Monday, February 26, 2018

Monday Message


"As we have been continuously counseled for more than 60 years, let us have some food set aside that would sustain us for a time in case of need. But let us not panic nor go to extremes. Let us be prudent in every respect. And, above all, my brothers and sisters, let us move forward with faith in the Living God and His Beloved Son" (Gordon B. Hinckley, in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 89; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 73).

“Let us be prudent in every respect” - that is very important.

The old saying from the depression times “use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.” We should take it to heart...

http://www.providentplan.com/601/use-it-up-wear-it-out-make-it-do-or-do-without/ - this is very much worth the read through.  I like their statement, “when you learn contentment, you break free of materialism and consumerism.”

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/use-it-up-wear-it-out-make-it-do-or-do-without/ - read this one too, she uses this in a clear way as well but with different aspects.

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/the-dreaded-leftovers-tips-for-using-what-you-have/ - this goes hand-in-hand with what she said in the above site.

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/old-fashioned-cooking-substitution-chart/ - this is very handy to have at the ready to know you can substitute.

http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/how-to-live-a-simple-life/ this is a good read as well.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/14-steps-towards-living-simpler-lifestyle.html#_a5y_p=2596916 - I have followed this gal for years.

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/recipes-index/canning-and-preserving

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/recipes-from-scratch

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/simple-healthy-snack-ideas-for-under-1.html

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/stockpiling

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/eating-from-the-pantry-stockpile.html

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/more-eating-from-the-pantry-stockpile.html

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/10-mixes-that-should-be-in-your-pantry.html

You will not be disappointed in reading these FEW things from her site. She has gluten free recipes on there as well.

I will tell you I LOVE her scone mix! - https://www.littlehouseliving.com/scone-mix-recipe.html I use thickened powdered milk instead of heavy cream as that is what I have and it is terrific!


I got a used coat in the fall but the first time my husband wore it the zipper broke. I attempted to fix it but it broke again. Lets just say I hate plastic zippers.

This time I looked through my zippers (I have a stash from yard sales). I only had one that would be long enough. Actually, it was too long but it was metal and separated at the bottom. I could cut it to fit and I took out that broken zipper as you see in the picture.  Then I sewed in the new zipper - it wasn’t new it was a recycled zipper someone had saved. I am glad that they did as you can see the finished goose down coat below.


If you don’t know how to sew please learn how. The coat was used and free to me, the zipper was also free. So because of my sewing skill I was able to fix a coat when we otherwise would have had to get another. It now will last for years.

Along those lines, remember last year I mended my gloves by having knitting knowledge and knew how to darn….




So learn your skills - sewing, knitting, crocheting, bread making, budgeting, meal planning, cooking from scratch and so many more… You will be glad that you did learn these things. So by doing these things it helped so that we did not have unexpected things to buy and it can save money so that you can get your storage in.

Do the best you can!

Monday, February 19, 2018

Monday Message


"We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. . .I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. . .Begin in a small way, … and gradually build toward a reasonable objective." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

I want you to begin working on your storage. It is so important to have on hand. We have had snow storms of late and knowing that I have storage and won't have to run to a store for anything is sooooo helpful. There have been huge multi car pile-ups about fifteen miles from us on the interstate - a huge reminder to brush up on winter driving skills and to have your winter car kit in your vehicles.

We must be prepared for needful things as best we can. Disasters will only keep coming we need to be able to not only care for our own families but those around us as well as far away.

Be sure you know how to fix what you store. Also store what you and your family like. It will do no good if you store things no one will eat.

I love knowing how to use our food storage items. Even if I have my food storage binder full of our favorites I still like to find more ideas.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anRWO5_Q92o&feature=em-uploademail - great recipe video using food storage.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Dehydrated%20Apples%20Recipes  - since we talked about dry apples last week this has my favorite recipe for applesauce.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Dehydrated%20Carrots%20Recipes - we all have our ways of using carrots here are some for using dehydrated carrots.

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/ - meals

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Oats oatmeal is a great food storage item.




Don't forget you have free food storage you can get simply by taking advantage of what you already have on hand, like making your own orange peel for baking and etc. by zesting oranges you already have and just drying them on a plate. Free!


http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Bean%20Recipes - bean recipes

http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/search/label/Rice%20Recipes - rice is great for your storage as well.

https://www.pinterest.com/fsme/food-storage-recipes/?lp=true - this is well worth looking at recipe-wise.



Now I have given you lots to look at so try and see if your family would like the recipes in your binder.

Look through your recipe file and see if you can adapt it for your storage.

For example, I will show you a great recipe we have stored around.

Green Bean Casserole

1 lb browned hamburger (could also use your canned hamburger)
2 cans or pints of drained green beans 
2 cans of tomato soup
1 tbsp  dried onion

Mix this all together and pour into a 9x13 pan then you top with mashed potatoes.

Bake in a 350 degree oven.

Now we like this recipe. We can use leftover taco meat in place of the hamburger.

So you take your recipe and see what you would need to store. We have all items in our storage to make this any time. I store potato pearls from the LDS  home storage center. You just add water and everything is in there already 

http://allaboutfoodstorage.com/wp-content/uploads/EVERYTHING-UNDER-THE-SUN-2010-word.pdf I love this method. So if we had this recipe two times a month I would need to do the math. She tells you how to do it so read her method to figure out how much of these items you need. I would need to make this two times a month for a year.

Also she has terrific recipes so if you are planning to stock up read her method. I have it printed and in my binder. She also has videos on YouTube...
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=wendy+dewitt+you+tube&view=detail&mid=FC86E40CCEAB93356EB8FC86E40CCEAB93356EB8&FORM=VIRE I think if you did nothing but watch this you will have great information

Keep working on storage and keep learning skills.

Monday, February 12, 2018

Monday Message

Get a recipe for versatile homemade bread HERE!

"I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment may affect any of us. We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

I want to encourage you to continue your storage and if you haven’t yet started to get started. Everyone starts somewhere.

It's just as important to learn basic skills. I think if you know how to make bread it is one of the biggest helps. It takes a little learning but in our times we can learn so easily on the computer by just typing in how to make bread. YouTube videos shows you how to make so many breads.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj7Sfu3IuYs - bread secrets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS2clOSZJ7o - amish white bread, makes two loaves. Get white bread down first then move to grains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJDBqoDqXRo - amish sweet white bread

My favorite tip….one tsp of vital wheat gluten to one cup of flour  equals one cup of bread flour.

My tip….I let my bread cool for an hour then I use an electric knife and slice the whole loaf. This is just what I do. I could use a bread knife if no electricity but I like the look of using the electric knife. I pick them up at yard sales. I bag and freeze my sliced bread if I make more than one loaf.

I know you might be saying you already know how. That is great! Are you making it to get your family use to homemade bread? You might be saying, "someday I will." I am here to say someday things seldom come. We need to push ourselves to learn the things we want to learn. The same thing can be said of "I have no time." We need to find the time. Think through what you are doing. Sometimes we are too busy but we are not meant to be that busy all the time. Our bodies and minds need to rest to learn as well.

When we were first married my mother-in-law made bread. My best friend Shirley’s mom made bread. I was going to make bread. So I got a recipe for bread from my mother-in-law as there were no computers back then. I gathered everything I would need. I was working at the time so I needed to pick a day I wasn’t working. 

The day was finally there and I had everything. So I set out in the morning to make two loaves of bread. I set it to raise. After the time allotted I divided the dough in two loaves. Of course, had I known that my bread was supposed to have risen I would have known there was a problem. So in the pans went the dough. It did not rise, not even by two hours or three, no different at four hours. I thought perhaps I should put both into one pan and bake so I did. By supper I pulled it out…..it was so heavy. I went to slice it to have with supper and couldn't even cut it. I had baked a brick. So we laughed and buried it out in the backyard. I later learned I had the water too hot and killed the yeast.  

I kept trying and that is what it takes. But now you all have mini classes any time you want on your computer. A blessing for sure. Learn all you can and never stop learning! 

Years later I was talking to a doctor and she said that if more people made bread we would have less mental disease, that was back in the seventies….something to think about.

I can make bread by hand just as well as any machine in my kitchen.



That was my goal. As time goes on I have gotten fibro then I discovered the machines I have can do it just as good as I can by hand. I learned using bread machines to do everything except baking was just as good and helped me. So when money permitted I got a mixer that could do many loaves at one time.






So what I am trying to say is don’t turn your nose up at machines that can help. You look at thrift stores and you can find them for such a savings but remember that if you cannot get any of the machines you have the skill to make by hand…so no matter where you are you can learn this skill. 

Now I just picked bread making as one of the skills that would be good to know. If you are gluten free it is just as important to learn how to make bread using what you can for that and to store the ingredients because one thing is for sure - we all eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih1XIyg3-f4 - this is fantastic whether or not you are gluten-free. She gives you both recipes this is so handy to have on hand.

There are other skills that help us as well so think what skills you want to learn. Let us know what skill you are working on and how you plan to learn, if it's on the computer or using the library or from a friend, let us know.

If you have a request on a skill, let me know :)

Monday, February 5, 2018

Monday Message


"Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free." - President Thomas S. Monson

As many of you know president Monson just recently passed away so I thought it would be a good thing to use his quote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTCodG3OOdw - this video shows how to use several food storage items. I love this gal. Tip: use one tsp vital wheat gluten to one cup all purpose flour to make one cup of bread flour, I do this all the time.

I have these apples in storage and also have my own apples that I dried I use them just the same with same results so if you dry apples and haven’t tried them this way you are in for a treat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FijOO3DchSQ&t=9s - this is good info on your storage as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUZpNGuvUQQ - this is a wonderful way to show how to use your canned meat. It is very easy to can meat I love having my canned meat. When I can it I do it exactly as directed for my area and the up to date canning instruction. Isn’t this a wonderful way to fix a meal when you are tired?

http://storethisnotthat.com/recipe/one-pot-spaghetti-skillet/ - here is the recipe she has for the video above. She says under thirty minutes to make. I think after church this would be a good thing to make if you don’t make it on Saturday. I often love leftovers on Sundays.

If you are in Iowa or Minnesota you can call 1-800-262-3804 they will give you any up to date info on canning and actually answer any homemaking questions you might have.

I cannot tell you how nice it is to have canned meat on hand with my chicken. I can just open and make chicken salad sandwiches and also a lot more recipes I have using cooked chicken. Roast? Yes, I have canned cubed roast. My favorite is to use it for making beef gravy for noodles or mashed potatoes or rice. I have hamburger and some pork from uncooked type ham.




Meat is easy to can easier than any other canned item I can. One more thing, my canned meats cost me less than I can get on any sale currently because prices went up since their canning.

http://storethisnotthat.com/everydayfoodstorage/ - here is the recipe page they have. Now looking at these recipes, do you still think food storage is icky food? I should think not.

http://storethisnotthat.com/build-basic-food-storage-10-week/ okay, I know I have a lot of their site on here but really I love these no-nonsense gals. Tap on this chart, this is a helpful chart on how to get in storage every month. Totally doable, don’t you think? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNGgIVh-dik - here is a great recipe and using food storage. She also shows you the link for the LDS home storage centers which is what she shows in the monthly chart in the site before this one.

Now I don’t often buy food storage books but their books are fantastic. If you were wondering if they were good - yes, they are.  I have been following these gals since I started this blog. I suggest you look around their site and go way back.

It is helpful to try the recipes that they share and apply your recipes to a way like they do to use your storage.

If you plan to can your meat (and I highly recommend it), you will need a pressure canner that has a good gauge and have it checked.  



You will need jars. I particularly like pint jars for us and I use wide and regular mouth jars together. I can get twenty in my all American pressure canner. If I just use wide mouth I cannot get that many jars in, just a tip there.  



You will need new lids. Never use the used lids to can but I save the used lids to vacuum seal my dry foods. Since I write on the lids the date and contents I know which are used lids. Plus, I keep the new ones in their packages even if I only have a few lids left - a safety measure for me.  

You will also need rings. Now, if you need both you can buy new lids with rings, so there is that. But if you ask for rings from people getting out of canning they will gladly help you out. I keep my rings on wire hangers that I took apart and use like a giant safety pin. They slide on and off and are kept together.

Of course, you will need meat so look for sales.

I also will keep my freezers rotated by canning the meat to make room for new meat. This is why I can all year round.

So look up information on how to can and gather things together you will need.

On a separate note, Rachel Martinez reached out to offer us this great information on saving money on disaster preparation, so a big thank you for sharing! https://www.couponchief.com/guides/guide_to_saving_money_on_disaster_preparation

Keep working on your storage. Watch your sales and set money aside to take advantage of them.

If you know you will have extra money coming in, set some aside to stock up.

Do the best you can!
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