Week 38

FOOD STORAGE TIP OF THE WEEK

Food Storage:  30 Lbs. of Wheat

Extra Item:  11 Lbs. of Macaroni or Spaghetti


Here are the Cannery prices for this week's items:

Wheat, Hard Red - #10 Can (5.8 lbs.) @ $2.80 (48.3 cents/lb.)
Wheat, White - #10 Can (5.8 lbs.) @ $2.80 (48.3 cents/lb.)
Macaroni - #10 Can (3.4 lbs.) @ $3.85 ($1.13/lb.)
Spaghetti - #10 Can (4.3 lbs.) @ $4.50 ($1.05/lb.)

Family Gear Box:  Mirror, magnesium fire starter, books to read.  Be sure to include the scriptures.

Family Preparation:  Purchase and install emergency ladders for upper floor window.

Spiritual Preparation:  Read "Wherefore, Settle This in Your Hearts", by Elder Larry W. Gibbons, Ensign, November 2006, p. 102.  We cannot keep one foot in the Church and one foot in the world.  Stay on the straight and narrow path.  No, stay in the middle of the straight and narrow path.  Don't drift, don't wander, don't dabble, be careful.

Food For Thought:

During this evening's General Women's Conference, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave us five "forget-me-nots" to remember in our life's journey.  So this week, we'd like to give you our own five "forget-me-nots" as you go through this year's Food Storage Program:

1.  Store according to your family's particular needs and preferences (so that you have a year's worth of food your family likes and will enjoy even in difficult circumstances).  Remember that if everyone was stressed they would want food they were familiar with.

2.  If you're buying what your family likes and eats regularly, you should be able to rotate it through your daily pantry and keep everything relatively current.

3.  Store a variety so that if you had to live on your food storage you would have more to serve your family than just wheat and milk.

4.  Don't forget to include the extras that add so much flavor and nutrition to meals such as spices, condiments, honey and molasses (did you know that one tablespoon of unsulphured Blackstrap Molasses contains 20% RDA of both calcium and iron?) ingredients for side dishes, vitamin tablets, and extra things that can be used for trading like sugar, salt, etc.

5.  Keep in mind that temperature extremes can drastically affect the shelf life of your food storage items.

Sister Julie White has a year or more supply of wheat that she is looking to trade with someone for an equivalent amount of canned 30-year-shelf-life rice (either from the Cannery or someone like Provident Pantry).  If you are interested, please contact her at (435) 267-1002.

Week 37

FOOD STORAGE TIP OF THE WEEK

Food Storage:  Fruit Drink (to make 30 quarts)

Extra Item:  Shampoo, Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste (to last 6 months)


Get your fruit drink mix at the Cannery!  It's fun and economical.  As an alternative, the Cannery also offers hot cocoa which is comparable in quality to the higher-priced leading brands.  The Kanarra Ward meets at the Cannery on the second Thursday of the month at 5:00 pm.  Our next scheduled date is Thursday, October 13th. 

Fruit Drink Mix - #10 Can (6.1 lbs.) @ $7.80 (8 cents/oz.)
Hot Cocoa Mix - #10 Can (5.8 lbs.) @ $8.80 (9.5 cents/oz.)

Family Gearbox:  Add some white and brown sugar or some honey to make your food more tasty.

Family Preparation:  Review your insurance coverage with your insurance agent to be sure you are covered for whatever disasters may occur in your area.

Spiritual Preparation:  Read Alma 34:17-28,39.  Strive to pray more diligently so you may be led and directed in your life and that you may be able to be filled with the spirit more frequently.


Food For Thought:

My sister once told me that in an effort to pray more diligently and see more clearly the effectiveness of prayer in your life that she began to keep what she called a "prayer journal".  She wrote down the things that she was praying about and then reported back as she saw those prayers answered.  She said that she began to see more clearly how much Heavenly Father loved her and that He was hearing and answering her prayers.  As we in our Ward Conference recently were encouraged to "think upon the tender mercies of the Lord" as encouraged by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, we can also use this journal to observe and record those same tender mercies to become more aware of them.

Since our Extra Items this week are "personal care" items, I'd like to include for all you do-it-yourselfers a wonderful item you can make at home.  Years ago when I discovered that I was extremely chemical sensitive and also could not tolerate almost any oil on my skin, I began to research how to make a skin moisturizer out of completely natural and healthful ingredients.  I'd like to share with you my recipe for this healing moisturizer.

Ingredients:

• Na-PCA - Made by Twinlab Co., this is a solution that is synthesized from glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid, the natural moisturizing factor found in human skin.  The skin contains natural moisturizers, the moste important being Na-PCA.  Old skin contains only about half the amount of Na-PCA as young skin.  The ability of skin to hold moisture is directly related to its Na-PCA content.  It is water, not oil, that keeps skin soft and supple.  Na-PCA pulls water out of the air, moisturizing the skin, improving its appearance and giving it a moist, youthful glow.  This is not a cosmetic coverup; it is a physiological correction of an age-related deficiency state.  It comes in a spray bottle with or without Aloe Vera.  I prefer to buy the straight Na-PCA bottle and add my own Aloe Vera gel separately.

• Rose Water - Roses contain anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties and are considered an extremely healing cell-rejuvenator.  This water has oil of roses in it but does not cause acne or skin breakouts.  I prefer the Rose Petals brand by Heritage Products.

• Vegetable Glycerine - A wonderful moisturizer made from vegetables, it has emollient (softening) and lubricating properties.  It is food-grade and similar to honey as a natural preservative that is often used as a base for herbal extracts and tinctures.  It is such an effective moisturizer that it is the principal ingredient used to rejuvenate old leather and saddles (saddle soap and spray are glycerine).

• Aloe Vera Gel - Made from the Aloe plant, this gel is a natural skin protectant and healer and is often used on sunburns, insect bites, rashes, acne and many other skin ailments.  I highly prefer the Aloe Life Skin Gel brand.  And you know those completely chemical hair gels at the store?  Try using this Aloe Gel instead - it's a wonderful non-toxic alternative and it works great!

• Jojoba Oil - A natural plant extract, this oil is considered to be the closest to the natural oils already occurring in the skin.  I don't usually add this for myself because of my tendency to break out but do add just a few drops in it for friends who prefer a little bit of oil and don't have a problem with it.

You could use these ingredients in your own preferred amounts but I will give you my recipe:

Take an empty, clean spray bottle (approx. 8 fl. oz. size - I use an empty Na-PCA bottle but you won't have one of those to start with) and fill it one-third full of Na-PCA, then another third full of Rose Water (this isn't rocket science - I just kind of eyeball it approximately each time I pour it in), then your last third will be a combination of Aloe Vera and Glycerine.  This part is more up to your preference (it's approximately 50/50) - just don't add so much Aloe Vera that it's too thick to spray it or so much Glycerine that it makes your skin look too shiny.  Next if you prefer a little bit of oil, add a few drops of Jojoba.  Shake well to mix all ingredients.

Remember this is a moisturizer - I rinse my face with water and then spritz some in my hand and then pat it around my face in the morning before applying makeup and at night after once again rinsing my face with water before bed.  (I once gave a bottle to a friend who sprayed it on her face after applying makeup and washed all her makeup off!)  And yes, if you spritz some in your hand and dab a q-tip in it, it makes a safe and effective eye makeup remover, although I don't wear waterproof mascara so I'm not sure it would work on that.  It is so effective at drawing moisture out of the air that if you buy the straight Na-PCA you can even spray it on a dress or slip and it will completely eliminate any static cling!  It is wonderful on any chronically dry area of your body such as elbows, knees, ankles and cracked heels.

Don't let this list of ingredients intimidate you - they are relatively inexpensive over the long haul and easily obtainable at your local health food store (Sunshine Nutrition in Cedar City) or online.  Sunshine Nutrition has all the ingredients available as well as some yummy frozen yogurt [this is Jim's addition].  It's great to keep these ingredients on hand and they will store for many years and make several batches.

I have loved this recipe for over 25 years, consider it an answer to prayer (like a "tender mercy") and hope that you will also enjoy it and benefit from it!

Week 36

FOOD STORAGE TIP OF THE WEEK

Food Storage:  8 Cans of Soup

Extra Item:  2 Months of Laundry Soap


Some Local Bargains:

Lin's
Western Family Cream of Chicken or Mushroom Soup - 10.75 oz. @ $1.09 (10.1 cents/oz.)
Campbell's Tomato Soup - 10.75 oz. @ $0.85 (7.9 cents/oz.)
Western Family Beef Broth - 14.5 oz. @ $0.89 (6.1 cents/oz.)
Basic Laundry Detergent - 30 lbs. @ $9.69 (32.3 cents/lb.) *** Best Value***

Dollar Tree
Campbell's Soup (assorted) - 10.75 oz. & 14.75 oz. @ $1.00 (9.3 & 6.8 cents/oz.)
Sun Laundry Detergent - 1.5 lbs. @ $1.00 (66.7 cents/oz.)
LA's Totally Awesome Liquid Laundry Detergent - 64 oz. @ $1.00 (1.6 cents/oz.) ***Best Value***

Smith's
Kroger Soup (assorted) - 10.5 oz. @ $0.89 (8.5 cents/oz.)
Kroger & Campbell's Chunky Soup (assorted) - 18.8 oz. @ $1.25 (6.6 cents/oz.)
Kroger Value Laundry Detergent - 22 lbs. @ $9.97 (45.3 cents/lb.)

Family Dollar
Family Gourmet Cream of Chicken, Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup - 10.5 oz. @ $0.50 (4.8 cents/oz.) ***Best Value***
Top Ramen - 6 pk @ $1.00
Nissin Cup Soup - 3 pk. @ $1.00
Sun Liquid Laundry Detergent - 188 oz. @ $6.00 (3.2 cents/oz.)
Sun Liquid Laundry Detergent - 250 oz. @ $8.00 (3.2 cents/oz.)

Big Lots
Campbell's Tomato or Chicken Noodle Soup - 15.2 oz. @ $0.90 (5.9 cents/oz.)
Organic Imagine Harvest Corn Soup - 32 oz. @ $1.50 (3.1 cents/oz.)
Sun Laundry Detergent - 188 oz. @ $6.00 (3.2 cents/oz.)

Wal Mart
Great Values Tomato Soup - 10.75 oz. @ $0.62 (5.8 cents/oz.)
Great Values Chicken Noodle Soup - 10.75 oz. @ $0.64 (6.0 cents/oz.)
Sun Laundry Detergent - 22.7 lbs. @ $9.97 (43.9 cents/lb.)
Sun Liquid Laundry Detergent - 250 oz. @ $9.94 (4.0 cents/oz.)

Family Gear Box:  Assemble an activity box with games, cards and other favorite toys.

Family Preparation:  Arrange for someone to help your children if you are at work and not able to return home during a disaster.

Spiritual Preparation:  Read "Gratitude:  A Path to Happiness" by Bonnie D. Parkin, May 2007 Ensign, P. 34.

Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle.  It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God.  Make a list each day of the blessings you have in your life.


Food For Thought:

Since the days are getting shorter and the nights cooler, this week we'd like to spotlight one of our favorite treats/comfort foods and storage possibilities: POPCORN!

According to the Alternative Field Crops Manual published by the University of Wisconsin, popcorn is nutritionally one of the best all-around snack foods, providing 67% as much protein, 110% as much iron and as much calcium as an equal amount of beef. An average 1.5-ounce serving of popcorn supplies the same energy as two eggs; and a cup of un-buttered popcorn contains less calories than half a medium grapefruit. In addition, hull is excellent roughage, comparing favorably with bran flakes or whole wheat toast.

To read the rest of the article, go to the following link:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/popcorn.html

A favorite treat for many is caramel corn.  If you'd like to make a lower-calorie, more nutritious version of it, air pop some corn, put it in a bowl and dribble Agave Nectar over the top (I got mine at Sunshine Nutrition in Cedar City) and sprinkle with a little salt if you prefer.  Stir it around a bit then spread out on a baking sheet (no oil required) and bake at 325-350 degrees for approximately 10-15 minutes or until it starts to brown a little.  You can also use honey but it's not as fluid as the Agave and so is messier and stickier.  I prefer the light Agave Nectar for it's very mild taste.

We got a great bit of information from one of the lovely sisters at the Cedar City Cannery who told us that corn meal is actually made of ground popcorn.  So we came home and threw a cup in the Vitamix blender and guess what - instant cornmeal!  This is great because you can store the whole grain and just grind it as you need it, thereby retaining its nutritional value.

Wikipedia includes the following Health Risk information:

Popcorn is included on the list of foods that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not serving to children under four, because of the risk of choking.  Special "hull-less" popcorn has been developed that offers an alternative for small children and for people with braces or other dental problems who may otherwise need to avoid popcorn.

Microwaveable popcorn represents a special case, since it is designed to be cooked along with its various flavoring agents. One of these common artificial-butter flavorants, diacetyl, has been implicated in causing respiratory ailments.

Here is a link to the rest of the article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popcorn

Local

Popcorn Prices

Lin's - Western Family Popcorn - 4 lbs. @ $3.49 (87.3 cents/lb.)
Smith's - Yellow Popcorn - 4 lbs. @ $2.99 (74.8 cents/lb.)
Smith's - White Popcorn - 2 lbs. @ $1.69 (84.5 cents/lb.)
Cal Ranch - Gold Mine Popcorn - 12.5 lbs. @ $9.99 (79.9 cents/lb.)
Wal Mart - Great Values Popcorn - 2 lbs. @ $1.48 (74 cents/lb.)

Online Prices:
http://www.instawares.com/bulk-bag-yellow-corn.par-1021.0.7.htm?Ts=0 - Paragon 50 lb. Bag @ $22.31 + $8.95 Shipping = $31.26 (62.5 cents/lb.)
http://beprepared.com/search.asp?t=ss&ss=popcorn&image1.x=15&image1.y=6 - Superpail Yellow Popcorn - 45 lbs @ $54.95 + $6.00 Shipping = $60.95 ($1.35/lb.)

We also found 50 lb. bags of feed grade popcorn at IFA for $17.29 (34.6 cents/lb.).  We asked what the difference was between "feed grade" and "food grade" and they couldn't give us a definite answer other than that the feed grade was not as highly regulated as the food grade.  We decided to buy a bag and try it ourselves because if it was still good quality the savings would be substantial.  We found that you had to sort through and pick out chipped, broken or dark pieces and that when you cooked it, although it popped just fine and was nice and crunchy, the kernels were significantly smaller and some had a slight musty taste.  Upon further reading, it is our understanding that the food grade is more carefully dried to the proper moisture level for long term keeping without molding so easily.  So although it is edible and a lot cheaper, unfortunately we cannot recommend it for food storage.

If you are buying bulk popcorn, here is a current reminder on local deals for storage containers.  Please also remember the wonderful opportunity allowed us by the Cedar City LDS Cannery to be able to check out the home canner and purchase #10 cans to can your own popcorn or other bulk items at home.

5 Gallon Buckets & Lids:

Lin's
Bucket - $4.99
Gamma Lid (screw top) - $5.99

IFA
Bucket - 4.99
Lid - $1.39
Gamma Lid - $5.99

Wal Mart
Bucket - $4.48
Lid - $1.17
Gamma Lid - $6.98

Week 35

FOOD STORAGE TIP OF THE WEEK



Food Storage:  8 Cans of Meat

Extra Item:  8 Rolls of Toilet Paper (1 Roll per Week for 2 Months)


Some Local Bargains:

Lin's
Crown Prince Sardines - 15 oz. @ $2.19 (14.6 cents/oz.)
Libby's Vienna Sausage - 5 oz. @ $0.79 (15.8 cents/oz.)
Geisha Tiny Shrimp or Crab Meat - 4 oz. @ $2.50 (62.5 cents/oz.)
ShurSaving Toilet Paper - 4 Regular Rolls @ $0.95

Dollar Tree
Armour Potted Meat - 3 oz. @ $0.33 (11.0 cents/oz.)
Armour Vienna Sausage - 5 oz. @ $0.50 (10 cents/oz.)
Van Camps Sardines - 3.75 oz. @ $0.79 (18.7 cents/oz.)
Butterfields White Chicken - 6 oz. @ $1.00 (16.6 cents/oz.)
Sofitelle Toilet Paper - 4 Regular Rolls @ $1.00

Smith's
Kroger Tuna - 5 oz. @ $0.71 (14.2 cents/oz.)
Kroger Vienna Sausage - 5 oz. @ $0.43 (8.6 cents/oz.) ***Best Value***
Kroger Chicken Breast - 5 oz. @ $1.00 (20.0 cents/oz.)
Demings Pink Salmon - 14.75 oz. @ $2.23 (15.1 cents/oz.)
Kroger Toilet Paper - 4 Double Rolls @ $2.89
Kroger Value Toilet Paper - 4 Regular Rolls @ $0.88

Family Dollar
Family Gourmet White Chicken 10 oz. @ $2.00 (20.0 cents/oz.)
Van Camps Sardines - 3.75 oz. @ $0.85 (22.7 cents/oz.)
Pampa Sardines in Tomato Sauce - 15 oz. @ $1.75 (11.7 cents/oz.)
Armour Treet - 12 oz. @ $1.50 (12.5 cents/oz.)
Deep Cove Pink Salmon (Wild Caught!) - 15 oz. @ $2.25 (15 cents/oz.) ***Favorite Find***
Van Camps Tuna - 5 oz. @ $0.75 (15 cents/oz.)
Family Dollar Toilet Paper - 12 Big Rolls @ $5.00

Big Lots
Capri Toilet Paper - 4 Double Rolls @ $1.50

Wal Mart
Great Values Tiny Shrimp - 4.25 oz. @ $2.08 (48.9 cents/oz.)
Great Values Tuna - 5 oz. @ $0.60 (12 cents/oz.)
Great Values Alaska Pink Salmon - 14.75 oz. @ 1.98 (13.4 cents/oz.)
Great Values Toilet Paper - 4 Big Rolls @ $2.36
White Cloud Toilet Paper - 4 Double Rolls @ $2.00
Generic Toilet Paper - 6 Regular Rolls @ $0.97

Family Gear Box:  Include some of the seasonings and spices that your family likes to make the food more tasty.

Family Preparation:  Check with your children's day care center or school about their disaster plans and how parents will be contacted if a disaster happens during business hours.

Spiritual Preparation:  Read "Discipleship" by President James E. Faust, November 2006 Ensign, Page 20.

One of the greatest blessings of life and eternity is to be counted as one of the devoted disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  How are you doing?


Food For Thought:

A friendly reminder that our first Cannery night is coming up next Thursday, September 8th at 5:00 pm.  Plan ahead for September's Food Storage tips as you can get a lot of the items at the Cannery and have fun doing it!  Here are some of the food items for the coming weeks:

Week 36 - Soup (you can make your own dried soup mix from items from the Cannery!)  See also the Food For Thought posts for Weeks 10 and 18 for great soup mix ideas.

Week 37 - Fruit Drink (get Fruit Drink Mix at the Cannery!)

Week 38 - Wheat, Flour, Macaroni, Spaghetti (all available at the Cannery!)