Take time on the Sabbath to discuss the importance of emergency preparedness with family & neighbors. Establish a 3 month supply of water and food and rotate it. Actively participate in all emergency response drills. Maintain a "red file" for your most important documents. Live righteously, practice the welfare principle of self-reliance and build a three to six month financial reserve.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Week #18 20 Cans Evaporated Milk


Week # 18: 20 cans Evaporated Milk
(If you can’t accomplish this in 1 week, don’t worry, just take your time and do it in steps.)
Evaporated Milk:evaporated-milk
Evaporated milk comes in canned form, and is evaporated due to the process of removing water from the milk. When you open a can of evaporated milk, you’ll notice the milk is much thicker than ordinary milk you’d buy at a grocery store. This method of storing milk became popular because the cans of milk could keep far longer than fresh milk, and didn’t require refrigeration until after they were opened. About 60% of the water is removed from evaporated milk, accounting for its thickness. So, evaporated milk is fresh whole milk, with a little over half the water taken out. It has vitamin D added to it and has been canned to make it keep longer.
Nutrition Information
Evaporated milk is part of the milk group. Foods from the milk group provide important nutrients like calcium. Based on MyPyramid, ½ cup of evaporated milk provides 1 cup from the milk group. A typical person should try to eat/drink 3 cups of milk or foods that are equal to one cup of milk each day.
Tasteevaporated-milk2
Some argue that milk from cans has a metallic taste. Still, if you need milk around but lack refrigeration, as in the case of emergencies where you might lose power, evaporated milk is an excellent choice. Do note that if you lack refrigeration, you cannot keep evaporated milk out without spoiling it.
Storage
Store unopened cans in a cool, dry place off the floor. It can have a shelf life of months or even years, depending upon the brand, so check the expiration date on the can before you buy it. Store opened evaporated milk in a tightly covered plastic container in the refrigerator. Use within 4-7 days! Do not use evaporated milk if can is rusted, bulging, or dented. Throw it away!
Uses
Evaporated milk can be used straight from the can on cereal or for mashed potatoes, gravies and sauces.
It can also be used in creamed vegetables, creamed soups, cheese sauces, meat loaf, ice cream, cookies, casseroles, chicken coating, scrambled eggs, french toast, puddings, desserts and salads.
To use evaporated milk in place of milk in recipes or for drinking, mix with equal amounts of water. Directions: Wash top of can before opening. Punch two holes in the top of can. Mix one can of evaporated milk with one can of water. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours before using. Use within 7 days!
Evaporated milk can be used for sour milk, or buttermilk. For each cup needed, stir in one tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice into one cup diluted evaporated milk.
Difference between Evaporated & Condensed Milk?evaporated_milk
Dairy farmers developed evaporated milk over 100 years ago. The company Borden was first on the market with condensed milk, to which sugar was added to produce a very sweet product. The main difference between evaporated and condensed milk in the US is that no sugar is added to the evaporated form. It is merely whole milk from which water has been removed. This is not the case in other countries, where you’ll find many brands of evaporated milk that contain sugar.
Sugar acts as an excellent preservative, extending the life of condensed milk, but it’s important to note this distinction between condensed and evaporated milk, especially when you are baking. While some recipes call specifically for condensed milk, like quick fudge recipes, other recipes, like many for pumpkin pie require evaporated milk. You can’t substitute one for the other unless you want to add or take away from the total sugar in your end product. Most pumpkin pie recipes, for instance, are made too sweet by adding condensed instead of evaporated milk; while fudge recipes may not be sweet enough if they’re made with evaporated milk.
Recipes
Flan Cake (Recipe 1, Recipe 2)
100_2369
Chocolate Flan Cake (Recipe)
picflxfvd
Weight Watchers Sweet Potato Soup (Recipe)
sweet-potato-soup
Crissi’s Sweet Potato Biscuits (Recipe)
22459

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

FEMA Preparedness week/month


BASIC DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:
  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Manual can opener for food
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger
Once you have gathered the supplies for a basic emergency kit, you may want to consider adding the following items:
  • Prescription medications and glasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Pet food and extra water for your pet
  • Cash or traveler's checks and change
  • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a waterproof, portable container. You can use the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) (PDF - 977Kb) developed by Operation Hope, FEMA and Citizen Corps to help you organize your information.
  • Emergency reference material such as a first aid book or free information from this web site. (See Publications)
  • Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person. Consider additional bedding if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Complete change of clothing including a long sleeved shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. Consider additional clothing if you live in a cold-weather climate.
  • Household chlorine bleach and medicine dropper – When diluted, nine parts water to one part bleach, bleach can be used as a disinfectant. Or in an emergency, you can use it to treat water by using 16 drops of regular household liquid bleach per gallon of water. Do not use scented, color safe or bleaches with added cleaners.
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Matches in a waterproof container
  • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items
  • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
  • Paper and pencil
  • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

5 Tips to Grow a Successful Garden



5 Tips to Grow a Successful Garden

Let’s start by pointing out that if you haven’t planted your peas yet, you might not get a bountiful harvest of them later in the year - at least in most places of the country. But don’t fret. Here are five important tips to growing a successful garden.

1. Plan what you plant

Start by thinking about what types of fruits and vegetables you and your family like to eat. There’s no sense in planting eggplant if no one in your family will eat it, right?
Start by drawing out an overhead view of your garden area. Then pencil in what you want to plant and where you want to plant it. This will help you better organize your garden and purchase the seeds or seedling the first time you go to the store.

2. Fertilize your garden
Is your garden raised, or do you plant directly in the ground soil? If you’ve got a raised garden, be sure to mix up the soil and add more compost before you level it off, mark it out, and plant your seedlings. The garden will need a refresher from any nutrients it lost in last years planting.
If you have a more traditional garden, place compost on top of the soil, then till it into the dirt. Tilling not only helps stir in the compost, but it also loosens up the soil to allow the roots a place to go when it grows.

3. Keep your garden watered
Plants need water to grow, so make sure you have some sort of watering system in place so you can keep the soil moist. Your system can either be a simple sprinkler system, or your 9-year- old with a watering can.
If you’ve used the grow boxes, it might be better to water for shorter periods, but more often - the water seems to evaporate or drain more quickly.

4. Keep it weed free

Unwanted plants, aka weeds, can compete with your plants for light and water. So be sure to pluck them early and often so your plants get what they need, without competing. This
is when a raised garden works best, because the soil is
so loose, the weeds just come right out.

5. Thin as things grow
Carrots are the biggest culprit. The packet tells you to sprinkle the seeds into the row, and thin as they grow. Remember to thin, because if you don’t, you end up with teeny-tiny carrots that aren’t as useable.
If you see that some of your plants are struggling, pluck them to allow room for the ones that are doing well. It doesn’t hurt to overplant a little at the start to increase your chances of good seeds, but don’t hesitate to thin things out as they grow. 

Take from: Every Needful Thing  http://www.sunoven.com/everyneedfulthing

Quote from Ezra Taft Benson





Sale at Emergency Essentials through April 30th


Food Storage |Group Specials |Emergency Kits |Water Storage and Filtration |Contact Us

Save up to 28% on
Year Supplies and
Food Storage Combos

Prices and promotions good through April 30th, 2012 and while supplies last
Prices and availability are subject to change without notice


SALE! Premium 1600 Year Supply of Food
$1,799.99 

Value $2,246.75

  • Nutritionally balanced food supply for one person for one year
  • 90 varieties of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, 126 # 10 cans

 
division for products

SALE! 6-Month Lunch & Dinner Supply
$1,199.99 
Reg $1,578.88 



 
  • Just-add-water lunch and dinner entrees for one person for six months
  • Delicious, flavorful and convenient meals ideal for home storage or camping
SALE! Freeze-Dried Poultry Entree and Vegetable Side Combo
$120.99 
Value $129.95 


 
  • Popular Mountain House freeze-dried entrees and flavorful sides
  • Just-add-water for a quick and tasty meal anytime, even in an emergency
division for products

SALE! Year Supply of Grains
$324.99 
Reg $375.60 


 
  • Grains for one person for one year, 8 SuperPails total
  • Includes Hard Red Wheat, Hard White Wheat, White Rice and Regular Rolled Oats
SALE! Stir-Fry Combo*Limited Quantity* 

$84.99 
Reg $115.35 


 
  • Create a flavorful stir fry meal anytime - even in an emergency!
  • Limited quantities, special buy!
division for products

SALE! Freeze-Dried Garden Vegetable Combo*Limited Quantity* 

$70.99 
Value $98.80 


 
  • Add the flavor, nutrients and freshness of real garden vegetables to your home storage
  • Excellent variety of six # 10 cans of freeze-dried vegetables
SALE! Improved MRE 72-Hour Food & Water Supply

$49.99 
Value $72.47

 
  • Food and water for one person for three days, includes MRE Heaters
  • Assorted variety of meals-ready-to-eat
division for products

SALE! Heirloom Seed Combo Pack
$18.99 
Reg $21.95 



 
  • Non-hybrid, non-GMO, open pollinated heirloom seeds that can produce about 1/4 of an acre garden
  • Excellent variety of beans, carrots, corn, tomatoes, peas, onions, peppers and more
Traditional 1200 Year Supply of Food
$949.95 
Value $1,123.50 



 
  • A nutritionally balanced supply of food for one person for one year
  • Includes baking and cooking essentials, fruit, vegetables, milk and garden seeds
division for products

Gourmet 1600 Year Supply
$3,499.95 
Value $4,620.97 


 
  • Gourmet just-add-water meals, side dishes, drink mixes and desserts for one person for one year
  • Flavorful meals, excellent variety and long-term storage life
Gourmet 2000 Year Supply
$4,499.95 
Value $5,978.67 


 
  • Gourmet just-add-water meals providing 2000 calories and balanced nutrition for one person for one year
  • Our best supply providing the most convenience, variety and ideal nutrition


Week # 17: 15 lbs of Pasta - any variety

 
 Week # 17: 15 lbs of Pasta - any variety
(If you can’t accomplish this in 1 week, don’t worry, just take your time and do it in steps.)


Pasta:
Pasta is one of the more popular and versatile foods you will find on the dinner table. It comes in many forms and can be made at home, purchased fresh, or purchased dried for long term use. We’ll obviously be going over the “long term storage” pasta. Pasta is great in hot or cold salads, italian entrees, casseroles, or even mac & cheese! If you have more reasons let us know!
Storage:
Uncooked Pasta
Store uncooked, dry pasta in your cupboard for up to one year. Keep in a cool, dry place. Follow the “first-in, first-out” rule: Use up packages you’ve had the longest before opening new packages. Also can be stored in #10 cans with oxygen packets for 30 years!!!

Cooked Pasta
Refrigerate cooked pasta in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. You may add a little oil (1-2 tsp. for each pound of cooked pasta) to help keep it from sticking. Because cooked pasta will continue to absorb flavors and oils from sauces, store cooked pasta separately from sauce.
Freezing Pasta
The best pasta shapes for freezing are those that are used in baked recipes, such as: lasagne, jumbo shells, ziti and manicotti. You’ll have better results if you prepare the recipe and freeze it before baking. To bake, thaw the dish to room temperature and bake as the recipe directs.
If you keep things like pasta or boxed pasta mixes in the original package for longer than the expiration date it can go bad. But when you take them out and put them in buckets, foil pouches or your own vacuum sealed bags they can last for decades.
Measuring Pasta: Learn how to measure pasta like a pro with this chart that includes correct amounts for every pasta shape. Go>>
picture-3
Cook Pasta Perfectly                                                                                                      cook_pasta
1. Boil 4 to 6 quarts of water for one pound of dry pasta. (You can divide this recipe depending on how much pasta you are cooking.)
2. Add the pasta with a stir and return the water to a boil.
3. Stir the pasta occasionally during cooking.
4. Follow the package directions for cooking times. If the pasta is to be used as part of a dish that requires further cooking, undercook the pasta by 1/3 of the cooking time specified on the package.
5. Taste the pasta to determine if it is done. Perfectly cooked pasta should be “al dente,” or firm to the bite, yet cooked through.
6. Drain pasta immediately and follow the rest of the recipe.
Nutrition
Busy families continue to search for foods that are healthy, satisfying and economical - and they do not need to look further than the pasta aisle. Pasta is very low in sodium and non-egg varieties are cholesterol-free. Per cup, enriched pastas provide an excellent source of folic acid and a good source of other essential nutrients, including iron and several B-vitamins. Also, as a food that is low on the Glycemic Index (GI) - low GI foods are digested more slowly - pasta provides a slow release of energy without spiking blood sugar levels. A 1/2 cup serving of cooked pasta (spaghetti) contains a mere 99 calories, less than half a gram of fat, and less than 5 milligrams of sodium. Pasta is high in complex carbohydrates, which provide a “time release” of energy rather than a quick boost. (Read more here.)
pasta-salad2Recipes
There are probably millions of pasta recipes out there to meet your needs. One could probably eat pasta every day! We found 1,855 recipes (with photos) in 200 pages at AllRecipes.com
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Click on the images below to view all 52 weeks at once or the recipes to go with it, in a .jpg or download the 52 Week Food Purchasing Plan (PDF) or the Custom 52 Week Food Purchasing Plan (Excel file) and calculate exactly how much you’ll need for the size of your family.
weeklypurchasingplan-new using-your-52-weeks


-- 
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.       
                                         Matthew 25:3,4