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)

"Start now to create a plan if you don’t already have one, or update your present plan. Watch for best buys that will fit into your year’s supply. 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. The instability in the world today makes it imperative that we take heed of the counsel and prepare for the future." (L. Tom Perry)

I know it is hard to work on storage when you have the holidays here to do. Remember, every time you go into the store pick up at least one thing for storage. It is a good time of year to stock up, there are many sales at the grocery stores so watch your sale flyers.

When the first measurable snowfall hits I read this book…

You need to read this with your family, do it even if you have read it before. When you read it your thoughts on food storage will change.

Their garden did not produce well as it was their first year gardening in this area plus an early frost shortened the season.  They put the food up. Then being warned that the winter would be a hard one, they moved to town. They thought they would be okay as the trains brought supplies. They did not have much money but thought they would be okay. Almost immediately the trains were snowed in. You will have to read the book to find out what happens to them. But you will want to think what you have in your storage and think what you would have wished you had in storage then make it happen.

Today if there was an emergency the grocery stores have only 24 hours of food. You do not want to be going out trying to get food or storage items during an emergency.

Do you really want to go out in this?

https://simplypreparing.com/things-to-do-before-a-winter-storm/ - good reminders, good to be prepared.

http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm#About

http://6abc.com/weather/checklist-heres-what-you-need-for-a-major-snowstorm/1167139/

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=simple+homemade+christmas&qpvt=simple+homemade+christmas&FORM=VDRE - these are videos of doing simple homemade Christmas.

Here are some of our favorite cookies that we like to have this time of year and warm baked cookies are best served during a snow storm and during board games.

So keep working on your storage, stay with in your means for gift giving, enjoy the season, and remember those in need. Do the best you can!

Monday Message

Read through this week's Monday Message for a delicious Orange Rolls recipe!

"Plan to build up your food supply just as you would a savings account... We urge you to do this prayerfully and do it now." - President Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference October 1980; and in that same talk, he also said…
“There are blessings in being close to the soil, in raising your own food even if it is only a garden in your yard and a fruit tree or two. Those families will be fortunate who, in the lasts days, have an adequate supply of food because of their foresight and ability to produce their own.”

I think this is powerful. Produce their food, have skills to stretch the food by cooking from scratch, saving on foods purchased, spend wisely, learned skills to help now and in time of need. Raise and teach your children, life is hard so prepare them to be able to manage and to find joy no matter how much they do not have/how to make do cheerfully, not to begrudge things. You can teach them the skills and you can learn with them.  

It is like the fish story, you can feed them a meal or you can teach them to fish and they eat for an entire lifetime. They may never need any of what you teach but I am sure at least once they will need it… fortunes change quickly.

Knowing how to make do is an education. Being happy with what you have is an education. There might be areas you hate but knowing you can do them is an education. Knowing how to live within your means is an education. Learning to work with your spouse or kids when times are tough is an education. Being able to roll up your sleeves and help solve the problem is an education.

I think you see a pattern here, we want to keep learning and growing.

If a husband and wife do not work together but work against each other how can that be happiness? But when you are on the same team you find joy in helping each other and can laugh and have fun - there is no price tag on that.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+hand+sew&view=detail&mid=8648DFC597B4CFAC1D628648DFC597B4CFAC1D62&FORM=VIRE

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=how+to+hand+sew&&view=detail&mid=E8401B31DAFB8CAEC786E8401B31DAFB8CAEC786&rvsmid=8648DFC597B4CFAC1D628648DFC597B4CFAC1D62&FORM=VDQVAP&fsscr=0
- learn how some basic hand stitching is done.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=How+to+Thread+a+Sewing+Machine+for+Beginners&&view=detail&mid=56881686F432077F332356881686F432077F3323&FORM=VRDGAR - how to thread a machine. She is using a Brother sewing machine. You can look at your manual for how to thread your machine, if you don’t have a manual you can look online with your machine info.

http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/sewingbook/sewbook.html - very good if you need to learn sewing.

If you do not have a machine check on freecycle, craigslist, ask on facebook or purchase one if you can. If you're getting it free don’t expect to get the best ever machine, just get one that works and go through the lessons. Or maybe borrow one from a parent to learn on.

You know a stitch in time saves nine is a true thing!

http://www.craftandfabriclinks.com/sewingbook/sewbook.html - how to mend a torn sheet.

http://ellenscreativepassage.blogspot.com/2013/01/free-washcloths.html - make wash cloths from old towels.

So don’t throw away, recycle and be frugal - this stretches out our money. You will feel good for doing it too.

It always makes me think of that Amish fella in front of me in line at the store. He had a nicely stitched patch on his coveralls, his wife proudly extended his work clothes and I am sure he loved that she was doing her part to help him.

Again, it is efficient to keep everything on the computer until the day it gets lost - always generate a hard copy.

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/vegetables/planning-your-first-vegetable-garden/ it is time to think about gardening. Teach yourself how by looking up different ways that could be efficient. 

Learn then apply.

We do that in our lives all the time, it is education. Life is education… you can do it - never quit learning!

On a side note, I adapted a variation to the bread mix recipe to make...

Orange rolls

I take out ¼ c water and replace it with orange juice. Add dry ingredients (which is my jar of bread mix). I add two tbsp. grated orange rind and follow the directions till dough is raised. Then roll like for cinnamon rolls, spread with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar. Then cut with pizza cutter to get 48 squares, or as close as you get, layer four squares on side in sprayed jumbo muffin tin holes, let raise then bake at 400 degrees for ten to thirteen minutes. Watch close, you want them gold not burned. Take out and frost while hot.

Frosting

Two cups powder sugar
One tsp butter
One tbsp. grated orange peel
One fourth cup orange juice

Keep learning every day!

If you want me to cover something you need, let me know by sending me an email bshook@huxcomm.net

Keep working with your families, not against. It is like the three legged race, you get farther when you work together.

Sister Miller's Rolls

Sister Miller's Rolls

In a plastic tub or gallon size bag put:

3 3/4c. white flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp b. pwdr
1/2 tsp b soda

Dump in bag and stir and set aside.



In 2 quart bag put:

1 tbsp yeast
1/3 c. dry milk powder
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. white wheat flour

Put in bag stir then seal the bag and put it in the gallon size bag and seal store this in the refrigerator.

Then on the day you want to make them...

In her kitchen aide she put 2 c. HOT tap water in the mixer bowl then she dumped the 2 qt bag in and uses a wisk and mix till no lumps, it will look like pancake batter.

Then she dumps the other bag over the top of this batter, do not stir yet. She lets it sit till cracks with lava appear on the top then she attaches bowl to mixer and adds dough hook. 

She turns on mixer to low - you want to do this till dough is stretchy smooth. If after mixing for five minutes it is too firm you can add 1 to 2 tbsp water. Even if it looks too late, it will work the same with it. If it is too sticky do the same with one to two tbsp flour so when it is done kneading in another five min or so.

She uses a 10 1/2 by 15 sided cookie sheet she sprays and puts veg oil on this pan and spread it in a circle in the center of pan and takes dough and puts it on the oiled area. She then washes her metal bowl and then oils it up and puts the dough in the bowl and turns to grease top then cover with a towel and let rise one hour.

Then she makes like golf ball size rolls 35 to be on the oiled pan she tucks and pulls the rolls then arranges them 5x7 to fill the pan that is seven rows of five.

Then she brushes generously with melted butter, then put the towel over top. She washes the metal bowl again and fills it with hot tap water and sets the pan of rolls on top of it half way through she refills the bowl with hot water and sets it back on top till 2 1/2 hrs or till they are as high as you want. I like one inch over rim then put in preheated 350 to 375 bake 18 min, but she turned the pan halfway through.

These are light and fluffy, way better than store-bought. Yum! Enjoy!