Monday Message

Provident living: I do hope you are finding time to stock your storage and working on your notebooks  and most of all enjoying time with your family.

"Consider the important (food storage) program which we must never forget nor put in the background. As we become more affluent and our bank accounts enlarge, there comes a feeling of security, and we feel sometimes that we do not need the supply that has been suggested by the Brethren. . . . We must remember that conditions could change and a year’s supply of basic commodities could be very much appreciated by us or others. So we would do well to listen to what we have been told and to follow it explicitly." (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 170; or Ensign, May 1976, 124).

"We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year’s supply. You don’t argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organize and get it done." (Spencer W. Kimball, August 1976).

Here is an idea for your binders...
http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/fsme/docs/3monthfoodsupply.pdf

Some ideas for spending ten dollars a week for food storage...
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-start-a-food-storage-on-138765
http://www.survival-training.info/foodstorage/FoodStorageFoodstorageon10aweekJosephParish.pdf

How much do you need to have for your family?
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/faq/blcalculator.htm

Here are some recipes you might try to use your food storage remember rotate....
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2229985/Food-Storage-Recipes

I have always told you that Wendy Dewitt is my favorite and she has a no nonsense way of doing storage and also a very easy method... in this site you can watch her clips I suggest as your homework this week that you watch every one that is here.
http://momwithaprep.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/how-to-get-started-in-food-storage/

I continue to work on my storage and binder. This week I better organized my binders (yes, I have a few). I have the one that is my binder like I gave you the recipes from, and then I have three binders that I made this week with my huge binder of recipes divided up, as it was just too heavy to be easy to work with so I broke it down this way...

Breads/breakfast (now I have a six inch binder of bread recipes from over the thirty-nine years I have been married, but this is not that binder) this binder has my most used, the ones I do on a regular basis. These also are repeated in that big notebook of breads but I wanted to grab this and not that for my quick find version.....if that makes any sense at all. The large one is one I scan through sometimes looking for one I want to try... This one is much smaller and only has those two categories, bread and breakfast.

Then I have a second one that is main dish, soup and salad.

And then the third is desserts, cookies, etc.

I have put these together as a quick grab to get the recipe I need. I still want to make a table of contents for it like I have in my food storage notebook so that I can find it even faster.

It seems like life is soooooooo busy for us all that any little bit that can help me be more organized is worth the little effort.

My food storage is like a huge pantry... so my recipes are what I store my food around, so I pretty much know I have everything it takes to make a certain recipe when I am making up my menus. Also, if I need any fresh thing that goes on the list (but mostly it is all stored) if I did not have access to fresh I then move to another recipe where I do have everything..........I know it's not very clear but there is a method down deep in there somewhere.

When your storage is up then you only need to keep a list of replacing, which is easier then playing catch up.

For example, my using container is a five gallon tin that holds my flour that I use in the kitchen. I also use wheat but I grind that when needed only. So the white flour is in the tin and when I use that up I go to my storage and drag up a five gallon bucket and dump it in the tin. I then place the empty bucket in my way in the kitchen and place 25 lbs of flour on the grocery list. I get groceries once a month so when I get the flour I have an already cleaned out ready to go bucket for it. I put the flour in and put two bay leaves on top and put on the lid and date it and drag it back down and put it back on the shelf. And I must do this one is tempted to just go to the store and put that one in the tin and forget the heaving but no, that would not rotate it so it is a lot like bookkeeping.

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/11/ensign-articles-about-food-storage-and.html

In case you have missed any articles these will inspire you

http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/2010/03/ark-prep-101-part-9-how-do-i-use-my.html

This one will get you excited with some organizing tips. Now that the kids are home, make a game of it to sort those cupboards then go for ice cream. I love the idea of the chalkboard/magnetic paint and the jar of chalk....it is on my someday list to get a small can of that.

Noodle around that site when you have time.

But remember we can not do it all at one time but you will be surprised how fast it grows when you are working on it actively.

And lastly, this is for those who want to break it down by weeks....
http://www.downwiththat.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-52-week-food-storage-plan.html?m=1

I know I have been stressing storage these last few weeks but I want you to keep working on your skills too when you can.

REMEMBER there are no super women......President Hinckley said  "Do the best you can"  and that is what we should remember. Just do what you can and it will be well for you. Prices are continuing to climb but we can keep building our storage. Even so, it might mean it costs more and it might mean we work on being more frugal to do so, but we can do it.

I am proud of all of you keep doing what you are doing. I am hear to answer questions and if I don't know the answer, I can get them.

Keep working in those gardens! I know it is a hot miserable job for this year has been a rough one on the gardens, but keep on doing what you can.

Monday Message

Provident Living classes will soon be starting up again, be thinking about something you would like to have a class on or you will be at my mercy as to what I pick. :) Let me know by emailing me at bshook@huxcomm.net.

A reminder and to let all the new friends to our ward know, there is a wheat grinder in the kitchen that can be checked out through the relief society president. Also our unit has a dry pack canner again, check it out with relief society president.

And a reminder of the help line for canning or anything basically, call 1-800-262-3804.

Don't forget that we have a great source for spices; check out Ameriherb. Google them, they are in Ames. It isn't a store you can go in and shop, they mail order. But since we live so close we just call, leave our name and address, and ask for their catalog. It is really just a few sheets of paper. When you are heading in to Ames, you can call and tell them you are coming in on what day and about what time and you want to order what ever and they will have it ready, neat thing is great price and no shipping fees! You have to buy one pound of things nothing less but let me tell you when you are three dollars and something for a quart jar of cinnamon, which is what a pound is, you do the math of what you are paying. So I call them a great source in our own back yard!

"We encourage you to follow this counsel with the assurance that a people prepared through obedience to the commandments of God need not fear" (First Presidency letter, 24 June 1988). 

"We encourage you to grow all the food that you feasibly can on your own property. Berry bushes, grapevines, fruit trees—plant them if your climate is right for their growth. Grow vegetables and eat them from your own yard" (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 171; or Ensign, May 1976, 124). 

This one I have to admit is hard but remember we are not wimps, right? And if we follow the Prophets and do what we are counseled we will be blessed.......says sis shook pray for help and you shall have it.

"Those families will be fortunate who, in the last days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own" (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1980, 47; or Ensign, Nov. 1980, 33). 

"The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to prophets and stored at least a year’s supply of survival food" (Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 90; or Ensign; Jan. 1974, 80). 

"Consider the important (food storage) program which we must never forget nor put in the background. As we become more affluent and our bank accounts enlarge, there comes a feeling of security, and we feel sometimes that we do not need the supply that has been suggested by the Brethren. . . . We must remember that conditions could change and a year’s supply of basic commodities could be very much appreciated by us or others. So we would do well to listen to what we have been told and to follow it explicitly" (Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Apr. 1976, 170; or Ensign, May 1976, 124). 

"We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year’s supply. You don’t argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organize and get it done" (Spencer W. Kimball, August 1976). 

The Time to Disregard This Counsel Is Over 
"As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. . . . I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With the events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness. . . . Create a plan if you don't already have one, or update your present plan . . . We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we're putting away." (L. Tom Perry, in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 47; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 36).

So we work steady at it and push on. Before you know it you have developed a good storage.

You can start by creating a notebook of food storage friendly recipes. I go through our family recipe collection and either adapted them or they were already perfect for if I could not have cheese or eggs. Here is a link to recipes in my food storage binder to use as an example and get yourself started: http://www.beckysbacktobasics.com/Reference/Sister%20shook's%20recipes.pdf

Take time to set your food storage notebook up that way you can have it at the ready and use it everyday. I would like you to keep working on your storage, watch for sales but stock even if cannot get things on sale.

We are in the throws of canning season and there are lots of wonderful things to can. Start by doing jam and you can work your way up!

Summer Canning

I've been canning jam and green beans I've picked from my garden. With the peach raspberry jam I just followed the directions on the Sure-Jell box. For part of the peaches I added black raspberries that I picked here at our house.

Monday Message

"Let every head of household see to it that he has on had enough food and clothing, and where possible, fuel also for at least a year ahead..." - President J. Reuben Clark, 1937

"The little gardens and a few trees are very valuable. I remember when the sisters used to say, 'well, but we could buy it at the store a lot cheaper than we could put it up.' But that isn't quite the answer, is it, Sister Spafford? Because there will become a time when there isn't a store." - President Spencer W. Kimbal, General Conference 1974.

http://www.honeybeepantry.com/topics/view/51cbfc99f702fc2ba812ed0c/

http://fabulesslyfrugal.com/category/shop-from-your-pantry/

http://www.prettyprovidence.com/2012/09/how-to-start-your-emergency-food.html

This last one has some interesting ways to start your storage - http://www.downwiththat.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-52-week-food-storage-plan.html?m=1

Another site to spark getting started...

Dehydrating - http://sensiblesurvival.org/2009/07/19/food-storage-dried-tomatoes/

Binder for your storage - http://prepared-housewives.com/2013/02/26/create-a-food-storage-binder/ (this is kind of what we were working on last year and Sis. Lee has a nice one started, make your own)

http://prepared-housewives.com/2013/06/29/homemade-taco-seasoning-gluten-msg-free/ (this is like the one I make. I do it in a large quantity so I don't have to make it when I need it, as it's there waiting)

Sites to check out on storage know-how...

http://prepared-housewives.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/everything-under-the-sun.pdf (this one above is my favorite and I suggest it to any who are starting, any who are working on their storage, and those who are already pros)

http://prepared-housewives.com/ - some interesting things to be found here.

http://www.peaceofpreparedness.com/Library.html

http://safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/2009/05/food-storage-friday-flautas.html

Noodle around on the sites I have given you. I am choosing to hit food storage hard again. It is good to have skills though, so keep working on learning skills but also learn to do good tasting things from your storage or no one wants to eat it.

On a sad note, our dear cat Mr. McGuire passed away this week so this is a tribute to him - http://www.beckysbacktobasics.com/aboutthehouse.php?search.x=23&search.y=15&File=1270163412 He really loved watching that catnip video, too cute.

Keep working on your storage. Think about your little extra spending money that you have and think what you could put in storage with that amount. What would I wish I had gotten if I had no more income...? Play the what if game - it will help you think of things you didn't think of before... toilet paper is high on my list so it is not just food.

Keep pushing on with your storage - I am proud of everyone. Keep working those gardens and keep putting in your storage. Gold stars on your charts!

Monday Message

Are you working up you binder of food storage-friendly recipes?

The Time to Disregard This Counsel is Over
"As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year's supply of necessities...I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With the events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness.... Create a plan if you didn't already have one, or update your present plan.... We are not in a situation that requires panic buying, but we do need to be careful in purchasing and rotating the storage that we're putting away." (L. Tom Perry, in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 47; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 36)

Great info on powder milk: http://www.honeybeepantry.com/topics/view/51cbfc74f702fc2ba812928a/

How much powder milk to make a cup (this is excellent): http://www.honeybeepantry.com/topics/view/51cbfc94f702fc2ba812e28b/


Ideas for the family...
30 days of gratitude - This is a great idea (could even start a tradition and do for it for Thanksgiving): http://www.writeshop.com/blog/2010/11/04/30-days-of-gratitude/

101 Almost free things to do with kids this summer (go for #8. We did this before and ambushed dad for family night...got him good too!): http://pinterest.com/pin/331085010076401697/


How are you doing on learning new skills?
(mixing them up this month...)

Canning
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/05/how-to-get-started-canning.html  
http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/07/water-bath-canning-step-by-step.html  http://www.sbcanning.com/2012/12/pressure-canning-step-by-step.html
Note: To get up-to-date times and pressures and such, call the extension help line at 1-800-262-3804 during the weekdays. They can answer any question even if you are not asking a canning question. This is a wonderful number to have on your frig!


Dehydrating
http://preparednesspantry.blogspot.com/search/label/dehydrating%20foods
Haunt your local Goodwill and yardsales. I have never bought a new dehydrator. Mine was actually new from Goodwill but it had a chip in it and actually looks like the dehydrator on this site. It cost me $6. Usually you can find them for $3 but anything under $20 is a pretty good deal. A note to the wise - plug it in if you are at Goodwill or a yardsale; turn it on if it has a switch and see if the motor runs. I prefer dehydrators with motors.

Other dehydrating tips:
-You can wash, dry and slice mushrooms right on a plate, same for celery
-You can dry spinach and store in a jar so you can add to soups and such (I always do this)
-Look at your garden and see what you have; If you do not have a garden, check out the Farmer's Market or pick out other places

Here is a link where I show how to use a dehydrator tray to take off the stems of oregano - http://www.beckysbacktobasics.com/aboutthehouse.php?search.x=34&search.y=16&File=1273501476 


Vacuum sealing
http://selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com/search/label/granola 
(Scroll down to the little girl using the sealer) http://preparetodaywardnewsletter.blogspot.com/2011/10/gimme-somethin-good-to-eat.html
(This is how I do it and I got my sealer at a yard sale, occasionally you can find them at Goodwill too. Vacuum sealing is a great way to save money. I have a jar of candy bars vacuum-sealed just in case some day we want them...okay, we would have eaten them but I can't remember where I put them, but when I do find them it will be a chocolate eating feast!)


Right now is a good time to be looking for these items to help you in your storage of food. Go to yardsales. If you want to buy them new, by all means do it. But if you are haunting your Goodwill, Salvation Army and yardsales REMEMBER to plug them in before you buy to make sure they work. The Food Saver vacuum sealer you need to press down on the lid to hear the motor, some have little locks on the sides you must press in and then press down.

Also look for canister and tubing. If you can't get those, you can get the jar attachments shown in the last site. Still need the tubing attachment? Sometimes you're lucky and get it with the machine. I paid $10 and it was brand new and had what I needed with it, so keep those eyes peeled.

A point about freeze dried or other items you may have in large cans - once you open them all you have to do is put the unused in a jar and vacuum seal, it saves a lot of money.

I hope this switch will let you to see there are many skills to learn that would help our families. Right now is the time to be searching for these supplies while the summer yardsales are going.

I am so proud of you all when I hear what you are doing with your storage. Keep going and don't ever stop. As long as we need to eat, we must keep replacing our storage.

Happy 4th of July!

Every year our small town has a Fourth of July carnival in the field across the street from our house. Here's a few pictures from the festivities! Hope you have a happy 4th!