can also help circulate warm air into the living area.
  • Use drapes, shutters, awnings, shade trees, glass with reflective film and/or solar screens to keep your house cooler in the summer. Let sunlight in during the winter to help warm your house.
  • When buying new appliances, compare energy-efficiency ratings and annual operating costs. A slightly higher initial cost for a high-efficiency appliance could be paid back quickly through energy savings and lower utility bills.
  • Eliminate air leaks in your home with caulking, sealants or weather stripping. Look for leaks around windows, doors, plumbing, ducts, and electrical outlets.
  • Close vents and doors in unused rooms and close dampers on unused fireplaces.
  • Check to see if the attic and walls have the recommended levels of insulation.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Wednesday Prep Day

Good morning everybody! And what a lovely morning it is....ahhh. Today is a good day for 72 hr. kits because we're going to begin collecting water. Hooray! (We all know how important water is). Each person needs a minimum of two gallons, three is better. You can store water in five gallon jugs or cleaned Pete bottles. Milk jugs can be used too, but they may begin leaking after a year, so rotate them. Because this water will be with the 72 hr. kits, it's best to have something that can be carried - don't buy a 55 gallon drum for this. Another thing to remember about water storage...keep it off the floor as much as possible. And, always remember, water absorbs the smells of the place it's stored. If you keep it in the garage, it could taste like gas. Leave it on the cement, it may taste like dirt. Sweetened Tang, Kool-aid, or other drink flavoring can help mask unwanted flavor if you're worried.

For more information on water storage and purification, visit ProvidentLiving.com.

Now, how is your three months of storage coming? Do you have a plan? If so, keep pluggin' along. You'll get it. If you don't have a plan for your three month supply, lets make one together. To start, make a menu: seven breakfasts, seven or fourteen dinners. Seven's easier to plan, fourteen gives you more options.
  1. Write the recipes for each breakfast and dinner down.
  2. If you do seven meals, multiply the ingredients by 13 to find out exactly how much of each item you need for three months. If you do fourteen, you can multiply all of the meals by seven or half by seven and half by six. It's up to you.
  3. Make a master shopping list.
  4. Begin shopping always remembering to stick to your budget. Little by little you will cross all the items off. Just be persistent and patient.
This month, we are collecting Oats for our long-term storage. Liesa Card suggests a food storage program that fits the way we collect long-term storage on this site; although, there are many ways to go about gathering your storage.

Another way that makes sense is gathering a one year supply for one person at a time. (When you have one year gathered, just do it again). If you have one year for one person, you will also have a six month supply for two people, a four month supply for three, and so on. Isn't that COOL?! (I thought you might like it)! Happy collecting...

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Honeyed Chicken Teriyaki

Mmm, today's recipe is a special treat from a little Chinese lady who used to be my next-door-neighbor. They just moved, so we wish them the best of luck!

Honeyed Chicken Teriyaki


2 lb. chicken breasts, skinned and boned
1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 c. honey
1/3 c. soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. ginger
2 Tbsp. sesame seeds (optional)
Oil (for frying)

These are the instructions I was given...
Cut chicken in 2 inch squares; combine flour, salt, and pepper. Dip chicken in eggs, then coat with seasoned flour. Pour 1/2 inch oil in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until golden grown. Meanwhile, heat soy, honey, garlic, and ginger in a small pan. Dip chicken in honey mixture, then place on a rack set in a baking pan. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if used. Bake at 250 for 20 minutes. Brush with glaze after 10 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.

Beause I'm all about simplifying, this is what I do...
Mix flour, salt, and pepper. Cube chicken and place in bowl. Break one egg into chicken and mix well. (If it needs more liquid, add the other egg). Add flour mixture and stir to coat evenly. Fry over medium-high heat in pan with enough oil - what ever you think that is -I don't use very much. While cooking chicken, heat honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger in pan. When chicken is cooked, add honey mixture. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. (I don't worry about the 20 minute baking 'cause it tastes yummy either way)!

Enjoy with rice and vegetables.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Friday, July 10, 2009

Aprons and Apples, Sew Odd...


This might sound a little strange, but I have been in a sewing mood lately! It's weird...all I want to do is get out the sewing machine and whip something up! And, I really want apple pie! I don't even like apple pie, but I like this. So here goes...

What about an apron? Just a little snip snip here and a stitch there and we should be able to complete one before getting too board! Here's a couple links to check out if you'd like to sew one! (No, there isn't a link for the one above. It's from Anthropologie. But I think we could come up with our own pattern, if we try).

http://tipnut.com/56-free-apron-patterns-you-can-make/

http://tipnut.com/free-apron-patterns-tutorials/

Then, to coin a phrase from my mother-in-law, "We're being domestic." On to the apple pie!

Brown Bag Apple Pie

Crust

1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. sugar
1 t. salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 T. milk

Combine and press into bottom of pie plate.

Filling

6-8 apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
2 T. flour

Toss apples with dry ingredients. Pour into crust.

Topping

1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 stick butter, softened

Combine until crumbly. Sprinkle over pie. Put pie in paper bag and fold up end. Spray bag with water. Bake at 350 for 45 min.. (I didn't cook mine in a bag, but it sounds like fun. I guess I'm just easily amused, hehehe).

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Food Storage...on the Path to Preparedness

I ran across Food Storage...on the Path to Preparedness the other day, and thought I'd put a link on here. This is a 14 page handout, compiled by Debbie Kent, that addresses many topics, like:
  • Why Should You be Prepared?
  • Warnings and Where they can be Found
  • The NEW Food Storage Plan
  • 90 Days the Easy Way -- Think SOS
  • WATER
  • Filling 55-Gallon Barrels
  • Rotating
  • Water Ideas and Rotating Systems
  • Financial Reserve
  • Long Term Food Storage/One Person/One Year (in addition to your 90 day supply)
  • Why Store These?
  • I Have a Year Supply...That's All I Need
  • What Will This Provide Per Day?
  • MENU Using Basic Year Supply
  • Survival Mode
  • Menu Planning
  • Using Your Year Supply
  • Storing Your Food Storage
  • Inventorying
  • How Can I Afford Food Storage?
  • How Do I Find all the Food I Need?
  • What Are You Going to do With This Info.?
  • 6 Steps to Success
  • Going the Extra Mile
  • Why Do We Prepare
  • The Path to Preparedness
  • Will You Be Ready?
  • Top 10 Reasons Why I Don't Have My Food Storage
  • A Year's Supply for $58.81?
  • OTHER BASICS and "Fun Stuff"
  • Menu Suggestions
Flip through the pages and see if something catches your eye.

Wednesday Prep Day - One Day Late

Wow, everybody! It's Thursday...where did Wednesday go?! This week, for our 72 hr. kits, we're going to gather personal documents. After reviewing two sites, Safely Gathered In and Food Storage Made Easy, I've compiled a small list of items you may want to have.
  • Birth Certificates
  • Marriage Certificates
  • Will
  • Passport
  • Vaccination Records
  • Credit Card Information - front and back
  • Automobile Insurance Policy
  • Homeowners Insurance Policy
  • Life Insurance Policy
  • Social Security Cards
  • Bank Statements
  • Retirement Statements
  • Internet Passwords
  • Utility Statements
  • Work/Tax Documents that would be difficult to replace
  • etc...
Whether you choose to keep these items in your 72 hr. kit, file cabinet, fire/water proof box, or ziplock bags in the freezer - yes, people do this too - it's up to you. Just make sure you have a way to remind yourself to grab them when it's time to go.

Now, how is your three months of storage coming? Do you have a plan? If so, keep pluggin' along. You'll get it. If you don't have a plan for your three month supply, lets make one together. To start, make a menu: seven breakfasts, seven or fourteen dinners. Seven's easier to plan, fourteen gives you more options.
  1. Write the recipes for each breakfast and dinner down.
  2. If you do seven meals, multiply the ingredients by 13 to find out exactly how much of each item you need for three months. If you do fourteen, you can multiply all of the meals by seven or half by seven and half by six. It's up to you.
  3. Make a master shopping list.
  4. Begin shopping always remembering to stick to your budget. Little by little you will cross all the items off. Just be persistent and patient.
This month, we are collecting Oats for our long-term storage. Liesa Card suggests a food storage program that fits the way we collect long-term storage on this site; although, there are many ways to go about gathering your storage.

Another way that makes sense is gathering a one year supply for one person at a time. (When you have one year gathered, just do it again). If you have one year for one person, you will also have a six month supply for two people, a four month supply for three, and so on. Isn't that COOL?! (I thought you might like it)! Happy collecting...

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Fruit Cobbler

We had this wonderful delight at our neighbor's home on the 4th of July! It was yummy!

1/4 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk
Lg. can fruit, drained (save juice)
1/4 to 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. fruit juice

Heat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir sifted dry ingredients in alternately with milk. Beat until smooth. Pour into 9 x 13 baking dish. Spoon fruit over batter. Sprinkle with 1/4 -1/2 c. sugar. Pour 1 c. reserved fruit juice over top. Bake 45 - 50 min. During the baking, the fruit and juice go to the bottom and a cake-like layer forms on top. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream. Enjoy!!!

(Rae said she doesn't have much luck with peaches because the crust doesn't come up through them easily, but I tried it with smaller peach pieces, and it was perfect)!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Happy July 4th!!!

Boy, oh boy! When I started typing this, it was July 5th. Now it's August 5th! Where does all the time go?! I guess we better get started then...

We had so much fun on July fourth! Although, it was way exhausting; I'm not even kidding! First event of the day...a parade! Yeah! We met Aunt Kristy and some of her family and the kids had lots of fun eating free pop sickles and hanging out. I tried to get pictures of the things they liked most, but my camera has pretty much had it!

The children were given water and pop sickles to keep the heat away. Notice Stina's gum...

It's hot out here and the sun is so bright!

Ha! I'm just going to tease the camera all day, mom!

I never tease the camera. It's my best friend!

I don't even remember what these chicks are called. (Isn't that aweful)? It's some group from the high school.

The parade only had four floats, seriously. Three of them were four wheelers.
This was my favorite.

We had lots of fire engines drive by. Mercedes would sing "Be cool about fire safety" each time one passed; and, Christina would hide behind me because the people would squirt water at us!

The horses were Christina and Alex favorite!

After the parade, we all went to Kristy's for a BBQ! Most of Dan's family was there and Grandma and Grandpa Simmonds, Karen, Gary, Desiree, Kili, Taylor, and Steven were there. I hope I didn't leave anyone out! The girls got their faces painted and Christina loved playing with Kinsley.

After the BBQ, we went to Arby's work to pick up Jake. All three of the kids zonked in their seats! It was AWESOME!!! I wanted to sleep too, but there just wasn't time for that because we had one more place to go for the day.

Later that evening, we went to Grandpa Rod and Grandma Rae's home! We had the best cobbler, watched fireworks, and enjoyed each other's company.

Here's Grandpa Rod with Mia, his granddaughter, Mercedes, Rachel, and Sara.

Some of the kids enjoying their ice cream.

Fly me to the moon!

Ben bought two of these monsters. Each one lasted over three minutes! It was AWESOME!!!

Will this ever end?!

Oooooohhhh.....

We are tired, very tired.

Look, ma, I burned my thumb! (Crazy head)! We thought this was the end of our day, but boy were we wrong...

After these fireworks, we went to Grandma Twitchel's home. (I'm not sure how to spell the name). From her yard, we had a great view of the city firewors - close enough they were big, far enough away they weren't scary. After the city fireworks, we went home. (Everyone we were with stayed to watch more fireworks). It was a very busy day and we were all sleepy. I told my dad "It's a good thing we don't inflict this much fun on ourselves every day!"

Thursday, July 2, 2009

What We're Up To

I haven't posted pictures for a while...that silly camera is somewhere again. It's been a good couple days. Alex is learning to walk. He's taken up to nine steps at a time and it's fun to watch him. The other thing he does is throw temper tantrums. It's hilarious! He's done it so much that he knows to be careful when he flails his body on the floor because he might smack his head.

Christina let me cut her bangs yesterday. It was a good thing 'cause I think she found the scissors and chopped them a little here and there. I was about to shape the hair on the sides of her face, and she started waving her hands at me and saying "Back away, shoo, back away!" Stina, you make me laugh!

Mercedes has been so busy playing outside! She loves playing with friends, in the water, running, riding her bike. All the things kids her age enjoy! She also loves taking care of her brother and sister. She really is a big helper!

Jake joined Facebook. He's a facebook fanatic who becomes giddy every time he gets a new friend or does some cool Mafia War's thing. Which, by-the-way, he wants everybody to join his mafia, so you better get busy. (Jake say's he "does not become giddy" but I just want you all to know that he does).

Some of our neighbors shared a bunch of strawberries with us; and, I was able to make strawberry jam. It's been a long time since we had strawberry jam, so it was such a treat! Besides the jam, the children loved munching on the fresh fruit all morning! Mmmm...it was a lot of fun and very tasty!

Fun With Utilities

Alright, so we all have utility bills. Whether its: phone, power, gas, city, garbage, etc..., they're there. I'll tell you what I did to help the ebb-and-flow and regulate the payments. Now it does take some work at first, but this system will work for anyone who wants to try.

When I began this system in the Spring of 2008, I gathered bills for all the utilities for the past twelve months. I must admit, I was missing a couple statements, so I either looked them up on line, looked at bank statements, or guesstimated. Now, here comes the fun part.
  1. Add ALL the bill amounts together.
  2. Divide this total by 12.
This will give you your monthly average spent on ALL utilities.

For example: All our utilities for 2007 equaled $3360.00. So I divided this amount by 12 and the average monthly payment came out to be $280.00.

3360/12=280

What does this mean? This means that each month we put $280.00 into an account just for utilities. If you decide to do this, you will save your average. **Do not and I repeat do not spend it on anything else or you'll mess up the system.** In the Summer and Winter this amount will not be enough to cover the utilities; but, that's why we like Spring and Fall. They help even everything out because it will be too much.

If you want to give this a try, and you begin during the high months, you will have to supplement with extra, but it's worth a shot.

Every six months, recheck your average. This will help you know if what you're putting away is enough. If things have changed, you can adjust.

Happy Budgeting...

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday Prep Day

Good Morning Everybody! Okay, when I started writing this it was morning. Now it's after 10:00 p.m.! Where does the time go? Today we are going to begin collecting a First Aid Kit for our 72 hr. kits. You can make it as basic or involved as you want. You can even have your regular first aid kit and keep it in a place with the 72 hr. kits so you can grab-and-go if needed. If you want ideas for a first aid kit, click here. I also know that I saw one at Walmart a week ago. I didn't get a chance to look at it, but I did note that it had 72 pieces and was $9.00. What else...Oh, check out the American Red Cross for ideas too! Their site is full of information.

Another thing I just want to mention about 72 hr. kits. You don't have to have everything for everyone now. Would it be nice? Of course! Is it always practical to collect everything all at once? No. You must always consider your resources, budget, etc. Five flashlights would be ideal for my family; but, one or two is still better than none. So do what you can and just keep working at it. If you're persistent, you'll get there.

Now, how is your three months of storage coming? Do you have a plan? If so, keep pluggin' along. You'll get it. If you don't have a plan for your three month supply, lets make one together. To start, make a menu: seven breakfasts, seven or fourteen dinners. Seven's easier to plan, fourteen gives you more options.
  1. Write the recipes for each breakfast and dinner down.
  2. If you do seven meals, multiply the ingredients by 13 to find out exactly how much of each item you need for three months. If you do fourteen, you can multiply all of the meals by seven or half by seven and half by six. It's up to you.
  3. Make a master shopping list.
  4. Begin shopping always remembering to stick to your budget. Little by little you will cross all the items off. Just be persistent and patient.
This month, we are collecting wheat for our long-term storage. Liesa Card suggests a food storage program that fits the way we collect long-term storage on this site; although, there are many ways to go about gathering your storage.

Another way that makes sense is gathering a one year supply for one person at a time. (When you have one year gathered, just do it again). If you have one year for one person, you will also have a six month supply for two people, a four month supply for three, and so on. Isn't that COOL?! (I thought you might like it)! Happy collecting...

Quick Cook Bean Instructions

To quick cook beans, add sorted beans and a bunch of water to a pot. Boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand one hour. Replace old water with fresh water and simmer covered for 1 and a half to 2 hours or until done.