Friday, August 28, 2009

Canning Butter

***Edited to say: I don't actually like the taste of canned butter, so disregard what I said about saving it for spreading. That was before I had actually tasted the stuff! At least I will not be saving mine for spreading; but, lot's of people love this stuff. If you try it, you'll figure out what to do with yours.

I recently taught how to can butter at Enrichment Night. Even though our current focus is the Sample Basic Menu, I wanted to include it. I realize butter is not a BASIC, but oil is necessary for cooking, and is recommended as storage. If you are going to can butter, I recommend saving it for spreading. You can use it to cook with; but personally, I'd rather use oil, shortening, and apple sauce, and save the butter to put on hot home made rolls and toast. This recipe is from End Times Report, and is the same method Windy DeWitt uses and has published on page four of this booklet.

CANNING BUTTER

Now you can purchase canned butter from The Internet Grocer http://www.internet-grocer.net/butter.htm or make it yourself using the directions below.

1. Use any butter that is on sale. Lesser quality butter requires more shaking (see #5 below), but the results are the same as with the expensive brands.

2. Heat pint jars in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes, without rings or seals. One pound of butter slightly more than fills one pint jar, so if you melt 11 pounds of butter, heat 12 pint jars. A roasting pan works well for holding the pint jars while in the oven.

3. While the jars are heating, melt butter slowly until it comes to a slow boil. Using a large spatula, stir the bottom of the pot often to keep the butter from scorching. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes at least: a good simmer time will lessen the amount of shaking required (see #5 below). Place the lids in a small pot and bring to a boil, leaving the lids in simmering water until needed.

4. Stirring the melted butter from the bottom to the top with a soup ladle or small pot with a handle, pour the melted butter carefully into heated jars through a canning jar funnel. Leave 3/4" of head space in the jar, which allows room for the shaking process.

5. Carefully wipe off the top of the jars, then get a hot lid from the simmering water, add the lid and ring and tighten securely. Lids will seal as they cool. Once a few lids "ping," shake while the jars are still warm, but cool enough to handle easily, because the butter will separate and become foamy on top and white on the bottom. In a few minutes, shake again, and repeat until the butter retains the same consistency throughout the jar.

6. At this point, while still slightly warm, put the jars into a refrigerator. While cooling and hardening, shake again, and the melted butter will then look like butter and become firm. This final shaking is very important! Check every 5 minutes and give the jars a little shake until they are hardened in the jar! Leave in the refrigerator for an hour.

7. Canned butter should store for 3 years or longer on a cool, dark shelf. [It does last a long time. We have just used up the last of the butter we canned in 1999, and it was fine after 5 years.] Canned butter does not "melt*" again when opened, so it does not need to be refrigerated upon opening, provided it is used within a reasonable length of time.

*It melts. It just doesn't melt and separate like butter sometimes does when left out for long periods of time.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Old Fashioned Oatmeal

Old Fashioned Oatmeal

2 c. water
1/4 t. salt (optional, more if desired)
1 c. oats
Milk (optional)
Butter (optional)

Bring water and salt to a boil. Add oats and stir. Cook two minutes, stirring occasionally. Add sugar, honey, milk, and butter to taste, if desired.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Wednesday Prep Day

Good Morning! Today for our 72 hr. kits, we will be collecting a battery powered radio. Radio's are important because, in an emergency, they can provide information about what may be happening. Keep your eye's open at yard sales and thrift stores. You may be able to snatch one up for a fraction of the original price. Happy Hunting!

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. (As we continue our "Sample BASIC Menu" on the right, you can use it for ideas. More of that to come later).
  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 Rice 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...

Here's an important note:

Never spend what you do not have. If you do, your things will own you, and that's just not the way preparedness, or anything else, should be done. Always be persistent, never running faster than needed; because, as you "Do the best you can, the Lord will provide the rest." (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Food Storage Use and Management: Sample Basic Menu

Are you guys ready for today? Of course! We are going to plan and cook using our food storage! Hooray!!! "This Menu is given to show that you can maintain a semblance of traditional meals even if all you have are the BASIC foods." (Once Upon the Ark) When this is complete, you will each have access to one week of meals that focus on food storage. And, you will have the recipes to accompany them. Cooking with food storage - I love it! And if you don't already, you will!

Food Storage Use and management
Sample BASIC Menu

Day One
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day Two
Breakfast
  • Hot Whole Wheat Biscuits
  • Country Gravy
  • Jam or Honey
Lunch
  • Peanut Butter Sandwich
  • Jam or Honey
Dinner
  • Pasta of Choice
  • Butter Horn Rolls
Day Three
Breakfast
  • Cracked Wheat Cereal
  • Sugar or Honey
  • Whole Wheat Toast
Lunch
  • Chicken Sandwich*
  • Whole Wheat Roll
Dinner
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Spanish Rice
  • Chocolate Pudding
Day Four
Breakfast
  • Perfect Whole Wheat Pancakes
  • Hot Maple Syrup
  • Sausage Pattie*
Lunch
Dinner
  • Chicken Fried Steak*
  • Seasoned Rice
  • Gravy
  • Baked Beans
Day Five
Breakfast
  • Oatmeal Croquettes
  • Sausage Patty*
Lunch
Dinner
  • Chicken Fried Steak*
  • Seasoned Rice
  • Gravy
  • Baked Beans
Day Six
Breakfast
  • Waffles
  • Maple Syrup
  • Sausage Patty*
Lunch
  • Navajo Tacos
Dinner
Day Seven
Breakfast
  • Sausage Patty Biscuit*
Lunch
Dinner
  • Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Butter Horn Rolls
  • Vanilla Pudding

*Wheat Meat. I'll explain these, and teach you what to do, once we get into this a little more. I will also teach you what to do if you have some type of wheat or bran allergy - like me.

"Note: This Menu has no fruit, vegetables, or meat. 'Got seeds?' you're going to love your Spring garden! Be sure your jars and canning equipment are in good shape. This Menu is given to show you that you can maintain a semblance of traditional meals even if all you have are the BASIC foods...Well!...I assume that you do have a few spices, herbs, and seasonings" (Once Upon the Ark).

Monday, August 24, 2009

Motivational Monday

For the Righteous the gospel provides a warning before a calamity, a program for the crises, a refuge for each disaster.

Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare Ye,” Ensign, Jan 1974, 68

An interesting side note: When this talk was given, President Benson hadn't become the President of the Church yet. To read the full text please click on the link above.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Food Storage Use and Management: Sample Basic Menu

Good morning, everybody! Today I am going to give you a sampling of what and how you can eat if all you had were the BASICS. My grandma wrote a book titled Once Upon the Ark a couple years ago and included this menu. My plan is to get you excited about this, and then I'll show you how to do it over the next couple weeks. To wet your whistle, I'll begin with four days, and we can continue the last three on Tuesday. Shall we get started?

Food Storage Use and management
Sample BASIC Menu

Day One
Breakfast
  • Old Fashioned Oatmeal
  • Sugar or Honey
  • Whole Wheat Toast
  • Jam of Choice
Lunch
  • Bean Burrito
  • Sprouts
  • Cookies
Dinner
  • Soup of Choice
  • Whole Wheat Roll
Day Two
Breakfast
  • Hot Whole Wheat Biscuits
  • Country Gravy
  • Jam or Honey
Lunch
  • Peanut Butter Sandwich
  • Jam or Honey
Dinner
  • Pasta of Choice
  • Butter Horn Rolls
Day Three
Breakfast
  • Cracked Wheat Cereal
  • Sugar or Honey
  • Whole Wheat Toast
Lunch
  • Chicken Sandwich*
  • Whole Wheat Roll
Dinner
  • Chicken Enchiladas
  • Spanish Rice
  • Chocolate Pudding
Day Four
Breakfast
  • Perfect Whole Wheat Pancakes
  • Hot Maple Syrup
  • Sausage Pattie*
Lunch
  • Soup of Choice
Dinner
  • Chicken Fried Steak*
  • Seasoned Rice
  • Gravy
  • Baked Beans
*I'll explain these, and teach you what to do, once we get into this a little more.

I'm so EXCITED and I hope you are too!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Wednesday Prep Day - One Day Late

First of all, I hope you are all having a WONDERFUL day! I know mine has been good. This week, for our 72 hr. kits, we are going to add a utility knife and a bucket. Knifes are handy tools and buckets are good for carrying items in. Infact, you can place the items you've collected so far in the bucket if you'd like.

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 Rice 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...

Here's an important note:

Never spend what you do not have. If you do, your things will own you, and that's just not the way preparedness, or anything else, should be done. Always be persistent, never running faster than needed; because, as you "Do the best you can, the Lord will provide the rest." (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Monday, August 17, 2009

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

No-bake Oatmeal Fudge Cookies

No-bake Oatmeal Fudge Cookies

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. butter
1 t. vanilla
1/2 c. peanut butter
3 c. oats

Bring sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla and peanut butter. Mix until peanut butter is dissolved. Add oats and stir until evenly coated. Scoop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper or a cookie sheet. Eat when cooled.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Motivational Monday

“Be virtuous and pure; be men of integrity and truth; keep the commandments of God; and then you will be able more perfectly to understand the difference between right and wrong—between the things of God and the things of men; and your path will be like that of the just, which shineth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day [see Proverbs 4:18].”8

Chapter 13: Obedience: “When the Lord Commands, Do It”, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),158–70

John Taylor, while serving as President of the Quorum of the Twelve, reported: “I well remember a remark that Joseph Smith made to me upwards of forty years ago. Said he, ‘Elder Taylor, you have been baptized, you have had hands laid upon your head for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and you have been ordained to the holy priesthood. Now, if you will continue to follow the leadings of that spirit, it will always lead you right. Sometimes it might be contrary to your judgment; never mind that, follow its dictates; and if you be true to its whisperings it will in time become in you a principle of revelation so that you will know all things.’ ”19

“Chapter 10: Prayer and Personal Revelation,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),125–34

Friday, August 7, 2009

Story Time

The Three Little Pigs
Adapted by Milt Banta and Al Dempster
from the Walt Disney Motion Picture "The Three Little Pigs"
Illustrations by the Walt Disney Studio

Once upon a time there were three little pigs who went out into the big world to build their homes and seek their fortunes.

The first little pig did not like to work at all. He quickly built himself a house of straw. Then off he danced down the road, to see how his brothers were getting along. And as he danced he sang:

"I built my house of straw,
I built my house of hay.
I toot my flute -
I don't give a hoot -
And play around all day."

The second little pig was building himself a house, too. He did not like to work any better than his brothers, so he had decided to build a quick and easy house of sticks. Soon it was finished, too. It was not a very strong little house, but at least the work was done. Now the second little pig was free to do what he liked.

What he liked to do was to play his fiddle and dance. So while the first little pig tooted his flute, the second little pig sawed away on his fiddle, dancing as he played. And as he danced he sang:

"I built my house of sticks,
I built my house of twigs.
With a hey diddle-diddle
I play on my fiddle,
And dance all kinds of jigs."

Then off danced the two little pigs down the road together to see how their brother was getting along.

The third little pig was a sober little pig. He was building a house, too, but he was building his of bricks. He did not mind hard work. He wanted a stout little, strong little house, for he knew that in the woods nearby there lived a wolf who liked nothing better than to catch little pigs and eat them up! So slap, slosh, slap! Away he worked, laying bricks and smoothing mortar between them.

"Ha-ha-ha!" laughed the first little pig, when he saw his brother hard at work. "Ho-ho-ho!" laughed the second little pig. "Come down and play with us!" he called. But the busy little pig did not pause. Slap, slosh, slap! went the bricks on mortar as he called down to them:

"I build my house of stones.
I build my house of bricks.
I have no chance
To sing an dance,
For work and play don't mix."

"Ho-ho-ho! Ha-ha-ha!" laughed the two lazy little pigs, dancing along to the tune of the fiddle and the flute.

"You can laugh and dance and sing," their busy brother called after them, "but I'll be safe, and you'll be sorry when the wolf comes to the door!"

"Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!" laughed the two little pigs again, and they disappeared into the woods singing a merry tune:

"Who's afraid of the big bad wolf,
The big bad wolf, the big bad wolf:
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?
Tra-la-la-la-la-a-a-a!"

Just as the first pig reached his door, out of the woods popped the big bad wolf! The little pig squealed with fright and slammed the door. "Little Pig, little pig, let me come in!" cried the wolf. "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!" said the little pig. "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" roared the wolf. And he did. He blew the little straw house all to pieces!

Away raced the little pig to his brother's house of sticks. No sooner was he in the door, when knock, knock ,knock! There was the big bad wolf! But of course, the little pigs would not let him come in.

I'll fool those little pigs, " chuckled the big bad wolf to himself. then he said out loud, "Those little pigs are too smart for me. I'm going home." He started off toward the deep woods, but he did not go far. He hid behind a big tree.

Soon the door opened and the two little pigs peeked out. there was no wolf in sight. "Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho! laughed the two little pigs. "We fooled him." Then they danced around the room, singing gaily:

"Who's afraid of the big bad wolf,
the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf?
Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?
Tra-la-la-la-la-a-a-a!"

Soon there came another knock at the door. It was the big bad wolf again, but he had covered himself with a sheepskin, and was curled up in a big basket, looking like a little lamb. "Who's there?" called the second little pig. "I'm a poor little sheep, with no place to sleep. Please open the door and let me in," said the big bad wolf in a sweet little voice.

The little pig peeked through a crack of the door, and he could see the wolf's big black paws and large sharp fangs. "Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin!" "You can't fool us with that sheepskin!" said the second little pig.

"Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!" cried the angry old wolf.

So he huffed,
and he PUFFED,
and he puffed,
and he HUFFED,

and he blew the little twig house all to pieces!

Away raced the two little pigs, straight to the third little pig's house of bricks. "Don't worry," said the third little pig to his two frightened little brothers. "You are safe here." soon they were all singing gaily.

This made the big bad wolf perfectly furious! "Now by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin," he roared, "I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow you house in!" So the big bad wolf huffed and he PUFFED, and he puffed and he HUFFED, but he could not blow down that little house of bricks!

How could he get in? At last he thought of the chimney! So up he climbed, quietly. then with a snarl, down he jumped - right into a kettle of boiling water! With a yelp of pain he sprang straight up the chimney again, and raced away from that little house as fast as he could go!

The three little pigs spent their time in the strong little brick house singing and dancing merrily. and the big bad wolf never came back again.

Helaman 5:12
"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the arock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Burritos-a-Go-Go

This recipe is from I Dare You to Eat It. I altered it and we had it for dinner last night. It was very good! One of the best ways to be prepared with food storage is to know how to use it. And what better way to learn than to do, especially before an emergency. This will cut down stress and worry - at least in the food department. Who needs more stress and worry in an emergency, anyway?

Burritos-a-Go-Go

3 c. cooked *pinto beans (I used 2 cans, which is a little more)
2 c. leftover rice (Liesa Card uses 1 c. rice and 1 c. wheat berries)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can (7 oz.) diced green chilies
1 t. salt
1 t. chili powder
1 t. cumin
1/2 t. paprika
1 bunch cilantro (I didn't use this)
15 8" tortillas

Mix all ingredients and spoon 1/3 c. filling into each tortilla and enjoy. For a quick meal, try wrapping every other one in waxed paper to prevent a "burrito block" and freeze. Microwave 2-3 minutes when ready to eat.

*If cooking your own pinto beans, try adding 1 clove garlic and 1 c. combination celery and onion.

All This Effort

Two days ago, we brought home an eight month old Black Labrador Retriever. He was originally named "Jake," but this caused much confusion in the home. In order to train him, we changed his name to "Drake." He doesn't look like a "Drake" to me, but he immediately responded to it. He wouldn't respond to anything else, like Quigly or Marly; and, Drake is certainly better than Bake, Cake, Lake, Rake, and so forth. Infact, while we were trying to come up with a name, Mercedes would yell "Froggy Frogly Beach Lake Quigly Marly Quigly" and then exclaim "and his middle name is 'Speed Racer!'" Try saying that five times fast! Oh boy!!!

Training is quite involved and we only get to work a little here and there. I need a bigger rope for him 'cause all we have is a leash - and what is that, maybe six feet? Not to humanize him, because I'm reading that's bad for dogs, but I think I'd go stir crazy if my world consisted of a 12' diameter. You guys ever hear of Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer? He runs, every morning, with a pack of about 35 dogs off leash! Look at that Alpha go!

I'm learning all sorts of things! Did you know you should never let your dog go through any door or up and down stairs in front of you? And you can teach them to pee on command! Seriously! Well, we'll give this a shot. Most people miss opportunity because it's dressed in coveralls and looks like work. This is definitely work. But I'm sure it will be a good opportunity as well.

Wednesday Prep Day - One Day Late

I was thinking, "Maybe I should just make Thursday 'Prep Day,' 'cause I am continually doing 'Prep Day' a day late." Hmmm...I don't know...we'll see. So how is every one? I hope all is well. I've been thinking about life and how it's not always perfect. Sometimes we go through crazy times and it doesn't make sense. But, the Lord loves each of us and wants us to be better. Realizing this gives me strength. Joseph Smith made a comment about this. "Never be discouraged. If I were sunk in the deepest pit of Nova Scotia with the Rocky Mountains piled upon me, I would exercise faith, keep good courage and eventually come out on top."

Now, for our 72 hr. kits, we are going to gather an ax and shovel this week. Keep these in a place where they can be accessed easily in an emergency - or maybe just a camping trip, or lawn project. There have been times where an ax would have been so handy! And a shovel, well, they work lots better than sticks and rocks. (I know this from experience). We must arm ourselves!

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 Rice 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, August 5, 2009

My new apron...well, not yet...but almost....

A couple weeks ago I did a post about aprons on my preparedness blog. I have really been wanting to make one! Well, today I stumbled upon the one! I'll have to make my own pattern, but isn't it CUTE?! It's from Anthropologie and I love it! If you would like to look through a few apron patterns, click here. Love to you all!

Paint Prep

Jake's Arby's Shed finely came. Actually, it came in June, but I'm a little behind. Mercedes was so excited about painting! She couldn't wait! I was up stairs in my room, and she yells up to me, "Mom, I got the paint opened." When I went down stairs, this is what I saw...

Paint lid on the table...

Brushes all laid out and ready to go...

Grin from ear to ear. Notice the ladle? This is what she had been using to scoop up the paint for her bowl. She's a thinker!

Now I'm going to bed. I'm not tired, but I should at least attempt to sleep tonight; after all, it is after two. I'll be back to finish this post some time...love to you all!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Emergency Survival Bar

Emergency Survival Bar
This recipe will make 2 bars - each containing approximately 1000 calories - enough food for one person for one day. These store for a long time, are excellent for emergency packs, etc..., and taste really good!

3 c. cereal (oatmeal, cornmeal, or wheat flakes)
2 1/2 c. powdered milk
1 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt
3 T. honey
3 T. water
1/2 c. jello (I used one small box of red jello and it was nummy)!


Place all dry ingredients, except jello, in a bowl. Bring water, honey, and jello to a boil. Add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Add water a little at a time until mixture is just moist enough to mold. Place in a 9x9 square dish and dry in the oven under very low heat. (It doesn't take very long). Wrap and store. Eat dry or cook in about 3/4 c. water.

Monday, August 3, 2009