Inspirational Thought

“Without self-reliance one cannot exercise these innate
desires to serve. How can we give if there is nothing there?
Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves.
Money to assist the needy cannot come from
an empty purse. Support and understanding
cannot come from the emotionally starved.
Teaching cannot come from the unlearned.
And most important of all, spiritual guidance
cannot come from the spiritually weak.”

~President Marion G. Romney (1897–1988)

Inspirational Thought

“The world is busy with its own cares,
sorrows and joys, and pays little heed to
you. There is but one great pass-word to
success,—self-reliance.”

William George Jordan
(1864 - 1928)

Food Storage Tuesday, & a link

Last week we finished gathering everything for our 72-hour kits, and we're going to hold off on starting the car kits until the new year starts.


How's your three-month supply coming along?  Last week we got an email from Marcia, who writes an organizational management blog.  She shared a link to her article about keeping a well-stocked kitchen.  It was a really good and thorough article... check it out if you have a moment.  Very useful.


We're still gathering rice this month for our longer-term storage.  I wonder what my mother-in-law would say if I asked for rice for Christmas? (Actually, she would completely understand... she is very much into preparedness and has taught me a lot of the things I've shared here on the blog!)


We hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season and that you are able to spend Christmas with your loved ones.  I don't know if Abbie has said anything here on the blog (I can't remember!) but she is having a baby this week, so between that and the holidays, things might be a little quiet around here but we'll be back in full swing in January.

Motivational Monday

"At the root of self-reliance are the dignity
and importance of seeing ourselves as
children of God regardless of circumstance,
culture, or location."

Elder M. Russell Ballard
Becoming Self-Reliant, Spiritually and Physically, Ensign, March 2009

Food Storage Friday: Hot Chocolate Mix

Hot Chocolate Mix
recipe adapted from familyfun.com

2 cups nonfat dry milk powder
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 unsweetened cocoa
1/2 powdered nondairy creamer
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 semisweet mini chocolate chips (i didn't have these so i just used
morsels. and it turned out fine)

Measure all ingredients into mixing bowl and mix until they are evenly
blended. (I used my food processor)

Store mix in tightly covered container at room temperature. When ready
to use spoon 3 or 4 generous tablespoons of mix into your cup of hot water. Enjoy!

Aleasha

How To...Make Baking Powder

I'm sure you never find yourselves without basic ingredients, I know it's never happened to me, especially not when I was making banana bread, never ever.

Luckily, you can make your own baking powder.

Ingredients: baking soda, cornstarch, and cream of tartar.


Mix 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar


with 1 teaspoon of baking soda


and 1 teaspoon of cornstarch.

Mix it all together

And add it to your recipe in the amount it calls for of baking powder.


Of course it's much easier to just have a couple of extra containers of baking powder on hand---but if you run out and going to the store isn't an option, here's your solution: make your own!

Happy Holiday baking!

Baking Powder

2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cornstarch

Food Storage Tuesday

Every Tuesday, we post specific items you should gather in order to supplement your 72-hour kit, your 3-month supply, and your longer-term storage. If you are new to our blog, don't worry! You won't be left behind. Just start up where we are and follow along. You will eventually have everything completed! Once the 72-hour kit is complete, we'll be putting together emergency car kits again (week by week). Once those are done, we'll gather the 72-hour kits again. So don't worry, just jump on in and join us where we are today!


It's the FINAL WEEK for gathering our 72-hour kits!!  If you've been following along each week for the last several months, you should have at least one completed 72-hour kit.... after this week.  This week, add some light sticks and some hand warmers.  I don't know about where you are, but it's COLD here on the east coast this week, and I can't imagine having to camp out in this sort of weather.  But what if there was some sort of emergency that forced that situation upon us?  A campfire would certainly help in the cold, but that won't do much for us when we are sleeping in our sleeping bags, or walking around gathering sticks or something for the fire.  Hand warmers are great for that sort of situation.  Consider them!  These have good reviews, and so do these.  It looks like buying them in bulk (packs of 40 or so) will give you more bang for your buck.  Consider what you need/want for your family, and how much space you have in your packs.


How's your three month supply going?  Now's the time to stock up on hot cocoa and other winter-y items that you may want in your supply.


We're gathering rice this month for our longer term storage.  Unfortunately, brown rice does not keep well for the long term, so white rice is your main option.  I like to have a good mix of short grain and long grain.

Inspirational Thought

“We stand at the crossroads, each minute, each hour,
each day, making choices. We choose the thoughts we
allow ourselves to think, the passions we allow ourselves
to feel, and the actions we allow ourselves to
perform. Each choice is made in the context of whatever
value system we’ve selected to govern our lives. In
selecting that value system, we are, in a very real way,
making the most important choice we will ever make."

Benjamin Franklin
1706-1790

Food Storage Friday: Pinwheel Cookies

This is the perfect recipe for all that leftover pie crust... and now I'm realizing that I'm about a week late posting it, since it would have been great to have this recipe when you all were making your Thanksgiving pies!  So, just make pie crust especially for this one (like I did), or make it next time you make a pie (Christmas?).  It's definitely worth making a crust specially for this, though... I really liked these flaky cookies and will probably be making them again soon.

My mom actually did something similar to this when I was growing up, but she just baked the pie crust on the bottom of a pie pan, and sprinkled the sugar and cinnamon on top, and cut the pieces into wedges.  Perhaps you have your own version of this recipe?

Pinwheel Cookies

(based on this recipe from Allrecipes.com)

The lineup:

 brown sugar, cinnamon, shortening, salt, flour

Make your favorite pie crust (assuming you use flour, salt, and shortening.... that's the food storage friendly way, anyway).

Roll out the crust to about 1/8 inch thick.  Spread about 1-2 tsp of shortening on top (I just did this with a fork, it was really easy).  Sprinkle brown sugar & cinnamon on top.  To be honest, I didn't measure these at all, I just guessed and went by what looked good.

Roll up the crust, then cut into 3/4 inch pieces. 

Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 8-9 minutes at 450 degrees.

Easy, good, & fast.  Good combo, in my opinion.

Pinwheel Cookies

(based on this recipe from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

1 1/4 c flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 c shortening

3-4 Tbsp water (or as needed)

1-2 tsp shortening

brown sugar (about 1/3 c)

cinnamon

Make your favorite pie crust.  If you don't have a favorite, just mix the flour & salt (measurements above).  Cut in shortening until mixture is coarse.  Add water, a bit at a time, and mix until it resembles pie crust.

Roll out 1/8 inch thick, and spread shortening on top.  Sprinkle brown sugar and shortening.  Roll into a log and cut into 3/4 inch pieces.  Place pieces on greased cookie sheet and bake at 450 degrees for about 8 minutes, or until golden and sizzling on the bottom.

Enjoy!

Food Storage Holiday Gift: Peanut Brittle

Here's another idea for a gift you can make for your neighbors and friends using food storage items.


Ingredients: oil, vanilla, dry roasted peanuts, corn syrup, baking soda and sugar


Start by spraying your baking sheet with cooking spray. And please tell me that everyone's pans look like this?


Mix the peanuts, sugar and corn syrup in a microwave safe bowl.


Stir to combine. It won't mix completely and that's okay. Pop it in the microwave for 6-7 minutes. I did 6 minutes.


Be SUPER careful when you pull it out of the microwave. The bowl will be very hot.


Stir it up and add the oil.


And the vanilla. Pop it back in the microwave for another two minutes.


When you pull it out this time, add the baking powder.


It will foam and bubble as you mix it up.


Pour it quickly onto the tray and let it cool.


When it's all cool


Break it into buttery pieces with your fingers.


Delicious peanut brittle all from food storage!


It would be cute wrapped in a cellophane bag or in these cute holiday Tupperware you can find in the stores right now.

More holiday gift ideas from food storage here.


Microwave Oven Peanut Brittle
adapted from the Allrecipes.com recipe here

1.5 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 pinch of salt
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda

Grease a baking sheet and set aside. In a glass bowl, combine the peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook in microwave for 6-7 minutes on high (700w); mixture should be bubbly and peanuts browned. Stir in oil and vanilla; cook 2-3 minutes longer.

Quickly stir in baking soda, just until mixture is foamy. Pour immediately onto greased baking sheet. Let cool 15 minutes or until set. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.

Gifts from Food Storage

It's December!  Many of you may already be finished with your Christmas presents, but for the rest of us slackers, here's a list of some of our holiday gift ideas that we've posted in the past.  All of these gifts can be made from food storage items, and are perfect gifts for neighbors, friends, teachers, or even your favorite food storage bloggers.... let us know if you need our mailing addresses....  Also, stay tuned tomorrow for a new gift post!


 Wheat grass

 Granola

 Hot cocoa mix

 Fudge

 Chocolate cereal snack mix

Give them coal in their stockings! (No picture... but check out the article here!)

Still need more gift-giving ideas?  Check out our Food Storage/Emergency Preparedness gift guide that we put together for this Christmas season.

Also, never hesitate to give actual food storage to people for Christmas, especially if you know they are working on that sort of thing.  My mom once gave a newly married couple a bunch of food storage.  I'll admit, it's definitely not the most exciting gift that you could give, but think about what you are really giving them - peace of mind.  Doesn't get much better than that.