Starting the New Year off right with your Food Storage

The New Year is a great time to do a full inventory of your Food Storage – especially your rotating day to day storage – to make sure you know what you have. By doing this you’re able to make a list of things you need to get to re-stock everything and start the year with a fully year’s supply of food.

Once a month I glance through our storage areas and make notes of what has been depleted. As a general rule, I buy twice what is needed to replenish used stock. In this way we are constantly growing our supply and adding to the amount of time it can support us.

To start the New Year I did a full inventory and then spent several hours shopping to get full replenishment (and then some) for all the food items we store. Not only do I include the food items, but I include many other things, toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, batteries, matches, etc.

If your storage isn’t far enough along to be able to just make a list and go buy everything, at least go through what you have and work with your master list to make a list of what you need! Now is the perfect time to make a little effort to make sure you have a list to work from this year. Trust me, there is great satisfaction in looking at a fully crossed off list, and then looking at what you built from it.

With the New Year I thought I might give you more menu ideas.  I always have a hard time planning my menus so this is a big help to me! 

Creating food storage menus is a simple way to help you decide what to store. Consider the counsel to “Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months.” (Family Home Storage: A New Message, Ensign, March 2009.)

Below are 90 Food Storage Menu Ideas. Adjust to suit the needs of your family. The x indicates how many times you serve the menu. These menus use a combination of small canned, packaged and long-term foods. Some bread may be stored in your freezer; however it may also be homemade. Menus have homemade spaghetti sauce, AND spaghetti sauce in a jar for times when you need simple preparation or emergency cooking. You decide. Snacks are included as many of us need to eat something between meals. Many of these meals are simple enough for teens or a spouse to prepare. Include a few freezer foods, but don’t depend on your freezer unless you have a generator. Menus that require freezer foods are italicized. Most menus use shelf-stable products.

90 BREAKFAST MENUS3 x Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins, water
3 x Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins, water
6 x Applesauce Spice Muffins, water
12 x Blender wheat pancakes, water
12 x Wheat waffles, butter/syrup milk
24 x Oatmeal w/raisins, water
30 x Cold cereal, powdered milk, water

90 LUNCH MENUS12 x PB & J sandwich, fruit cup, boxed drink or Tang
12 x PB & J sandwich, pears or mandarin oranges, water
12 x Chicken salad sandwich, applesauce cup, water or Gatorade
12 x Tuna sandwich, baked beans or applesauce cup, apple juice or water
6 x Chili w/beans, saltine crackers, water
6 x Tomato soup, saltine crackers, water
6 x Ravioli's, banana chips, water
6 x Spaghettios, saltine crackers, Gatorade
6 x Canned Stew, Ritz crackers, applesauce, milk
6 x Cup o’noodle soup, V8 juice
6 x Macaroni & cheese, fruit cocktail, Gatorade

90 DINNER MENUS
6 x Clam Chowder 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Chicken Noodle soup 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Vegetable Soup 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Chicken, Vegetable, Pasta Soup 19 oz., saltine crackers
6 x Spaghetti w/jar sauce, canned corn, milk
6 x Spaghetti w/homemade sauce, canned green beans, milk
6 x Quick Chili w/corn, Biscuits
3 x Pineapple Chicken*, rice
3 x Italian Pasta Salad*, Biscuits
3 x Chicken & Rice Casserole*, Biscuits
3 x Chicken w/ Egg Noodles and DH peas*, canned corn, milk
3 x Chicken w/ Egg Noodles and DH broccoli*, canned corn, milk
3 x Chicken a la King*, rice, canned green beans
3 x Creamy Chicken*, mashed potatoes
3 x Chicken, Noodles and peas*, canned pears
3 x Teriyaki Pineapple Beef*, rice w/broth
3 x Bisquick Vegetable pot pie*, canned peaches, milk
3 x BBQ Beef Casserole*, canned peaches
3 x BBQ chicken on hamburger buns, canned peaches milk
3 x Sloppy Joe's with canned meat* on hamburger buns, applesauce
3 x Enchilada Casserole w/corn*, canned peaches
3 x Beef Nacho Casserole*, Spanish rice*
3 x Roast gravy w/mashed potatoes, canned green beans, milk

90 SNACK MENUS
18 x Food bar
3 x Pretzels
6 X Fruit snack
6 X Graham crackers
6 X M & M's or taffy
6 X Hot cocoa drink(has milk)
3 X Corn Chips w/homemade salsa
3 X Chips w/refried beans & homemade salsa
12 X Homemade popcorn
3 X Simple Scones*
3 X Caramel Popcorn*
3 X Cake w/frosting
3 X Brownies*
3 X Snicker doodles*
3 X Chocolate Chip Cookies*
3 X Chewy Oatmeal Cookies*
3 X Apple Crisp* w/shelf whip topping
3 X Easy Peach Cobbler*

Here is a simple and easy Quick Beef Chili with Corn recipe made from 100% food storage items. Perfect meal for a fall or winter day. Adapted from "Emergency Food in a Nutshell."

Serves 4 – 6

2 (15 oz.) can kidney beans, drained OR
3 ½ c. soaked and cooked dry kidney beans
1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (12 oz.) can beef chunks, undrained and broken up
1 ½ c. water
1 c. chunky salsa
½ t. cumin
½ t. chili powder
1 t. sugar

Directions:
1. Combine ingredients in pan and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. (I put in a small slow cooker and heated until warm.)

Christmas Week

STAR OF HOPE
- by Del "Abe" Jones

They came to pray, on Christmas Day
When, the Christ Child was born -
They came to see, Virgin Mary
Bear hope for the forlorn.

Some from afar, followed that star
Though why, they were not sure -
At great expense, brought frankincense -
And gifts of spice and myrrh.

They gathered 'round, as if spellbound -
Their eyes lit by the glow -
For, from the bed, o'er Jesus' head
There was a bright halo.

That Child did things, to poor and kings
With the gaze of His eye -
He gave some hope, helped others cope
And some, He made them cry.

Down on their knees, they said, "Lord, please
Stop pain and suffering.
Make all on Earth, of the same worth
With the joy, that you can bring."

"Please teach of love, from God above
Shared, by each fellow man.
Show us the way, what we must say
To fit, the Heavenly plan."

He tried for years, to end mans' fears -
Brought miracles each day -
He taught His word, (not always heard)
And for our souls, He'd pray.

But, it seems greed, had sown its' seed
For some, 'twas much too late.
And though He cared and, always shared
The Cross had sealed His fate.

Now, all mankind, for being blind
Must someday, pass the test.
But, if lived right, both day and night
Mans' future could be blessed.

So Christmas Day, take time to pray
To bow your head and see
That God above, will send His love
For all eternity.




Wishing you and your family a Happy and Safe Holiday!
I found on this web site that you can order gift baskets for pancakes, soups, and other fun items! They aren't expensive so just a thought to help you with the gifts if you need.

http://www.shelfreliance.com/all-products/thrive-foods/thrive-gift-baskets.html

Another great gift is the gift of food storage containers. This can include water barrels, plastic food buckets to hold grains and flours or a shelving system to store the food on. This is always a helpful resource to those that are serious about storing a year's supply of food.

Another option is to give the gift of comfort foods. These are often last on people's lists, but they are an important part of food storage. This can include items that they like to eat when they are sick, such as soda, Jell-O, and chicken noodle soup

. You may also want to include snack foods such as chips, pudding cups (the kind that do not need to be refrigerated), fruit snacks and granola bars.

Emergency kits make great Christmas presents don't forget that food supplies would make a great gift too!

With Christmas coming fast I am always looking for something different to give my family and friends.
One idea might be to give a 72 hour emergency kit!

I would want to start off by making a starter kit, and include a list of items that they should include to fully stock the kit.  I think sometimes it hard for people to start something on their own.  This would be a great help for those that are a little nervous about getting started.

Start with something to store the kit in.

A backpack would probably be the most convenient way to store it and also it would be easier to have it ready to go or to leave it in the trunk of your car.  You will need to make sure that the backpack is waterproof.   I would include basic food and water supplies for each person for at least two days.

You may also want to include a first aid kit and manual. I have a flash light and matches in mine that I keep in a zip lock bag. (Got to keep it water proof just in case!) 

Remember to keep it simply - don't over do it!  That way you keep the cost down.  There are several things you can put in the back pack that don't cost much.  Prepackage meals are a great way to go, don't forgot to include the prepackage desserts! 

If you are providing the emergency kit for a child you may want to include fun quiet activities for the child to complete. These activities can include sticker books, coloring books, travel games, and books to read. You may also want to include snacks that children enjoy. These could include fruit snacks, juice boxes, and crackers.

If you are not including everything in the kit, you will want to be sure to include a list of what they will need to add to make it complete. This should include prescriptions, blankets/sleeping bags, tarp/tent, tools, a radio, and a change of clothes.

This is just a thought. If you want you could even give a case of canned green beans or pancake mix!  Storage containers would be an awesome gift.  Maybe include some receipes or a copy of my organization chart for their food storage. 


I am including a couple of receipts for you - just in case you want to include them in a gift! 

Basic Wheat Bread-
 

3 cups white whole-wheat flour

1/4 cup gluten flour

2 teaspoons salt

1 tablespoon rapid rise yeast

1 1/3 cup very warm water

3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil

3 tablespoons honey

Instructions

(Turn oven on warm (125 degrees). If oven does not go that low, let oven

Heat at 200 degrees for 5 minutes. Turn off a few minutes before putting pan of bread in to rise).

Ingredients .

 

Note:

Mix together in bowl until dissolved: 1 1/4 cup very warm water, 3 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil, 3 tablespoons

honey and 1 tablespoon yeast. Add contents of bread mix, stir together, then on a flat oiled surface, work and knead the

dough vigorously with the heels of your hands, about 3 to 4 minutes, keeping it into as tight a ball as you can while

kneading (or knead for 3 minutes with electric bread mixer), Use oil, not flour, on hands and surface for easier

handling. Dough will become more elastic-like as you proceed.

(about 2 Tablespoons). Too much flour creates a crumbly texture. 

Homemade Noodles

Ingredients:

1 C whole-wheat flour

1 large well-beaten egg

2 T milk

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

Combine flour, egg, milk and salt to make a stiff ball of dough. On a

lightly floured surface roll dough until very thin, to about 18x20

inches. Let dry about 1-1/2 hours. Cut into 1/2 inch strips with a pizza

or pastry cutter. Store in container that is not airtight.

Drop into boiling soup or water. Cook 8 to 10 minutes. Makes 8

ounces or 3 cups and the cost is about eleven cents.

Sugarless Apple Pie

6-8 apples, sliced

One 12 oz can frozen apple juice concentrate

2 T cornstarch

Dash of cinnamon or cardamom (optional)

2 pie crusts, uncooked

Directions:

Line pie tin with pastry, fill with apples.

Combine apple juice with cornstarch, then cook until thick.

Pour over sliced apples.

Top with crust. Bake 10 min at 375°, then 2 hours at 275°.