Showing posts with label information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label information. Show all posts

The Gluten-Free Diet Fad

I was watching TV the other night, when Channel 4 kept giving a teaser for the 10 p.m. news - about the "gluten-free diet fad" - will it really help you lose weight? I waited and waited and finally after 25 minutes of "news and weather", they got to the story. Basically, they said that gluten is found in wheat, and most people don't really need the diet.

Excuse me?

Then I did a search tonight... googled "gluten-free diet fad" and couldn't believe what I read. Some people write about gluten-free people being snobs, and not really needing gluten-free food but just want the attention. Some people write that all poultry is ok, but that is misleading as any poultry or other meat with injections and additives usually have a gluten product in them. .

Here's a link to one of the stories: http://cbs11tv.com/gethealthytexas/Gluten.Free.Diet.2.1279346.html - she barely mentioned oats (a responsible reporter would have mentioned that oats are usually contaminated from wheat being grown nearby but "certified gluten-free oats" are ok for gluten-intolerant people). And it's not true that chips are always ok ... many many times they use fillers that have gluten in them.

Gluten-intolerance MAY be a diet choice for some people, but those people don't really understand the diet. The products aren't made to reduce fat and sugar and cholesterol and sodium and calories, but only take out and replace products made from wheat, rye, oat and barley, including maltro-dextrin, soy sauce and more. So... are these people completely deleting from their food intake sodas? Candy? Sweets of all kinds?

People, come on! A gluten-free diet won't solve your problems; eat less and work out more.

This isn't a joke. Some people need to be on the diet, or they will die. Celiac disease is a serious auto-immune, digestive disease. Why would someone choose to put their kid on this diet if they didn't have to? That means no fast food, no birthday parties with other kids, no cereal with goofy characters on the boxes. Really? Parents would choose to pay extra money for special gluten-free products? Ha! Not likely.

No, my kid isn't celiac, but gluten-products, along with cashews, soy, corn, peanuts, cow's milk, preservatives and fake colors can turn my sweet boy into a hellion... going from nice to unbelievably horrible and suicidal within moments. Plus he's a very picky eater. When we find something he can eat, we stick with it, which he's ok with.

For me, I get a rash all over my body when I eat gluten. It's called dermatitis herpetiformis, and it's absolutely not fun. Gluten also messes up my ovulation cycle (which is why I can't get pregnant), but that's just me and hasn't been medically proven.

Enough of my rant. Input?

Vikki
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What Do You Tell People?

You have boxes of storange/dried foods mailed to your home. Twice a week you bring lots of bags into the house from the dollar store or grocery or camping store. Friends and neighbors walk to your house to see boxes and storage buckets neatly labeled "peas", "sugar", "rice", "first aid". You practice regularly at the range. You attend gun and ammo shows every chance you get. You order special supplies over the internet. You subscribe and have delivered to your home several militant magazines. You have a warren of rabbits and cages full of "quiet" quail that increase and decrease on a regular basis.

What do you tell people?

That you're planning for the end of the world? For the s*** to hit the fan? For earth changes? For the next blizzard or earthquake or flood?

Yeah, right.

If you tell them all or any of that, chances are they'll be the first people on your doorstep when anything hits the fan. Gas prices go up again? They'll be 'round asking for a couple of gallons from your big reservoir that you'll never miss. Grocery store has a run on bread and milk just before a storm? Hi... can we borrow some bread, milk, meat and rice... just until all of this blows over?

Hmmm...

Here's what we do... since, for the most part, we're kinda anonymous with our blogs. We aren't impossible to find, but still.. our friends and families know we're store some things but ... we just say, our main purpose is to prepare for the next blizzard. For the most part, that's accurate

What do YOU tell people who ask "what on earth do you have all this for?"
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Bartering in Today's Economy

We are working so hard to save money for our farm and dream home. It's difficult considering we have only a minimal amount of income. So when we started thinking about how to save more money, the subject of "bartering" came up.

Bartering isn't trading. Bartering is exchanging goods or servings for something else without using money. Trading can involve credit cards, money, etc. And money is defined as a medium of exchange for goods or service. This means if we're using a medium of exchange, it's a trade, not a barter. I'm sure you get the gist. But, it probably doesn't matter. In the long run.

In the USA, we've gotten away from bartering; it used to be the main way humans conducted business, and got what they wanted/needed. Now we use credit cards, getting into debt for a sandwich or gallon of gas.

Bartering is a good way to do business, but it does have limitations. In the best scenario, both parties get what they want, and the exchange is of "equal value". This doesn't happen very often. One person might barter babysitting skills for car repairs. The car repair person might barter the first person's babysitting skills to a third person for homegrown tomatoes. And so on.

There are several bartering organizations to join; some have specific value attached to each service or product, and you can save your tallies (sometimes called Credit Dollars) or use them to trade or barter. Try: http://www.u-exchange.com/barter

We are going it alone. We don't have many actual possessions to barter (yard sale in the Spring), but we have some great tomatoes growing in our front window, we make soap and candles, we have this blog (see note towards end of this posting), we have e-books. Hubby has major computer/tech skills, he can do most simple repairs to mechanical items or furniture, and is preparing to increase his repair skills overall. In the Summer, we have lots of produce to barter.

Are you thinking about giving bartering a try? Take a look at your home, and your skills. Here's a few ideas to get you started...

Useful items to barter today:
  • homegrown produce
  • pillow or quilt maker
  • artwork
  • jewelry
  • clothing/costumes
  • food/prepared meals
  • dried or otherwise preserved foods
  • fishing gear
  • sewing gear
  • defense items
  • candles, soaps, lanterns, fuel, etc. etc. etc.
Useful skills to barter today:

  • tax preparation
  • mortgage/loan analysis
  • sewing
  • dog-walking
  • babysitting
  • language tutor
  • plumbing
  • electrical
  • daycare
  • running errands
  • homework tutor
  • car mechanic
  • carpet cleaner
  • housekeeper
  • holistic healing
  • herbalism
  • investment advisor
  • facial or other massage
  • irrigation systems
  • dog grooming
  • technical writing
  • jewelry making
  • computer
  • fashion
  • spiritual direction
  • outdoor training
  • personal safety strategies
  • real estate
  • letter writing
  • house painter
  • professional organizer
  • dating assistance
  • business development

Coming Soon: We're working on a blog posting for items to stock up for bartering when the economy gets worse, and "things" hit the fan.

Do you have something you'd like to barter with other readers of this blog? Leave a comment to this blog posting, with your location, what you have to barter, and what you need/want in exchange.

Note: We are willing to barter/trade ad space on this blog for emergency supplies and dried food. E-Mail Us.
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Eating in the Wilderness

If you need to bug-out to the wilderness, be sure to take your provisions and special bag. But, while you're out there, do your best to eat off the land before you have to dip into your supplies. You may not know how long you have to be out there.

For your bug-out-bag, be sure to include...
Water purification system/drops, cooking equipment, fire-starting equipment, hunting/fishing equipment, books identifying plants and insects, etc. We'll talk more about these later in this blog.

Gather from nature...
So much to choose from if you know what to look for.... from insects and fish to berries to plants and roots. Be sure to vary your choices as you still need fat, protein, carbs, vitamins and minerals. If you don't have a lot of water, try not to eat too much (will make you thirstier).

Water:
Find a source of water. Remember, you've packed your filtration system or purification drops, so make that your first priority. Food you can do without for a while. Water, you can't.

Bugs:
They have lots of nutrition and fat. Don't let the grossness get to you. If you're hungry, you'll eat them. Maybe you'll even get to like them! Maybe heat in an aluminum foil pocket with a little liquid, dried veggies and powdered cheese. Yum!

Plants:
Depending of time of the year you will almost always find edible plants and berries in the wilderness. The problem is knowing which ones are edible. That's where your identification book will come in handy.

Fish:
Learn NOW how to fish - using a hook and line, or a seine (where acceptable). They are easy to prepare and cook, and full of protein, fat and amino acids.

Animals:
If you don't already have experience hunting, you probably shouldn't waste your energy, supplies and calories trying to get animals/meat in a survival situation. It can be hard, and you'll end up using more calories than you'll get. However, trapping is easier than hunting. You can set the traps, and go look for other food sources, coming back from time to time to check the traps.

Eggs:
Most eggs from local birds are great for survival meals. They are high in nutrition, protein, and are yummy boiled, fried, or baked.

Next time you drive by a thrift store, stop in to check for "identification books". After looking at them, cover to cover, pack them in your bug-out-bag.
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Preparation Pack

We're looking for some information to include an electronic book -- a combination survival-information detail book - from defense items to household items for storing, recipes located no where else, and much more. What disaster preparedness info do you most need?

Please click here for the full posting: What Survival/Disaster Prep Info do you most need?

Thank you for your input.
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Suggestions for No-Cook Foods

Earlier, we wrote a posting about using a propane camping stove indoors. We received a comment that asked ... "Any thoughts of foods that should be stocked in case you cannot cook at all? I'm thinking beef jerkey, chipped beef, tuna?"

In case people don't get around to reading our response as a posted comment, here it is:

The beef jerkey, chipped beef and tuna suggestions are good.

Dried fruits and veggies don't HAVE to be reconstituted - just be sure to drink plenty of liquids with them to avoid constipation. Vienna sausages. Nuts/seeds. Canned fruits. Rice cakes and crackers. MREs. Granola bars. Cereal (make milk from powdered OR use apple juice OR eat dry). Kippers, sardines, oysters, clams (near the tuna). Spam. Deviled ham. Protein bars. Protein drinks or powder. Juice boxes. Instant gatorade/drinks/hot cocoa.

Of course, fresh fruits and veggies - raw.

At the dollar store, we buy little tuna-kits, and chicken-salad-kits (bumble bee brand) - they come with pre-made salad and crackers. The grocery store also has bigger kits, with a serving of fruit and sometimes a mint. No refrigeration needed for these.

Son ate a spoonful of peanut butter last night because he was still hungry. Actually, he does this pretty often. Ok, we do too. Only a spoon to wash!

All of these things are good, too, for your 72-hour kit or Bug-Out-Bag. Really... anything that you can just open the packaging and eat straight. There's probably several items in your storage and/or pantry right now.


Now... what are other ideas for foods you can store that don't involve cooking and letting people know you have food?
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Homemade Maple Syrup vs Honey

I read a recipe today on a blog I follow. It gave a recipe to make "maple syrup" from ingredients in your pantry: sugar, brown sugar, water and maple flavoring. I understand that some people can't have their pancakes without it, but...

As a family, we discussed storing syrup, and decided that storing/making syrup (short shelf life, no nutritional value, needs time and patience and equipment to make) vs honey (long shelf life and lots of vitamins/minerals/nutrients/anti-allergen properties) is really no contest.

We're buying gallons of honey from Sam's, while we alternate using the last of our purchased syrup and honey. It took a bit to get used to, but now, 12 year old Son asks for honey on almost everything bread-like we make.

For instance, I experimented with an oat-muffin and after two tries, turned out quite tasty. Son refused to eat it without honey. Picky picky.

That's ok. It's better for him. Oh, a lot less trouble.


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Cast Iron Skillets

We've been experimenting with using odd home-made contraptions to make a "stove" and a way to cook basic comfort foods, like pancakes. We took a wide baked-bean can that nicely fits a tealight candle, and started with the pots and pans we have. We have a few that are small enough to fit over, but all would need intensive cleaning afterwards. What if we didn't want to waste our stored water?!

Then we got the bright idea: cast iron skillets! We searched high and low today, and finally found 6 1/2 inch cast iron skillets at K-Mart (yuck) - Martha Stewart brand (double/triple yuck). They were about $9.00 each, so we got three (there are three of us). They fit nicely over the baked-bean can, and seem like each would provide one portion of whatever we're making..

We'll experiment this weekend to see if a tealight generates enough heat to cook something (or several somethings), and then we'll take pictures. Hm... might need to use votive candles. We'll see.

Meanwhile, here's the basic information about using cast ironware:
  • Do not use in a microwave. yes, necessary to say.
  • Handle and entire skillet will get hot so must use a potholder.
  • Never use soap or detergent.
  • Even if your cast iron skillet, etc. is preseasoned, you still need to preseason it some more.
  • Before first use, rinse the skillet in hot water. Dry completely.
  • Coat the surface with a thin layer of vegetable oil (olive oil works well) or cooking spray. We use an oiled paper towel. This is called "seasoning".
  • Do not place cold skillet on anything hot.
  • After cooking, allow skillet to cool. NEVER place a hot castiron cookware into cool/cold water, as it may cause cracking and/or warping.
  • Wash with hot water and a brush. Remember, no soap of any kind. Never place in dishwasher.
  • Dry with a soft towel, then re-season with another thin layer of oil.
  • Store in a clean dry place. When stacking, place a paper towel or wash cloth in between to prevent damaging.

These can be used on an outside grill, in the oven, or on a stove-top. We will experiment this weekend with pancakes in the oven, and scrambling eggs with our tealight contraption.


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What do YOU need out of this blog?

First, thank you so much for embracing this blog. We love that so many people from www.survivalblog.com have dropped by, and many of you have not only stayed but have passed the word around. You bless us with your visits.

Now... besides working on our stored food experiment, our grain-rotation diet, and posting recipes, what else can we do for you on this blog? Do you need more stored food recipes? More non-cook recipes? More foil-pockets? More food cooked on impromptu cooking stoves? More ways to cook without utilities?

Please note we discuss storing and processing food at another blog: www.food-self-sufficiency.blogspot.com and discuss gardening to provide long term provisions for your family at www.survival-gardening.blogspot.com.

Let us know what we can do for you on this blog by posting a comment to this post. Thank you.

The Williams Family


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Peppermint Study

Here's a link to something to think about...

Candy Canes Fight Germs, Settle Stomachs
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/12/24/candy-canes-germs.html

Guess that enforces our decision to store peppermint tea, candy canes, and peppermint oil as well to grow some. Yummy medicine!
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Stored Food (experiment)

We just got the January Specials 2009 catalog for Emergency Essentials - http://www.beprepared.com/ - and they do have some great specials in this catalog.

... and so on. We are definitely placing an order in January when we get paid. Meanwhile, this poses a question that begs your input...

Assuming you only have the products from Emergency Essentials (http://www.beprepared.com/), dried fruits/veggies/soybeans from Just Tomatoes (http://www.justtomatoes.com/), a few bulk items from Sam's Warehouse like olive oil, honey and salt, and water, could you prepare an entire year of menus, and not get bored?

We're working on compiling a list and have to admit, we're having fun. If you have any thoughts, be sure to post them here in the comments' section.

Thank you... The Williams Family

p.s. They are not compensating us in any way; this is just our project!


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Genetically Engineered Corn and Fertility

This is an interesting article that an e-friend forwarded to me...

New Study Links Genetically Engineered Corn to Infertility
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_15588.cfm

Kinda scary, huh? And it appears that ALL corn now shows genetic modification, even heirloom. What do YOU think?
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List for Foods to Store

What foods should be stored in case of an emergency or disaster? Are you prepared?

We are a small family, with Hubby liking just about everything but is lactose-intolerant, Wife is a picky eater and gets bored easy AND does 99% of the cooking. Son is a VERY picky eater but does great with certain type of snack foods. So, here's what foods we have stored:

Food Group: Orange: Grains/Starches: 6-11 Servings
-Corn Grits (instant and long cooking), Cornmeal/Masa, Corn chips, Popcorn
-Oatmeal (instant and long cooking)
-Pasta (wheat and rice)
-Potatoes (canned, potato flakes, fresh stored in basement, chips)
-Rice and Rice Flour and Rice Crackers
-Soy Flour
-Sweet Potatoes (canned, fresh stored in basement)
-Wheat berries & flour, pizza crust mix, muffin mixes, pancake mix, cake mixes

Only some packages of...
-Amaranth
-Millet
-Quinoa
-Spelt

Food Group: Green: Vegetables: 7-9 servings per day
-Artichoke hearts (cans)
-Asparagus (cans + fresh from garden)
-Beets (pickled, in jars)
-Broccoli (dried)
-Cabbage (dried)
-Carrots (dried, fresh from windowsill garden)
-Cauliflower (dried)
-Celery (dried)
-Cucumber (pickled & pickle relish)
-Eggplant (dried)
-Greens (dried spinach, dried parsley, rest are fresh from windowsill garden)
-Mushrooms (dried, canned)
-Okra (frozen)
-Pepper, Hot (dried, canned)
-Pepper, Sweet/Bell (dried, frozen)
-Pumpkin (dried, canned, stored in basement)
-Radish (fresh from windowsill garden)
-Squash, Summer (dried)
-Squash, Winter (dried, and stored in basement)

Food Group: Red: Fruits: 2-4 servings per day
-Apple (dried), Applesauce (jarred)
-Apricot (canned and dried)
-Banana (dried)
-Berries, Strawberry/Blueberry/Blackberry/Raspberry (dried, frozen)
-Cherries (dried, frozen)
-Cranberries (dried, frozen)
-Fruit Cocktail (canned)
-Grape (juice concentrate, dried as raisins)
-Mango (dried)
-Melons (dried, frozen)
-Orange, mandarin (cans and cans and cans...)
-Papaya (dried)
-Peach (canned, dried)
-Pear (canned)
-Pineapple (canned, dried)
-Plum (dried as prune)
-Pomegranate (dried)
-Rhubarb (frozen)
-Tomato (canned, dried, frozen)

Food Group: Yellow: Fats/Oils:
-Honey (lots)
-Molasses, Black Strap
-Oil, almond
-Oil, canola
-Oil, olive (lots)
-Oil, walnut
-Stevia
-Sugar, white/brown

Food Group: Blue: Milk/Dairy Products/Calcium: 3 servings per day:
-Butter (Smart Balance - Frozen) (powdered - dried)
-Cheese (frozen or powdered)
-Cheese, parmesan (green can - lots - powdered)
-Milk (cow, goat, soy, rice: powdered or canned or shelf-stable quarts)
-Sour Cream (powdered)

Food Group: Purple: Meat/Beans/Fish/Nuts/Seeds: 3-5 servings per day
-Bacon (frozen and jarred by Hormel)
-Beans, Soy (dried and frozen)
-Beans/Lentils/Chickpeas (various - dried and canned, incl pork-n-beans)
-Chicken (canned)
-Eggs (dried and later, fresh)
-Ham (canned)
-Peanuts (jarred) and Peanut Butter (powdered and jarred)
-Peas (dried)
-Seafood (tuna, salmon, shrimp, crab, oysters, kippers, etc.: canned/pouches)
-Seeds like sunflower/pumpkin/sesame/flax (jarred, frozen, dried, stored in basement)
-Nuts like walnuts/pecans/cashews (jarred, frozen, dried)

Herbs and Spices:
Dried herbs and spices like basil, dill, mint, turmeric, sage, etc.
Onion (dried and powdered)
Garlic (dried and powdered)
Cinnamon (powder & stick)
Nutmeg (whole)
Parsley (dried)
Pepper (minimal - personal taste)
Salt (lots of 25-pound bags)
Seasoned Salt
Vinegar (mostly apple-cider plus white distilled for cleaning)
Bouillon (various - prefer low sodium)
Baking Powder/Soda
Coffee/Tea/Gatorade powder
Yeast
Cocoa

BabyFood (we add these to pancakes or cakes, then use the jars as storage:
-plum
-banana
-applesauce
-sweet potatoes

Mixed Groups/Condiments/Other:
-Various Canned Soups
-Spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce, etc.
-Protein Bars / Granola Bars
-Some cereal
-All Vegg Powder (our creation)
-Cans of oriental vegetables
-Mayonnaise, spicey brown mustard, ketchup
-Sweet & sour, soy sauce, teriyaki, etc.
-Kits like tuna-salad+crackers, chicken-salad+crackers, ham-salad+crackers, etc.
-Macaroni and cheese (dried/kits)
-Pie fillings, Gelatin, Instant puddings

This is basically a list of most of what we're storing, although we're probably forgetting something. What about you?
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Seasons Greetings

We want to take this time to wish you a special Holiday season - no matter your beliefs - from our family to yours, enjoy a safe and happy holiday.
  • Take advantage of the great sales around this time of year: canned vegetables or pie fillings, hams and turkeys for the freezer, fresh produce like winter squash and potatoes.
  • Keep it simple. A plate of fresh vegetables or fruits or cheese with a little hummus for dipping is a great appetizer. Bake a chicken or turkey that self-bastes, or better yet, use that crockpot.
  • Be safe in the kitchen.
  • Let the kids help. At least, ask them.
  • Leave the clean-up for later, or someone else. Enjoy the presence of family and friends.
  • Simmer some apple cider and mulling spices in a crockpot or coffee urn. Makes the house smell wonderful.

Enjoy this time of year. Family and friends are nearby. If they aren't, find someone to care for. Gift the gift of friendship (yes, and food) to someone who needs you. Because you ARE special, and you ARE needed. And loved.

Blessings.


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Holiday Gathering

Whether you're home alone during the Holidays, snowed-in, or having friends over, there's no reason to not celebrate this special time of year in a special way.

First, remember, that if is NOT all about the food. Sure, most people come over expecting outstanding delicious dishes but that doesn't meal expensive and intricate. Just different. Decorate a table with color placemats, pinecones tied with gold ribbon, and light candles/turn down the lights. For food, keep it simple. How about ... ...
  • a canned ham, heated with pineapple and maple syrup, OR a lentil and ham soup
  • fresh baked bread, with a dipping "sauce" of olive oil with herbs de provence
  • sweet potatoes, sliced, baked, and topped with "butter"
  • green salad
  • dessert of dates, apples, pears and other fresh and dried fruits with cheese and special crackers
Second, center the occasion around friendship, love, togetherness, and enjoying just BEing.

Third, if you plan to exchange gifts, put a dollar limit on them. This is a rough year for most people. Hubby and I aren't even exchanging gifts at all this year. We put a few dollars away each payday for Son but the adults in our family really aren't getting anything - a basket of bread mixes, a box of special coffees and assorted tea bags. Son made pictures for a few family people.

Enjoy this time of year. Don't stress - BELIEVE that life is not only worth living, but worth enjoying!

Happy Holidays
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Gardening Catalogs

We're starting to get gardening catalogs, which means it's time to start planning our gardening. What can we grow that we can (1) fit in our small space (2) provide healthy food (3) provide enough variety so we don't get bored eating our harvests.

Check out our gardening blog: http://www.survival-gardening.blogspot.com/ - we'll be noting gardening catalogs over the next several days.
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Easy and Cheap Cooking Methods

We're working out how to cook indoors, when we have no utilities (electricity or gas), no solar charge, and without using usual camping supplies that can be hazardous without proper ventilation. Plus, you can't go outside to use the grill because other people might smell your food, or there's a tornado, or it's just not safe.

Tomorrow, December 23 2008, is our day of experimentation. Meanwhile, what method of cooking have YOU come up with... in case of emergency?
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How to Cook with Canned Foods

You might have looked at this title and thought "huh? what's so hard - you open, empty, heat and serve". Actually, kinda, yeah. But there's more than that. Here's a few thoughts:

  1. Canned food can actually be very good for you. It's usually preserved soon after it's harvested. It lasts a long time. Gives a good variety to your diet if you don't garden and put up your own harvest.
  2. You can get fruit, vegetables, ham, tuna, other various meats, soups, stews, spaghetti sauce, etc. You can get just about everything you want in a can or jar. Theoretically you could live off of canned foods and not get too bored.
  3. It's hard to get your required 2 servings of seafood a week, but it's easy with the plethora of canned varieties. Good for omega-3 fatty acids. Get tuna and other seafood packed in water, not oil since that adds unnecessary calories and fat.
  4. Good protein from not only the seafood but also pork, beef, poultry, beans, soybeans and more. You'll also get dietary fiber from the beans and soybeans.
  5. Examine the labels, and get LOW sodium whenever possible.
  6. Go easy on the fruits with sugar added. There are many available packed with natural juices or "lite".
  7. Many canned products don't have preservatives, except mixtures like soups and stews. Try to avoid MSG, corn syrup, high sodium and other preservatives. Read the labels.
  8. Prefer organic? Many regular grocery stores now have a section dedicated to organic products and even local.
  9. Canned food doesn't need actual cooking ... just heat and serve.
  10. When buying, avoid those cans with dents or bulges.
  11. Check the expiration date. Many cans have a 2 year expiration, but can usually last longer if kept in a cool safe place, with no bulges or dents, and the seal is intact. They will, however, decrease in vitamins and minerals. You be the judge.
  12. Keep in mind that the dollar store can usually sell things cheaper because they are close to the expiration date.
  13. Use a marker to write on the can the date you purchased the item.
  14. Rotate your stock. First in, first out. You buy green beans one week, and another the next week. You use the oldest first (especially with the soonest expiration date).
Cooking with canned foods makes things easy and fun! When you get a few extra dollars, pick up a can of something you've never tried before, read the label, and maybe buy it. Try to use it that week in your own creation.

We are working hard to come up with wonderful recipes using canned and other stored foods. Keep checking this blog for regular entries.
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List of Recipes Using Stored Foods (canned, dried, staples, etc.)

UPDATE: JANUARY 7 2009 : Wow this is a time-consuming list to keep up with..... so... we're going to change the labels on our recipes and blog posting to make searching through this blog a little easier.

This blog posting will be updated every time we post a new recipe that exclusively uses stored foods, like canned goods, bottles of juice, frozen items, dried fruits/veggies, packages and boxes of things like pancake and muffin mixes, and staples like flour, salt, honey, cornmeal, rice, baking soda, yeast, olive oil, etc. Some also include produce like winter squashes and potatoes that store well in a cool dry area.

Some recipes may fit into more than one category. This recipe log was last updated December 18 2008.

Our Posted Recipes:

Breads, Candy, and Desserts:



Condiments, Dips, Drinks, and Other:

Entrees, and Protein (Main) Dishes:



Fruits, Vegetables and/or Side Dishes:



Gluten-Free: Lactose-Free:



Thank you for participating in this blog. Be sure to check back regularly, as we try to upload at least one recipe (sometimes more!) a day.
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End of the Year "Clean Out the Refrigerator" Time

Money is tight this year for everyone we've talked with. Believe me, we know. We've had to dip in savings these past few months. And even though we have put away some supplies for emergencies like the blizzard this week, we still watch our pennies. Meanwhile, since our rotation diet to begin on New Year's Day, we went through the pantry and our supplies yesterday and discovered we have a lot of cooking and eating to do before New Year's Day. We have a few functions to prepare something for. Examples:

Office Holiday Pot-Luck: Hubby said to Wife on Monday: "We're having another pot luck at work this week, so I need to take something." "Are you kidding me? Again?" "Yes, but I don't know when or what I'm supposed to bring. Thursday? Friday?" Sigh. Walk to the pantry. Check while moving things around. Found a Funfetti cake mix and matching frosting bought in Sept for Son's Nov B-Day but we didn't use it. So we'll make that as a sheet cake, keeping a little aside for Son to snack on this weekend. Hmm... there's that pineapple cake mix too... maybe have that for ourselves on Sunday.

BirthDay: Hubby's Mom's birthday celebration is Sunday. We're not supposed to bring anything but might take ***** ****** and some freshly-harvested tomatoes anyway (bleeped out in case she reads this!). Might also take something for Son.

Family Christmas Eve: Christmas Eve is at Hubby's Mom's house this year. We've been assigned the green bean cassarole (the one with cream of mushroom soup) and bread. We have the supplies for both! The cassarole is just green beans, mushroom soup and fried onions plus I add a little onion and garlic powder. The bread: we'll be making the orange-cranberry muffins and maybe a loaf of cinnamon bread in the bread machine. Maybe. Definitely will take something for Son, like mac-n-cheese.

Yule (22nd) and Christmas Day (25th) are at home, just the three of us plus dog. No fancy celebration, just family time. Games. Karoake. We're already thinking about menus and our mouth-watering chocolate-chip pancakes. Maybe some merigne (spell?) cookies. Hmmm...

Anyway, after the review of our pantry and freezer and stored food supplies, here's what we have to eat before New Year's Day (because they will expire soon, or aren't part of our 2009 Rotation Diet) - use it or lose it!...

  • 6 packages of turkey baloney and other various lunchmeats
  • 2 big bags of multi-grain cereal
  • 3 boxes granola bars
  • 2 boxes protein bars (might put in storage)
  • 2 pot roasts
  • 4 packages steaks
  • 2 packages fresh/frozen fish
  • 8 packages various sausages and bratwurst and hot dogs
  • 38 lunch kits w/crackers: tuna salad, chicken salad, ham salad
  • 23 cans pre-made soup (has various grains in them)
  • 9 cans pre-made "mac-n-beef" type "meals"
  • 5 pre-made "just-add-water" soup meals
  • 4 pizza kits (might be ok for our 2009 plans)
  • 1 4-pack of pre-made eggrolls
  • 4 boxes instant cinnamon oatmeal
  • 1 box stuffing/dressing mix
  • 1 box pineapple cake mix
  • 5 frozen turkey breasts (might be ok for our 2009 plans)
  • 1 package frozen multi-grain waffles
  • you get the picture - we have a LOT of eating to do in the next 14/15 days!!!

That still leaves us plenty of rice, beans, peas, potatoes, various grains, tuna, vienna sausages (Hubby), canned fruit, canned ham, canned chicken, honey, salt, corn meal, olive oil, boxes of pancake mix, packages of bran muffin mix, boxes of mac-n-cheese, etc.. And in our freezer, our harvests of tomatoes, string beans, squash, etc. Dehydrated: spinach, parsley, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, onion, garlic, mango, blueberry, blackberry, apples, squash, etc.

Yum! We're very excited about starting our rotation diet for 2009 but for now... it's time to start eating!

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