Prepping Dry Goods Low Cost & Easy

 

                                                Dry Goods 

You can prep with what you have economically. Most homes have rice, sugar, beans, corn meal, oats, and salt. Storing dry goods is easy. Using recycled jars from other goods like pasta sauce jars, jellies, coffee, or pickles. Wash them and dry thoroughly. Re-cycling glass containers are a cost free way to ensure longer shelf life. TIP 1: place your dry goods in the freezer for a few days before placing them in containers this will lessen the chance for weevils and insects.  TIP 2 Did you know dried bay leaf's help keep insects away. By adding a few dried bay leaf's in each container this can help keep insects and weevils at bay. The glass helps with rodents like mice. 

What are dry goods?

Rice   

if stored properly can last indefinitely in a cool dry dark place 

(White Rice) 

NOT brown rice this has a short shelf life. 

Oats

dry oats can be stored a long time if stored properly in a cool dry dark place

Sugar

if stored properly can last indefinitely in a cool dry dark place (never add oxygen absorbers this will turn the sugar into a hard block) 

Beans

if stored properly can last a very long time in a cool dry dark place

Wheat Berries (Flour)

if stored properly can last a very long time in a cool dry dark place

Salt

if stored properly can last indefinitely in a cool dry dark place

Pasta

if stored properly can last a very long time in a cool dry dark place

Corn

corn kernels can last indefinitely is stored in a dry cool place (never add oxygen absorbers the kernel needs the moisture to pop) 

Corn Meal

if stored properly it can last a long time in a cool dry dark place

 

Preparing For A Snow Storm

We have a Winter Snow Storm headed our way tomorrow.  I'm glad I went to the grocery store to get a few odd's and end's. The video below.

It feels good knowing my family is well taken care of. When simple things like making a meal, bread, or yummy dessert bring's smiles. I will be going through my stock pile and pulling out some Organic Tomato Soup that needs to be used. To complete with a side of grilled cheese. I have some ground beef I have been de-thawing. This will make a great meat sauce with  pasta topped with grated cheese and side salad. The remainder of the ground beef can be used for a meatball soup with some left over herbed rice. I always change up recipe's. I will add my herbed rice and only use beef for my meatball's. I don't enjoy celery so that will not be used. The base recipe is a great one with a few personal taste tweeks.

Here is a recipe by Rachel Ray that looked really good: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/mini-meatball-soup-recipe-1941150

• Level: Easy
• Total: 47 min

• Prep: 20 min
• Cook: 27 min

• Yield: 4 big servings 
• Ingredients

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2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan in a slow stream

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 bay leaves, fresh or dried

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 pound ground beef, pork and veal combined

1 egg, beaten

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano, a couple of handfuls

1/2 cup plain bread crumbs, a couple of handfuls

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg

6 cups chicken stock or broth

2 cups water

1 1/2 cups dried pasta, rings, broken fettuccini or ditalini

1 pound triple washed fresh spinach, coarsely chopped

Grilled 4 Cheese Sandwiches, recipe follows*

Grilled 4 Cheese Sandwiches

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan

3 tablespoons butter

1 clove garlic, cracked away from skin

8 slices crusty Italian semolina bread

1 cup shredded provolone

1 cup shredded mozzarella

1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano

1 cup shredded Asiago

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Directions

1. In a deep pot over medium heat add oil, chopped carrots, celery and onions and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and cook veggies 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. While the veggies cook, combine meat, egg, garlic, grated cheese, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, nutmeg.
3. Uncover your soup pot and add broth and water to the pot. Increase heat to high and bring soup to a boil. When soup boils, reduce heat a bit and start to roll meat mixture into small balls, dropping them straight into the pot. You are making meat dumplings that will cook in the broth. When you are done rolling the meat, add pasta to the soup and stir. Cover and simmer soup 10 minutes. When pasta is tender, stir in chopped spinach in batches. When spinach has wilted into the soup, the soup is done and ready to serve. Adjust your seasonings. Serve soup with crusty bread or grilled 4 cheese sandwiches.

Grilled 4 Cheese Sandwiches

1. In a small skillet over medium low heat, combine oil, butter and garlic. Cook garlic in butter and oil gently for 2 or 3 minutes. Remove garlic butter mixture from heat.
2. Place a large nonstick skillet on the stove over medium high heat. Using a pastry brush, brush 1 side of 4 slices of bread with garlic oil and place buttered side down in skillet. Top each slice with equal amounts of the 4 cheeses, distributing them equally over the 4 slices. Top each sandwich with another slice of bread brushed with garlic butter, buttered side up. Flip the grill cheese sandwiches a few times until cheeses are melted and gooey and bread is toasty and golden. Cut grilled 4 cheese sandwiches from corner to corner and serve.

Cook’s Note

*All of these cheeses are available in specialty cheese case and dairy aisle already shredded

 

Prepping My Home A Different Way

 

When we think about Prepping we automatically think of water, food, medicine, and a means of self defense. I'm Prepping my home a different way for the next few weeks. These beautiful winter cottage's are by Thomas Kincaid. The warm glow from the windows and welcoming feeling seen from the outside of a chilly winter evening is inviting.

We can create our own ambiance and comfort in our homes. I made a few Amazon purchases Vanilla Lavender, Woodland Mystique, and Himalayan Magnolia Vanilla Air Wick Plug Ins. these will be placed through out my home. 

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I will choose books that I want to read and set up warm blankets and pillows for special reading time everyday along with my children. This will be a family activity during these brisk cold days when the outdoors are not an option. 

Candles are another way I create ambiance. I purchase candles through out the year when sales pop up. So, when winter comes I am set. I purchased Yankee Candles, Bath and Body Works, along with Sonoma from kohls. On occasion I come across a great candle at Ross, Home Store, or TJ Max. Don't get me started with wood wicks they create the sound of a crackling fire. They are amazing. 

I hope you all are creating your comfort areas in your home and enjoying these chilly days with warm cozy slippers, fuzzy/flannel blankets, good books, warm drinks and scents. Do you do something special? I would enjoy hearing it. Please share down below.

Shopping Our Prepper Pantry and Food Menu 1 Week

 This week we are shopping our pantry. As many of you know my husband has suffered a heart attack. We are looking at quick easy no muss or fuss meals. He is still not home. The meals made for him will be different (specific diet plan). The ones below will be for the family in general. Here is our menu for the week:

MONDAY

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Sandwich, Soup, Salad Baked Chips(options)

Dinner: Chicken Parmesan (spaghetti, chicken patties, sauce, cheese, seasoning) note: we had Tyson Chicken Patties in the freezer that need to be used. This is a great way to incorporate them in a meal.

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

TUESDAY

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Macaroni and Cheese with Smoked Vienna Sausages chopped up into pieces. 

Dinner: Surprise

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Sandwich, Soup, Salad, Cheesy Fajita Sandwich (options)

Dinner: Chicken Oven Roaster (Perdue) and Veggies

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

THURSDAY 

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Sandwich, Soup, Salad (options)

Dinner: Chili Dogs and Corn on the Cob/ or Canned

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

FRIDAY

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Sandwich, Soup, Salad (options)

Dinner: Left overs use Chicken Roaster into soup/rice/veggies

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

SATURDAY

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Hash Browns, Sausage, Pancakes, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Sandwich, Soup, Salad (options)

Dinner: Casserole

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

SUNDAY

Breakfast: Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, Hash Browns, Sausage, Pancakes, Coffee, Yogurt (options)

Lunch: Sandwich, Soup, Salad (options)

Dinner: Surprise

Snacks: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Popcorn, Crackers w/peanut butter, Granola Bars, Cereal, Oatmeal (options)

Prepper Stockpile: What We Need

 

                                                                             The picture above is example of organized preps from the internet.

I do a lot of online shopping for foods and supplies. This is safer during Covid-19 for our family. There are benefits and draw backs to this method.  Online shopping limits us from a larger variety of foods, goods, and spices. Therefore we make minimal trips to the big box stores for the fill ins. 

Restocking our preps is always a family activity with the kiddos helping taking goods by hand and placing them on the shelves. This always provides an opportunity to look at what you have or may need.

These are Items we need

Looking at our stockpile my daughter made note that we were low on spices and variety in certain goods:

Spices: We use these everyday (need more)

Soups: different kinds/flavors (Chicken Rice, Lentil etc) 

You can bulk soups by adding beef/chicken/hot dogs/sausage or spam. Non meat bulk ups potatoes, rice, or beans. Expanding a soup/stew for a large family by adding liquids (water/broth/tomato) for multiple meals. You can add corn bread or homemade herb bread to complete.

Proteins: Corned Beef Hash(low) and difficult to find. My last trip to Walmart had no Corned Beef Hash for any brand. The shelves were clear of this product. Cooking Tip: Spice you corned beef hash as any other meat (spices and pre-made spice envelopes) and you will have a delicious meal.

Canned chicken when on sale etc.. Keystone is a USA brand and normally has a 5 year shelf life that goes well beyond that. 

Swanson and Walmart brand is good as well there are many choices:

It's very important to really look at your shelves and see what you and your family enjoyed and if you need more of it. This is also a great time to donate to a struggling family or elderly any foods that your family is not enjoying. This will free up space for foods that will incorporated for meals they can enjoy in the future. 

                                 The picture above is example of organized preps from the internet.

                                 The picture above is example of organized preps from the internet.