Carrots, Eggs, or Coffee; "Which are you?"

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster

Food Storage Recipe - Bean And Bacon Soup

This is so good. I am such a soup person. I can have soup everyday. This is a favorite in our house.

Bean and Bacon Soup

8 slices of bacon, cut into pieces

1 cup chopped celery

half cup chopped carrots

a fourth of a cup of chopped green onion

2 cans of Navy beans , drained and rinsed

2 cups of chicken broth

1 cup water

Cook the bacon in a large saucepan until crisp. Remove and drain on a paper towel. Keep about 2 tablespoon of the bacon drippings in that saucepan. Add the celery, carrots, and onions. Cook until they are tender. Stirring frequently. Stir in the remaining items and let simmer until heated through. Add the bacon to the soup right before you serve it. Cornbread is good with this.

The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster

Food Storage Recipe - Chicken Soup & Dumplings

This is such a quick and easy meal. My daughter gave me this recipe. She is in college and has very little money so she has come up with some great recipes. I am really proud of her thriftyness. I do think she got this from a cookbook of some kind though. Not sure. It is good and low cost though so I am sharing it on here.

Chicken Soup & Dumplings

3 cans of Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup

1 can chicken broth ,14.5 ounce

1 beaten egg

1 can of Grands biscuits

IN a 4 quart dutch oven, combine the soups and broth.

Seperate the biscuits and cut them in half. Dip those into the beaten egg, coating all sides. Drop them into the boiling soup and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes. Cover it and cook another 10 minutes or until the biscuits are light and fluffy. Carefully move the biscuits or remove them and ladel the soup into your bowls and top with dumplings. Yummy lunch on a cold winters day with a sandwich.

The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster

soup pot

Food Storage Recipe - Easy Beef Stroganoff Soup

 This takes the best of beef Stroganoff and makes it a delicious soup.

NEED 

2 cups water 

1 1/4 cup uncooked medium egg noodles

1 pound ground beef

1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper blend

1 jar beef gravy

1 2.5 ounce jar of sliced mushrooms , drained

1/2 cup sour cream

Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan.

Add the noodles and cook until tender.

DO NOT DRAIN

In another skillet cook the ground beef and garlic pepper blend until the beef is browned, thoroughly cooked, and broken up. 

Drain the ground beef very well.

Add the beef mixture, gravy, sliced mushrooms , and sour cream.

Cook until heated through.

Serve with some bread.

Food Storage Recipe - Slow Cooker Broccoli Soup

This is so yummy! Great with a sandwich or bread sticks.

Slow Cooker Broccoli Soup

1 10 ounce package of frozen chopped broccoli or use freeze dried broccoli.

3 cups of milk

2 cans of condensed cheddar cheese soup

1 cup of loosely packed frozen shredded hashed brown potatoes or freeze dried

1 small onion or equivalent of dehydrated or freeze dried onions

Break up the broccoli and combine with the milk , soup, potatoes, and onion in your slow cooker. Stir it up too mix it together good. Cover this and cook on low for a few hours. SERVE!!

The Prepper's Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster