Challenge!

I would like to challenge each family in our ward (without going into debt) to have in place a month's supply of food for their family to use in event of emergency where no more food could be obtained outside this month's supply.

December 31, 2009 is the target date to have this goal accomplished!

Also, do you know how to turn off your water or gas, have a 72-hr kit ready or where to go in an emergency? These things are all important. Having a plan and moving forward is the best way to accomplish your goals!

Wonder Box

I finally have a picture of the wonder box or wonder oven. It cooks with retained heat. This green one is a standard size wonder box.


This is a picture of a wonder box put inside a duffle bag type thing, for a more portable version. See how the pot is placed inside?

Wonder boxes are good for hot and cold as seen here with the ice cream.

I am still tracking down the pattern, but I have the information of a gal down in Elk Grove that makes and sells them for $35.

Seminar for Emergency Preparedness

Last week I attended a seminar for Emergency Preparedness. The speaker was Becky Pritt who came all the way from Utah. She and her husband outlined several interesting ways to conserve energy during everyday life as well as in an emergency.

One of the main things demonstrated was the different ways to store energy. We saw a variety of lamps, flashlights and battery generators in action. The most versitile of them was of course the battery generator. It had enough energy (300-600 watts) to jump start a car, charge a cell phone and still light up a campsite at night. Xantrex.com has a variety of battery generators for a variety of uses-- see portable and back up power section. The generator was useful in so many situations such as camping, picnics or more predictably, in power outage situations.

Other forms of storeable energy included wood, charcoal, propane (gas stoves) and butane.

One of the most exciting things demonstrated was the Wonderbox. The concept is quite like a crockpot, but with no power cord! It's basically an insulated box that cooks with retained heat. Food is brought to boil in a pot and the pot is placed inside the Wonderbox where the food can continue to cook for another 2 or more hours. It usually takes 4 times the normal cooking time, but takes no extra fuel and will keep the food HOT until ready to eat without burning! Sister Pritt had made 3 different foods for us to try: Stew, ham and bean soup and BREAD! They were all delicious and all cooked in the wonderbox. This is such a neat idea, with many applications. As soon as I can get some pictures i'll post them.

Ideas?

I am in charge of a RS activity in June. Does anyone have any project ideas that would be good for us to do? My ideas are: Emergency binder, checking out the dry pack canner or a garden class...

I'd love some imput.

Dry pack Cannery Dates

Do you need to start your food storage?
Never been to the cannery and would like to go?
Need to bulk up your supplies?

Well here's your chance! We have two cannery dates. Up to 6 people per date and time, so sign up quick!

March 11th 10:00am-Noon

March 16th 10:00am- Noon

If you would like to sign up, you can leave your info in a comment, email me or sign up on a clipboard at church.

please note: you can only can things that are bought from the cannery that day. You can't bring items from home, even if they were purchased from the cannery on a previous occasion.

Nonfat Dry Milk Price Amazingly affordable!

One year ago the price for of nonfat dry milk per #10 can from the cannery was $13.50-ish. The price today for a #10 size can from the cannery is $7.60 !! I suggest stocking up a bit at this super cheap price.

Have You Noticed?

Recently I've been paying attention to prices as I shop. I've especially noticed how Bumblebee Tuna had reduced it's price slightly so that it was more comparable to the generic brand that I sometimes buy, so I end up choosing the Bumblebee brand for a few more cents. Then I was made aware that the can size had been REDUCED from 6 oz to 5 oz! I was paying the same amount of money for a smaller size. Next time you buy tuna, notice that the cans are thinner in size and that you are being charged almost the same as when they were larger. I've noticed the same change with the 2 lb. cottage cheese being reduced to 1 1/2 lbs for the same price as well. Has anyone else noticed this?

A good quote

"When the time of need arrives, the time for preparation is past."

How to make your own can storage bins

Have you seen those food can rotators that help you with rotation? Where you put your most recently purchased cans in the top and when you need one you pull it out of the bottom and all the cans adjust down, leaving a space at the top for more cans. Check out this blog article link. It is a really good idea if you can't afford the commercial shelf rotating can systems.

http://mormonfoodstorage.blogspot.com/2008/09/pantry-paragon-or-how-to-make-your-own.html


Side note: Check out Costco for the commercial shelf rotating systems right now... I've heard they have them now for a great deal at about $20 for a set, though I haven't been down there yet myself to check it out. Update 1/27: Costco has them now. $23, holds 40 cans of adjustable sizes, isle 106 - midway down.

Recipes

I would like to put together a cook book filled with easy recipes. It would be great if they didn't use a ton of ingredients, and if they used food storage items it's a bonus!! Please send along any recipes that your family loves and wouldn't mind sharing. Thanks!

You can email them to me at sherryanne77@sbcglobal.net

New Year, New Progress

In this month's Ensign, a Random Sampler article gives us a simple but important step: START! You can't move forward with your food storage if you don't start. It's the beginning of a new year, a perfect time to get moving on your food storage goals.

As a ward we are coming closer to our 6-month goal deadline at the end of February. Check your current status and let's get moving!

Read entire Random Sampler Article:
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=e3b3515e04f5e110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

Emergency Binder

I came across this good site that detailed an emergency binder. It's a good starting place for creating a "binder" of your own.


http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/01/03/emergency-binder/