Make Your Shopping Dollar Stretch

This is an article I found about canning!

Make Your Shopping Dollar Stretch

Canning the extra when you find specials helps even out the budget expenditures by taking the sting out of those seasons when food prices skyrocket. It also provides a reliable source of safe food when the power goes out, the freezer is on the blink, or the local supermarket gets destroyed in the area’s worst ever tornado.

For rural families the canning season is in the hottest part of the year when the garden produce is ready. For families who do not grow their own food it can be just about anytime. It is the end of December and I just canned ten pints of Irish Potatoes and eight quarts of carrots. My “Ball Blue Book”, a reliable guide to home canning and freezing of foods, indicates that you can freeze these two products, but I haven’t had much luck with home freezing either one of these two foods. I took advantage of a Christmas gift of produce that would have gone bad before my husband and I could have used it up by canning it. There-in lies an epiphany: You can take advantage of discounted produce anytime of the year and avoid the heat of late August to do your canning.

Here’s how you do it. First purchase a “Ball Blue Book” or some similar canning guide. Do not plan on using unorthodox methods such as canning in the dishwasher, the oven, or the microwave. It doesn’t work and its dangerous, both due to the possibility of exploding jars and due to the probability of inadequate processing times and temperatures leading to food spoilage.

Equipment Needed
1. Canning Jars and Supplies
2. A Pressure Canner
3. The “Blue Book” or a similar canning guide
4. Lids and Rings to fit the jars
5. Timer
6. Jar Lifter

You can find these supplies in late summer or early fall in nearly any large grocery store such as Safeway, Albertsons, Winn Dixie or Wal Mart; but in mid winter you may have a bit more of a search to do to find them. I can always find canning equipment at my local Bi-Mart store.

Thou Shalt Not Covet

This sums up so much! I got this email today from Daily Gems:

“Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, ‘Thou shalt not covet’ (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. . . . If our family does not have everything the neighbors have, . . . we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually.”

Robert D. Hales, “Becoming Provident Providers Temporally and Spiritually,” Ensign, May 2009, 8

Do we really need 72 hour kits?

The answer that I will give is YES! The church doesn't really talk a lot about 72 hour kits. They talk a lot about 3 month and 1 year supply of food and water. I think it is important especially if you look back at all the natural disasters we have had in the last few years. I am sure the people in LA that went to the dome for safety would have LOVED to have a 72 hour kit. Or what about the flood victims here in GA that had to flee their home? Again, I think it is important.

Emergency Essentials has several 72 hour kits already made that you can order and they have been running good sales on them. You can also order them from Overstock.com.

If you chose to make your own, like I am doing for my family for Christmas...shhhh, then here is a list of items that should be in them, of course you can adapt them for your family:

trail mix/granola bars
soda crackers
graham crackers
4 sticks of beef jerky
1 pack of gum
12 pieces of hard candy
1 can of tuna
1/2 lb of dried milk
3 hot cocoa packets
2 instant soup packs
mess kit or dinnerware
assorted fruit snacks
assorted MREs
toothbrush/paste
boxed drinks
mosquito repellent
feminine needs
hand sanitizer
mirror
comb/brush
razor
wet wipes
toilet paper
soap
lip balm
prescription meds
aspirin/tylenol
can opener
deodorant
duct tape
pocket knife
compass
radio
flashlight
extra batteries
gloves/hand warmers
paper/pencils
foil
candles/matches
nylon rope 25 foot
sewing kit
pliers
blanket/bedding
deck of cards
whistle
change of clothing
tent (compact)
rain gear/poncho
wire
infant needs
fuel
cash/change
water
preparedness manual
map of local area
copy of important records
inflatable raft (optional)
hammock (optional)
garbage bags

Of course you don't need everything on the list. Each person should have 1 gallon of water. Everything you put in your 72 hour kit should be airtight and individually packaged in original wrappers. This should help keep the bugs out and keep food fresh. You will still have to rotate it.

Ok, I cheated and ordered MREs when they had them on sale last month. I was able to find hand warmers, emergency blankets on sale at Target for $1.00. I am doing the deals at Walgreens to get my toiletry items for free!

If you have any questions, please call me!

Debbie

Budget Tracker

I have been searching for an easy to use budget tracker that I can use and share with each of you. I think I found it. It is a great tool for those of you looking for an easy way to track your spending and work on a budget. Great for the beginner!

The most important thing to have is a budget. You need to know where your money is going. Keeping track of it every month helps you to know where you save/spend your money. Below is a budget that you can easily put in all your financial information, and you can make improvements where you need to!

Yes- there is a category for 3 month Food Supply & Long Term Food Storage! Unless you can afford it, it is not wise to go out and buy your food storage all at once. It is important to build your food storage monthly so you don’t go into any debt acquiring it. You can also see what you are using out of your food storage, and get the items you actually use!

Email me and I will send you the Excel Budget Tracker!

Here are the instructions on how to use it.

1. Download the file and save it as “Monthly Budget Tracker - Master”
2. On the excel sheet, any cell that is shaded does NOT need to be filled it. Just input numbers into the white cells only.
3. Input all the information into the “Projected” cells. Save file.
4. Each month, go into your file and input your actual costs. Each month you need to save a different file under “Budget - (Name of month).
5. Analyze where you are spending your money. Try your best to put as much into savings as possible. Figure out how much you can put into food storage. Realize it is a goal worth putting money into!

Walton Feed Order

We have a chance to add to our food storage by ordering from Walton Feed.

If you have never ordered from them, let me tell you, you can save a lot of money on some things and some things you just need to price compare. Take a look at their website:

You can compare with items from Emergency Essentials and the church cannery. I have posted the links below.

The order will not come in until January or February but you must pay for it when you order it. the deadline is November 15th.

Please let me know if you have any questions about what to order. Also maybe there are people in the ward that are ordering and would like to split items with you.

Everyone tells me the whipped honey is to die for! I did go on the website for the company that makes the honey and the cost for the same amount of honey is about $30 per case more!!

Again, let me know if I can help!

My Shopping Deal at Publix

Keith and I went to Publix 2 weeks ago and bought the items you see in the picture. With coupons in hand we saved a bundle! The man in the line behind us actually commented to the cashier after she finished ringing up our coupons, that he thought the cashier was going to have to pay us money!

The total before sale items and coupons would have been:
$81.03 with tax

We walked out of the store with everything, paying only:
$33.15 with tax!

Here is a list of what we bought (I buy items when I can get a good deal that I can send to the soldiers overseas, so some of items were not for us)

1 - dozen large eggs
2 - bags shredded cheese
1 - gallon milk
2 - boxes glad kitchen bags
3 - bags steamed fresh frozen veggies
4 - Marie Calender frozen dinners
2 - bags Nature Valley nut clusters (I stacked coupons for these!)
4 - packs Taco Seasoning
2 - Blue Bell Ice Cream
2 - Gummy Snacks by Betty Crocker
2 - jars Peter Pan peanut butter
1 - Chips Ahoy Cookies
2 - bottles Snuggle fabric softener (free!)

That is a lot of stuff for $33 bucks! If you are interested in learning how I did it, let me know!

I'm Back

Ok, sorry that I have posted anything in a long time. I have a lot of excuses but I am sure you don't want to read them. I had to have some much needed time off.....that is it.

I hope that those of you who have been reading this will continue to read and share ideas with others as well as me. I appreciate your loyalty!

Thanks for hanging in there.

Debbie

Flood

This isn't one of the blogs that tells you how to do food storage, what to buy or how to save. What I do want to say is WOW, the rains came down and creek came up and I felt today that we needed an ark. I have family members in Douglasville trapped in their homes because the road has been washed out and no telling how long it will be that way.

I spoke to my sister-in-law in Dallas, GA and she is stranded in her home and her mother went to work today but now she can't get back home. Today it took Keith 45 minutes to go 5 miles to get back home. I am sure that many of you have many stories to tell about what is happening around you.

My point to all this is, we need to be prepared!! What if I was stuck in my home for days with no way to get out? Would I be able to make it? What about you?

I hope this finds everyone safe and dry.

Vinegar Aint Just For Picklin :-)

We had an awesome enrichment tonight! We got a chance to make a bottle of flavored vinegar to use as a decoration in our kitchen or to use it in our food.

After almost everyone was gone and the few sisters were cleaning up, I overheard them talking about the left over vinegar and who would get to take it home. I think it was just the left over in the gallon jugs. After hearing that they weren't sure what to use the vinegar for, I happened to mention that vinegar is a necessity for our food storage.

Here are several ways to use vinegar! I discovered this summer that it is not just for picklin.....

Household Hints

Floors

No-wax floors:
To wash no-wax floors, add ½ cup of white distilled vinegar to a half-gallon of warm water.

Carpet stain removal:
A mixture of 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent and 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar in a pint of lukewarm water will remove non-oily stains from carpets. Apply it to the stain with a soft brush or towel and rub gently. Rinse with a towel moistened with clean water and blot dry. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone. Then dry quickly, using a fan or hair dryer. This should be done as soon as the stain is discovered.
Windows & Walls

Streakless windows:
Simply wash with a mixture of equal parts of white distilled vinegar and warm water. Dry with a soft cloth. This solution will make your windows gleam and will not leave the usual film or streaks on the glass.

Washing woodwork:
You can ease the job of washing painted walls, woodwork and Venetian blinds by using a mixture of 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup white distilled or cider vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda with 1 gallon of warm water. Wipe this solution over walls or blinds with a sponge or cloth and rinse with clear water. Dirt and grime comes off easily and the solution will not dull the painted finish or leave streaks.

Water or alcohol marks on wood:
Stubborn rings resulting from wet glasses being placed on wood furniture may be removed by rubbing with a mixture of equal parts of white distilled vinegar and olive oil. Rub with the grain and polish for the best results.
Kitchen

Garbage disposal cleaner:
Garbage disposals may be kept clean and odor free with vinegar cubes. Vinegar cubes are made by filling an ice tray with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and enough water to fill the ice tray and then freezing it. Run the mixture through the disposal, and then flush it with cold water for a minute or so.

Clean the microwave:
Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.

Deodorize the kitchen drain:
Pour a cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain once a week. Let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water.

Clean the refrigerator:
Wash with a solution of equal parts water and white distilled vinegar.

Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards:
Wipe with full strength white distilled vinegar.

Brass polish:
Brass, copper and pewter will shine if cleaned with the following mixture. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of white distilled vinegar and stir in flour until it becomes a paste. Apply paste to the metals and let it stand for about 15 minutes. Rinse with clean warm water and polish until dry.

Ant deterrent:
Ant invasions can sometimes be deterred by washing counter tops, cabinets and floors with white distilled vinegar.

Getting Rid of Fruit Flies/Gnats in Your Kitchen
Place a bowl filled with ½ quart water, 2 Tbsp. sugar, 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar and a couple of drops of dish soap to attract the fruit flies. Always eliminate the source of attraction, i.e., ripened produce.

Cleaning Stainless Steel Appliances
Apply vinegar with a soft cloth to remove streaks from stainless steel appliances. Try in an inconspicuous place first.

Cleaner Dishes and Glasses
Pour 1 ½ cup to 2 cups white distilled vinegar in the bottom of dishwasher, along with regular dishwasher soap. Wash full cycle.

Remove Refrigerator Smells
Place 1 cup apple cider vinegar in a glass and set in refrigerator. Within 2 days, any smell is gone!


Bathroom

Bathtub film:
Bathtub film can be removed by wiping with white distilled vinegar and then with soda. Rinse clean with water.

Shower doors:
Rub down shower doors with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar to remove soap residue.

Toilet bowl cleaner:
Stubborn stains can be removed from the toilet by spraying them with white distilled vinegar and brushing vigorously. The bowl may be deodorized by adding 3 cups of white distilled vinegar. Allow it to remain for a half hour, then flush.

Unclog the showerhead:
Corrosion may be removed from showerheads or faucets by soaking them in white distilled vinegar overnight. This may be easily accomplished by saturating a terry cloth towel in vinegar and wrapping it around the showerhead or faucet.
Lawn/Garden

Kill grass:
To kill grass on sidewalks and driveways, pour full strength white distilled vinegar on it.

Kill weeds:
Spray white distilled vinegar full strength on tops of weeds. Reapply on any new growth until plants have starved.

Increase soil acidity:
In hard water areas, add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water for watering acid loving plants like rhododendrons, gardenias or azaleas. The vinegar will release iron in the soil for the plants to use.

Neutralize garden lime:
Rinse your hands liberally with white distilled vinegar after working with garden lime to avoid rough and flaking skin. Clean pots before repotting, rinse with vinegar to remove excess lime.

Keep Flowers Longer
Keep flowers fresh longer. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a 1-quart vase of water. Trim stems and change water every five days.

Plant Nutrients
Mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:8. Mix a separate solution of sugar and water in a mixture of 1:8. Combine the vinegar and sugar mixtures. Add to plant as long as needed.
Pets

Pest fighter:
A teaspoon of white distilled vinegar for each quart bowl of drinking water helps keep your pet free of fleas and ticks. The ratio of one teaspoon to one quart is for a forty-pound animal.

Pet accident:
Test the color fastness of the carpet with white distilled vinegar in an inconspicuous place. Then sprinkle distilled vinegar over the fresh pet accident. Wait a few minutes and sponge from the center outward. Blot up with a dry cloth. This procedure may need to be repeated for stubborn stains.

Get Rid of Odor on a Smelly Dog
Wet the dog down with fresh water. Use a mixture of 1 cup white distilled vinegar and 2 gallons water. Saturate the dog’s coat with this solution. Dry the dog off without rinsing the solution. The smell will be gone!
Other

Bumper stickers:
Remove bumper stickers by repeatedly wiping the sticker with white distilled vinegar until it is soaked. In a few minutes, it should peel off easily. Test on a small invisible area of the car to ensure there will be no damage to the paint.

Paintbrush softener:
Soak the paintbrush in hot white distilled vinegar, and then wash out with warm, sudsy water.

Cleaning the Radiator Vent
Turn down the thermostat. Unscrew the air vent, soak it in vinegar to clean it, then turn the thermostat all the way up. After a few minutes, you'll hear a hissing sound followed by a little bit of water spurting out. Finally, steam will start exiting that hole. Turn off the radiator valve and replace the vent. It should be straight up and hand tight. You should not need or use a wrench.

Frosted windows:
For those rare winter mornings when there is frost on the car, wipe the windows the night before with a solution of one part water to three parts white distilled vinegar. They won’t frost over.

Furniture
Mix olive oil and vinegar in a one-to-one ratio and polish with a soft cloth. Try in an inconspicuous place first.

Cleaning Leather Shoes
Make a solution of one part water to one part white vinegar, and use it sparingly on the shoes. Dip a cloth into the solution, and dab it over the salt-streaked parts of your shoes.
May have to repeat the cleaning a few times before all the salt is removed. Salt actually can damage leather, so it's best to clean shoes as quickly as possible. Don't let the salt stains build up.

Fireplaces
Wash fireplaces with a 50/50 ratio of water and vinegar to remove the blackened soot on glass front doors. If the doors have a spring-loaded clip, remove it, then take out the doors.

Lay them flat on newspapers, spray with the vinegar/water solution and soak. Wipe it off with newspaper.

Cleaner for Gold Jewelry (Winner of June 2007 Vinegar Online Use Contest)
Use one cup apple cider vinegar. Submerge solid gold jewelry item in vinegar for 15 minutes. Remove and dry with cloth.

Remove Lime Stains from Car
Pour a small amount of white vinegar on a clean cloth. Gently rub the area of lime staining with the cloth until the stain is gone. Test a small are first to ensure no discoloration.

Worn DVDs:
If you have a worn DVD that has begun to stick or suffers from the occasional freeze-frame, wipe it down with white distilled vinegar applied to a soft cloth. Ensure the DVD is completely dry before re-inserting in the DVD player. (Note: This only works on DVDs that are scratched of dirty through normal wear.)

Laundry Hints

Wine stains:
Spots caused by wine can be removed from 100 percent cotton, cotton polyester and permanent press fabrics if done so within 24 hours. To do it, sponge white distilled vinegar directly onto the stain and rub away the spots. Then clean according to the directions on the manufacturer's care tag.

Freshen baby clothes:
The addition of 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of baby clothes during the rinse cycle will naturally break down uric acid and soapy residue leaving the clothes soft and fresh.

Clothes washing magic:
Clothes will rinse better if 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is added to the last rinse water. The acid in vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents.

Blanket renewal:
Cotton and wool blankets become soft, fluffy and free of soap odor if 2 cups of white distilled vinegar are added to the rinse cycle of the wash.

Deodorant stains:
Deodorant and antiperspirant stains may be removed from clothing by lightly rubbing with white distilled vinegar and laundering as usual.

Hole removal:
After a hem or seam is removed, there are often unsightly holes left in the fabric. These holes can be removed by placing a cloth, moistened with white distilled vinegar, under the fabric and ironing.

Keeping colors fast:
To hold colors in fabrics, which tend to run, soak them for a few minutes in white distilled vinegar before washing.

Leather cleaning:
Leather articles can be cleaned with a mixture of white distilled vinegar and linseed oil. Rub the mixture into the leather and then polish with a soft cloth.
Scorch marks:
Lightly rub white distilled vinegar on fabric that has been slightly scorched. Wipe with a clean cloth.

Setting colors:
When you are color dyeing, add about a cupful of white distilled vinegar to the last rinse water to help set the color.

Shower curtains:
Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse water when you launder your shower curtain. Do not spin dry or wash out. Just hang immediately to dry.

Unclog steam iron:
Pour equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water into the iron's water chamber. Turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position. Then unplug and allow to cool. Any loose particles should come out when you empty the water.

Clean a scorched iron plate:
Heat equal parts white distilled vinegar and salt in a small pan. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains.

Cleaning Vintage Lace
Soak the lace in cold water, rinsing it several times. Next, hand-wash the lace gently with a wool detergent, such as Woolite. If rust spots are a problem, try removing them with a mixture of white vinegar and hot water.
Food Preparation

Getting the last drops:
When you can’t get the last bit of mayonnaise or salad dressing out of the jar, try dribbling a little of your favorite vinegar into it, put the cap on tightly and shake well. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ve been wasting.

Cooking fish:
Try soaking fish in vinegar and water before cooking it. It will be sweeter, more tender and hold its shape better. When boiling or poaching fish, a tablespoon of vinegar added to the water will keep it from crumbling so easily.

Cake icing:
Cake icing can be prevented from becoming sugary if a little vinegar is added to the ingredients before cooking. The same is true when making homemade candy.

Boiling eggs:
When boiling an egg and it’s cracked, a little vinegar in the water will keep the white from running out.

Keeping potatoes white:
A teaspoon of white distilled or cider vinegar added to the water in which you boil potatoes will keep them nice and white. You can keep peeled potatoes from turning dark by covering them with water and adding 2 teaspoons of vinegar.

Freshen vegetables:
Freshen up slightly wilted vegetables by soaking them in cold water and vinegar.

Fruit and vegetable wash:
Add 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar to 1 pint water and use to wash fresh fruits and vegetables, then rinse thoroughly. Research has shown that vinegar helps kill bacteria on fruits and vegetables.

Frying doughnuts:
Before frying doughnuts, add ½ teaspoon of vinegar to hot oil to prevent doughnuts soaking up extra grease. Use caution when adding the vinegar to the hot oil.

Flavor booster:
Perk up a can of soup, gravy or sauce with a teaspoon of your favorite specialty vinegar. It adds flavor and taster fresher.

Meat tenderizer:
As a tenderizer for tough meat or game, make a marinade in the proportion of half a cup of your favorite vinegar to a cup of heated liquid, such as bouillon; or for steak, you may prefer to a mix of vinegar and oil, rubbed in well and allowed to stand for two hours.

Fruit stains:
Remove fruit or berry stains from your hands by cleaning them with vinegar.

Fresh lunch box:
It is easy to take out the heavy stale smell often found in lunch boxes. Dampen a piece of fresh bread with white distilled vinegar and leave it in the lunch box overnight.

Get rid of cooking smells:
Let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution.

Fluffy Egg Whites
Soak a paper towel with 1-2 Tablespoons of white distilled vinegar. Wipe mixing bowl and beaters or whisk with the vinegar-soaked paper towel, then dry with a cloth or paper towel prior to whipping egg whites.

Fluffier Rice
For fluffier and great tasting rice, add a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to the boiling water before adding rice. Rice will be easier to spoon and less sticky.
Health

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine for Sleep Apnea:
To clean the calcium deposit of the humidifier reservoir, heat 450 ml (1 ¾ cups) of vinegar in the microwave for 2 minutes. Pour vinegar into reservoir and replace cap. Let sit for 1 hour. Remove vinegar. Reservoir should be clean and calcium free. Contact manufacturer before cleaning with this method or review manufacturer’s directions.

Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting:
Douse with vinegar. It will soothe irritation and relieve itching.

Relieve sunburn:
Lightly rub white distilled or cider vinegar on skin. Reapply as needed.

Relieve dry and itchy skin:
Add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your bath water.

Fight dandruff:
After shampooing, rinse with a solution of ½ cup vinegar and 2 cups of warm water.

Soothe a sore throat:
Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow. For another great gargle: 1 cup hot water, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vinegar, gargle then drink.

Treat sinus infections and chest colds:
Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer. (Be sure to check vaporizer instructions for additional water measurement.)

Skin burns:
Apply ice-cold vinegar right away for fast relief. Will prevent burn blisters.

Chest congestion:
To clear up respiratory congestion, inhale a vapor mist from steaming pot containing water and several spoonfuls of vinegar.

Toenail fungus:
Soak toes in a solution of vinegar and water, using 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water, 15 minutes per day.

Arthritis Relief
Mix a teaspoon of half apple cider vinegar, half honey in a glass of water with a teaspoon of orange flavored Knox gelatin.

Lessen Morning Sickness
Drink some apple cider vinegar in water, with honey added. This concoction can help calm a queasy stomach.

Stop Itching
Apply a paste made from vinegar and cornstarch. Keep on until itch disappears.

Cleaning Heavily Soiled Hands
Moisten cornmeal with apple cider vinegar. Scrub hands, rinse in cold water and pat dry.

Soft Feet
Combine 1 cup white distilled vinegar to 2 gallons warm water. Soak feet for 45 minutes then use a pumice stone or file to remove dead skin from heels and callused areas of feet.

Wart Remover
Mix lukewarm/warm water with a cup of white distilled vinegar. Immerse area with wart and soak 20 minutes everyday until wart disappears.

Bug Spray
Combine equal amounts of water, white distilled vinegar and liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Use on skin, as needed.


Kids Stuff

Coloring Easter eggs:
Mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar with each ½ cup of hot water, then add food coloring. (Check egg-coloring booklets or food dye box for specific directions.) Vinegar keeps the food dyes bright and prevents streaky, uneven colors.

Making naked eggs:
Place eggs in a container so the eggs are not touching. Add enough vinegar to cover the eggs. Cover the container, put in the refrigerator and let the eggs sit in the vinegar for 24 hours. Use a large spoon to scoop the eggs out of the container. Be careful since the eggshell has been dissolving, the egg membrane may be the only thing holding the egg together. Carefully dump out the vinegar. Put the eggs back in the container and cover them with fresh vinegar. Leave the eggs in the refrigerator for another 24 hours. Scoop the eggs out again and rinse them carefully. If any of the membranes have broken, throw those eggs away. When you’re done, you’ll have an egg without a shell.

How to build a volcano:
First, make the “cone” of the volcano. Mix 6 cups flour, 2 cups salt, 4 tablespoons cooking oil and 2 cups of water. The resulting mixture should be smooth and firm (more water may be added if needed). Stand a soda bottle in a baking pan and mold the dough around it into a volcano shape. Do not cover the hole or drop dough into it. Fill the bottle most of the way full with warm water and a bit of red food color (can be done before sculpting if you do not take so long that the water gets cold). Add 6 drops of detergent to the bottle contents. Add 2 tablespoons baking soda to the liquid. Slowly pour vinegar into the bottle. Watch out – eruption time!

Coupon Savings!

Ok, I have posted many links on my blog for coupons but I wanted to share this one before I list it as a link.



You can print out the Target coupons and there is one on there for their cheese products and if use the coupon, you can actually get cheese sticks for FREE!

What I like to is that you can print out as many as you want. Also, I have read that you can use them at Publix. I haven't tried to use Target coupons at Publix but I will find out and let you know.

Hope this helps!

Set aside a little money

I always knew for years that setting aside a little money for a rainy day was very important, however in our home there was never a "little" extra when I was growing up and even when I was a single mom.

After reading the letter that I put in the newsletter for September from the mother that was in the Houston area last year and how she spoke about people not being able to buy things because they didn't have cash and the ATMs were not working, really made me think. Yes, not only do we need to prepare for those everyday disasters that come our way like the economy, but what about those other disasters that happen that makes it impossible for us to take our money out of the bank.

We need to set aside a little money in small amounts for such times!

This information was taken directly from the provident living website. It is guideline #3 after 3 month food storage and water storage.

From the First Presidency comes this counsel: “We encourage you wherever you may live in the world to prepare for adversity by looking to the condition of your finances. We urge you to be modest in your expenditures. . . . Save a little money regularly to gradually build a financial reserve.” In the April 2007 general conference Bishop Keith B. McMullin, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric,
reinforced this principle, exhorting Church members to “save some money, if only a few coins each week. This modest approach will soon enable them to have several months’ reserve.” By gradually building a financial reserve, we will be prepared for unforeseen trials and have an added measure of security and peace in our hearts.

Storing Drinking Water

Store drinking water for circumstances in which the water supply may be polluted or disrupted.

If water comes directly from a good, pretreated source, then no additional purification is needed; otherwise, pretreat water before use.

Store water in sturdy, leak-proof, breakage-resistant containers. Consider using plastic bottles commonly used for juices and soft drinks.

Keep water containers away from heat sources and direct sunlight.

My sister and I are storing water in food saver bags for our 72 hour kits.

Commercially bottled water in PETE (or PET) plastic containers may be purchased. Follow the container’s “best if used by” dates as a rotation guideline. Avoid plastic containers that are not PETE plastic.

If you choose to package water yourself, consider the following guidelines:

Containers

* Use only food-grade containers. Smaller containers made of PETE plastic or heavier plastic buckets or drums work well.
* Clean, sanitize, and thoroughly rinse all containers prior to use. A sanitizing solution can be prepared by adding 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) to one quart (1 liter) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.
* Do not use plastic milk jugs, because they do not seal well and tend to become brittle over time.
* Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.

Water Pretreatment

* Water from a chlorinated municipal water supply does not need further treatment when stored in clean, food-grade containers.
* Non-chlorinated water should be treated with bleach. Add 1/8 of a teaspoon (8 drops) of liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) for every gallon (4 liters) of water. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used.

Storage

* Containers should be emptied and refilled regularly.
* Store water only where potential leakage would not damage your home or apartment.
* Protect stored water from light and heat. Some containers may also require protection from freezing.
* The taste of stored water can be improved by pouring it back and forth between two containers before use.


Water Purification Guidelines


If your water supply is not known to be safe or has become polluted, it should be purified before use. Water purification is generally a two-step process.

Step 1: Clarify

Cloudy or dirty water must first be made clear. It may be passed through filter paper, fine cloth, or other filter. It may be allowed to settle and the clear water on top carefully drawn. Filtered or clear settled water should always be disinfected before use.

Step 2: Disinfect

Boiling Method

Bringing water to a rolling boil for 3 to 5 minutes will kill most water-borne microorganisms. However, prolonged boiling of small quantities of water may concentrate toxic contaminants if present.

Bleach Method

Adding 1/8 of a teaspoon (8 drops) of fresh liquid household chlorine bleach (5 to 6% sodium hypochlorite) to every gallon (4 liters) of water will kill most microorganisms. Only household bleach without thickeners, scents, or additives should be used. The use of bleach does not address toxic contamination.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Web site provides additional information about water purification.

Commercial Water Filters

Commercial water filters can effectively filter and purify water contaminated with microorganisms, toxic chemicals, and heavy metals. Their effectiveness depends on design, condition, and proper use. Water filters produced by Seychelle have been used successfully by Church missionaries for many years.

www.seychelle.com
www.katadyn.com

Food Storage Basics

Three-Month Supply

Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet.

One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food.

Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months.

These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage.

Wheat Pancakes

Ok, so I found this recipe for wheat pancakes in a blender! I had to try it and share with my family. So...as most of you know, I am not a wheat expert and I didn't even know what to do with wheat!

Well, I made the pancakes just as the recipe says and they were actually good. They were heavy, but maybe someone know how to make them lighter?? I used everything from my food storage! Powdered milk, powdered eggs, honey, baking powder, oil, salt, whole wheat! I impressed myself. So here is the recipe. We used fresh strawberries that I got from the produce co-op, yummy!

Blender Wheat Pancakes

1 Cup Milk (translation for powdered milk is 3 T. Milk and 1 C. Water)
1 Cup Wheat Kernels, whole & uncooked
2 Eggs (2 T. powdered eggs 1/4 C. Water)
2 tsp Baking Powder
1-1/2 tsp Salt
2 Tbs. Oil
2 Tbs. Honey or Sugar

Put milk and wheat kernels in blender.Blend on highest speed for 4 or 5 minutes or until batter is smooth. Add eggs, oil, baking powder, salt and honey or sugar to above batter. Blend on low. Pour out batter into pancakes from the actual blender jar (only one thing to wash!) onto a hot greased or Pam prepared griddle or large frying pan.Cook; flipping pancakes when bubbles pop and create holes.

Berry Syrup

2 C. Mixed Berries (Raspberries, Blueberries, & Marionberries or any mix that are red and blue
3 T. Sugar

Mix together and let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Fresh Flour Tortillas

I am totally getting into Food Storage! I know now why I was called to this position. We have been trying so many new things and trying to make more things from items we have instead of buying it at the store. I got this recipe from April Grow in the PS Ward, she is awesome.

Keith and I made them today and then we made home made quesadillas with meat and cheese and put our home made salsa on top with a little sour cream. YUMMY!

I wanted to post this earlier but I had to try it first!

Flour tortillas

Ingredients:
2 cups flour (you can get creative with your flour choices like whole wheat, spelt, or a mixture of flours. Kamut gives it a corn tortilla texture)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup oil (I use olive oil) or vegetable shortening
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup warm water (may possibly need to add more, up to 3/4 cup)

Directions:
Stir the flour, salt & baking powder into a medium mixing bowl.

Into the dry ingredients cut in the shortening, or add the oil and water, gently stirring just until you get a sticky dough. Don’t handle too much or they’ll be tough. It should take about 10 seconds.

Wrap in plastic and let rest for at least 30 minutes.
Divide the dough into 8-10 balls (for small tortillas) or 6-8 balls for larger ones, cover them again with a damp cloth so they don’t dry out.

Lightly dust a counter or pastry board w/flour & roll out each ball of dough into a circle or oval approximately 1/4″ thick. Don’t roll the dough out more than once or the tortillas will be tough. Start in the middle of your dough and roll up, then start in the middle and roll down. Start in the middle and roll to one side, repeating to the other side. It takes just a few seconds to roll them out.

Heat a dry griddle or heavy skillet over high heat for 5 minutes (I use my pancake griddle to keep three going at a time. Put one on, roll out another, turn #1 and add #2, roll another, remove #1 and turn #2, roll #4 and and add, remove #2, flip #3, etc. They’re all cooked in just a couple of minutes). Cook the tortillas 30 seconds on each side or until the dough looks dry & slightly wrinkled & a few brown spots form on both surfaces. Do not over cook or they will be hard. Wrap in damp tea towel to keep warm as you cook the other tortillas or place cooked ones wrapped in the damp towel in a low 200 oven to keep warm. Serve warm.

Number Of Servings:6-8

Kraft Coupon and Rebate

I just found this and wanted to share!

http://www.kraftfoods.com/SiteCollectionImages/ImageRepository/BTS/ShoppingList.pdf

5 Gallon Buckets

We have the opportunity to purchase the food grade 5 Gallon Buckets again! Azrcka Bedgood of Lost Mountain is working on a list to purchase another pallet of buckets.

For those of you that don't know about them, the cost is $3.36 each and it includes a lid!
That is a great price compared to the price that I paid last year from Walton Feed.

The way it works is, as soon as she gets enough money to buy a pallet of 144, she buys them. She has it out to the entire stake to order. I personally purchased 5 last month and when I started putting food storage in them, I realized I NEED more!

“How much will fit in a 5 gallon bucket”

* Rice = 34-36 lbs.
* Wheat = 34-36 lbs.
* Cracked Wheat = 25-28 lbs.
* Popcorn (unpopped of course) = 34-36 lbs.
* Corn = 32-36 lbs.
* Cornmeal = 22-27 lbs.
* Flour = 23-25 lbs.
* Rolled oats = 15-19 lbs.
* Macaroni = 16-23 lbs.
* Powdered Milk = 22-25 lbs.
* Sugar – white = 29-34 lbs.
* Sugar – brown = 30-36 lbs.
* Salt = 36-38 lbs.
* Navy beans = 35-38 lbs.
* Whole or Split peas = 33-35 lbs.
* Black Beans = 33-35 lbs.
* Lentils = 30-33 lbs.
* Black eye peas = 30-33 lbs.

There you have it and I hope it helps.

Please let me know ASAP if you would like to order 5 Gallon Buckets.

Canning Salsa

My sister, mom, husband and I, just finished canning 56 pints of salsa!

Here is the recipe we used. It is based on 15 lbs of tomatoes, we actually used 75 lbs for the 56 pints.

* 3 cups chopped onions
* 6 jalapeño peppers, seeded, finely chopped
* 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 2 12-ounce cans tomato paste (adds body)
* 2 cups bottled lemon or lime juice (if you are using a mix, be sure to follow their recipe; the packet mixes often use vinegar instead of lemon juice)
* 1 tablespoon salt (optional)
* 1 tablespoon sugar (optional - you use Splenda if you are on a sugar-restricted diet)
* 1 teaspoon black pepper
* 1 tablespoon ground cumin (optional)
* 2 tablespoons oregano leaves (optional)

I added bell peppers and jalapeno peppers and also added cilantro. It is yummy! It should last us all year.

If you have any questions and want to do it, please call me!

Refried Beans

When we went to the cannery, my family bagged a bunch of dried refried beans. We have been trying to figure out what to do with them other than burritos. This past weekend, I was at my sister-in-law's home in Raleigh and she introduced me to this recipe. Yummy! I like ground beef better or you can even try chicken.


Mexican Manicotti

SERVINGS: 6

TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 45 min.
Ingredients:

* 1-1/2 pounds bulk pork sausage
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 1 can (16 ounces) refried (just reconstitute the dried ones)
* 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 package (8 ounces) manicotti, cooked and drained
* 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
* 1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies, optional
* 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the beans, chili powder and cumin. Stuff into manicotti shells.
Place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine tomato sauce and chilies if desired; pour over manicotti. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45 minutes or until heated through. Yield: 6 servings.

Canning in Jars

For some reason, (definitely unknown to me) canning, as a method of very long term food storage, fell into disuse. Maybe it’s the hurry/rush syndrome many folks have become addicted to, necessitating “instant” foods, microwave ovens, and mixes for everything from pancakes to casseroles. But for people of a self-reliant inclination—raising a good portion of their own wholesome, chemical-free food and establishing a storage method that is easy and results in tasty food, even years down the road—home canning is the way to go.

And remember, no power outage or mechanical failure will cause your pantry full of home canned food to go bad, as can happen with frozen food.

My non member friend whom I lovingly call "Molly", has gone through extremely hard times with no food to eat or feed her family. She was left with two small twins and two older boys when her husband left, has learned the valuable art of growing, harvesting and canning. She is now jarring about 100 jars of veggies, fruit and salsa during the week.

I grew up canning with my grandmother Neppie Crowe and as I got older I felt that it was not necessary because we could just go to the store and buy what we wanted. Well, the time is here that we learn to do our own and get prepared!

Thanks to Heidi Owen helping me out, I was able to recently do pickled okra for Franchesca and Keith! It is so easy and they love it.

Watch for my next blog where I share different recipes for canning!

Coupon Craze

I know that most of you read the email that Amber sent out last month on how much she was able to buy for 6 bucks.

Well, I shop at Publix a lot and buy mostly their buy one get ones. Today I went on the different coupon websites and was able to find coupons for most of the buy one get ones for this week! All you have to do to find the different coupon sites for items is Google the item you are looking for and then add the word coupon at the end. You will get tons of coupons.

This is a great way to stock up on items that you and your family use!

Also, I am adding a new link for a blog that I found that has great savings info, please check it out.

Happy Shopping!

6 Reasons to Love the Recession

This is a great article I read that I wanted to share. It goes along with an article that I put in the newsletter a few months ago. Please enjoy!

The record high unemployment rate and flagging economy has put much of the American public on its best financial behavior. Gone are the days of living beyond your means, in order to "keep up with the Joneses." Today, Americans spend less and save more, in addition to re-evaluating what it means to be rich. Does wealthy equal a big house with lots of possessions, or having more family time and a modest roof over your head?

If you’re still struggling to find a silver lining to this economic doom and gloom, read these six reasons to love the recession:

1. Learning to live within your means — No more living off credit cards. No more living paycheck to paycheck. Americans are now hip to living within their income level. In fact, the national savings rate increased to more than 4 percent in 2009, compared to -1 percent four years ago, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

2. Retailers are slashing prices — The recession led many consumers to shop less, which really hurt the retail industry according to the National Retail Federation. Thus, retailers are trying to move the product out the door by slashing prices. You can find deals on electronics, automobiles, and brand-name clothing.

3. Homes are more affordable — The National Association of Realtors ™ (NARS) reports that housing prices and mortgage rates are low, making this one of the best times to buy a home. And, there are a lot of foreclosures on the market. Check your state’s listings to see if there are affordable homes in your area.

4. More coupons and money-saving opportunities — According to Bankrate.com, since the recession hit, 67 percent of Americans use coupons to save money on food, clothing, etc. regardless of their income. If you’re vigilant enough to clip coupons, you can save as much as 50 percent on your purchases, according to TheGroceryGame.com.

5. Finding free activities — Many Americans found less expensive (or free) ways to entertain themselves. This includes staying in to eat rather than going out to dinner, or catching free concerts instead of paying hundreds of dollars for a show.

6. Downsizing your home and getting closer to family — According to published reports, the fluctuating housing market has done away with the “bigger and better” mentality when it comes to homes. A study published in The Christian Science Monitor reports that downsizing to a smaller home not only saved families money, but improved their relationships as well.

Don’t get us wrong, the recession is troublesome for the American economy and hopefully the housing and job market will improve. However, the downturn has re-instilled some valuable financial lessons in Americans, and has hopefully re-established some good habits for ensuring financial success in the future.

I can tell you that I have seen this is action all around me. My son got laid off and they have really been watching their money and going "cheap". He told me last month that he was really shocked that even though he is bringing in less money, they had extra money to put on a credit card to help pay it off quickly. Lessons we learn....

Please help me to help you!

This was an article that I posted in the newsletter when I was called to this position:

I am so excited about my new calling! Food storage, budgeting and all that stuff that we are supposed to do, was always in the back of my mind but now I get to bring it to the front of my mind!

Ok, so I have to share a secret with all of you, so now it will be out in the open.

I placed a very large order for food storage and it was my first time ordering food storage, my mom passed a bunch down to me and I am even afraid to open it….So here is the embarrassing thing, on this order, I did not order wheat! Yep, the one thing that is in huge shortage, I didn’t order. When Keith asked me why I didn’t order any, I asked, “What do I do with wheat?” Ok, I am food storage challenged, because he just laughed and said, “Duh, you make bread.”

So, I guess where I am going with this confession to the sisters, is that I firmly believe that Heavenly Father calls each one of us to a calling, not just to help each other grow, but mainly to help us grow. I am going to grow right a long side each and every one of you. And I will, learn how to make bread from scratch!!