Food Drying - How To Dry Vegetables

Food Drying vol. 2: How to Dry Vegetables was a free Kindle book when this post waswritten.

Book Description Publication Date: October 17, 2013 Are you looking to learn how to safely preserve vegetables by drying them? Food Drying vol. 2: How to Dry Vegetables covers exactly that, giving detailed information on how to prepare and dry more than 30 different vegetables. From artichoke hearts to zucchini, this handy guide has you covered. The following topics are covered in this vegetable drying guide: Why learning to dry vegetables is important, even in this day and age. The vegetable drying process: What happens to vegetables as they dry. How to pretreat vegetables by blanching them to prevent enzymatic browning. Drying trays. How to dry vegetables using the sun, your oven or an electric dehydrator. Conditioning and pasteurizing dried vegetables after drying is complete. How to safely store dried vegetables. The following vegetables are covered in-depth: Artichokes. Arugula. Asparagus. Beets. Bell peppers. Bok choy. Broccoli. Brussels sprouts. Cabbage. Carrots. Cauliflower. Celery. Chili peppers. Collard greens. Corn. Cucumbers. Eggplant. Garlic. Green beans. Lettuce. Kale. Mushrooms. Okra. Onions. Peas. Potatoes. Tomatoes. Zucchini. and more . . . Detailed drying information is provided for each vegetable type, including the following information: A brief description of the vegetable and its health benefits. How to select the best vegetables of that type for drying. How to prepare the vegetable for drying. How to blanch the vegetable, if necessary. The drying temperature range that works best. Approximate drying times for the oven, the dehydrator and sun-drying. How to tell when the vegetable is dry. Conditioning, pasteurizing and storing the dried vegetable. How to rehydrate the dried vegetable before use, if applicable. In addition to detailed instructions on preparing and drying vegetables, there are 20+ bonus recipes included. The following recipes are included in this helpful guide: Beet chips. Bell pepper paprika. Bok choy crisps. Dehydrated Sauerkraut Crisps. Dried carrot chips. Cauliflower crunch. Celery salt. Collard green crisps. Popcorn on the cob. Dried cucumber chips. Cucumber powder. Eggplant jerky. Cajun spiced green beans. Spicy kale chips. Kale powder. Dried pumpkin powder. Spinach chips. Spinach powder. Chard chips. Sun-dried tomatoes. Zucchini chips. Buy this book today and learn to preserve your harvest by drying vegetables.

Garden all year round

Month by Month Gardening Guide / Free Resource Guide Included was a free book when this post was written. A useful book to have in your Kindle survival library for becoming self-sufficient.

 Garden all year round. Month by month guide to large and small vegetable gardening to enjoy your garden year-round. Includes a valuable free Resource guide. 

Black Friday Sales Were Down

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/black_friday_2013_first_spending_decline_since_2009.html

I have never went shopping on black Friday. I usually am the one on Christmas Eve flying around looking for some kind of gift. I really am not surprised that sales on black Friday were down. Everyone I know and others that I have talked to just out have said they just don't have money this year to even get any Christmas, let alone go out and fight over tvs and games on black Friday. I know we are not going to be spending this year. We are having family at our house for Christmas - that is what is important!

Anyone who did fight over a tv or something else on black Friday, I'm not judging you, but is that really what is important in your life?

Increase The Heat Radiation Of Your Wood Stove

Increasing Heat Radiation...
You can improve the heating performance of your wood  stove by doing these simple things :
1. Keep the oven damper closed.  The stove's surface will heat up and radiate the heat out into the room.
2.  Place a large screen of crinkled up aluminum foil behind the stove to reflect the heat out in all directions.
3.  Place a long shallow metal container that is filled with sand under the stove. This will absorb heat and add extra warmth into the room.
4.  A small fan installed behind the stove will cause awesome circulation of heat. I have also seen fans that sit on top of a wood stove.
5.  Leave the stove door open to send out more heat.
These easy tips should help you keep warm!!

Food Storage Plan To Survive The Food Shortages In The Coming Economic Collapse

Food Storage Plan To Survive The Food Shortages In The Coming Economic Collapse
By Mike Kuykendall
If you want to know the best way to prepare for the economic collapse that is coming our way, then you need look no further than your pantry. History shows that when there is a currency crisis or a total economic collapse, then the price of food skyrockets.
While we are likely to experience food shortages and food riots with the economic collapse, by no means does that mean that the food in our country will suddenly disappear. There will still be plenty of food for everyone, but it will be scarce due to panic buying, hyperinflation and supply chain issues.
The fact is that the grocery stores rely on daily deliveries to keep the shelves stocked, and if there is a panic, the shelves can empty out in a matter of hours. The distribution centers can then resupply the stores, but every major city has only a three-day supply of food.
When inflation skyrockets and banks close and suppliers begin to worry about getting paid for their shipments if stores go bankrupt, then they slow down or stop their deliveries until things calm down. Unfortunately, that means fewer deliveries to stores just as panic buying has emptied them out.
The crisis actually feeds on itself and makes the food shortages a self-fulfilling prophecy. As soon as the stores are at the point where they are waiting for the trucks to make deliveries so they have something to sell, the sale prices stop and the regular prices climb.
These "food shortages" are eerily like the famines in Third World countries that have people starving while food from relief agencies is rotting on the docks after being unloaded from the ships. The corrupt governments won't allow the food to be distributed in certain areas, as that is where the "rebels" are in their civil wars, so starvation ensues.
Not that we will have a civil war here in the United States, but the principle is the same. Plenty of food, but just not being distributed. Only here, the problem will be one of economics instead of civil war.
So if we understand what is coming and how it will all shake out, what do we do to prepare for an economic collapse and food shortages?
The first thing is to approach your food storage plan with a sense of urgency. Each and every week when you do your grocery shopping, double up on all personal items and non-perishable goods. Do the same with frozen foods until your freezer can hold no more.
If you do this each and every week, then 8 weeks from now, you will have an extra two months' of food stored up. The advantage is that you will have done it slowly, and not gotten overwhelmed with it all at once and given up. You will have steadily built an insurance policy that will cost you absolutely nothing, as you will eventually eat all the food you purchased.
After you have, at a minimum, a two month supply of food, then you can turn your attention to stockpiling staples like wheat, oats, rice, beans and other long-term food storage items. These can be incorporated into your weekly menu one day each week so that you become familiar with how to cook from scratch using these food storage items.
Long-term food storage items like these are very inexpensive, can be obtained in #10 cans that are packed to have a 20 year shelf life, and are easily stockpiled to extend your "food insurance" to 12 months or more.
By the way, do you want to learn how to get started with an easy Food Storage plan? If so, download my free MP3 HERE.
And to learn what 5 things you should always have in your car to be prepared for any emergency, you can go HERE.
Mike Kuykendall, Prepping Consultant

How to Optimize Your Wood Stoves: 8 Great Ideas You Don't Want to Miss!

Wood stoves are back! And from the looks of it, they're going around for a long, long time!

Well, fair wood stoves have never been gone, actually. It's just that for many years their sales have seen a decline mainly due to emergence of gas or electric fireplaces. In recent years, however, their popularity has returned, gaining more followers than before, making wood stoves hot properties, literally and figuratively speaking.

 The return of wood stove popularity credited to escalating fuel bills. In the face of soaring gas prices and with economies all time low, people blamed for looking for ways to save a few extra dollars. And they found this in wood stoves whose main attraction is undeniably its financial benefit. It is now an acceptable low-cost home heating alternative to fireplaces. Aside from being energy-efficient it is also environmental-friendly. It doesn't hurt that it adds a charming look to your home interiors especially when placed with practical wood stove accessories. Speaking of accessories, here are 8 great ways to accessorize your wood stoves. Don't be fooled with the term,though. Despite being labeled as mere decorations, like fireplace accessories, they do more than just accentuate your interiors. Read on and find out.

 1. Ash Bucket- Probably the most practical and important stove accessory that you buy. It is very convenient when starting a fire, especially when you don't have much time to start fire from scratch. An ash bucket is where you put live embers or coal and keep them smoldering.

 2. Fire Starter- To prevent backlash which can severely injure you, avoid making use of kerosene or gasoline to start your fire. It is safer to use commercial fire starter.

3. Stove Gloves- Stove gloves are not your ordinary gloves. They are specially treated to withstand harsh condition particularly extreme heat. When buying a pair, a welder's set of gloves offers the most protection. Make sure that you get a pair that is long enough to protect not just your hands but also your arms. You need them when you have to place a new log inside your stove or if you need to grab a burning log and shift it around. Using your bare hands is not only extremely dangerous but is also known to potentially damage cells in your hands. It is wise to protect the part of your body that is unfavorable condition by wearing a proper gear like in this case, a pair of stove gloves.

 4. Cast iron cookware- One of the great features of a wood stove is that it provides you with a space to prepare and cook your food. It makes perfect sense if you get cooking cook wares made of cast iron since those meant for gas or electric stoves are far too flimsy. Nowadays you can get these set of cook wares in different shapes and sizes.

5. Log carriers and carts- These accessories make it more convenient for you to bring in fuel from the pile outside. If you just need a few, you can make use of a log carrier instead of staking them in your arms. Popular choices are those made of wicker. If you want a wicker basket or carrier, choose one that is the sturdiest and strongest. On the other hand, if you need to stock up a lot of fuel to last you through the long winter, a wood carrier comes in handy. It is sturdy enough to carry more woods than a log basket is capable of carrying.

 6. Log Holders and Rack- Once the pile of woods is inside, you need something to keep them off the ground or floor. This ensures that your woods stay dry and free from insects. A log holder or a rack is responsible for this task and at the same time provides a pleasing vision to your interior. If you get one, consider the space need for positioning, though.

7. Stove Thermometer- You can't afford to forget a stove thermometer. It helps you keep track of the temperature of your stove and at the very least keeps you safe in your own home. Monitoring the heat produced by your stove makes it possible for you to refrain from producing heat that is way more than you actually need. This enables you to conserve on fuel. Aside from your wall, thermometers can now be conveniently attached to your stove-pipe or your stove.

8. Tools- To guarantee that your wood stove is in perfect working condition, you need to get tools to help you keep your stove nice and clean. Basic tool set includes an ash shovel, a brush, a poker and a rake although stove tools are not limited to these four only. Aside from the few things you can do to make sure that your stove is clean and safe, it is also important to have it thoroughly inspected by a certified sweep at least once a year. Admittedly, investing in wood stoves doesn't come cheap. But with the proper care along with a few handy wood stove accessories, it will be a proven worthwhile investment which can last you a lifetime. Click here for Wood Stove Accessories and Stove Pipe.

Food Storage Recipe - Potato Pancakes

Yummy breakfast this morning. Had these with some leftover fried ham. Easy to make and everyone loves them.

Potato Pancakes

Vegetable oil

1 bag of thawed hashbrowns

4 eggs that are lightly beaten

1 cup pancake mix

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Heat up your large skillet that has been lightly coated with vegetable oil.  While that is warming up, combine everything in a large mixing bowl. Drop the mix by large spoonfuls into the skillet. Cook them until they are browned, flipping them once. Serve them hot. 

I Have Been Writing More On Here...

I hope that I haven't been over posting on here, but I got my Little Man a Zeepad 7'' Android a while ago for doing school work on , games and watching movies for school work. Well,I was looking around the Google Playstore one day and found a Blogger APP!! Now I can write a post, add photos, and such anytime I want to. So, when I get an idea for a post I can write it - AT THAT MOMENT. Which, is real good for me, because there have been so many times that I have had an idea and since I was not able to write the idea down, I totally forgot about it. This Zeepad 7'' Android was a lot cheaper in price than an Ipad or Kindle fire and works great. We have 2 of them now. We just love them. You can do anything on them and now I can keep my Blog up to date!

Homeschool Minute - Addition With Flies!

Little Man loves doing this! Gets it out and does it all by him self. Not only doing addition, but doing subtraction and some times tables, too. I only wish that I would've bought more of these flies when Dollar Tree had them. Christmas time now. Going to check it out today and see what things they might have for using with math.

Any ideas??

Food Storage Recipe - Leftover Turkey Casserole

We have a lot of left over turkey this time. We were given a huge turkey. Pretty good, but will be eating it for a couple of days. Want something to do with it instead of just making sandwiches.

Here is a good recipe to use some of it up with.

Leftover Turkey Casserole

2 and a half cup of prepared mashed potatoes - we have some of them left over!

2 cups of your cooked turkey - shredded up

1 jar of turkey gravy

1 cup of prepared stuffing. Left over also.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the mashed potatoes in a casserole dish that you had sprayed with non stick cooking spray. 

In a large skillet combine the gravy and turkey and cook it to a simmer and then add the stuffing. Mix it together well.

Spoon the turkey mixture over the mashed potatoes and then bake for about 30 minutes. 

YUMMY!