Plan Your Garden Now!

It is finally getting to be that time of year again. Time to be able to start our gardens! My favorite thing to do when it gets warm. I have been thinking about it all winter. I have my seeds laid out and already have it planned on what is going where.

You should start small if this is your first garden. It is easy to get overwhelmed. Gardens do take a bit of work. I started out with just a small patch of tomatoes in my front yard. Now I am going to have a few different patches in my yard. Plant what your family and friends will eat. You don't want to waste your time and money planting a bunch of stuff that no one will even use and then it goes to waste.

Choose your location! Pick a nice and sunny patch in your yard that is away from trees and shrubs. They can steal any nutrients out of the soil that you want your veggies to be getting. If your patch gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day than your garden should do great.

Food Storage Recipe - Fried Mashed Potato Balls

Fried Mashed Potato Balls

• 2 cups cold mashed potatoes
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1/4 cup real bacon bits
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• Oil for frying

• Place mashed potatoes in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the egg, cheese, onions and bacon bits. Shape into 1-in. balls; roll in bread crumbs. Let stand for 15 minutes.
• In an electric skillet, heat 1 in. of oil to 375°. Fry potato balls, a few at a time, for 2-1/2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Serve warm. 
•  
• My kids love these. Munch on them as a snack sometimes and I always have potatoes in the house. I have used instant mashed potatoes with this recipe also and it turned out great. I used a packet of the Idaho instant ones that are flavored like fully loaded baked potatoes. Yummy. can't get enough of them. 

Food Storage Recipe - Macaroni & Cheese Soup

Easy recipe to cook up quick. Kids love it.

Macaroni & Cheese Soup

1 1/2 cup of water

1 package of shells and cheese dinner

2 cups of milk

1 cup of frozen sweet peas

4 hot dogs thinly sliced - last time I made this soup I used the little sausage wieners.

Boil the water and cook up the macaroni shells as directed. Drain.

Stir in the cheese mix, milk, peas, and hot dogs.

Cook it until it is heated thoroughly!

Food Storage Recipe - Chicken and Bean Burritos

I broke out the freeze-dried chicken last night and made this awesome meal. You can also make this with canned chicken and it is even better! But , when all you have on hand is the freeze-dried than you have to use it. That is what we are all preparing for, isn't it? This is a quick meal that is super easy and everyone loves it.

Chicken and Bean Burritos

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can Condensed bean with bacon soup
3/4 cup Chunky Salsa
3/4 cup of Freeze-Dried White Chicken to 1 1/2 cup of warm water, Let sit 5 minutes and drain off excess liquid. Or Use 2 cans White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained 

8 flour tortillas , warmed   

  Put the onion and garlic in pan with heated oil and cook up until it is tender. 

Add the soup, salsa, and chicken to this same pan and cook until it is bubbly.

 Serve on tortillas.  

10 tips to becoming a prepper and survive doomsday

10 tips to becoming a prepper and survive doomsday was free for the Kindle when I wrote this post.
 Are you prepared to be one of the few that will survive a doomsday event?

At some point in the future, sooner rather than later, a doomsday event will occur.

What that event will be, no one knows; a worldwide flu pandemic, a massive solar flare, an asteroid strike, climate change, massive natural disaster or an alien invasion. After the event, many people will survive, but then social order will collapse. There will be no rules, people will fight and die for water, food and resources.

However the "preppers" will be one step ahead. They will have prepared for this scenario. The will have the resources in place that they will need to survive in the new world. A world without electricity, telecommunications, internet, supermarkets and a water supply. The "preppers" and their families will be the ones that survive and prosper.

You may not think a doomsday event likely. Are we likely to be invaded by giant lizard people from Pluto? No probably not. Are we likely to be hit by a massive solar flare that will wipe out our entire electronic systems sending the world into a new dark age? Possibly. Are we likely to experience a worldwide flu pandemic that will wipe out over 70% of the world's population? Medical opinion is that we are long overdue such a pandemic; such an event is highly likely.

In this one hour lunch time read series book experienced preppers share their best tips about preparing for doomsday and more importantly life after doomsday.

You will learn which food to store, water purification, the most suitable shelters, what makes the perfect location, what vehicles you should have available, how to choose and obtain suitable fuels, how to prepare for a world without medical professionals, how to cope with the loss of modern communication systems, how to hunt and protect your family from the mob and what education is essential.

Make no mistake, if you don't prepare now, when the time comes you will be fighting with the mob for your next meal. Don't put yourself in that position, take action now, learn the basics and prepare for life in the new world.

The Science Behind Food Storage

When it comes to food storage, few people actually consider the science behind the process. All they know is that storing food in the proper container helps to prevent the food from becoming stale. Yet, gaining a better understanding of the science behind the process of food storage will go a long way toward helping you keep your food fresh and ready to eat whenever you need it. At Wise Food Storage it’s something we take pride in.

The Mylar Pouch

One item that is regularly used with food storage is the Mylar bag. Scientifically referred to as boPET, Mylar is used in a number of different applications. Aside from being used for food storage, Mylar is also used in insulation for homes and electrical wiring. It is also used to protect comic books and other collectibles from moisture and temperature variations. It is even used in spacesuits. Given all that Mylar is capable of doing, it should come as no surprise to learn that it is also a highly effective tool for food storage.
The reason Mylar is so effective with food storage is quite simple: it keeps the food protected from the air. While air is necessary for our survival, it is highly detrimental to food due to the gasses that it contains. Oxygen is particularly problematic because it helps mold grow and expedites spoilage. It is for this reason that it is important to get as much oxygen out of the package as possible before storing food.
While food manufactures use expensive equipment to suck the oxygen out of the packaging while replacing it with a gas that assists with preservation, the same effect can be accomplished with the help of a Mylar storage bag. When properly flushed and sealed, the Mylar bag can create a vacuum barrier that keeps the good gases in while keeping the oxygen out.
In fact, with the help of a quality Mylar bag, freeze dried food from Wise Foods Storage can actually remain stored for up to 25 years!

Emergency Survival Kits - What To Think About Before Making One

It doesn't matter where you live something could happen that makes an emergency survival kit a priority.  Power outages, storms, just to name a couple of things that you should be prepared for. Having an emergency survival kit can be a life-saver. Stocking up on supplies, having a plan, and learning new skills doesn't have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. In the end you will be glad that you did it for your family. They will be glad that you did it also. Below is a list of some things to think about before you even start to build your survival kit.

What natural (and unnatural) disasters could happen in your area? Do you live in a quake zone? wildfires? flooding? tornadoes? blizzards? Do you live near a nuclear power plant? These are just a few things to think about and then prepare accordingly. Have a plan on how to protect your home, a map of "escape", and other precautions. Find out what your region's potential for being flooded, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. The more you know about where you live , the better you will be able to get prepared for what might come. Here is a good place to start - Natural Disaster Alert Maps
or here - Alert Map

You also need to think about how long you might be without access to utilities or supplies.  Has anything in your area happened before? If it has than you might have an idea of about how long it might take for power and more to come back online. Take that into account while planning your emergency survival kit. You have to have plenty of clean water, food, etc. If your power is out for an extended time how do you plan on cooking? Cleaning? Heating your home? Get prepared now and learn how to turn off the water, gas, and electric to your home. If something did happen major to your home being able to shut off the gas is very important. It is handy to have a radio, flashlight, etc . I just got one of these, Ambient Weather WR-089 Compact Emergency Solar Hand Crank AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio, Flashlight, Smart Phone Charger with Cables, I was really surprised at how small it was, but it charges everything in our house. Cellphones, my Kindle, my little USB fan/light, and more. So the size is probably really perfect. I can grab it and put it in my Bug-out-bag. I am even thinking of buying a second one just to have in the trunk of the car at all times. 

It is not something that you want to happen, but you should also be prepared for any medical emergencies. Have a well-stocked medical kit. Maybe take your family and learn CPR. Does someone in your household have a medical condition that requires prescription medication? It is something to think about and get prepared for now.

If you do have to evacuate your home, do you have a way out and a portable kit at the ready? A Bug-Out-Bag? Each family member should have their own that is always ready. If you have to leave grab it and go. It should have enough supplies in it to last about 72 hours. A Bug-out-bag is more for short term survival. So you should have another plan for long-term survival on top of having a bug-out-bag. You should even keep one in your car. Plan on a meeting place for your household in case something happens when not everyone is at home. Maybe even stash spare set of keys to your vehicles out side of the home , but well hidden. Just in case you are not able to get back into your home. Have all of your important papers, I.D.s , etc in one handy, waterproof, and fireproof container that you can grab easily while you leave.

How many people are you getting your survival kit prepared for? Are you thinking about neighbors and friends also. Do you have any pets and children that you have to prepare for? Children and pets are a whole other thing to prepare for. Pet food, snacks, toys, etc. Have items on hand for little kids to keep them occupied while you do the worrying. You should have at least a 4 week supply of food stocked up. A way to get clean water is another must! You have to have a way to filter and clean water after your stockpile of bottled water runs out.

These are just some of the things to think about while starting your emergency survival kit. If you think about all of this and then what your family needs , you should be well on your way to having a prepared household. 

Food Storage Recipe - Beef Taco Skillet

Beef Taco Skillet

1 pound ground beef or use your freeze dried beef flavored TVP or beef

1 can  Condensed Tomato Soup

1/2 cup Picante Sauce

1/2 cup water

6 flour tortillas (6-inch), cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Cook up your beef and drain it well. Stir the soup, picante sauce, water and tortillas in the skillet and heat to a boil.   Reduce the heat to low.  Cook for a few minutes.  Stir it well and top with the cheese. Serve.

Save Money With Online Coupons

Use these tips to save some money at the grocery store.

Follow a coupon schedule. You can get the best deals and the best coupons at the beginning of each month. If you find a amazing coupon online make sure to print out the limit of them. Most are able to be printed 2 times.

Call your local stores ahead of time to make sure they will even accept the coupons that you print off from the internet. Some stores don't like to take them and this will save you a lot of time and ink to know ahead of time. When you do take them in take the whole page so that the cashier can see the URL at the top.

Another great thing is that a lot of stores have online coupons that are paperless. You load them onto your rewards card. Print off the list of the ones you loaded onto your card so you don't forget them. Register your card online and most stores have coupons that you can then load onto the card. Use your card at the checkout and it is automatically done for you.

If there is an item that you buy often visit the manufacturer's website to look for coupons, deals, rebates, etc. Usually as easy as signing up for their newsletter. You will get deals and coupons than in your email.

Food Storage Recipe - Potato Soup Mix

This is a great recipe that you can mix together and store up in mason jars. Always have it on hand in your pantry.

Potato Soup Mix

1 1/2 cup instant potato flakes

1/2 cup powdered coffee creamer

1 package chicken gravy mix

2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

2 teaspoon seasoning blend ...like Mrs Dash

1teaspoon dried minced onion

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 cup instant potato flakes

1/2 cup  powdered coffee creamer

Layer each item in the order listed into a wide mouth one quart canning jar. Pack each layer before adding the next. 

To make add the whole jar to 8 cups of boiling water. Mix well and let sit until it thickens. Serve