Food Storage Basics

How much and what types of food am I supposed to store for my family?

To calculate how much your family needs, go to the following websites:

food storage calculator 1

-this is very basic

-keep in mind that if your family doesn’t like something (i.e. lima beans – who does?!?! J); then you can substitute with other food that fits into that category. Just make sure your total amount is correct, even if your break down of each type of food differs from the food calculator suggested items.

food storage calculator 2

-this is from a great website that has a lot to offer, take some time to check it out

-this one is in a excel spreadsheet and gives you a spot to do a cost break down

-very detailed and might not be for you if you don’t like a lot of info thrown to you at once!

Click here for more detailed info on where to buy and how to store these foods (some of this info is specific to the area in which I live)

Homemade Laundry Detergent and Household Cleaning Products

A good friend helped me get going with these! If you're looking to "go green" and you love saving money, check this out!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

-I keep a long wooden spoon and measuring cups in my laundry room so I can easily stir and measure the detergent

-I use spray n wash to target stains before washing them

Cleaning Products:

There are more I am in the process of trying, but here are three that I currently use and really like:

Glass Cleaner (I use this on my windows and mirrors)
Wood/Tile/Linoleum Floor Cleaner (spray and clean with rag or mop)
Tub, Toilet, Sink Cleanser (homemade version of Ajax/Comet)

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

-you can buy 32 oz spray bottles for around $2.97 at grocery stores, home improvement stores...

-use up the store bought cleaners you have on hand so that you're not wasteful...

-though these cleaners are not made with harsh chemicals, we still need to keep them away from children; label spray bottles so the kids will know to not drink or spray on themselves or others...

Cooking with Beans

Beans with a crock pot (eat as soup or mash to make refried beans)

Homemade Baby Food

When I began feeding my first baby, I bought rice cereal and jars of baby food at the store - following the whole "stages" thing. Gerber 1 comes before Gerber 2 , etc...

Well, when I had my third baby, a good friend of mine introduced me to the fabulous concept of making my own baby food! Yes, it takes time, but it's way cheaper and healthier for your baby!

Baby can start eating as early as 4 months, but I wait until 6 months. Breastmilk and/or formula is still the most nutritious food baby can get the whole first year; and once solid foods are started, baby eats less breastmilk/formula. Also, baby has to be 6 months old to eat homemade rice cereal and I prefer waiting for that instead of buying infant rice cereal that baby can have before 6 months. But, do what's best for you. Go for it at 4 months if that's what works for you and your baby!

Schedule of food for baby's first year

How to make homemade rice cereal (and other kinds too!)

How to prep and store homemade baby food (fruits and veggies)

Consistency of foods for baby

Please keep in mind that I am not an expert in this area. Please consult with your baby's pediatrician to know if this homemade baby food plan is right for you! :)

Also, this is a brief summary of making homemade baby food. For a complete guide on this subject, I recommend Ruth Yaron's book entitled "Super Baby Food."

Homemade Pancake and Waffle Syrup

In an ideal world, I'd love to buy real maple syrup for my family. The sugar in it is natural so I feel that it's somewhat healthy. But, it's EXPENSIVE! Especially when compared to the cost of buying the big thing of Mrs. Butterworth's generic maple syrup at Costco!
So, this is the compromise I've come up with for my family - maybe you'll like it too.
These recipes still have sugar, but they don't contain artificial coloring or preservatives since it's homemade!

Homemade Pancake Syrup
Homemade Apple Pancake Syrup
Cinnamon Syrup 
This Buttermilk Syrup recipe was recently introduced to me by friends and family - my only question is: How come it took me this long to discover it?!?!
Buttermilk Syrup
I've never used buttermilk yet, but have just "made" it with lemon juice and milk.

Using dry milk (powdered milk) in recipes!

These are recipes that I think work well with helping me rotate through my dry milk food storage. All I've done is substituted the ingredient of fresh milk with the equal amount of dry milk and water (the ratio of which equals the amount of milk called for in the recipe). i.e. one cup of fresh milk is equal to one cup of water and 1/3 cup of dry milk (according to my brand of dry milk - brands vary, so be sure to check the ratio on your package)

Oatmeal Waffles
Mix in a large bowl:
½ c. dry milk*
1 ½ c. flour
1 c. oats (quick or whole is ok)
1 T. baking powder
½ t. cinnamon
¼ t. salt
Mix in a small bowl:
2 eggs
1 ½ c. water*
6 T. melted butter (I always use less – like 4 T. )
2 T. brown sugar
Mix all together and pour onto waffle iron.
*this recipe originally called for 1 ½ c. milk

Pumpkin Waffles

Cooking with Whole Wheat (recipes)

Here are my wheat recipes that I use frequently (I use some of these a couple times a week!)

1. Homemade Tortilla Recipe

a. Tortilla Press (this is a standard press; put the ball of dough in it, close the lid, flatten it and then cook it on your electric griddle or frying pan on the stove. Can be purchased at Wal-Mart for pretty cheap)

2. Whole Wheat Bread (100% whole wheat)

3. Whole Wheat Bread using Bread Maker

4. Blender Wheat Pancakes

5. Whole Wheat Gingersnap Cookies (keep in mind that anything made of whole wheat is NOT going to taste like homemade chocolate chip cookies! My kids and I really like these, but my husband still thinks that if a treat is going to be made, it has to be chocolate chip cookies or the world is coming to an end...)

Vegetable Garden Time!

These are the types/varieties we planted last year (in Lehi, UT) and we will plant again this year because they worked well for us:

Spinach - Brand: Ferry Morse, Spinach (Bloomsdale, Long Standing)

Pumpkins - Brand: Ferry Morse, Pumpkin (Jack O'Lantern)

Lettuce - Brand: Burpee, Lettuce (Green Ice)

Broccoli -Brand: Ferry Morse, Broccoli (De Cicco Earth Gems)

Winter Squash - Brand: Burpee, Winter Squash, (Buttercup)

Squash - Brand: Lilly Miller, Squash (Vegetable Spaghetti)*this is so cool - it really comes apart like spaghetti noodles and we loved eating in place of pasta! Very fun! :)

Zucchini - Brand: Lilly Miller, Zucchini (Italian Striped)

Corn - Brand: Mountain Valley Seed, Corn (se) Ambrosia Hybrid

Peas - Brand: Mountain Valley Seed, Pea, Snap Sugar Snap

The following did not do well for us (maybe it was our fault... :)

Cantaloupe - Brand: Lilly Miller, Cantaloupe (Hearts O' Gold)

Watermelon - Brand: Ferry Morse, Watermelon (Crimson Sweet)

Green Onions - Brand: Ferry Morse, Onion (Evergreen Bunching)

Carrots - Brand: Ferry Morse, Carrot (Red Cored Chantenay 7317b)

We also bought tomatoes and bell peppers as "starts" (tiny plant instead of seeds) and will do so again, but I don't recall what varieties we bought! :( We always go to the nursery and have a look around and decide what starts to buy. We planted all of these things on the Saturday before Mother's Day and that's what we're going to do again this year.

72 Hour Emergency Kits

I'm including links for the following:

1. Suggested items for 72 hour kits
2. Food items we put into our kits
3. Spreadsheet of cost breakdown to purchase food items from Costco

Just Starting!

It's been on my mind to start a public blog that includes tips/recipes for provident living. So here we go! Please leave comments and/or suggestions of ways I can improve this blog so that it is beneficial to all of us! :)