Prepare And Prosper: March 2011

One of our followers created this wonderful how-to guide on Baby Food!!

THANKS Julie!!!

Hurray for our followers!! We do have the best group on the internet!

Making your own baby food is fast, cheap and most importantly Healthy. The possibilities are endless. I usually make a fruit blend and a veggies blend. If your child is just starting baby food, start off trying each one individually. First I go through my basket and pick out all the fruit that is ripe.

Here is a list of foods that I throw in

Raw:

Apples (I make applesauce or pearsauce then use it for a liquid in the blending process)

Oranges

Mango

Spinach

Zucchini or yellow Squash (grated)

tomatoes

cucumbers

Kiwi

Pineapple

Flax seed

Cooked (steamed with a little water, drained and cooled)

Turnips

broccoli

cauliflower

carrots

celery

Pears

Apples

Crockpot or boiled

Potatoes

Sweet potatoes or yams

Pick your selection and add it to your blender, food processor or magic bullet. Make sure all of the produce has been cleaned, peeled, and diced. In the picture above I have mangos, blackberries, blueberries, raw spinach (I add it to everything) and homemade applesauce for the liquid. If you mixture is too dry try adding more fruit that is real juicy or applesauce. I try to add as little of water as possible and try to use as much raw produce as I can. The veggies mixture I steam multiple veggies all at the same time, drain it and throw it in the blender. Sweet potatoes and yams are a great way to add liquid to your baby food and easy to cook. Add your yams and/or sweet potatoes to your crockpot and an inch of water. Cook for a couple of hours. The peels will fall off and the potato will be soft enough to mash with a fork.

When your mixture is done pour into an ice cube tray covered with saran wrap. freeze over night. When the ice cubes are done pop out and put in a freezer bag that has been label with the ingredients and date it was made.

Howdy!

So First I would like to give the proper credit for all those “Dump” Chicken recipes to Keri Sparks in my ward at church. I appreciate her sharing them with us all.

Next I was alarmed last night to hear on CBS local news that a new study shows that people who drink at least 1 diet soda per day increase their chances of stroke or heart attack by over 60%!!! More studies will be done to determine the exact cause but… WHO CARES WHY! So if you have the diet soda habit you may want to reevaluate!

Being prepared applies not only to storing food and water for both short and long term problems but to finances, legal paperwork, etc. As I live on disability income I have long been concerned about the finance part since I knew I was never going to be able to save up enough money to be worthwhile in a crisis. So I started thinking about what my other options might be.

Based on a number of things I have read, both religious and political, about when hard times hit. I decided that what might work best for me was to pick some items that are relatively inexpensive, will store for long periods of time and would probably be needed. I could use these as barter for other things I might need. So what to store?

First I thought about what farmers and people in previous centuries who were fairly self sufficient still had to go to the store and buy. Salt and Sugar came to mind first. [I think it was all those westerns I grew up watching} Almost everyone has a sweet tooth and salt is so versatile in its uses. Flavoring foods, curing meats, medicinal purposes and of course salt is incredibly cheap now. I picked up 25 pounds at Sams for under $5. Salt is also one of the few things that you can store in empty cleaned out plastic milk jugs. And of course it has no shelf life! I actually put mine in those “Simple Lemonade’ juice bottles I got from a friend. I will continue to add more of this item.

I canned the sugar at the cannery which gives it a 30 year shelf life. Longer than I expect to be alive! LOL.

I then next decided to store extra wheat as it also has a 30 years shelf life when stored properly. It is relatively cheap and can be used to trade directly or to make bread and trade. Of course this means having the items needed to make bread also.

I was chatting with someone in the finance world about this and he mentioned that the 2 items that were most in demand after WWII were cigarettes and cooking oil. Not being a smoker and as expensive as they are, cigarettes are not on my list. But I thought of the Palm Shortening which has that long shelf life when unopened. It is a little more expensive and I will not be able to store lots of it but will try to add one bucket a year to my stash.

Then after our big Food storage meeting the end of January someone one sent me the link to this list of the top 100 items that dissapear first. Along with the list are comments from survivors of the wars in Yogoslavia a few years ago. I found it highly interesting and will add a few more items to my list. Just one comment about Toilet Paper storage. TP is made to disintigrate easily. IF you store extra TP be sure you rotate it as it will self destruct after a time. A friend learned this thru sad experience. And putting it in an attic or garage in the Texas heat will probably only speed that up.

If, as some people are predicting, the US will face the same types of food riots that Egypt and other countries are now facing, in 2015, food will be worth much more than gold. Think about what items you can easily afford to store a little extra of and have to trade for other things your family might need.

Aunt Dooey

THE POWER HOUR

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

100 Items to Disappear First
1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy...target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 - 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Hand-can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice - Beans - Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY - note - food grade if for drinking.
14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won't heat a room.)
15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)
16. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers (or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, "No. 76 Dietz" Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting - if with wheels)
49. Men's Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. "Survival-in-a-Can"
79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress's
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws,, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin wax
96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Goats/chickens

From a Sarajevo War Survivor:
Experiencing horrible things that can happen in a war - death of parents and
friends, hunger and malnutrition, endless freezing cold, fear, sniper attacks.

1. Stockpiling helps. but you never no how long trouble will last, so locate
    near renewable food sources.
2. Living near a well with a manual pump is like being in Eden.
3. After awhile, even gold can lose its luster. But there is no luxury in war
   quite like toilet paper. Its surplus value is greater than gold's.
4. If you had to go without one utility, lose electricity - it's the easiest to
   do without (unless you're in a very nice climate with no need for heat.)
5. Canned foods are awesome, especially if their contents are tasty without
    heating. One of the best things to stockpile is canned gravy - it makes a lot of
    the dry unappetizing things you find to eat in war somewhat edible. Only needs
    enough heat to "warm", not to cook. It's cheap too, especially if you buy it in
    bulk.
6. Bring some books - escapist ones like romance or mysteries become more
    valuable as the war continues. Sure, it's great to have a lot of survival
    guides, but you'll figure most of that out on your own anyway - trust me, you'll
    have a lot of time on your hands.
7. The feeling that you're human can fade pretty fast. I can't tell you how many
    people I knew who would have traded a much needed meal for just a little bit of
    toothpaste, rouge, soap or cologne. Not much point in fighting if you have to
    lose your humanity. These things are morale-builders like nothing else.
8. Slow burning candles and matches, matches, matches

REFERENCE (http://www.thepowerhour.com/news/items_disappearfirst.htm)

Prepare And Prosper

Pages

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Did you miss out on the Honey Order?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

The Challenge...Make my own yeast

Friday, March 25, 2011

Everything you wanted to know about....Baby Food

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

And the winner is............

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Aunt Dooey Says....100 Items to Disappear First

AWESOME Giveaway!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Local Raw Honey at Wholesale Prices......what could be better!

Followers