A quick snack that is also low-cost...

Just a quick snack and low-cost for my son and I. 

Tostadas laid on a baking sheet.

Top with black beans that I had added taco seasoning too.

Cover with cheese and bake until cheese melts.

We then topped with diced tomatoes and cilantro. 

They were gone quick. 

 

Food Storage Recipe - Pumpkin Cake Mix Muffins (2 ingredient)

 

This is a simple recipe- Yummy and easy.

All you need is a -

Box of yellow cake mix 

a can of real pumpkin puree  

Teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

Mix it all together and put into muffin pan!

Bake for about 22 minutes.

 

Update to the Off-Grid Washing Machine

OK! I had to do some work on this off-grid washing machine. I had to get a second bucket and drill some holes into it and I drilled a few holes into the plunger. Now it works a lot better and the water can be drained out a lot easier. Drain it out of the bucket into the other bucket, pour that out , put clean water into it and repeat. Do it until the water is coming out "clean" - no soap. 

Going to try it out in a couple of days and see how it works. Might need to drill bigger holes.

 

Had To Get A New Washing Machine

 

My washing machine quit on me a few weeks ago and right now there is no way that I can go buy a new one. I plan on taking all of my blankets and towels to the laundry mat in a few days and just use this off-grid "washing machine" until I can save up money for a new washing machine. Maybe. I might just keep going with it...

It is a bucket from Lowes and a plunger from the dollar tree. Although my son said I should use a bigger tote. So more can fit in it. Not sure. Bigger tote would mean more water and be heavier. I have used this type of washer before and it does ok. It has been a few years since. I was healthier and younger then. 

Lets see how this goes. I know it will wash the clothes and then I can hang them up to dry, but I just worry about my back! LOL

Top 100 Items To Stockpile

 Top 100 Items You Want to Stockpile

1. Generators
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Guns, Ammo, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats, Slingshots.
5. Duct Tape
6. Cook stoves (Alcohol, Propane, Coleman, Kerosene)
7. Fuels
8. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid A MUST)
9. Feminine Hygiene, Skin products, hair care, deodorant
10. Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash, floss, nail clippers
11 Shaving supplies (razors, creams, talc, aftershave)
12. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves water)
13. Propane Cylinders (Urgent: Definite shortages will occur)
14. Flashlights, LIGHTSTICKS, torches
15. Lantern Hangers
16. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc
17. Candles
18. Matches {"Strike Anywhere" preferred.)
19. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps
20. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid
21. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
22. Coleman's Pump Repair Kit
23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
25. Hand can openers, hand eggbeaters, whisks
26. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
27. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing)
28. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Cooking and Barter Item)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many)
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
32. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
33. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
34. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
35. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypo chlorite)
36. Paraffin wax
37. Fire Extinguishers (or Baking Soda in every room)
38. Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. First aid kits
40. Boy Scout Handbook / also Leaders Catalog
41. Survival Guide and Emergency First Aid Books
42. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY ( food grade if for drinking)
43. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water transporting - if with wheels)
44. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
45. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
46. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks
48. Board Games, Cards, Dice
49. Reading glasses
50. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
51. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
52. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
53. Bow saws, axes and hatchets. Wedges (also, honing oil)
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Garden tools & supplies
56. Sleeping Bags & blankets/pillows/mats
57. Cots & Inflatable mattresses
58. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
59. Fishing supplies/tools
60. Rice - Beans - Wheat
61. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc
62. Milk - powdered & condensed
63. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
64. Dehydrated fruits, vegetables
65. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels. Trail mix/Jerky
66. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancer's)
67. Honey, Syrups, white/ brown sugar
68. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
69. Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillon, gravy, soup base
70. Canned Salmon Fish
71. Vegetable Oil (for cooking)
72. Flour, yeast, salt
73. Teas
74. Coffee
75. Chewing gum/candies
76. Vitamins, Minerals, Medications, etc.
77. Sweatshirts/pants
78. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
79. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
80. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
81. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
82. Work boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
83 Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
84. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
85. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula, ointments/aspirin, etc.
86. "Survival-in-a-Can"
87. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
88. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
89. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
91. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.
92. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.,)
95. Lumber (all types)
96. Wagons & carts (for transport to and from)
97. Seasoned Firewood.
98. Bicycles...Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
99. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
100. Goats, chickens

Food Storage Recipe - Homemade Chip or veggie Dip

 This is one of the reasons that everyone should have a well stocked seasoning cupboard. In a pinch you can make a lot of different home made items quickly. Better than the store bought , too.

This is homemade chip dip that I had to make yesterday! So yummy and the only bad thing was that it did not last long.

You need:

2 cups of sour cream

2 tablespoons mayo

2 teaspoons dried parsley

2 teaspoons dried dill

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon dried minced onion

salt and pepper to taste

Stir the sour cream and mayo up very well in a bowl that has a lid.

Add all of the seasonings and stir until well combined.

Cover and put in the fridge for a couple of hours to let all of the flavors to blend. 

Serve with your favorite chips or veggies.

Food Storage Recipe - Black Bean Soup

This is such a great soup that is not hard to make!

Vegetable oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped

1 Jalapeno , seeded and finely chopped (optional)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

3 cans black beans , drained and rinsed

4 cups of vegetable broth

1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies

salt and pepper to taste

In your large pot saute onion until it is soft and then add the garlic. If you are using Jalapeno add it too. Saute until fragrant.

Add the spices and stir them up to coat the onion mixture. 

Add the remaining ingredients. 

Bring to a boil and then Let it simmer for about 25 minutes.

If you have an immersion blender you can blend this up to make a thick and creamy soup. 

I do not have one that is fine, you can use a regular blender to blend up half of the soup and return it to the pot or not blend it at all.

Serve while hot. You can top with fresh cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream , etc.

 

Food Storage Recipe - Black Bean Enchiladas

 This is a new favorite! I always have canned black beans in the pantry. They are a cheap and healthy to create low cost recipes. 

1 medium chopped onion

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 cup frozen corn

1 can diced tomatoes with Jalapeno , or salsa if you have some

1 can black beans 

shredded colby jack cheese

10 soft corn tortillas

1 can of enchilada sauce 

Fry the chopped onion and cumin up until it is tender.

Stir in the corn, tomatoes, black beans, and a cup of cheese.

As that is cooking warm up the tortillas in the microwave until they are softened.

Scoop some of the black bean mixture on a tortilla and roll up.

Repeat this - laying them in a 13X9 casserole baking dish.

Top them with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese.

Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes.

Serve with fresh cilantro and sour cream. 

I also made some Spanish rice to go with ours. 

Save Gas - Have A Staycation

With gas $4.79 here in our small town we will most likely not go anywhere on hubbies vacation. Which, gas will probably even more at that time anyway. So we are trying to come up with some Staycation ideas. These ideas are some that we have come up for ourselves to do this summer. You can come up with your own on things that you know your town has too offer.

Go "Camping" in your backyard. Set up the tent and have fun. Little kids really like this.

Go to a local pond and feed the ducks. Fish if you can. We have a local pond that is about 3 miles from our house and you can also fish there.

Take kids to the park - our park is within walking distance, so that could be something that we could do and the ice cream truck will be driving by there too soon.

Find out what the library will be doing for the kids this summer. Ours has reading programs for prizes and in the summer they have a movie night every Friday night after they close. Pretty fun and free.

There is a local Church in our town that also has movie nights in the summer. They always show great kid's movies. and it is free.

Take kids to the local farmer's market. Let them pick out the veggies they want to munch on.

County fairs are always fun. Check to see if there are any local flea markets too.

Go to a local pool.

Go play basketball or tennis at the local park.

Teach your kids how to sew, bake, cook, wood working, and more.

Have a family board game night.

Have a video game night. We love playing Wii bowling and that is something that the whole family loves to do.

This summer we are wanting to take one day and go to the local Apple Orchard. It is about 10 miles round trip from us, so not too bad. They have strawberry picking, hay rides, petting zoo, a park for the kids, and a restaurant.

Have a yard sale.

Fly a kite. Our house is on a hill and always seems windy enough to fly a kite. Maybe let little one make his own kite and then fly it.


You get the idea. When you start thinking of local things to do for a family staycation you will be surprised at how many things you can up with. Save money and stay close to home.





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

Off-Grid Clothes Drying Saves Money

 

To save money I have not been using my dryer. I need to get another clothesline put up outside, but until then I have been just using my wooden foldable clothes rack. I have been doing smaller loads to save money on power and water. One of the smaller loads fits right on this rack. I have 2 of them and a very large metal clothes rack that I use for when I wash towels. 

The day that I took this photo on had been raining and i just sat it up in my living room under the ceiling fan. The clothes actually dried pretty fast. 

I have the Duke energy app and I was so surprised at how much my dryer was actually using. SO MUCH!! I haven't used my dryer in almost 2 months and the power usage has went down A LOT!!  I will know how much I am really saving soon when I get my new bill.