What I Am Reading Right Now - Flu: The Story Of The Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It

I forgot that I had this book until my son started asking me about the FLU pandemicthat happened in 1918. I am going to read it again with him.
                  
Flu: The Story Of The Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It is a A national bestseller, the fast-paced and gripping account of the Great Flu Epidemic of 1918 from acclaimed science journalist Gina Kolata, now featuring a new epilogue about avian flu.

When we think of plagues, we think of AIDS, Ebola, anthrax spores, and, of course, the Black Death. But in 1918 the Great Flu Epidemic killed an estimated forty million people virtually overnight. If such a plague returned today, taking a comparable percentage of the US population with it, 1.5 million Americans would die.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Finding out that it is getting to be in low supply, but you can easily make your own hand sanitizer.

Food Storage Recipe - Loaded Potatoes

I make this so much. It is so easy, fills you up , and great leftovers.

NEED :

10 - 12 red potatoes , thinly sliced.

salt and pepper to taste

about a tsp of garlic salt

1/2 pound of bacon strips that have been cooked and crumbled.

1 onion , finely chopped

1 8 ounce package of shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup of butter, cut into small pieces

Line you slow cooker with foil and spray that with cooking spray.

Arrange about half of the potatoes in the slow cooker and sprinkle with the salt , pepper, and garlic salt.

Put half of the bacon, onion, cheese, and butter .

Repeat the layer.

Cover and cook on low for about 7 hours. or until the potatoes are tender.

Serve.

Keep Drafts Out Of Your House...

I live in a little house that has a back room that is not too sealed. It actually has the back door in that room. Always cold. MY desk had to go by the door to that room because I had no room to put it any where else.
Sitting there the last 2 days I actually felt like my toes had frost bite. So I went to dollar general and got a 3.00 curtain rod, I got one that sticks out from the wall a bit so I can move the curtain easily whenever I need to open the door. I had 1 curtain panel that is a heavy one to put up there. Sitting here at my desk I already notice a huge difference.

You could even hang a thick blanket if you have one. Anything to cut down on drafts getting into your house and save on your power (heat) bill. I might keep it up all year and see if it helps with the power bill in the summer also.

As soon as I can I will be working on sealing that back room up and getting a new back door.

Food Storage Recipe - Ravioli Lasagna

Things get tight sometimes - a lot here lately- BUT, we still want to eat different things. I pick these frozen ravioli up at the Dollar Store and we love them. This easy recipe is also frugal.

2 jars of marinara sauce

2-3 packages of frozen ravioli , thawed

1 jar of roasted red peppers , drained and chopped

1 package of shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan  cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Spray a 13X9 baking dish with cooking spray.

Spread about half of one of the jars of marinara sauce in the pan.

Arrange a layer of about half of the raviolis onto the sauce and top with about half of the peppers.  Then spread the rest of the sauce over that.

Sprinkle with about half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Repeat the layer.

Cover with foil and bake for about 35 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly.

Sprinkle with the rest of the Parmesan cheese.

Serve with garlic bread.

A Preppers Best Friend - THRIFT STORES!!

 I love thrift stores so much. I have found so many prepping supplies, camping supplies, homeschool items, and more at them.
I don't get to go very much lately, but this past Wednesday I actually got to go by myself and found a lot of stuff. The best thing I got was this Metaltex USA Inc. Vulcano Drying Rack! This is going to be such a help while it is cold. I can't get out to hang my clothes up when it is too cold , so with this I can set it up in my kitchen and hang stuff up.

I also got a Stansport Folding Camp Stove Toaster! They are not a lot new, but I had a discount code for the thrift store so got this for 50 cents!!

You can find tons of items at thrift stores. I have gotten oil lamps, and so much more. 

Food Storage Recipe - 5 Can Soup

It is supposed to actually get cold here this week. Great time for a quick soup.
My son loves this soup. Usually have it with a grilled cheese sandwich.

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of whole kernel corn

1 can of ready to serve minestrone soup

1 can of mixed vegetables

1 can of drained black beans

Dump all of those cans into a big saucepan. Stir it up.

Cook it til it is hot and eat!!

That easy.

Food Storage Recipe - Biscuit Leftover Meat Pie

 

This is a good one for using up any leftover ground beef, leftover roast, leftover vegetables, and even chicken.

Maybe try with leftover turkey!

Put the meat into an Oven Proof Skillet . Add leftover diced potatoes, carrots, and chopped small onion.

I sometimes will also add leftover gravy if I have it. But, you can add about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water.

Add any seasonings you like.

Cook on the stove until heated through.

Add a can of biscuits to the top and place in oven , cook until the biscuits are done.

YUMMY and a great way to use up leftovers.

Ebola Pandemic Survival LISTS

Ebola Pandemic Survival LISTS: The 7 Lists that Show You How to Prepare and Keep Your Family Alive During a Pandemic Disaster (The Survival Lists Series Book 1) was a free kindle book when this was posted.

By reading this concise book, you will have the SEVEN LISTS that will show you what to prepare, so you can keep your family safe. And the key is you will have them in ONE place by purchasing this book. You just saved yourself numerous hours of searching over 22 emergency preparedness and survivalist websites to get this information. You’re welcome. Don’t wait until there’s chaos in the street, panic because of food shortages, and overall mayhem. BUY THIS BOOK. Then take some simple preparation steps now and give your loved ones a chance at a future after this first wave of Ebola. See you on the other side of disaster.

Food Storage Recipe - Dried Bean Patties

This is a good one. I will use left over cooked navy beans.

 Mash up about 2 cups of cooked dried navy beans

 Add them to-
             about 1/2 a cup of chopped onion
             some parsley

 Beat that up and then add -
              2 egg yolks
              2 Teaspoon milk
             salt and pepper

 Shape the mixture into balls and flatten them into patties.
Dip them into flour.
 Fry them slowly until browned. I use leftover bacon fat to fry them in.

 We have eaten them as sandwiches on buns or just to go as a side dish .The great thing about this recipe is that you can change it up as you like. Even use other type of beans. Black beans are a great one to use. On the "burger" you can add all of your favorite toppings.