Monday Message

Diner-style pancakes from scratch. Recipe HERE.

"More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared." (President Ezra Taft Benson)

I think there are so many calamities going on all over that maybe we should heed this statement by President Benson. Living within our means is so important especially now. There is more need. Are you in a position to help those in need?

I continue to suggest picking up something for your storage every time you go into a store.  If you cannot afford to do this try to do more budget meals and using what you save to build your storage.

Please do not go into further debt, instead work hard getting out of debt.

Try to learn to be content with what you have. Also, learn to stretch what you have. One always thinks when they retire life will be easy, not so! You will be living on a fixed income in an unfixed world.

Here are a few things that help me - I buy in bulk when I can which means 25 lb bags of flour. If you are not doing this you might consider it. Here is how I do it… I get buckets from the bakery in my local grocery store. I get them free. I wash them well and then dry them very well. Then I let the bucket air dry overnight to be sure they are totally dry. Then I pour the 25 lb bag of flour in and on top I place two bay leaves. Then I label and date the lid. The bay leaves keep from getting bugs in the flour. The label tells me what it is and the date which makes it easy to rotate using the oldest one first.

I make bread and rolls and cookies and cakes, muffins, coffee cakes, pancakes and waffles... I think you see if you make from scratch you use flour a lot. I also store whole wheat berries the same way as the flour. I only grind the wheat when I need, it is the only difference.

I glean apples every year I can.

I also can everything I get my hands on - this saves lots of money.

I dehydrate fruits and veggies. When I have one or two pieces of celery or a handful of carrots I dehydrate them. This drying things has saved us a lot.

This brings me to vacuum sealing. This is huge at saving us money. I vacuum seal things I dehydrate. I vacuum seal chocolate chips to last years. I use it so much I keep it on the counter ready to go all the time. I vacuum seal nuts to make them last. Dry things not wet things.

The key thing is when you do things yourself it saves money. So it may take elbow grease and skill building but they're good skills to have.

We had a used dresser given to us that was not in great shape. We cut it down which meant taking a lot of it apart. Then we made it into this bathroom sink. We used front of drawers to open into a cupboard door but closed it looks like drawers.

Being frugal means spending less it serves us well.  Sometimes we have to be really frugal we use what we put up if we are blessed with a little more we stock things needed ahead like two bags of flour etc this helps to smooth the harder times.

So what skills you learn now will help you all your life. 

https://www.fastweb.com/student-life/articles/basic-life-skills-you-should-know this might give you some ideas for teaching your kids.

https://acultivatednest.com/homemaking-skills-to-learn-to-make-your-life-easier/ here are a few things you might want to pick from to work on

https://www.thebalance.com/how-to-create-a-frugal-budget-1388523 this has ideas to help you with a budget

http://theparsimoniousprincess.blogspot.com/2013/01/100-more-painless-ways-to-live-frugally_31.html has maybe some thing you never thought of

https://www.frugalwoods.com/2016/01/04/make-a-new-years-resolution-for-just-one-month/ - more ideas here.

Sometimes we think we cannot manage without ___?  But I have found out you can really live without whatever thing you thought you couldn't before. We really can…

Cooking from scratch really is a huge thing. I know I keep saying it but I wouldn’t if it wasn’t.

https://www.thebalance.com/learn-how-to-cook-everything-from-scratch-1388352 - has some good things here.

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ - this gal has a terrific site with frugal ideas in the kitchen.

What frugal things are you doing?

Monday Message

Scroll down for a recipe on how I make my own English Muffins!

“I bear my humble witness to you that the great God of heaven will open doors and means in a way we never would have supposed, to help all those who truly want a years supply…All we have to do is to decide, commit to it, and then keep the commitment. Miracles will take place…” Vaughn J. Featherstone, Ensign, May 1976, pg. 116.

“We should ask ourselves; What are the Brethren saying? The living prophets can open the visions of eternity; they give counsel on how to overcome the world. We cannot know that counsel if we do not listen. We cannot receive the blessings we are promised if we do not follow the counsel given” James E. Faust, Reach Up For the Light, pg. 17

Did you plant some veggies? I just love how green Iowa is. My favorite place to be.

My veggies are doing great so far. I look forward to eating them. This is the first time I have planted totally in containers, so far so good.

The peaches on the trees are cute tiny little things. Include your kids and/or grandkids in gardening, they love it. I remember our oldest grandson loved helping me in the garden. Then later at the end of raspberry season there were some left out on the plants. The grandkids went to pick them and really had a ball. They ate all they picked and this is a memory we all share with warmness. In the winter they were sad there were no berries to pick but we painted snow and they loved that too.

I love that we can order from the storehouse. I truly think it a blessing in our time. I know that  a few of you who follow the blog are not members of the Church and are probably wondering if you can order food too - yes, you can. I love this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9lAFTdJdF0 - powdered milk. I love these gals. I use two quart jars for my milk just to show you, use whatever you have.

How are you doing putting in storage? Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below. 

How are you coming on your skills?

I can report after years of wanting to know how to learn how to Norwegian purl I have now mastered it! What a good feeling to finally accomplish it. When the Olympics were in Oslo, Norway, we watched when they did a little section on knitting. They were continental knitting. I wanted to learn that method and we had taped it (yes, the archaic VCR tapes). I watched and rewatched until I had learned that it is much faster than how I learned to knit. I would use it when I would knit in the round but having to switch back to how I learned to purl slowed everything down.

So here is how I now knit…

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=norwegian+purl+arne+and+carlos&view=detail&mid=A48025FB9409CEECB6A5A48025FB9409CEECB6A5&FORM=VIRE

So now here is how I purl…

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=norwegian+purl+arne+and+carlos&&view=detail&mid=49C81F795CA3E830F2B249C81F795CA3E830F2B2&FORM=VRDGAR- this video helped me to learn this and I am very glad they showed how to do it.

As you know, I am knitting on a sweater. This was the perfect project to develop this skill. Now I am on the ribbing and you can't imagine how nice it is doing ribbing this way. I knit two then purl two faster then it took to write this sentence. All without throwing the yarn and switching my hands. Throwing yarn tends to hurt me a lot after a short while that is one of the reasons I wanted to learn continental.

So there you go, I shared my success in skill building. Share with us what you are working on.

Remember now as yard sales start be looking for canning supplies and vacuum sealers and dehydrators and all the things I have mentioned before, this saves soooooo much money.

A reminder too to plug in the dehydrators and turn on to test before you purchase used. If the motor is nice and smooth, it is good. If it clanks and etc. then don’t get it, even if it is only a few dollars you don’t want to waste your money.

It is harder on food savers as there are different ways to make it run. If it is theirs, have them show you. If not, you can play around but two times I tested in front of a cashier at goodwill and at a yard sale I plugged them in and pushed the start button, nothing happened and they were ready to toss it. But one I had you needed to push down on the corners to start it. They are loud. The last one and newest one I got was at yard sale. It is more tricky. Its handle has to be in the up position then you hit the button but it has several buttons. I use the no-hands canister button, so just play around if they cannot help you. Also, be sure it has a port which looks like a hole on the top.

This is a good thing to do in buying anything with a plug, just ask to plug it in.

http://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/2016/03/11/the-breezy-tee-tunic-free-sewing-pattern.html - this is on my list to tackle.

It is not too soon to be thinking about Christmas...just throwing it out there.

Be looking for fabric and sewing supplies at your yard sale trips as well. If knitting is on your list of skills to learn, be looking for yarn needles and supplies at the sales too.

It is far cheaper to get them at yard sales especially if it ends up being something you don't want to pursue you can give away without expense and try crochet. Put funds aside in your budget for yard sales. Make lists of what you are looking for like school clothes and sizes and what you need. Then, before you go into the sale, review your list as a reminder while you look around.

Over the years I have collected sewing supplies, knitting supplies, school clothes, winter gear, things I could not have afforded new. I got casserole dishes that I gave with the casseroles to the person who needed the casserole. I would gather them for 25 cents, some were in free boxes, same with pie tins. They were a dime many times along with plates to give goodies. 

When we would deliver the goodies we would say don’t return the plate, fill it with a goodie and pass it on. Bread pans - many were ten cents. Jelly jars and regular jars for canning. Don’t limit yourselves. I love bread pans and have saved tons over the years,

blenders, food processors, pasta makers, cast iron pans, even a new aebleskiver cast iron pan, griddle pans, mixing bowls, measuring cups - yes don’t just get one set. I keep a one cup measure in my using flour can and a cup measure in my sugar jar. I keep the measure I most use in the jar, like a half cup in my baking cocoa jar. I use a third cup in the powdered sugar jar... you get the idea.  

Muffin tins jumbo, regular in twelve pan and two six muffin style and three of mini muffins, twenty four in each. Angel food cake pans, I have a big collection of many pans... cake pans, cheesecake pans - all from yard sales. 

Cookie sheets - I always made cookies fresh from the oven when the kids came home from school. Others have to work but this was something I could do for my kids. Laura's friend would come with her. She once told me, how is it you know how to make so many different kinds? So I was big on collecting kitchen things to be able to make our food.

In the picture below you can see I have a round bread pan (it was a dollar) and I use it to make English muffin bread.

Here is the recipe:

Also, be open to different things or ways of doing things. I have always knitted socks with double pointed needles but I am open to other methods. I am not bent on only doing one way. On my skill list I am trying socks on a nine inch circular needle. I'm also learning two other methods - magic loop and two at a time using two circulars. Also, combinations of things like I want to do an afterthought heel. See? The sky is the limit. Do not limit your learning.

There are many ways to do things so don’t limit your self.

Just like making bread. There are so many ways to make it. If you limit how you do things it will be a chore. Be open and explore, there are so many things to learn.

So be working on your storage and haunt yard sales to gather supplies. You will be surprised at how fast you will find things looking at yard sales. Keep putting in storage.

Monday Message

Apples are a great addition to food storage and can be used in so many recipes!

 (LDS Church Handbook 2, Section 6.1.1)
“Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being.....To help care for themselves and their families, members should build a three-month supply of food that is part of their normal diet. Where local laws and circumstances permit, they should gradually build a longer-term supply of basic foods that will sustain life. They should also store drinking water in case the water supply becomes polluted or disrupted."

What is your normal diet? Could you store it? Can you fix it for your family? Will it store well? Can you rotate it? Will it last in storage for a year?

It's important that food storage is part of your daily food. Just work storage things into your menu planning. Don’t wait for the emergency to use your storage, your family won’t eat it. Do you know when the church goes into other countries to give aid they ship in food they are used to eating?

It is winter - make oatmeal for breakfast put it in cake cookies and bread, apple crisp... see these are perfectly normal foods, so this makes oatmeal a great storage item.

This is what I am talking about, not oatmeal patties or worse.

When you use your storage it is just like a big pantry, use and replace.

Having dried apples is wonderful as they don’t take much room. Now add some to that oatmeal, use them to make apple crisp any time of year. Dried apples are a great item to store too, drying your own cuts that cost a lot.

This is what I am talking about. Whoever said food storage had to be icky?

I notice prices going up every month on groceries, not only here in the US but outside as well. Having storage helps with the pain of price increases.

I know you are all on Christmas right now but keep working on your storage.

http://www.simplyprepared.com/gifts_from_the_home_storage_kitchen.htm - ideas here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM5XPC1O6eU - part four of the crochet 101 series.

https://blog.colettehq.com/tutorials/21-sewing-terms-every-beginner-should-know - I think this is so helpful in building your sewing skills.

Now for fun I saw these…

http://delightfulemade.com/2014/12/09/penguin-cookies-perfect-holiday-recipe/ - too cute

http://www.simplisticallyliving.com/santa-nutter-butter-cookies/

http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/79620/40-fun-christmas-treats - I love the marshmallow snowman in the hot cocoa. I think you will have fun making and eating these with family. I can see a family night making a pretzel manger and stable - fun!

Mostly keep in mind your goal is stay out of debt. Don’t be that person in cold dark January with excess bills coming in. Stay within your budget! We all want to do things for others, it is who we are, but others you do for don't want you further in debt.

This is a hard time of year for many people, there are so many acts of kindness that cost nothing.

If you are someone having a hard time know That Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of your circumstances and people around you love you too. You are never alone. Pick yourself up, smile in the mirror, I know someone will smile back. You will get through this test in life! Really, we do learn from these times. I am not just saying this. I have had hard times and most have, we learn from them, whether it is to make a cake from scratch to taking a family walk in the snow looking at all the lights - most memories are free.

Let others know you are having a hard time.

http://theprudenthomemaker.com/blog?view=entry&id=88 Everyone should read this.

Instead of feeling bad for your situation, change that to a challenge. Roll up your sleeves and tackle it.

If anyone needs to have a great feeling give service, simple as that. Look for someone to help. They won’t be flagging you down, we tend to suffer in silence so pray who needs my help today.

Remember … don’t feel bad, you may be far from home, you may be struggling to just make it through the month. Whatever the problem, don’t feel less - you are not. Things happen in life. We may not have what others have, that is okay. Not everyone has those things either. Instead, remember why we celebrate Christmas. It isn’t giving or receiving gifts that matter at all.

On a lighter note...

I have a cat named Gus. He lived outside and we brought him in. He at first was skittish with every noise and would run and hide. We would watch a Star Trek movie and he would run and hide. I would watch a YouTube clip, he would run and hide. But as time went on noises don’t bother him and he is addicted to TV and really addicted to YouTube, he comes running to watch it.

But he is a smart cookie too…you have no idea. I will be working on the Monday Messages and out of nowhere comes a paw. He stretches it out and moves my screen. Yes, he has watched me swipe the screen and has learned how. He stretches those toes out and with the pad of his foot slides my screens, a stinker to be sure but he now knows how to start or stop YouTube clips. Sooo if Gus can learn things by gum so can we, so push on and be the best you can be. 

Monday Message

“We all need to build a personal ark . . . And we shouldn’t wait until it starts raining, but prepare in advance. This has been the message of all the prophets in this dispensation . . . as well as the prophets of old.

“Unfortunately we don’t always heed the clear warnings of our prophets. We coast complacently along until calamity strikes, and then we panic.

“When it starts raining, it is too late to begin building the ark. However, we do need to listen to the Lord’s spokesmen. We need to calmly continue to move ahead and prepare for what will surely come. We need not panic or fear, for if we are prepared, spiritually and temporally, we and our families will survive any flood. Our arks will float on a sea of faith if our works have been steadily and surely preparing for the future.” - W. Don Ladd, October 1994 General Conference

If we choose to not follow a clear warning from our Prophets, will we then follow other ones?

If you choose not to follow a clear warning, why do you stop at a red light?

Sometimes we are complacent and think that it will never happen to us..? Really??

Picture a roller coaster, it goes up and down, now think of our lives. Sometimes we have a great paying job, things are going well - this is when the roller coaster is up. We kind of think this will always be so… what could go wrong?? Sometimes you have no idea that things are falling apart for your employer, sometimes you have a feeling. When you have that feeling you start looking for other employment just in case. When things go bad, often they catch us unaware and unprepared for…this is when the roller coaster is down.

This is not an if - it is a when.

So when things are well and you are up on the roller coaster this is the time to put in your storage to help you when you go down.

If you think dehydrating food or canning food or grinding wheat is old fashioned, you couldn’t be more wrong.

If you have already had hard times more likely you have your storage in. If you have not… talk to someone who has, this will help you to be inspired.

I think you should examine why you don’t and before you say time, money, or space you need to go back through this blog for I have addressed all these areas.

I would rather have food on the shelf taking room than have none and need it.

Before the great “recession.” I was in a store and I buy my flour in 25lb bags, I noticed that it jumped up one dollar. I tracked down a worker and asked why? He said just wait the price will come down… ha! Worse advice ever. I did go ahead and purchased it and I can tell you, I watch closely and it has not come down yet… food for thought.

I do dehydrate food. I learned how to in Relief Society. I can say that about all my homemaking skills.

This was the best video I have watched on dehydrating so watch the video! http://storethisnotthat.com/dry-youll-like-dehydrating-class/ 

Dehydrating is a really inexpensive way to build your storage. You can usually find one at yard sales or Goodwill or at other thrift stores. And you have extra fruit and veggies that sometimes are tossed. I have always said my favorite is buying frozen veggies on sale, this is the EASIEST thing to do - you just dump on trays and dry.  

If you worry you won’t know if it is done drying, take a piece of your dried food and drop on the counter, if it sounds like plastic it is done.

I learned things from the dehydrating class above.

Once you get that, move on to food saver. This by far saves so much, using it literally saves money. 
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E552XSAXEdk - this is my favorite way to use my sealer, with the canister. Do you see she has jars from spaghetti sauce and such? What a savings! It also can be with canning jars. I save my used canning lids as they are best to use in vacuum sealing. Never can with used lids - only when vacuum sealing. Also vacuum sealing is only for dry food, never wet.

Yes, you can find them at yard sales and Goodwill, etc. I have found them. They must have a port on them, which is just a hole you stick hose into. I bring this up because they made them for just bags and you want the little hole in it.

Here is a LINK to my post on step by step vacuum sealing.

You can take your jar you have vacuum sealed in, open it and use some, and reseal as many times as you want.

This is a huge money saver - stop tossing out food.

Getting in these basic items help you to be able to take care of your family.

At the end of the dehydrating video up above she shows dried food in jars vacuum sealed.

Chocolate chips you can leave on a shelf in the bag and over time they turn white then break down, but if you vacuum seal in a jar they do not ever break down.

http://www.foodstoragemoms.com/2016/05/11-easy-ways-prepare-eggs/ I pan boil eggs just as she does and never ever had issues.

http://stitchandpink.com/2016/05/sewing-binder-part-1-lesson-6-french-mock-french-seams.html this is to keep you going on your sewing skills.

I know this blog post is kind of wordy but I cannot tell you how strong I feel about you getting stuff in storage. It is not antiquated or old fashioned. Remember, it is better to have storage than to need it and have empty shelves… Don’t put it off!

Monday Message

"The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. . .
"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 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." (Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, Oct 2002 and quoted again in April 2007)

With gardening season upon us I wanted to remind you about planting tomatoes. Here in Iowa and other areas in the U.S. there are cut worms. I could not find a picture so here is how I do my preventative measure…

Take a piece of newspaper one inch by three inches, this you want to wrap around the stem of the of the tomato plant like a little skirt. You want this paper so that half is below and half above the soil line, kind of like a "+" sign. The horizontal line represents the soil line, the vertical line represents the paper on the stem. Cut worms can’t be seen just your plant, cut right through is evidence they were there.

Here is a method I tried this year http://www.granny-miller.com/bedding-plant-success-the-greek-way/

Now that you planted your garden it is now time to learn how to preserve it.

Here are the methods I use...

Canning
Dehydrating
Storing dried food in jars that are vacuum sealed
Freeze i.e. I picked and froze raspberries so sometime this week or next I shall can them into jam.

Things I use...

I will put these up not to advertise but I want you to see the pictures so you know what they look like if you run across them at yard sales or thrift stores.

http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-FD-60-Snackmaster-Express-Dehydrator/dp/B000LNVUJQ/ref=lp_1090752_1_15?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1430685778&sr=1-15  it is good to know how much they run new but keep your eyes open. My first one of these I got at goodwill for five dollars. As long as it works any one will do. Many I have paid three dollars for at yard sales. But now you can see what it looks like and what to look for if getting used plug in to be sure it works before you buy it.

http://www.amazon.com/All-American-921-2-Quart-Pressure/dp/B00004S88Z/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1430686443&sr=8-1&keywords=all+american+canner+921 - this is the pressure canner that I have, only mine is thirty or forty years-old. I bought it used for ten dollars. Can you believe I thought hard on if we could afford the ten dollar expense?  Look at that price in the link. Mine can hold a double layer of pints 19-20 pints depending on the jars.

What I want you to take away from this is they are good forever it seems. The gauge works can be replaced for about fifteen dollars. This canner has metal on metal, meaning there is no gasket that needs replacing. So because a canner is old don’t pass it up, a few more dollars and it is good as new. Wendy Dewitt got hers on eBay. Some were 80 years-old, so keep your eyes peeled. Know what you are looking for remember Pressure canner not "cooker."

http://www.amazon.com/Granite-0707-1-Porcelain-Water-Bath-21-5-Quart/dp/B0001UZL8A this you are sure to see often at yard sales. Often they are passed down. Again I got one from a friend. These are used to do tomatoes, pickles, fruits and jam not meat or vegetables.

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-400A-7-Quart-Aluminum/dp/B0000DDUCJ this is what I use most often instead of the water bath shown above but I keep it for a back up. The steamer canner is for the things mentioned above for the water bath. I can at times have two steamer canners going at once. Knowing what it is called and what it looks like helps you keep an eye out. My second one cost three dollars new, unopened at a yard sale. Knowing what it was helped me while at the yard sale.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/28470827?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227019041306&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=t&wl3=42535768112&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=81197465792&veh=sem this is very useful as well. I use it to blanch my tomatoes and peaches to help take off their skins. I use it to blanch green beans and also potatoes to prepare to be dried. I got mine at a yard sale. I see them often at yard sales.

www.foodsaver.com/vacuum-sealers/foodsaver- gamesaver-deluxe/T000-33270-P.html#start=15&sz=12  this is a close picture of the one I have. Mine is an older version. I got it new from a yard sale, ten dollars. I think everyone needs to have some sort of vacuum sealer. When looking for them be sure that it has a port for a tube. This picture shows a dark small circle that is what you want. 


http://www.amazon.com/Wondermill-WonderMill-Grain-Mill/dp/B000CPJKWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431309859&sr=8-1&keywords=wondermill+grain+mill  now you may not find one at yard sales but you never know, but keep in mind that you can check out a wheat grinder at church or borrow from others until you are ready for your own

On May 19th in the Ankeny Second Ward Relief Society at 7pm I will give a fifteen minute mini class on using one, but I want you to see what they look like. Along with this you would really benefit from a tall canister that goes with it.

These are things to be on the look out for when you start this yard sale season. If you already have an item and see one please let others know...we can help each other.

One more thing is collecting canning jars, quarts and pints, also jelly jars.

This may seem like quite a list and, well, it is. But there are several ways to gather them. If you have the money and can purchase them, that is fantastic! It took me years to get mine. If you do not have the money, when your family asks what you want for b-day or Christmas, this would be one way to get them. You could also ask on freecycle or shop thrift stores..

I find that when these things are on your mind or on your list when you go yard saling you might find them easier.

I can tell you that I have seen everything I listed at yard sales so it does happen.

Let your friends and family know what you are looking for, many more eyes can help in your search.

I am sure some would say, why would I want these.…?

I would say that there is so much you can do better than you can buy. You can buy that canned chicken in the store for lots or you can make your own jars of chicken for a much better price and unbeatable flavor. Try to find a pint or quart of roast... oh the best ever roast!

Ask Carolyn Senn how she likes home canned tomatoes.

If, like me, it takes awhile that is okay too. Learn all you can about home production. Remember to get all the current times and pressure, call the home extension number. Those living in Iowa and Minnesota  #1-800-262-3804. Also check to see if your county is offering classes.

I think you will find this is very much a frugal thing. When we eat tomatoes we still have the jar to fill again. Though you cannot use the lid to can again you can use it to vacuum seal so no waste…a tin can you usually throw away.

I even dry my herbs.

Is it lots of work to garden and put up food? Yes it is...but we are not afraid of hard work right?

Those who came before would have loved to use the things we have now available to us.

So put your garden in or go to the farmers markets. Learn to put up your food no matter which method you choose. I know a lady who does not can but dehydrates gallons of fruits and vegetables.

I encourage you to involve your children.

Keep working on your storage, keep building your skills do the best you can.

Monday Message - Building skills 2

Make your own fruit leather with your dehydrator for a fun and healthy snack! Get the recipe here - LINK

Last week I talked about starting to develop your basic skills. Here's a look at a few more new skills and how you can build on some we talked about before.

Drying food
As produce comes in fast from your garden this summer, drying and canning are great skills to help us build our storage. Here's a few ways you can first start out using your dehydrator.

http://www.beckysbacktobasics.com/get_full_recipe.php?File=1270314345&search.x=34&search.y=29  - Here's a neat way to do a homemade fruit roll-up or what I call fruit leather. Also, using the plain applesauce leather, melt a few caramels, spread in the leather and roll, then cut like tiny cinnamon rolls.

On a cold winter morning it is great to add your dried apples to a steamy hot bowl of oatmeal.

A fun snack is to peel and dice your apple, shake it in flavored gelatin and dry. Yum!

http://www.beckysbacktobasics.com/aboutthehouse.php?File=1273501476&search.x=31&search.y=18 Herbs and spinach are great dried. You can store them in a jar and use them in lots of things. Add to soups and casseroles or whatever you like.

Sewing
Take a look at these sewing links. I really like how she takes you all the way through from the beginning to the very end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=984XMmBAhoE&list=PL38E4CA47F805C79B&index=2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhfB-e7PX7A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq2J9Rj8Puo


Knitting
Learn how to knit using regular and circular needles along with the different styles of knitting such as american and continental.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONVQCK_-rKc - this is a great video to show you how to start knitting. Pick up those needles and give it a try :)

These next three videos show you how to start knitting on circular needles...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tff3ng-djtk 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCZXZiThK0A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8CNu6fgtVw

Monday Message

"Brethren, 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... I do not predict any impending disaster ... yet prudence should govern our lives ... We can begin with a one week 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 supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all.  Begin in a small way... gradually build toward a reasonable objective." Gorden B. Hinkley, Priesthood Session, October 2002.

Provident Living:  We will have a class on April 8th at 9:30 a.m. Tues morning at the Shook's. It will be convenience in the kitchen.

http://www.stacymakescents.com/10-easy-ways-to-cut-costs-in-the-kitchen

You won't have to worry about the coffee filter, however I use coffee filters in vacuum sealing powdery things like flours. You take the lid of the jar you are going to seal after putting in the product, you trace the lid on a coffee filter and cut it out and put it on top of the product so that little particles do not go into the vacuum sealer and kill it. Yes, it does happen more often than not so this is helpful info about vacuum sealing.
  
http://www.iheartnaptime.net/homemade-bread/  a refresher course here on making bread we all "knead" to know this :)

http://www.underthehighchair.com/2009/04/diy-pita-bread.html  pita bread - make your own, tastes soooo much better!

http://sticktoyourhips.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2009-11-10T12:22:00-08:00 this also has some good looking recipes besides the bread

I urge you to practice making bread if you are ever in a situation where you are needing to bake it, that is not the time to learn there is a learning curve....practice practice! 

Sister Ebanks tells us to put as much cider vinegar in our bread as yeast, it helps with the strengthening of the bubbles the yeast makes.

Also storing Vital Wheat Gluten is not essential but it will make your wheat bread a lot more pleasing.

Do you have wheat in your storage?????? If so, do you have a wheat grinder????? That would be something to work towards if you have tax refunds you might think about one or beefing up your storage.

Since we have so many new  families in our ward, I think it is a good time to remind you that our Ankeny Units have a wheat grinder in the kitchen, it can be checked out through the Relief Society president.

Other things one needs is a pressure canner, dehydrator, vacuum sealer, the grinder as I mentioned, and all the gear to go with.... i.e. jars, lids , rings, you get the pic.  One cannot just get all this at one time.....get it as you can....

Once canning season is going it is almost impossible to burrow a pressure canner so give this thought.

I urge you as well to put some sort of garden in. Last year lids for canning jumped in price so get packages as you go to the store pick up lids for regular or wide mouth. I encourage everyone to learn to can and get the equipment. It really helps with our budget for me to do this.

So have I ever told you I hate gardening? Sister Watson is laughing at this, I know she is :p I hate it bad but a Prophet told us to plant a garden and that is what I do. It feeds us but I hate every aspect of it. See, we cannot all just get to do what we want to do, right?

If you don't have the ground to put one in do container gardening.

http://alternative-energy-gardning.blogspot.com/2013/03/growing-potatoes-in-laundry-basket.html


http://princesponiesanddiamonds.blogspot.com/2013/05/upcycled-mens-shirt-toddler-dress.html  sewing skills are very important to have. Basically, this little dress was free... the shirt being no longer useful for clothing.

http://woolandchocolate.com/2012/02/06/darning-tutorial/ this shows how to darn socks. Some day you may need to do it. I will tell you it saves time rather than going to a store. Something to think about....life gets too busy.

http://sweetteasoakers.blogspot.com/2012/02/toddler-called-jayne.html wouldn't it be great to make a needed hat?

Build your skills, you can learn whatever you would like. If you can read, you can learn and if you can't, you can learn!

We always want to be learning to help our families.

Also, keep working on your storage. If you have a year's supply of peanut butter is that it? Do you not work on it any longer? No!!!! You use and replace use and rotate! To provide for your families you need to do this.

Keep learning new things. Each thing you learn is a valuable layer.

I am proud of all of you!

Monday message - Becoming self-reliant

Provident Living: We will have a rerun of the Crochet Granny Square class Feb. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the Shook's.

Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare Ye,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 68
April 1937 general conference of the Church, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., of the First Presidency, asked: “What may we as a people and as individuals do for ourselves to prepare to meet this oncoming disaster, which God in his wisdom may not turn aside from us?” President Clark then set forth these inspired basic principles of the Church welfare program:
“First, and above and beyond everything else, let us live righteously. …
“Let us avoid debt as we would avoid a plague; where we are now in debt, let us get out of debt; if not today, then tomorrow.
“Let us straitly and strictly live within our incomes, and save a little.
“Let every head of every household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing, and, where possible, fuel also, for at least a year ahead. You of small means put your money in foodstuffs and wearing apparel, not in stocks and bonds; you of large means will think you know how to care for yourselves, but I may venture to suggest that you do not speculate. Let every head of every household aim to own his own home, free from mortgage. Let every man who has a garden spot, garden it; every man who owns a farm, farm it.” (Conference Report, April 1937, p. 26.)

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/11/ensign-articles-about-food-storage-and.html articles on preparedness from the Ensign

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2012/01/use-52-week-inventory-schedule-to-count.html simple storage sheet

http://preparedldsfamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/emergency-or-disaster-menus-for-7-days.html
emergency menus

http://iprepared.blogspot.com/2010/03/ongoing-preparedness.html a good reminder

http://iprepared.blogspot.com/2010/01/iprepareds-family-home-evening-lesson.html family nite

http://fillingyourark.blogspot.com/ food storage blog

http://selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com/2012/07/food-storage-wheat-recipe-blender-wheat.html I love wheat blender pancakes

Crockpot Baked Potatoes
by Real Mom Kitchen
Using whole potatoes, wash them (with skins on and let them dry. Then wrap each potato in a piece of foil (no need for pricking them). Place the foil wrapped potatoes in your crock pot. Cook on low for 8 hours

I wanted to mention that a sweet friend told me how she does potatoes in the crockpot. I have never done them the old pan on stove way since. What you do is peel your potatoes and prep them like you would to boil on the stove, cutting if needed, then put them in the crockpot and cover with water and put your crockpot on high while you are at church or when ever you want real mashed potatoes and then drain and prepare your mashed potatoes.

Harvest Potato Soup
by I Dare You to Eat It
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup celery, diced
4 cups potato, diced
½ lb bacon, cooked and drained
2 cups instant potatoes
½ cups dehydrated carrots
8 chicken bouillon cubes
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
Simmer all vegetables, bouillon cubes and cream of chicken soup in 8 cups of water until vegetables are fully cooked. Add instant potatoes and evaporated milk to achieve desired consistency. Garnish with grated cheese and bacon bits.

http://www.theprovidenthomemaker.com/ has a great amount of info

http://www.theprudenthomemakerblog.blogspot.com/ she has lots of helpful suggestions

http://selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com/2011/05/fhe-idea-beginning-your-family-home.html  a good place to start

http://www.safelygatheredin.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-02-01T10:00:00-05:00&max-results=3 I liked her monday motivation part but looks like you would like the stuff she has as well on her site so look around. I really liked her message on this page. Foregoing luxuries to get your storage in is a good thing to think about.

http://preparednessmatters.blogspot.com/  I liked the frozen bean burritos, if you scroll down again harvest the blog for ideas

By now you are sensing a theme here these are all great sites on food storage, grow your storage and grow your knowledge, build your skills.

The skills I have acquired through the church Relief Society has taught me so much plus then I read and studied on my own to add to that knowledge.

http://recipeswelove1.blogspot.com/2012/10/ways-to-stock-panty-with-real-food.html  I use foods we like in storage that way we are using our stored food everyday. So in short I don't like olives so you will not find olives in my storage to do so would not be good planning on my part as they would sit and waste space for years. I think that is pretty straight forward... sorry olive lovers ewwwwww!! :p

We are blessed to live in a time we can use so many things to assist our getting our stores in. We can dehydrate with more ease then ever before. We can pressure can our food. We can vacuum seal our food to help it last longer. We have wheat grinders and the list goes on so make it a priority as a family to find a way to acquire if it is a yardsale to raise the funds do it as a family research or ask me what it is I have found that I like and do not rule out looking for these items at the yardsales. I have found my food saver there at a yard sale never-used for ten dollars so don't rule it out! When I do go to yard sales I have a list with me of what I am looking for so I don't go crazy and forget I am looking for something that is right in front of my eyes.

Don't rule out thrift stores during the winter whenever I am in one I go look right away for these above mentioned items to help those who I know are looking for the items.

Whenever you find one though just ask to plug it in. You will hear a hum or some awful sound that will tell you to not get it. Of course the food saver has an awful sound so that can prove it is working but a dehydrator should hum.

These items will cut down on expense. Decide what you want, make a list so if you get a windfall you all are agreed on what is needful.

Husbands support your wives and wives your husbands, be united.

Keep working on your storage it really will help weather the storms one has in this life, I can prove it.

Christmas snacks - Julekaga & Jerky

Here's some yummy favorites we like to have around Christmas! Enjoy!!

Julekaga

This recipe makes five loaves. I baked two and froze three before the rising part so later I will take out one when I want and let it rise, then bake and enjoy…

8 - 8 1/2 c flour

2 packages of yeast (or 4 1/2 tsp) as I buy it in bulk

2 tap cardamom

3 c milk

1/2 stick butter

1 c. sugar

2 tap salt

1/2c, raisins

1 c chopped almonds

Small container of candied fruit

I mix my powder milk with warm water, you could warm your milk add yeast and stir.

Add my butter cut up. Mix some in mixer, add half of flour and salt, mix with dough hook or by hand. Add flour till dough cleans side of bowl or if by hand till kneadable. Knead five minutes then add fruit and nuts. Then shape into five loaves, I wrap three for freezer now and the other two I spray and cover with a towel, let rise one hour. Bake 375 for 35-40 minutes longer if needed.

Put on cooling rack and ice with 2 c powder sugar two tbsp. Butter 1/2 tap almonds flavoring stir together with enough hot water to make icing ice the loaves and quickly add chopped almonds can also put maraschino cherry halves which I did not do today.

Jerky

1 bottle soy sauce I just use the regular size (med)

1 bottle of liquid smoke

Mix this around

Slice a large or two med rump roast (to do this you freeze the roasts take them out of freezer morning of the day before making this will slice great)

Put slices as you go into above mixture

Dry in dehydrator. I have 9 trays filled here they will be ready by tomorrow morning. It is our traditional Christmas jerky!

Apples!!

It's fall and that means it time for apples!

The dehydrators are loaded with apple rings. Then I made seven pints of apple butter and then cooked the juice out of my peelings. Five quarts and one pint of apple juice from the peels of non-sprayed apples that were washed. I only have one and a half bushels more! I want most of them dried but will also make apple pie filling.

All the waste from the apples went to the compost so no part was wasted.