Monday Message

"Included in the year’s supply of basic foods should be life-sustaining foods that store well for a long time: grains (wheat, rice, corn, or other of the cereal grains); dried milk, dried fish or protein vegetables such as beans and peas and other fresh, canned, dried, or pickled fruit or vegetables; sugar or a sugar substitute such as honey; some form of fats; salt; and water. Fresh taro or sweet potato, and live pigs, chickens, or fish might be considered as a supply in some areas of the world where it is difficult to store food. Remember that regular use of whole grains is important in building a digestive tolerance for roughage." (Barbara B. Smith)

If you store grains, do you have a grain mill? You should work on getting one... This always makes me think about the book, The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They had to use a coffee mill to grind wheat and this took long days of grinding. They said they must never stop, so they had enough to make what they needed per day. I am thinking what a miracle it was that the little coffee mill did not break down. Imagine it being purchased in our time. Most everything is not made very well and breaks down quickly.  

I remember my sister-in-law worked in a factory and they asked her to go faster and she said it was as fast as possible already because of each thing that needed to get done. They said no, keep it going, if it doesn't get done it will be tended on the other end - meaning you buy it and discover it doesn't work and have to go through hoops to get one that is correct. Hmmm for how long? 

I don't know what company she worked for but it makes me think how hard it was for us to get a microwave. We had to keep taking them back after not having them a full day, grrr. When we took it back the last time we bought a whole other brand but we had to pay more for it. When we were there the lady helping said this was happening a lot with that brand. I can't remember the brand but it was hard, heavy work to unpack and rearrange counters to find out it did not work then to pack it back up to go all the way back an hour round-trip and longer in the store all during a pandemic. If I were a store where people were returning a product over and over I would stop carrying it.

So that was a long winded way of saying if you store grains, you need a grain mill. If you have an electric grain mill you need one that is not electric as well for just in case. While we have that one, I hope the day never comes that I have to solely rely on it. That said, it makes the best ever cracked wheat. Just something to think about.

I am drying the last of the parsley from the garden. I still have the beans I am drying for seed, a few green tomatoes, and a watermelon left in the garden. Fall is here. The squirrels are burying walnuts that they never will find causing me work next year when walnut trees start to grow. Are you squirreling away food for the winter? And beyond?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9lAFTdJdF0&t=3s - powdered milk.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaUoiyj5reA - make your own freezer rolls.

With prices going up this is perfect - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnhFAhtmEUw. I hope you are paying attention to all her tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVFKQj3iimw&t=125s I love finding organizing tips, she has a lot here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih1XIyg3-f4 - how to make the magic mix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGKaqxjh1dI&t=2s. This is using the magic mix to make chocolate pudding.

I tried to pull a variety out of her videos that her site had, there are many more great videos on her site though so be sure to look through them. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtVdjcMKTZOyw-MwEJfA7CQ. She is one of my favorites.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

1/2 c. cinnamon

1/4 c. ginger

2 Tbsp nutmeg

2 Tbsp cloves

I put this in small canning jar, shake and label. I keep this on hand at all times

Pumpkin muffins are one of our favorite fall recipes! Tip: I mix all the dry ingredients the night before for a head start in the morning.

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

I mix and set aside the topping:

1/3 cup flour

3 Tbsp brown sugar

2 Tbsp cold butter

In bowl, mix well:

1/4 cup soft butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup pumpkin

1/2 cup milk (I add tsp of vinegar to it)

2 eggs

1 Tbsp molasses

Then, don’t stir again until all dry ingredients are measured in.

2 cups flour

1 tsp dried orange peel

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (recipe above)

1/4 tsp salt

Then, stir well and fill 12 regular muffin cups. I use liners, but it's not necessary.

By spoon, divide topping over all evenly. Bake in preheated oven at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Delicious!

Missy says stay safe, only go out when you know you are taking safety measures.

Gus says he wants you to keep wearing masks and be safe.