Monday Message

"Today, I emphasize a most basic principle: home production and storage. Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community?" (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I guess we don't have to imagine when we see what is happening all around us.

We are seeing panic buying all over, it is quite sad.

Being in the demographic the virus is effecting badly, I am a bit uneasy. We already have started social distancing. I expect this will get worse for sure. Now is the time to be learning more on its prevention and safe practices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpzLQTy-SA&feature=em-uploademail - this is the mask I decided on. 

They took me fifteen minutes to make each mask. I got the idea from doctor's wearing them over their masks to extend them. I plan on wearing this over my good mask to keep it longer. We only have four n95 masks. We are only going to the pharmacy which is a drive-thru and then at home I will take the outer mask off and wash it outside, the inside mask will get lysol. 

https://www.littlehouseliving.com/homemade-cloth-pads-tutorial-and-pattern.html - something else to think about as an alternative.

That said I will be concentrating on things we can learn and skills we can build on.

You may have to be home with your family. Do you have board games and movies to watch with them?

Do you have a craft box set up for the kiddos and perhaps puzzles and books to read?

Learn to cook from scratch....

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/11775/homemade-noodles/ - this is how I make my noodles.

Then I cook chicken in water, just cover and cook till chicken falls off the bones. Keep the water (now broth), keep chicken after boning it (aka take bones out). Then I bring it to a boil, drop in these noodles. When cooked, I add dumplings. This is a family favorite.

I also brown and drain hamburger, add water with beef cubes, and bring to a boil. Add the noodles then, when cooked, I thicken the broth. This does a wonderful beef and noodles.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/dumplings-for-stew-3051608 - this is how to make dumplings.

Notice, these are very inexpensive to make, a lot of scratch recipes are.

https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/family-favorite-macaroni-and-cheese/4533ea52-0194-4fce-b30f-9516a74c0628 - if you have these ingredients this is great.

Remember comfort foods like those listed above and don't forget pancakes, they are a very cheap meal.

Click HERE and scroll down for diner-style pancakes!

https://www.frugallivingnw.com/best-basic-pancake-recipe/ - this had great stir-in ideas. Remember jams and jellies are good on top,  butter and brown sugar is also fantastic. Even peanut butter is great on top.

https://frugalfamilyhome.com/food/homemade-pancake-syrup 

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/152002/homemade-maple-syrup/ 

Here you have two ways to make syrup for your pancakes.

Of course, I use pancake batter to make waffles, so if you have a waffle iron use that as well.

Click HERE and scroll down for a waffle mix recipe!

When we first moved here we had no stove. I would make French toast and cook it in the waffle iron and called them eggy waffles. You can make fun for the kids even if you are having hard times.

Sometimes we need to use egg replacement, this is my favorite and I keep this in my food storage binder.

It is important not to give up. We have strength we haven't yet tapped into. We are facing trying times and we need to strengthen each other.

What we are going through often affects kids more, so find old fashion fun with them...

https://thestir.cafemom.com/big_kid/181945/indoor_activities_kids_crafts_winter - I have built many tent forts. I made them when I was a kid, a mom, and as a grandma. So seeing these kids in the fort just makes me smile :)

So Missy says find fun!