Best Food Storage to Buy in December 2011

Finally, the last food storage list of the year. I created these lists so you and I would not get overwhelmed with gathering our food storage. As we gather items one bite at a time during seasonal sales, we won't blow our budget. These useful lists took many hours to create and lots of research, but they help me stay focused.

This month focus on gathering oils, honey and my personal favorite, chocolate. Watch for sales.

It's important that you store your oil properly. It should not be stored in a garage where temperatures fluctuate. Unopened vegetable oil has a 1-year shelf life, though it can be stored longer if temperatures are cooler. Once opened the shelf-life is 4 - 6 months, so it's a good idea to write the date you open it on the outside of the bottle. Olive oil has about a 6 month shelf life, but can be stored for a year in a refrigerator. Each should be stored in a dark location or closed cupboard. To avoid using rancid oil, always smell and taste it before using. 


Honey can be stored almost indefinitely. However, over time it does crystallize and become lumpy. But it can be softened in warm water (not boiling water). It is best kept at temperatures between 70 to 80 degrees away from sunlight. Cooler temperatures speed up the crystallization process.

Chocolate is definitely a comfort food for me. Chocolate chips should be used within 18 - 24 months in a cool dry place, 65 to 68 degrees. I store mine in the freezer, and have never had problems using them. However, they do absorb odors and should not be stored near pungent odors.


If you are looking for something to add to your Christmas wish list, a wheat grinder or other preparedness items may be a good choice.


The December List (click for printable copy)

Pictures of Food Storage Rooms on Pinterest

If you're looking for pictures of food storage rooms and shelving ideas, I've been gathering many pictures on my Pinterest boards. You may be interested these boards:

Food Storage Rooms and Shelves
Emergency Prep Ideas
Food Storage Organizing
Vegetable Gardening
Home Organization
Recipes

Seeing pictures of what others have done can truly be inspiring. I will constantly be updating my picture boards.

How Non-Members May Order Items from the LDS.org Online Store

Many of my readers are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Recently I created a post about My Top Picks Favorite for Food Storage and Emergency Gifts and listed a few items that you may only order through the LDS.org Online Store. However, you do not have to be a member of the LDS Church to order there. Here is how you may order:

• Go to the Online Store
• Click on Sign In
• Click on Register
• Click on "If you are not a member of the LDS Church please click here to skip this page."
• Fill in the Profile information.
• Then click Create My LDS Account
• Once that is completed, you may order items from the site.
• Or you may browse the site without creating a Sign In.

If you only want to look at preparedness items, under the Home and Family title, click Self-Reliance. You can order a few food storage items online, but most must be self-canned at an LDS Home Storage Center.

There are other items on the site, which you may enjoy as well. Click on Music, Media and Art and then Holiday for music by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. There are also inexpensive art prints of Jesus Christ that you may enjoy as well.

Though our religions may be different, our desire for preparedness is the same. I hope this information is helpful.

Corner Fireplace Mantle Decorated for Christmas

Ever since we moved into this home, a huge television sat on our corner fireplace mantle. This year it found a new home in the basement, and I've struggled with how to decorate it. Corner fireplaces are complicated. However, I saw an idea with stacked Christmas boxes, so here is what I did.

Now you know me. I don't like to buy much. But I did buy some items to begin with. First, I added rustic trees from Hobby Lobby, $33.50, Santa from Hobby Lobby, $20.00, and Christmas boxes from Marshall's, $11.00. Another woman and I nearly had a tug-of-war fight over these trees. Thank goodness I grabbed them first. :) Still going to add lights to them.

Next,

My Top Picks for Food Storage and Emergency Gifts

Here is a list of my top picks for food storage and emergency preparedness gifts. Consider giving them as Christmas gifts, wedding gifts or college going-away gifts. Or maybe just for your own family.

Note: I'm picky about what goes on this list, so it will change over time.

[Please let me know if links don't work]

Under $25.00

High Uinta Gear™ 13-Function Pocket Knife, $2.95

Swing-A-Way Manual Can Opener, $5.99 (my favorite)

"Deseret Recipes," $6.50, economical recipes using food storage (LDS Online Store)

Powdered Milk Mixing Pitcher, $6.99 (helps get those lumps out)

Gamma Seal Lid, $7.50 (easily open your everyday flour and sugar buckets)

Tri-Fold Foldable Shovel, $8.95 (nice and compact)

"The Disaster Preparedness Handbook: A Guide for Families," $9.34 (complete prep guide)

The Lord’s Way Is Not To Sit At The Side Of The Stream

LDS.org

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the Welfare Plan of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is an inspired, life-changing program. The following video is about a young family with financial struggles, and how the welfare program works. During the recent general conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a talk entitled “Providing in the Lord’s Way.” Here are some key points:

- “Sometimes we see welfare as simply another gospel topic—one of the many branches on the gospel tree. But I believe that in the Lord’s plan, our commitment to welfare principles should be at the very root of our faith and devotion to Him.”

- “The welfare principles of the Church are not simply good ideas; they are revealed truths from God—they are His way of helping the needy.”

- “The two great commandments—to love God and our neighbor—are a joining of the temporal and the spiritual. It is important to note that these two commandments are called “great” because every other commandment hangs upon them. In other words, our personal, family, and Church priorities must begin here. All other goals and actions should spring from the fountain of these two great commandments—from our love for God and for our neighbor. Like two sides of a coin, the temporal and spiritual are inseparable." 


- “Too often we notice the needs around us, hoping that someone from far away will magically appear to meet those needs. Perhaps we wait for experts with specialized knowledge to solve specific problems. When we do this, we deprive our neighbor of the service we could render, and we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to serve. While there is nothing wrong with experts, let’s face it: there will never be enough of them to solve all the problems. Instead, the Lord has placed His priesthood and its organization at our doorsteps in every nation where the Church is established. And, right by its side, He has placed the Relief Society. As we priesthood holders know, no welfare effort is successful if it fails to make use of the remarkable gifts and talents of our sisters.”

- “The Lord’s way is not to sit at the side of the stream and wait for the water to pass before we cross. It is to come together, roll up our sleeves, go to work, and build a bridge or a boat to cross the waters of our challenges.”

Sometimes it is easier to think of the needs of those living in far off lands, than to look at the needs of the families that live on our street. May we each find ways to reach out to those around us during this holiday season, and throughout the year.

Update on My Daughter

The past few weeks have been challenging for us because my sweet daughter, Elisabeth, has been in the hospital struggling with preterm labor. Many thoughts have gone through my mind, but one that keeps coming back is we can't be physically prepared for everything, but we can be spiritually prepared for many things.

Knowing that she could deliver any day, and knowing that she is only 28 weeks along, and knowing that I am here in Utah, and she is there in California has caused me to spend more time in prayer. You hurt when your kids hurt, and I can't imagine how much a Father in Heaven hurts when we hurt.

Though I have born 7 children of my own, I have not had any complications like this. So, I am learning many new things. I appreciate so much the wisdom of friends and their encouraging words. I love how beautiful my daughter is, and how strong. I appreciate too her amazing husband who is there by her side. And I am extremely grateful for her nurses and doctors.

We went through a similar experience in July this year when my daughter-in-law, Melissa, gave birth to our grandson 8 weeks early. And now, another experience of being grateful for every day this new little one has not been born so that she has time to grow and mature.

I am thankful for a loving Father in Heaven and his son, Jesus Christ, who understand our concern, dry our tears, and are always there for us. As a mother, it is a blessing to know that my daughter has a belief in God, and can turn to Him in times of need. How much we love her! Thank you, everyone, for your prayers.

Valerie

List of Thanksgiving Foods on Sale Now at Utah Grocery Stores

Thanks to Candi at PinchingYourPennies.com for putting together this great price list of Thanksgiving food sales at various local Utah grocery stores. There are some perfect shelf-stable foods to stock-up on for your food storage and your Thanksgiving meal this week. Also other fresh foods are listed. Check for limits and sales dates.

Click here for Utah Thanksgiving grocery sales

Click here for  Utah Turkey deals

Emergency Kits for School Kids

When we lived in southern California, each year I was asked to put together an emergency kit for my elementary school kids. The kits were kept in a trash can in the classroom and returned to us at the end of the school year. Since moving to Utah, I have not been asked to do a thing. After receiving the following letter, I decided to take action.

I am wondering if you have ever sent emergency supplies to keep at school for children who may be away from home during an emergency?  I feel like I have prepared pretty well at home for an emergency, but it is very possible that my children won't even be home to use their 72-hour kits.  What can I do to help them at school until I can get to them?  I have asked at my children's school about emergency preparedness plans, but they didn't seem to know if they had any plans- which kind of scares me.  Any suggestions?


Thanks
Melissa living in Utah.

Well, Melissa, I've finally put together a kit for my 1st-grader to keep in her backpack for the entire school year. We've had some interesting conversations about "what could happen." Which I think is very good. Can you imagine a child not being prepared at least a little? What's the backup plan if Mommy can't pick me up?

There are enough comfort foods for a day; maybe two. But most schools want children disbursed as quickly as possible. Glad I have several friends on her emergency card. She is most concerned about her food getting burned up in case of a fire. :) The kit fits easily into the bottom of her backpack. Here is what I put in kit -

SCHOOL EMERGENCY KIT
Comfort letter with pictures of our family
Mini first aid kit
Copy of family disaster plan and emergency phone numbers
2 Capri Suns
2 Granola bars
2 PopTarts (a rare treat in this house)
2 Fruit Roll-ups
12-hour light stick (Halloween clearance)
Space blanket
Rain poncho

We put everything in a small canvas bag (see above pic) that I found at the local Deseret Industries Thrift Store for a whopping .75¢. After I washed it, she helped draw her name on it with glitter glue. That was important to her. Here are some other container ideas:

Pencil pouch

Pencil box (4KidsPartyz.com)

Pencil pouch 2

And some useful links:

FEMA Ready Kids
Hickory Elementary School, Torrance, CA
Emergency Comfort Kit for School Age Child YouTube video
Emergency Preparedness for Work and School

"A person's a person no matter how small." Dr. Suess

Hash Brown Egg Bake

My high school daughters went to the Bountiful temple early one morning this week, so I decided to make them a hash brown breakfast casserole. Don't misunderstand and think I bake like this all the time. But when teenage girls wake up early on a school day to go to the temple, they deserve some special treatment. I adapted this recipe from one found at a Taste of Home. They seemed to enjoy it with their friend, Janice, and even my 6 year-old ate some too. The onions were a little overpowering for me, so next time I will use less. It's simple to put together, and I threw it together the night before. May be a good option to make ahead Christmas Eve, for Christmas morning.

Even though this recipe uses fresh foods, you can use powdered milk and dry onions. I haven't tried it with powdered eggs, but it would probably work.

Printable recipe
Hash Brown Egg Bake
Adapted from Taste of Home
Servings: 8, Prep Time: 5 min. Bake Time: 45 min.

Ingredients:
1 package (32 oz.) frozen, cubed hash brown potatoes, thawed (I used about 28 oz.)
1 lb. of cooked sausages, cut in cubes, or bacon, crumbled
1 cup shredded cheese (divided in half)
1/4 c. finely chopped onions or 1 T dehydrated onions
1/2 t. salt
1 t. Mrs. Dash
8 eggs
2 cups milk (could use powdered milk)
Dash of Paprika

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine the hash browns, sausages, 1/2 cup. cheese, salt and Mrs. Dash.
• Spoon into a greased 13x9 baking dish.
• In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk until smooth; pour over hash brown mixture. Sprinkle with paprika.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Mormon Messages: A Book of Mormon Story

A young bishop in England describes how the Book of Mormon came to life for him and changed his perspective forever.

I loved this Mormon Message! Hope you will too.

Finally Learned How to Make a Blog Button!

It takes a great deal of patience to create a blog that is user-friendly, nicely designed and fun to read. I have slowly been working on improving this blog, and posting in my spare time. I usually figure things out through trial and error, but one thing that has completely frustrated me is learning how to make a Google blog button.

I know, I know. You've already got that one figured out. Congratulations. But sometimes the world of HTML code is, well . . . difficult. You have to dot every "i" and cross every "t," or something will go wrong.

I'm fairly thorough when searching for how-to web articles, so after trying the instructions on three different sites (yes 3!) and failing, the fourth one did the trick. I guess I learned plenty from all three sites, but if you are trying to make your own blog button, I recommend going to eHOW.com and trying the step-by-step instructions there. And using Photobucket. Or hire someone.

If you know of another very detailed instruction site that helped you create your blog button, please comment. And for those of my wonderful readers who have asked for it, my blog button is now on the sidebar.  :) I'm very proud of it.

Looking For Sponsors Interested in Advertising on PreparedLDSFamily

Having paid advertisers is a new event for me, but I think it is about time. This is an opportunity for a few great sponsors who would like to develop a relationship with PreparedLDSFamily.

Out of my desire to share what I have learned, I created PreparedLDSFamily in September 2008. Because I enjoy using food storage every day and becoming better prepared, I write several posts a week. And love it!

I am not an extremist, but fairly practical in my approach to making preparedness doable. I believe everyone needs to make food storage unique for their family, and not a cookie cutter thing. Though I write to a predominantly LDS (Mormon) audience, I also try to make it easy for those outside my faith to understand my posts.

Product Reviews And Giveaways
I would be happy to review relevant products and share my honest opinion. These products should be available for me to use as a giveaway to my readers. If it is valuable to helping others become more prepared with food storage or emergency preparedness, I would love to share about it.
If you would like more informations, please click here.

At this time, I do not accept posts written by businesses, nor do I exchange links or do text links.
Thanks!

Food Storage Shelves with Water Storage Racks

Though I have not built these, some of you may be interested in the instructions to build these food storage shelves for #10 cans and water barrels. Would be great in a basement. Just go to this link for more information.