party POSTPONED~

We planned to have our "come and see these cool ways to cook in an emergency situation" party... complete with samples, food and friends.

BUT ... we need to POSTPONE our get-together... Our party is not this Thursday, June 17th. :(


We don't have a good date yet- we're considering 3rd week in July or 2nd week in September.


Sorry to all. We had too many conflicting obligations: Boy Scout Camp (which my husband and my son are at); Girls Camp (Which many of my fellow cookers and demonstrators are attending); and other June 17th conflicts.

Don't lose hope... it's just longer to anticipate our fun.

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Other news:

Potatoes in a barrel
If you're growing your potatoes in a barrel or bag, you should see them ready to be covered again. As the plants grow, cover the green with more soil. Try not to let the plants get more than 6 inches tall before you cover them up again.

Uses for Vinegar

Last time we talked about baking soda's many uses. (By the Way, Baking soda in large quantities are available at Winco, Costco. Costco's 13.5 lb bag was $3.75. I haven't been by to check Winco's price, but 2 friends have found Baking Soda in bulk at Winco.)

Vinegar is another cool daily product that I under-utilize.

Here's a few of the tips for Vinegar that I'm trying:

• Clean Mildew Stains: Apply vinegar full strength and gently scrub.
• Remove Sticker residue! Spray vinegar to sticky residue and gently scrub.
• Clean up kitchen grease. Mix equal parts water and vinegar in cleaning bottle. Spray and use as normal.
• Polish chrome- use vinegar full strength.
• Relieve sunburn. Apply vinegar on a cotton ball and rub gently on your sunburn.
• Take the ouch out of Mosquito bites. Again, gently rub a vinegar cotton ball on the mosquito bite.
• Clean out your washing machine. Pour 1 cup of vinegar into your empty washing machine and run a normal cycle. The vinegar will freshen your machine and cut old soap scum.

In all this my goal is: to better use what I have, cut down on harsh chemicals if they are unnecessary.

So this is all for today... keep gardening, keep smiling, keep knowing that each day, you are loved!

Our inspiring quotes today are from Zig Ziglar. I was able to listen to him speak last week, adn even in his 80's he still tries to bring hope and courage to others.

Success is not a destination. It's a journey.

Other people can stop you temporarily. Only you can stop you permanently.

Be helpful. When you see another person without a smile, Give them yours.

Pictures, Potatoes & a Party!

I got carried away with the "P" words... but it's fun sometimes to alliterate!

Potatoes
Here's a new one for me: I was told about a method of gardening potatoes in a bucket or garbage can or barrel or bag.

My wonderful husband, after I told him about this craziness, built me a barrel for our potato crop.
Here's what we did: He cut the top off a barrel and drilled holes about 6 inches apart around the base of the barrel. The holes he drilled were about ¼ inch holes.

Then he added about 6 inches of soil and planted the potato starts.

We watered and wait for them to grow.
And already they've grown! Now that they're a few inches tall, we add a few more inches of soil. The process is that we keep adding soil as the plant grow. This allows many "layers" of potatoes to grow inside the same barrel. By the end of the summer, we should have a barrel of potatoes.

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Photos of the Stove Tec

Here's a few photos of the latest stove cooker that some friends purchased. It's called the Stove Tec. It's lined with a ceramic liner to convey heat better.
You can use charcoal or wood. It's very efficient.
If we are interested, we'll out together a group order.
Stoves are $45 each- regularly.

How will you know if you like them??



I'm glad you asked... here's where the PARTY comes in...


I'd like to invite ALL of you, yes that said ALL, to our home for a Preparedness Eating Party. Here's my plan:

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 at 6:30 pm...
Come to my house and we'll see how different cookers and stoves work.
A variety of stoves are coming: Alcohol cooker, Kerosene Stove, Stove Tec (pictured above), Rocket Stove, Sun Oven, smoker and ??

We'll be tasting samples of food prepared on all the different stoves and cookers... You can see them in action... Maybe tempt you to try your emergency stove out.

If you have a form of emergency situation food cooker that I haven't mentioned and you'd like to come demonstrate it as well, that'll be great!
Kids are welcome... my kids love friends.

I'll tell you more as we get closer.
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The website for the Stove Tec is: www.stovetec.net Please check it out by clicking the link. They do a much better job of explaining how neat this appliance is.

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Food Storage/ Home Preparedness Item of the Week: BAKING SODA

Yep, this humble baking ingredient can do so much! Here's a few of my favorites...

* Add 1/2 Teaspoon to omelette's to make them fluffier. (Add 1/2 tsp. per 3 eggs.)
* Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling Baking Soda on the ground around the tomato plants.
* Scatter baking soda around your flower beds to prevent rabbits from eating your flowers.
* Relieve skin itch from bug bites and sunburn by rubbing with baking soda.

For a more complete list: www.lifehackery.com

Make sure you have Baking Soda as part of your Food Storage. They do sell Baking Soda in large quantities...
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That's enough for today... Have a great week. Know that I am glad you're my friend!

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom. Hugo De Groot

Experience teaches slowly and at the cost of mistakes. James Froude

I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done. :)

growing gardens, prepared for problems and the latest recipe

Hi everyone! Hope you're having a GREAT day!

Gardening

We've passed the "Danger" Date for planting. I need to get out into my garden and plant the remaining vegetables I want to grow. For us that's: beans, corn, melons, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins. My terrific husband built the grow boxes, now I need to seed the waiting ones.

I found this on MSN and liked the tips:

Vegetables
As you're planting your vegetable garden, consider planting times as well as plant compatibility.

In most climates it's safe now to seed or plant hardier vegetables such as beans, peas, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, corn and chard. YEAH!!!
When you're sure the soil is thoroughly thawed and warm (at least 60 degrees), go ahead and sow cucumbers, squash, melons, peppers, tomatoes and other tender annuals.
Plant celery and cucumbers near your bean starts — they make good neighbors!
Beans also get along well with peas, corn and potatoes, but keep them away from "aromatic" vegetables such as leeks, garlic, onions and shallots.
Carrots, tomatoes and lettuces also like each other's company — just be sure not to mix them with dill.
Seeds of corn, pumpkins, squash, beans and melons can be sown directly into the ground now.

My goal this week is to get out and plant my remaining seeds... Here's hoping the next time we talk I can report my success!

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Earthquake Preparedness

The news reports of earthquakes all around the globe remind me that I am NOT ready for an earthquake. Chalk it up to my quirkiness, but I'd rather the peace of mind of being ready, even if it means I never use my preparations. I've learned peace of mind is worth the extra work for me.
Here's a link: http://beready.utah.gov --that has suggestions for kits, safety, etc.

Here's our family's earthquake action items for this week:

1. Strap down the Water Heater. (Our water heater is original to the house and is free standing. It could topple over with just a little shaker.)
2. Get our "Household Disaster Kit" (a.k.a. 72 hour kits) up to standard.
3. Store a little more water.

Of the 3 action items, the most challenging for me is building a functional "Household Disaster Kit" (72 hr) kit. I have all the lists of good 72 hour kits. The lists are so comprehensive it's great-- but is it functional to lug around?
I'm seriously considering rolling luggage as my 72 hour kit. That way I can move it somewhat and not completely kill my back in the process. (Can you imagine?! A disaster and a wrenched back? No thank you!)
Next Quandary: where to store the thing? I'm considering our shed in the backyard. Even if an earthquake toppled our home and the shed, the shed is less rubble to dig through to get to the kit.

What have you done? I'm looking for wisdom here. How have others collected and stored their 72 hours kits?

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Apple Protein Muffins

This morning I concocted muffins for my kids for breakfast. I wanted to incorporate dried apples, whey protein and whole wheat in a form that would: a) feed my kids well (low sugar/high protein) and b) actually taste good.

Here's our result/recipe:

Dried Apple Protein Muffins

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup Vanilla powder whey protein
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups dried apples - rehydrated

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Put cupcake papers into 12-cup muffin tin.

Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, mix the butter and add the brown sugar. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the buttermilk gently. Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 20 ish minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Makes about 12 muffins.

That's all for this week... Let's get growing and preparing and cooking!

Practice is the best instruction of them all. -Publilius Syrus
Knowledge is the food of the soul. -Plato
A Smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

• 
  

shelf stable

Hi everyone...


Glad to talk to you again. Hope your day is going well.


I've discovered a few new things to share.


First, another preparedness fan has a blog about "Shelf Stable" recipes- recipes that use ingredients that require no refrigeration. So if you've lost power, you can still create yummy meals.


This recipe- Mexican Corn Chowder- can be made with fresh ingredients.
1 pound cooked shredded chicken
5 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon Shirley J Chicken Bouillon or 1 Tablespoon regular Chicken Bouillon
2 Tablespoons dried minced onions
1 Tablespoon Garlic minced
1 cup freeze dried corn
1 1/2 cups freeze dried potato- diced
1 Tablespoon Cumin
1 cup Shirley J Universal Sauce + 1 cup water
1 small can diced green chilis

In a large pan, cook shredded chicken, water, onions, bouillon, and garlic for 10 minutes.
Add corn, potatoes, cumin and chilis.
Mix 1 cup Universal Sauce and 1 cup water. Pour into soup mixture. Boil for 10 more minutes.
EAT!!
*************
A few more new things:
I've had a few questions about Orem allowing chickens.

• The city ordinances now allow for a maximum of 6 chickens on a lot less than 1 acre.
• No Roosters allowed.
• Chickens must be contained in a portable coop.
• Chickens cannot be slaughtered.

Here's the actual website:
www.ore.org/DSPlan/PC2010/01-20/ID10442.htm
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Gardening things I didn't know(only a few mentioned here):

Helpful bugs- I knew that ladybugs were good bugs because they eat bad bugs. But Green Lacewings are good bugs too! They can be added to even small gardens to help control unwanted pests.

And although the weather whispers to me: "Go ahead, plant those other seeds." My local nursery guy warns me not to. There is a reason I need to wait. (Frost) So I will show patience... and not plant my squash, YET.
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Short Cupboard this week.
Action Items:
Keep stocking your preparedness- food, fuel, light, clothing... etc.
Keep smiling.

Procrastinate now! Don't put it off!

42.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

Borrow money from pessimists- they don't expect it back.

Spicy, moving & gardening

Welcome back to another installment of Saria's Cupboard.

We've survived Spring Break- although with the snow storms it felt more like Winter Break...



But the sun is shining today and we're moving on...



Speaking of MOVING...

A terrific friend of mine is moving. That's not unusual, except she is not going to move some of her food storage. WHY? Well, this brave mom is gluten intolerant and members of her family are as well. Their family challenges of what they can and can't eat (mostly can't) are amazing to me. And yet, through it all, she is upbeat and adventurous and trying new foods.



Anyway, she can't afford to give away her food, but she's willing to sell it at her cost. This food is all less than 4 years old, still sealed in its packaging, in great condition.

Here's what she needs to sell:

• 23 buckets of Walton Feed Hard White Wheat in 6 Gallon "Superpails". Contains 45 lbs white hard wheat. Packed in a mylar bag, sealed with O2 absorbers, in a bucket that is sealed. $20 per bucket.


• 2 buckets of Lehi Roller Mills Hard White Wheat in bucket. Contains 45 pounds of wheat in a sealed bucket. Purchased at Costco. $14 per bucket.


• 10 buckets of Bosch Kitchen Wheat- 5 gallon buckets. Contains 36 pounds wheat. $11 per bucket.


• 20 buckets of Rotini Pasta in large bucket. This pasta is packed in a mylar bag and then in the bucket to retain freshness. $17 per bucket. (These are the buckets of Pasta Bishop Davis arranged for us.)

So if you're interested, please let me know. I will get all the buckets from her house & store them at mine. (1 less thing for her to move!) And for the record, I going to miss you, Jenn.

Spices

So about the Spices Group Order... We didn't have a ton of interest in the spices so I propose we shelved the spice idea for now.

If you're crushed, you can still order from SFHerb.com directly.

Gardening

Hooray! I was running behind on my garden this year, but during spring break I got some seeds in the ground. And now to wait until after May 9th to get the other seeds going.

This year our family is trying a new method of gardening. We got a book called Square Foot Gardening. Don't rush out and buy it yet... We can't vouch for it yet. We;re trying it out and of course, I'll keep you updated on our growing results.

If you haven't had a chance to get gardening, today is a good day!

That's it for today...

Next week, more recipes, more gardening, and more adventures.

Don't tell God how big the Storm is; Tell the Storm how big your God is.

God gives nothing to those who keep their arms crossed. -African Proverb

Part 2: Portable Chicken Coop, Group order of Spices?

Here's the next installment of Saria's Cupboard... today, in 2 parts.
Part 2:
This e-mail/blog bested me today. And that's just the way it is sometimes. :)

Here's a picture to get your attention:

It's a movable/ portable self enclosed chicken coop.
It's easy to build; light to move; and if you're thinking chickens- a great option!

Want more? Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IopXbR97XBo

This self enclosed chicken coop on wheels you move as you want. Your chickens can eat one area of grass and you move them to the next area.

The website for these is: www.Gardeneggs.com
Feel free to click the link and check it out further.
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Spices, in bulk at a discount...

San Fransisco Herbs sells spices at a discount if you buy in bulk.
Their site is: www.sfherb.com
Here's my wild hair idea: I'll set up a group order & we'll all save. If we order 5-24 lbs, we save 10%. If we order 25lbs, we save 15%!

I've chosen 5+ spices or blends to start with. Let me know if you're interested.
***This is merely a proposal. If your favorite spice is not listed, let me know. (It was hard for me to narrow the choices down!)

Spice Cost per Pound
Cinnamon $2.90
Chinese 5 spice $6.30 (Cinnamon, Star Anise, Anise Seed, Fennel Seed, Cloves, Black Pepper)
Italian Blend $7.15 (Oregano, Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, Sage, Marjoram)
Taco Seasoning $4.90 (Spices, Chili Peppers, Salt, Garlic, Dextrose, Onion)
Zesty Salt Free $6.45 (Onion, Garlic, Pepper, Carrot, Tomato, Orange, Basil, Citric Acid, Celery Seed, Mustard, Parsley, Lemon, Coriander, Cumin, Lemon Oil, Vegetable Oil, Red Pepper, Oregano, Marjoram and Bay Leaf.)
Paprika $4.70

So e-mail me back if you'd like to go in on a group order.

And here's "spice" for thought on how long spices last...:

True spices are hardy seeds, barks, and roots. Whole spices last longer than
powdered ones. Leafy herbs do not last as long as hard spices. Though a common
rule is to purchase spices for no more than one year's use, with proper storage
spices should last five years or more. Powdered herbs and spice blends with oil
content (lemon pepper, etc.) should be used within one year.
Glass is the ideal non-porous barrier for storing spices. Spice jars of clear
glass with tight-fitting lids work well. Plastic spice jars can suffer
deterioration from caustic oils or leach flavor from certain spices. Metal
ointment tins are popular, but opaque, hiding the condition of the contents.
Proper storage greatly increases the shelf-life of spices and herbs. Spices
should be stored in a cool, dark place away from heat. Keep spices away from the
stove area, unless they are for immediate use. The spice rack belongs on a wall
in the kitchen away from heat, direct light, and excessive moisture.

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I've run out of time (again!) so we'll talk gardening next week.
Have a great Easter!

If you fear God, you won't fear humans.
- Albanian Proverb

The only difference between saints and sinners is that every saint has a past while every sinner has a future.
- Oscar Wilde, author

What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.
- Eleanor Powell

As always, is you want to check the blog, click here: www.sariascupboard.blogspot.com

Part 1: Recipes

Are we back for more? YES!!
This week, we're going to divide the e-mail & blog into 2 parts.
Let's talk some recipes, Part 2: some gardening, and some new stuff: portable chicken coop and a group herb order.

Part 1: Recipes
Recipes: (a note on the pictures- I didn't create them. They came with the recipes. My actual meals weren't always as attractive, but just as edible.)

Rich and Creamy Broccoli & Cauliflower Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp butter (using reconstituted Butter Powder)
• 1 tbsp Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 c milk (using reconstituted Powdered Milk)
• 2 tbsp cream
• 1 c mozzarella cheese
• 3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• ½ tsp nutmeg
  
• ½ tsp Iodized Salt
  
• 1 ½ c Freeze Dried Broccoli
  
• 1 ½ c Freeze Dried Cauliflower
  

Preparation:

Rehydrate Broccoli and Cauliflower together in a bowl by covering with water; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook for one minute. Whisk in the milk next, stirring briskly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring over heat while sauce thickens for about 2-3 minutes.

Add in salt, nutmeg, cream, and add 2/3 c of mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine, then remove from heat.

Add in well-drained broccoli and cauliflower. Gently stir together, adding any additional salt or pepper if desired.

Place in a greased baking dish or small pie plate, top with remaining mozzarella and the parmesan cheese, and bake for about 20 minutes or until hot, bubbly, and golden.

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Whole Wheat Meatloaf

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds ground beef

• 1 cup Wheat, cooked
• 2 eggs (using powdered Whole Eggs )
• 1 cup milk (using reconstituted Instant Milk )
• ¼ cup dried onions
• 2 ½ tsp. pepper
• tsp. sage
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. prepared mustard

Sauce:

• 5 Tbs. Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. dry mustard

PREPARATION:Combine first 10 ingredients thoroughly and place into a loaf pan. Combine sauce ingredients and spread over meatloaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
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Spaghetti Pie- great way to use pasta food storage!!

Ingredients

• 1 pound spaghetti -cooked
• 4 eggs
• 1 (26 ounce) jar pasta sauce
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

Additional options: sausage to add into spaghetti sauce, veggies (peppers, onions, etc) to add into sauce, Parmesan to sprinkle on top.
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).


2. In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef. Drain and crumble. Put crumbled beef in skillet. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, bell pepper and pasta sauce. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.


3. In a small bowl combine sour cream, green onions and cream cheese and set aside. Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and add the cooked spaghetti. Spread the cream cheese mixture over it, add the meat mixture and sprinkle with Cheddar Cheese.


4. Cover and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5 more minutes until the cheese is bubbly.

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