A New Year, a New Plan

I've got a plan for 2009, with a focus for each of five areas each month. Here's the ones for January:

JANUARY: Whaddya Got? Whaddya Need

Spiritual Preparedness:
Focus on personal prayer

Emergency Preparedness:
Check & Replenish 72-Hour Kits

3-Month Food Storage:
Keep track of what your family eats and how much you spend on food for at least one week. Clean out those cabinets and closets to make room for more food storage. Keep track of spending for the month.

Home Storage:
Inventory current food storage--how many months do you have of the basics?

Financial Reserve:
Make a jar for saving change. Decide how much cash your family needs to put in your 72-hour kit and set aside 1/6 of that amount.

Hurricane Reflections

Watch this on the hurricane relief in Texas and my church's role in the effort. I'm so happy to be a member of a church that is ready to help all over the world. It was amazing to see the Church in efficient action so close to home this time.

I love this quote from the end of the clip: "When they are prepared to handle a disaster, they are in a much better position to go out and help their neighbors."

I want to be a neighbor like that who is in a position to help in big or little emergencies.

Welcome!

I'm starting this blog to share ideas about provident living. I want to share ideas with people around me so we can all experience the blessings of being prepared for the little emergencies of daily life, as well as any big emergencies we might face in the future. This blog will work best if we have lots of comments to supplement the little bit I know!

"If any man shall do his will, he shall know of the doctrine."
John 7:17

“See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a [wo]man should run faster than [s]he has strength."
Mosiah 4:27

"He that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together."
D&C 50:22

"And he commanded them that there should be no contention with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit in unity and in love one towards another."
Mosiah 18:21

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven"
Matthew 5:16

"I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but
if ye are prepared ye shall not fear"
D&C 38:30

Goals, Cannery Prices & Christmas Gift Ideas

Here’s a list of the cannery’s current price per pound on bulk foods I have so I know when I’ve found a good price. I print it up and stick it in my wallet or with my grocery list so I have it handy when I go grocery shopping:

CANNERY PRICE PER POUND

Beans (Black) $0.57
Beans (Pinto) $0.51
Beans (White) $0.57
Milk (Dry) $1.78
Rice (White) $0.64
Sugar $0.42
Wheat (Red) $0.27
Wheat (White) $0.31
Dried Apple Slices $4.33
Carrots $1.84
Macaroni $1.00
Oats (Quick) $0.42
Oats (Reg) $0.42
Onions $1.98
Potato Flakes $1.12
Spaghetti $0.98
Beans, Refried (Dehydrated) $1.04
Cocoa Mix $0.91
Flour (White) $0.38
Fruit Drink Mix $0.75

As all of our retailers are so quick to point out, it’s getting to be time to start thinking about Christmas gifts! Why not let emergency preparedness and food storage guide your gift-giving? There are many small- and big-ticket items that you could give or receive or stuff in a stocking that could prove very useful now and in the future. Sound boring? I dare you to find someone who wouldn’t like receiving at least one of these items:

Flashlight
Powerbars
MREs
Batteries
Hand-cranked radio
Card games for 72-hour kit
Compass
Hand-cranked cell phone charger
Wheat grinder (hand or electric)
Tent
Sleeping bag
Ham radio
Walkie-talkies
Bread machine
Water storage barrels
Pocketknife
Crock pot (for cooking beans)
Dutch oven
Camp stove
Mixer that’s good for bread-making
Generator
Fire extinguishers
Gas grill or charcoal grill
Smoker
Rain gear
Deep freezer for extra food storage
Food storage shelving
Good kitchen knife
Good pans for cooking more at home—bread pans, pizza pans, nonstick skillet, etc.
Garden seeds
Giftcard from Emergency Essentials or other such company
1-month supply of one item (chocolate bars?!?)
Recipe book
Rain gear
Survival guide
CPR class gift certificate
Fire escape ladder
Extra propane tank (if you already have a gas grill)

Oh, I could go on and on . . .

Have a great week!

Recipes from the Garden

My friend Amy’s beautiful garden and backyard is so inspiring! She has masses of basil and lettuce, blackberry bushes along her fence, and a strawberry patch growing with her kids’ little playhouse in the middle of it! Love it.

At the class I got to taste some good recipes: Dani’s cookies (low sugar and laced with navy beans . . . Sh! Don’t tell the kids!), Amy’s cheddar-stuffed jalapenos, and freshly-made pesto. Yum!

Amy’s Pesto

2 c. firmly packed fresh basil
3/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 c. pine nuts/pecans/almonds
1/2 c. olive oil
3 cloves garlic

Blend well in a blender or food processor. Store in fridge 5 days or freeze up to 1 month.

Serving ideas:

Dip for crackers or vegetables
Spread on sandwiches
Pasta: mix with sour cream and add to any hot pasta
Pizza (Cindy H’s suggestion): top with pesto, garlic chicken, red onion, fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, etc.


Amy’s Cheddar-Stuffed Jalapenos

Ingredients:

* 25 medium fresh jalapeno peppers
* 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
* 3 cups (12 ounces) finely shredded cheddar cheese
* 1-1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
* 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

Directions:
Cut jalapenos in half lengthwise; remove seeds and membranes. In a large saucepan, boil peppers in water for 5-10 minutes (the longer you boil the peppers, the milder they become). Drain and rinse in cold water; set aside.

In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, cheddar cheese and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon 2 teaspoonfuls into each jalapeno half; sprinkle with bacon.

Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm. Yield: About 4 dozen.


Dani’s Better Chocolate Chip Cookies
Dani usually doubles this.

1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. packed brown sugar
1/4 c. unsalted butter
1/4 c. white bean puree
1 egg

2/3 c. flour
1/3 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. oatmeal (rounded—a bit more than 1/2 and less than 3/4)1/4 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4-1/2 t. cinnamon (opt.)

1 t. vanilla
1/2 to 3/4 c. chocolate chips


Cream beans, butter & sugars. Add egg and mix. Mix dry ingredients separately and then add the wet mixture. Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 13 minutes or so. Enjoy!

Yahoo Finance's Investment Pick: Food Storage!

I found this article interesting. Gotta love how the prophet’s counsel is always the best plan and we get advanced notice! It’s never too late to start—3 cans of wheat (enough wheat for one person for one month) cost $7.95. I think we can all scrape up enough change to pay for that. Buy it and I’ll give you a bunch of ideas on how to use it without making bread or buying a wheat grinder!