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Thursday, August 19, 2010

Book Review (and GIVEAWAY!): Not Your Mother's Food Storage

Deseret Book contacted us several weeks ago about reviewing a new food storage book, and we jumped at the chance!  We love keeping track of what others in the "food storage world" are up to and we were happy to have the opportunity to read a new book (and give away two copies, too!).  This new book is called "Not Your Mother's Food Storage" by Kathy Bray and Jan Barker.


I have to admit that while I was reading "Not Your Mother's Food Storage", I felt like I was reading our own blog!  The book focuses solely on your three-month supply, and they talk about planning your entire three month supply ahead of time by planning out meals, making a master grocery list, etc, just like we have been talking about on this blog for the last 2 years.  I'll give you a rundown of all the chapters so you can get a good idea about what's in the book:


1. Why this plan?
2. Planning your breakfast meals
3. Planning your lunch meals
4. Planning your dinner meals
5. Planning for desserts and treats
6. Storing staples and condiments
7. Storing nonfood items
8. Adapting your favorite recipes
9. How to store it now that you have it
10. Where to store it now that you have it
11. Recipes
12. Worksheets


So you see, it's pretty in-depth and the authors do a great job laying out all the instructions for gathering and storing your three-month supply.  There are charts throughout the chapters so you can easily visualize the concepts they are talking about, and then at the end of the book there are several blank food storage charts for your own use.  They also briefly give some great tips for storing frozen meats, storing and preserving fresh produce, and storing other staples like cheese, flour, wheat, and water.


And I have to say, I was really impressed with the recipe section, which takes up 40 pages of the book (there are just over 100 pages in the book).  Most of the recipes are not pantry-only meals (they include cheese, butter, etc), but many of them can be adapted if you prefer pantry-only recipes for your three-month supply plan.


This book would make a great Christmas gift, too! Whether you are giving gifts to the most seasoned food storage person, or to someone just starting out, I can almost guarantee that they will learn something from this book.


Want to win a copy of "Not Your Mother's Food Storage"?  Deseret Book has given us TWO copies to give away to two lucky readers.  Just leave a comment on this post answering the following question:


What is your most immediate food storage goal?


One comment per person, please.  The giveaway closes on Friday night (August 20) at midnight PST.


For more information about "Not Your Mother's Food Storage", check out their website NotYourMothersFoodStorage.com.


Special thanks to Deseret Book for providing the review book to us, and for providing the giveaway books!

101 comments:

Amanda said...

I would love some help with food storage and that books sounds like it would be good. We just moved across the country, and before we left I tried to use up a lot of our food storage. Our most immediate goal is to build our food storage back up (in a more usable way than last time) and to get a plan. Oh, and I also need to re-up our 72 hour kits. My husband pilfered them for school lunches :)

Emily said...

My most immediate food storage goal is getting legumes. I have a bit of everything else but am woefully short in this area.

Virginia said...

My most immediate food storage goal is to buy more grains and legumes. I have maybe 10 pounds in the house and that is nowhere near enough for our family of four.

JenHunsaker said...

To replace the flour and oats that were infested by weevils. Ugh!

Linda said...

My most immediate goal is to re-start and organize my storage with a workable plan. We have used lots of our supply recently, just sold our home, and need to start anew. I love this blog!!! and I would love to get my hands on this book, as well.

Courtney said...

Water, water, water! I feel like we are doing pretty food in the food department, but we are lacking in water storage. Thank goodness my kids drink lots of apple juice. We have been filling juice bottles with water and keeping them anywhere we can find a place to shove them.

Anonymous said...

My goal right now is figuring out what meals we'll eat in an emergency and how to use nonperishable foods with all of those meals. I have picky eaters for kids so it's not as easy as it sounds! Thanks for the chance to win!

Heidi said...

Ours is our emergency backpacks...one for each member of our family and we have a goal to finish them by Christmas!!

Jen. said...

My most immediate food storage goal is to learn how to use our new dehydrator effectively before our apples are ready to harvest (including how to store the dehydrated apples once they're prepped).

Jon and Sarah said...

Our family needs this! We are still working on 72 hour kits and adding in some 3 month food storage.

Sarah said...

AHHHH!!! I want this book! My most immediate food storage goal is to start one. just kidding, actually we do pretty well, and have 80% of a 72hr kit in a tub in our front closet. I want to polish up a plan so we're more organized.
Hope I win! Crossed fingers, double crossed legs and arms.

The Johnsons said...

Would love this book! Let's see ...my most immediate goal is rounding out what we have so there is more variety before moving on to have a whole year's supply.

The WoodLand School said...

My most important goal -- to get started on my 72-hour kids! Right now it's just a mental list :-(

Shane and Brandi said...

Most immediate goal would be to fill in the gaps in my 3 month supply. I have meals, but I always need one or 2 things that I should have on my shelf. We are working at it slowly. I buy an extra can of whatever it is and put it in their when I go shopping.

Mariesa M. said...

My goal is to get some more water barrels - we don't have enough water stored up.

Sariah said...

To have a better plan. I have food storage but with moving and having another baby it is a little chaotic right now.

misskate said...

This looks like a great tool!

My most immediate food storage goal is to branch out in what types of food we are storing.
We're actually starting to have a little bit of a collection of things we'd eat if we needed to dip into the storage (plus it's easy to rotate this way too)... but I don't think that it's very comprehensive.

Andrea :) said...

I have been wanting to read this book for the longest time! My most immediate food storage goal is to finish planning and stocking for our 3 month food supply.

Testing said...

This sounds like a great book- just what I need! We've changed our diet, so I need to do a whole revamp of our 3 month supply. Most of our meals are prepped in advance and put in the freezer and then cooked, but I'd like some shelf stable options too.

Taunzi Hansen said...

To complete our 72 hour kits and start working on a 3 month supply!

Sarah said...

My immediate goal is to re-evaluate our budget to set aside some money each month for food storage. Since my husband got laid off and he took his current job, our income has been much lower then it was previously, which makes it hard to find some "extra" money for food storage.

Cecily said...

Shelving! I have a bulk order from the Storehouse coming in two weeks and no where to stack it. My shelf (singular) is already full. Add to that pending pile the applesauce and tomatoes I'm planning on canning, and I'm in need of some storage soon.

Genean said...

I would love this book! When we moved we left behind our water, so my immediate goal is to amp up our water storage. Reading about the recent tragic flooding in Pakistan reminded me that an ample storage of clean water is vital.

Michelle said...

This book is currently on my to read list. That would be exciting to own it. My immediate goal is to update and complete 72 hour kits. All of the stuff has been out for a couple of months waiting for me to take care of it...hopefully within the next month I will get it done.

Kristi said...

My immediate goal is to get my water barrels cleaned out and filled. They've been sitting in my garage for over a year, and it's time they do more than take up space.

Faith said...

My immediate goal is to work on my 72 hour kits. Started one a few years ago, but never did get too far with them. Got them out the other day - and the food was about 3 years old. Plus, need to add more emergency supplies -such as flashlights and such to each bag.

Domestic Diva said...

Our first goal is to have emergency kits to put together. I'd like to learn more about storing food that doesn't involve things bought already canned.

Jamie said...

I'm low on beans, rice and oatmeal. (We've been eating through it this past year.) I need to get to the cannery and can more.

The leader said...

Most immediate goal - havin enoug 'backup ingredients' that i can cook a whole week without having to run to the store for a forgotten ingredient.

Sounds like a good book for a gal like me who isn't really as prepared as i could be...

WalkConkies said...

My goal is to take a good inventory of what we have and figure out what we still need! I'm sure this book would give us some more good goals!!! Thanks for your great ideas!

Unknown said...

My goal is to continue to stock up on all those things that are in the storage yet, which at this point is everything not including rice.

Super Pi said...

My goal is to finish the inventory I started this week and to get some more oats and wheat. I'm running low on those. Once the inventory is finalized I will have a more definite plan of what I need to purchase and what I don't.

Dan and Melissa said...

Our immediate goal would be to store more water!

Corri said...

We need to figure out a good BPA-free way to store our water!

Lynn said...

Funny you should ask that question.

I've been researching all about dehydrators and now I am down to trying to decide between two. I have a TON of dehydrating I want to do and get done this fall to add to our food storage. ; D

Heidi said...

I'm working on restocking our pantry before our #6 baby arrives. I would love if my husband only had to shop for fresh produce after the baby is here. :)

Thanks!

Katie said...

We need to immediately get some more water, as we just moved and left our water storage behind. Yikes!

Lorraine said...

Just this morning, I was thinking that my new food storage goal should be to start using up the meat in our freezer. We still be here more than a year, but for a year of that my husband will be deployed, so it would be a lot easier to use it now. Otherwise, I will have to get a pressure canner and can it... that sounds like a lot of work!

The Oman Family said...

My most immediate is getting more oil and some honey.

Brandy said...

My most immediate need right now is to get back into a plan using recipes and menus that incorporate purchasing food storage for my 3 month supply each shopping trip.

Mary said...

My 3 month supply is my most immediate need. I love the recipes you post! Thanks for the giveaway!

Audra said...

Cleaning out and re-assesing We definitely have a one year supply but we haven't done the best job of rotating. I just found a box of noodles in the back of a shelf that expired in 2004!

Kerry said...

My immediate food storage goal is to get a wheat grinder so I can make my own whea flour, and bread! This book looks like just what I need to get my 3 month supply!

Krista said...

My most immediate goal is figuring out a menu plan that works with my sons food allergies and then start stocking something besides green beans...

Anna Larsen said...

We're working on fruits and veggies for the 3 month supply. Haven't really worked on 72 hour kits either.

Raysha said...

My most immediate food storage goal would be to get more wheat.

Anonymous said...

My most immediate need right now is to get back into a plan using recipes and menus that incorporate purchasing food storage for my 3 month supply each shopping trip. So, I can really use this book!!!

jennyarzola (at) yahoo (dot) com

CheerfulHeart2 said...

Mine is to take an inventory.

Unknown said...

Completing my three month supply so that it all makes sense and works together.

Rachelle said...

My goal? Taking all my random items and making a bigger plan with actual meals!

nfmgirl said...

My immediate goal is simply to begin. I need to clear some food storage space first!

Michelle said...

72 hour kits!

Heather said...

my most immediate supply need would be the 72 hour kits!!!

Samantha R said...

My immediate goals are to re-do our 72 hour kits and to re-build our supply of bottled tomato products (diced tomatoes, salsa, chili sauce, etc) from our garden soon.

Anonymous said...

My immediate goal is to have a 3 month supply and learning to meal plan so that we eat what we store.

pat(douglassandpat@yahoo.com)

Anonymous said...

72 hour kits and car kits! For some reason, I can't seem to get these done.

Lila Jo said...

My immediate food storage goal is to make a 3 month plan and focus my stock piling towards it; I am currently grabbing items for food storage without a plan.

The Parent Family Homeschool said...

Inventory and rotation are my goals.

Frank, Heidi and Family said...

To get out 72 hour kits in order for all five of us now.

kdonat said...

Better organize my first aid/medical supplies and the canned goods that seem to be taking over any available open space. Pull up a case and sit down...

Amanda said...

My immediate goal is to put on paper the many meals I have in my head for our 3 month supply. I have lots of food, but need to have a plan for it.

Karen K. said...

First and foremost: determine if we have enough water. Thanks for the giveaway. It sounds like a great book!

Unknown said...

Awesome! :) My most immediate food storage goal is to figure out how & where to store water; we'll definitely need it, but we are SO hurting for space!!! (Yes, my second-most-immediate goal is for us to find a larger place with another bedroom so Kiddo won't have to share his room with the food storage boxes - not that he minds having them to climb on, LOL!)

Thanks!!! :)

Anonymous said...

My current goal is getting it all organized - I have lots of food storage but not everything for 3 months and it's hard to keep track of it all while living in a small apartment!

Jennifer
jencarr1979@yahoo.com

Beth said...

I have two big shelving units that need to be assembled. Once that is done, I'll be putting food on the shelves in alphabetical order and then making labels to affix to the shelves. I know it's nerdy, but that makes me so excited!

Anonymous said...

Replenishing our three-month supply.

Christi Williams said...

Having a large family (9 kids) in the past storing for so many people was overwhelming. I did store cans of the basics, my kids bedd sit on our food storage. Then we started to move a lot with my husband's job, I gave lots of my food storage away to others. When we settled again I knew I needed to start again.

I once again have lots of the basics like wheat, rice, oats, sugar etc but I want to focus on my 3 month supply of EVERYTHING. The idea of store what you eat and eat what you store.

see3ga said...

My Goal is to get started!!!!

Tiffany -- the mommy said...

Our immediate goal is to get our 72 hour kits finished and rebuild the 3 month supply.

Becky S. said...

Our most immediate goal is to firm up our meal plans, have recipes for them easily accessible, esp. those my husband can cook, as my health is not so good, and then organize our storage and fill in the food gaps so we can make those meals.
In other words, we need this book!
It was written for us!

Brenda Garner said...

Most immediate goal--get moved out of teeny-tiny apt. and re-gather my scattered food storage and year's supply into one organized location, and re-penish 3 mos. supply.
rejoyce30@hotmail.com

Darlene said...

My goal is to begin to cook out of my food storage more and not just let it sit around for 'just in case'. I need to plan meals ahead so I don't dread each day with 'what am I gonna fix for dinner' Thanks for all you do at your blog!!
Darlene

Diane said...

Food storage is a never ending learning experience. One can always learn more. I have a nice supply, but need to learn more about different ways to use to it. Thanks for the many tips you give and for these kind of give aways.

Cindy Liane said...

My most immediate goal is to can meat for our three month supply. Next fruits and juices.

Anonymous said...

My critical goal is to organize what I've already amassed so I can track my inventory and avoid duplication or omissions. I have stuff stashed all over the house, higgledy-piggledy, and struggle to find the best system for my needs. Thanks! Donna U

Unknown said...

My goal is to experiment more with whole wheat and hopefully make a solar oven.

Justin and Lindsay Wilkin said...

I am in DESPERATE need of spaghetti sauce. I ran out last night while making my eggplant parm, GASP!!!! :( My food storage hasn't been that impressive since we just moved and we will only be here for a year. I hate the thought of hoarding a whole bunch of stuff that we will have to move.

judyyy said...

I so want to win this-I need help!
judyylee@hotmail.com

Carol C. said...

Organization and water. We live in the desert and Water is a must!!! But where to keep it all???????

Kimberly Elliott said...

My most immediate goal is to GET STARTED.

I have been feeling for months now that I really need to do this. We were involved in floods a few years ago and since then I have felt that we need to be more prepared for these disasters.

I want to get my 72 hour kits started so that if something were to happen again, we could just grab them and go.

Hopefully, having this book will make it just a little easier to stop being OVERWHELMED and get going.

Fellars Family said...

My immediate goal is to get everything organized. I have a lot of things, but there is no rhyme or reason to it.

Anonymous said...

My immediate goal is to look over my food storage and make a list of things that are running low or are completely gone.

Nancy Hill said...

My most immediate goal is water, water and more water. But I could always use more suggestions on my 3 month supply which is overflowing the pantry and the closet it is stored in. Nancy Hill

Jen said...

My goal is to get our 3 month menus COMPLETE. Thanks for all the great help!

Emily Hendrix said...

My next food storage goal is to re-inventory. I do not have a good rolling inventory system and I'm not sure where I'm at on some things!

Trina said...

Our immediate goal is to use up as much of our three month supply as possible since we will be moving soon. After we move we will want to build it back up in a, hopefully:), organized manner.

John and Laura said...

A meal plan. I have of food, but no plan for specific meals... Working on it.

Anonymous said...

My immediate goal is to get more than canned soup on my pantry shelf!

Karisa said...

We've got our 3 month and our year, so I'm working on keeping it up, and adding a little more variety to the year supply.

Joy said...

My immediate goal is using my canned foods before they go bad. (I hate throwing stuff out, but if I don't get to it in time it goes bad.) We don't always use items as planned, so I guess my second goal ought to be getting a better food storage plan and sticking to it.

Tina said...

My first goal is to update the 72 hr kits. They are in 5 gallon buckets (not too easy to carry) and everything in them is at least five years old.

amber said...

My immediate goal is to figure out how to use the stuff I have...I have cans of wheat, rice, flour, etc but the only thing that really gets used is the rice!

Julie Marie Winans said...

My most immediate goal is to actually start one now that I have gotten married and finding places to put it.

Valerie said...

My goal is to get a plan together. Right now, it just looks like a bunch of cans of this and that.

Randi said...

My immediate goal is to get menus now that I am just planning for myself and to restock my food supply with the items I couldn't bring with me in the move.

Coupon Person said...

I would love to make some wheat bread with my stored wheat.

Keri said...

Make some room in my cupboards. And buy more grains.

Laurie said...

My immediate goal is to take inventory and finish getting my three month supply. I just finished my menu and need to figure out what I need to buy more of.

Mrs. Pear said...

My most immediate food storage goals are to:

-Finish freezing the 25lbs of Jasmine rice in the freezer and refreeze it.

-Finish stocking up on general baking supplies (enough to cover 3 months at the minimum)

-Pick up lentils and red beans to finish of my legumes

-Finish my sick/flu list shopping

-Lock down a menu for 3 month supply and stop changing my mind so I can shop to it!

Kristine said...

Getting a bag of black beans to fill that bucket that is waiting.

After that, storing some water.

KathyB said...

Wish we had known about your blog a long time ago! Thank you for such a great review on our book, Not Your Mother's Food Storage. I've included a link to your blog on the Reviews page of our web site. I can see that we are all on the same page when it comes to food storage. Great blog!
Kathy Bray