Comfort Foods---Artisan Bread

To me there is nothing better than fresh, hot bread. Along with soft butter, I could make a meal of it! But, I do have restraint and have never done that--although I have been tempted! The current issue of Mother Earth News has a great article on healthy no-knead bread. It is about the second book by Jeff Hertburg and Zoe Francois called, "Healthy Bread In Five Minutes A Day." Their first book was written about in Mother Earth News last spring; I made the recipe and then bought the book. The bread is super good! I haven't tried the recipes in the new article, but I am sure they will be just as good.

The bread is mixed up with a spoon--no knead!-- and set to rise. Then it is put into the refrigerator. When you want to have fresh, hot bread with dinner, just remove how much bread dough you want to use, shape it and let it rise; then bake. It's really that simple! And, the taste!! It is soooo good! The instructions cover every little detail, so don't get discouraged by its length. By the time you read through the information you will be a bread expert. The recipe is at towards the end of the article, but I would suggest you read through the information that comes before it. You can find this article here.

[The picture is from Mother Earth News].

Comfort Foods---Creamy Cauliflower Soup

This is another recipe from "Quick Cooking" and it is really good, too. It has five ingredients and is "ready in 15 minutes or less"--my kind of recipe! This recipe was submitted by Heather Kasprick.

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

1 medium head of cauliflower, broken into florets
2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
1 can (14-1/4 ounces) chicken broth
2 cups milk

Place cauliflower in a saucepan with 1 inch of water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until crisp-tender. Meanwhile, in another saucepan, combine soups, broth and milk; heat through. Drain cauliflower; stir into soup.
Yield: 9 servings.

Canning---Meatballs

Penny left a wonderful comment a couple of days ago and shared what she has been canning. She has caught the canning bug like many of us, and has canned fruit, vegetables, meats and meals. She mentioned that she was going to be canning ground beef, and I told her that I have canned meatballs with great success (they go great with home canned spaghetti sauce!). Bill has a recipe for Italian Meatballs on out previous blog (see side-bar for link) and he likes to brown the meatballs before canning. My meatballs are raw-packed, so there is less fuss and cleanup. Either way--you're the winner!


Meatballs—8 wide-mouth pints

4 lbs. ground beef
1 stack of saltine crackers, crushed
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. salt
fresh ground pepper

Have the canner heating while you make the meatballs. Mix ingredients by hand; make meatballs using a 1-teaspoon measuring spoon. I worked with one quarter of the beef at a time, with the rest in the refrigerator (it's easier to work with the meat chilled).

Put meatballs into the jars, leaving 1" headspace. Add hot lids, tighten rings.

Process: pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure
—pints 75 minutes
—quarts 90 minutes

[I'm sorry that I don't have a picture--we've eaten all the meatballs I canned!].

Comfort Foods---Fresh, Hot Dinner Rolls

NO KNEAD! I have been making these rolls for most of my married life (40 years--to the same guy!). They are delicious and very easy to make. And, the best part is that they are a batter dough, no kneading. They turn out just as good (no one knows the difference) to kneaded rolls. I have even put the ingredients into my breadmaker to mix up the dough for me and they come out perfect. To scald milk, heat it over medium heat until tiny bubbles form around the edge of the pan (if heated too hot it will burn).

Basic Roll Dough

1 package of active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
* * * *
1 cup milk, scalded
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 tsp. salt
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg

Soften yeast in warm water (110'). Combine milk, sugar, shortening, and salt; cool to lukewarm. Add 1 1/2 cups of flour; beat well. Beat in yeast and egg. Gradually add remaining flour to form soft dough, beating well. Place in greased bowl, turning once to grease surface. Cover and let rise till double (1 1/2 to 2 hours).

Turn out on lightly floured surface and shape as desired. Cover and let shaped rolls rise till double (30 to 45 minutes). Bake on greased baking sheet or in greased muffin pans in hot oven (400') for 12 to 15 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen Cloverleafs, Butter Fans, or Bowknots, or 3 dozen Parker House.

[This recipe is from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book; I got it as a wedding gift in 1969].

Comfort Foods---Cheeseburger Meat Loaf

I have never liked meatloaf, but my husband does, so I have tried many different recipes. The one that I found that I do like is the Cheeseburger Meat Loaf. It is simple and quick to make, and very tasty to eat! This recipe is from Taste of Home's "Quick Cooking", and was submitted by Paula Sullivan. I haven't made this for a while, so it will be what's for dinner at my house tomorrow!

Cheeseburger Meat Loaf

1/2 cup ketchup, divided
1 egg
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tsp. onion powder
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tsp. prepared mustard
2 tsp. dill pickle relish
6 slices American cheese

In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup ketchup, egg, bread crumbs and onion powder. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. On a large piece of waxed paper, pat the beef mixture into a 10-inch x 6-inch rectangle. Spread the remaining ketchup over meat to within 1/2-inch of long sides and 1 1/2-inches of short sides. Top with the mustard and relish.

Place four cheese slices on top; set remaining cheese aside. Roll up loaf, jelly-roll style, starting with a short side and pulling away waxed paper while rolling. Seal seams and ends well. Place loaf, seam side down, in a greased 11-inch x 7-inch x 2-inch baking pan.

Bake at 350' for 45 minutes or until meat is no longer pink and a meat thermometer reads 160'. Cut the reserved cheese slices in half diagonally; place on top of loaf. Return to the oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Yield: 6 servings.

[Picture is the same as in the "Quick Cooking" book for this recipe].

Comfort Foods---Magic Fudge Sauce

I have made this and given it as gifts this year! Although I don't eat chocolate, it sure smells good! I found this recipe on Crystal's Everyday Food Storage blog. The picture is from her blog, too--doesn't it look good?! This woman really knows how to use food storage in creative and yummy ways. This is one quick and easy way to satisfy a chocolate craving!

Magic Fudge Sauce

1 cup (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter, cubed
3 tbsp. evaporated milk

In a heavy saucepan, combine chocolate chips, butter and milk. Cook and stir over low heat until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Serve warm over ice Cream (Sauce will harden.) Sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate any leftovers. Sauce can be reheated in the microwave. Yield: about 1 Cup

Turkey Soup---Part Two

Looking at the Turkey Soup process I posted last time, it looks kind of overwhelming! Really it isn't, it just takes time. Basically all you do is cook the turkey in the canner, using it as a pressure cooker. Then you make the soup and can it just like you would any other food with meat. If you have help it goes much faster, too! So, don't hesitate to try this, maybe on a smaller scale, because it is soooo good!

Home Canned Turkey Soup

[These ingredients are approximate; you can also add other vegetables if you want, such as green beans, corn; rice and noodles are not the best for canning purposes, you can add them when reheating the soup].

Make sure your jars and lids are close by and ready to be scalded when the soup is ready to can.

about 25- 30 lbs. turkey (I usually get 2 turkeys free at Thanksgiving when I purchase other food at the market)
2 lbs. carrots, peeled, sliced
2 large onions, chopped
10 lbs. potatoes, peeled, cut into med-small chunks
3 bunches celery, sliced

Put the thawed turkeys into two large pressure canners (I have one and I borrow one). SEE THE CANNER BOOKLET FOR COOKING INSTRUCTIONS--DO NOT FILL MORE THAN 2/3 FULL. Add a few bay leaves if you want, cut up cloves of garlic, chunked onions, and water up to the "fill" line (this will make the best broth!).

Pressure cook the turkeys 60 minutes at 15 pounds pressure. Let the canner cool on it's own.

Remove the meat from the canner and de-bone. Cut into the size pieces you want.

Pour broth through a strainer into another large pot or soup kettle. Clean out the canners.

[At this point, everything can be cooled down and the canning can be done the next day].

As you heat the broth, chop the vegetables. Add any seasonings you want, just be careful as some herbs turn bitter during the canning process. I usually just add pepper (I add salt when I reheat the soup). In the mean time--start heating the water in your canners.

Add the vegetables to the broth and simmer 5 minutes.

Scald jars and lids.

Put meat and vegetables into the jars, fill with broth up to the "fill" line--there is a line on the jar just below the lowest lip, below where the ring will go--just under an inch of headspace.

Wipe the jars thoroughly to remove any turkey fat. Add lids and rings. Put into the pressure canners and follow the canning booklet instructions.

Pressure can the turkey soup for 90 minutes at 10 pounds pressure.

This last batch of turkey soup made 28 quarts of soup, plus 2 gallons more of broth! This recipe can be halved or divided into fourths (use a chicken instead of a turkey!).


[I apologize, I don't remember where online I got this recipe, otherwise I would give the reference. If I remember it, I will put it here].

50 Things to Make With A Jar Of Pasta Sauce

Spaghetti and pasta sauce comes in many flavors and is a real comfort food. But, you can only eat so much spaghetti. If you have a couple of dozen jars of spaghetti/pasta sauce in your food storage, there are many more recipes using that sauce that will give you the versatility you want. You can go to the Food Network where they have a list of 50 recipes, each using spaghetti/pasta sauce--surely you will find several that your family would like!

Comfort Foods---Tomato Soup

I was visiting the Self-Reliant Sisters blog and saw this recipe for Easy Tomato Soup that sounded really good--besides being very quick and easy--and would be especially comforting on chilly winter nights. I have not tried this soup yet, but I will!

Easy Tomato Soup

3 jars tomato basil spaghetti/pasta sauce
1 quart whipping cream
2 (14-15 oz. cans) chicken broth

In a crockpot mix all ingredients together and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.

This recipe takes just about as much effort as to open a can of commercial tomato soup, but I would bet this recipe tastes better! Because of the whipping cream, this soup cannot be canned. Cream soups can be frozen, although the cream might separate when it is reheated. If that occurs, the soup can be wisked or blendered, to remix.

[Picture is not of the recipe listed].

Home Remedy---Coughing

I am getting over a cold and last night as I was talking to my Mother on the phone, I got a tickle in my throat and I started coughing. I took a sip of water, but that didn't help. I took a bigger drink of water and even that didn't stop my coughing. My Mother said to put a little dab of salt on my tongue---it worked! I was amazed at how fast it worked! Give it a try some time and see if the salt helps quiet your cough!

Comfort Foods---Stew

Stew is an easy comfort food, one that can simmer on the stove or in the crockpot. I canned a few quarts of stew last summer and have enjoyed them this fall. Another "fast food" to have on hand! Just open the jar, heat, and thicken with a little flour or cornstarch and water. Add a homemade biscuit or hot bread and you have it made!

Comfort Foods---Turkey Soup

My son and I made Turkey Soup the two days following Thanksgiving. I had two turkeys just for this purpose (they were free with purchase of other food at the market). I ended up with 56 pints of the most wonderful soup! I have been down with a cold this week and have this soup to give me comfort as I work my way back to good health.

If anyone is interested in how this soup was made, just post a comment and I will share how we made it.

Comfort Foods

Because the weather is getting colder, and colds and flu are impacting our lives, our focus this month will be on comfort foods. One of the easiest kinds of comfort food is also a "fast-food"--home canned soups, stews and meals-in-a-jar. All you have to do is open the jar, pour the contents into a container, and either heat on the stove or in a microwave. Add crackers, biscuits, or a toasted grilled cheese sandwich for a very comforting and tasty meal. Here in California we are expecting several days of rain, starting this weekend. If you add working, holiday shopping, and kids in school, a nice hot bowl of homemade food at the end of the day will hit the spot.

Vitamin C and Pine Trees

Riverwalker, over on his blog, Stealth Survival, brings up an important thought about getting a good dose of vitamin C during an emergency: pine needles. Pine needles, especially the new, light green needles, are full of vitamin C. All you need to do is make a tea, or "soup" as he calls it, by steeping a handful of needles in some hot water. A touch of honey can be added for a little extra flavor. He says that different types of pine trees have slightly different flavors.

Water

Water is necessary for life. We lose water constantly, through physical exertion, certain medications, illness, breathing through our mouths, diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding.

"Thirst should never be an indicator of when or how much to drink. Being thirsty is a sign that you're already a quart to a quart and a half low. To make matter worse, somewhere down the line in dehydrationville, the thirst mechanism stops working altogether.

The best way to tell if you're maximally hydrated is the color of our urine. It should be as clear as the water you drink, with no color whatsoever."

[From: "When All Hell Breaks Loose"--by Cody Lundin].

Vitamins and Minerals

If you are preparing for an emergency by storing food, you will need to have a year's supply of multi-vitamins, for each person, to supplement your nutrition.

"If you are currently taking any vitamin or mineral supplements you may want to check with the manufacturer to determine the storage life of these items. Once you have determined what you want to store it would be best to store them in a cool, dry and dark place for the longest storage life. Most multi-vitamin and mineral manufacturers we consulted say their product has full potency up to 3 years. At the end of three years it does not mean you need to discard them, it merely means that they are less potent."

[From: "Basic Preparedness" by The Survival Center, Inc., p. 35].

Alternate Power Sources---Treadle Sewing Machines

This is a picture of my treadle sewing machine and it really works. It is not a Singer (there is no name on it at all), but my sewing machine repair guy said it likely was made in New England. It is an old machine, and a really nice one. It is not a family heirloom, my Grandmother bought it many years ago. She gave it to me when I was a teenager, and I sewed all of my clothes on it when I was in high school and junior college. I got married and didn't have room for it, so I gave it to my Mom. My Dad refinished the cabinet, and I got it back, again, several years ago. If there was an extended emergency of some sort, people's clothing would start to wear out from constant use, and there might not be clothing to replace them with. Even without electricity I could sew clothes, for my family and others. This could easily work into something I could barter with. I do have quite a stash of fabrics, although not the sort of fabrics that could be used as work clothes or quilts! I will have to stock up on those types of fabrics as part of my emergency preparation.

Earthquakes

Here in the Central Valley of California, earthquakes are our most likely natural disaster. There are many things we can do to prepare for such an event:

1. Repair defective electrical wiring, leaky gas lines, and inflexible utility connections. Get appropriate professional help. Do not work with gas or electrical lines yourself.

2. Bolt down and secure to the wall studs your water heater, refrigerator, furnace, and gas appliances. If recommended by your gas company, have an automatic gas shut-off valve installed that is triggered by strong vibrations.

3. Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves. Fasten shelves, mirrors and large picture frames to walls. Brace high and top-heavy objects.

4. Store bottled foods, glass, china, and other breakables on low shelves or in cabinets that fasten shut.

5. Anchor overhead lighting fixtures.

6. Be sure the residence is firmly anchored to its foundation.

7. Install flexible pipe fittings to avoid gas or water leaks. Flexible fittings are more resistant to breakage.

8. Locate safe spots in each room under a sturdy table or against an inside wall. Reinforce this information by moving to these places during each drill.

9. Hold earthquake drills with your family members: Drop, cover, and hold on!

[From: "Are You Ready?"--FEMA, p. 95-96].

Money, and Other Problems

As I was driving to the market today, listening to a local call-in radio station, a caller was talking about when the terrorists attacked America on 9/11. He said he worked down the street from the the towers that were hit. When that happened he wanted to take his family and money, and flee to Canada, only four hours away. His thinking was that the towers were hit, the Pentagon was hit, and he was afraid that the nuclear power plant would be hit. He went to his bank and asked that his CDs be cashed in. The teller said that his CDs were traded on the stock market, the market was closed, so he couldn't cash them in. This caller was trying to get across to the listeners that there will be unexpected obstacles when there is a need to bug-out. I am sure that there are many little things, that could actually end up being big things, that will go wrong when times get bad. The caller was urging people to be as prepared as possible, for anything possible. How prepared are you?

Dehydrating Cooked Beans and Rice

This post is from Preparing To Survive in California.

William Lankes says that a friend sent this to him (no name to give credit):

By cooking and dehydrating beans and rice in advance, you can save time and energy when using them for a meal.

First I cook the rice or beans fully! Then I spread it on cookie sheets and dry it at about 200 degrees for about 4 or 5 hours. To test I put some dehydrated rice in cold water. Cold because I figured if it would rehydrate in cold it would do great with hot. It rehydrated great. So now, in soups, or just a dish, all I have to do is soak it in cold water, and add it to a dish I am warming. Also, if we do have more problems and work than we think it sure will be a lot quicker. And one more thing. It is crunchy and not all bad! My 17 year old son grabs a handful every time he passes the cookie sheet I've taken from the oven.

We also presently eat our dehydrated corn (with salt) just as it is. My husband has taken pinches of most everything (spinach, collards, pineapple (I have to hide), etc. and has eaten them dry. He said they are not bad at all and he could tolerate them. So, there you have it.

I bet it's alot cheaper than buying it at Wallyworld.

[I'm going to try this--it sounds like it would work!--Prepped].

What Skills Do You Have?

"Even if some of you have a millionaire's budget, you need to learn how to do things for yourself, and be willing to get your hands dirty. In a societal collapse, the division of labor will be reduced tremendously. Odds are that the only 'skilled craftsmen' available to build a shed, mend a fence, shuck corn, repair an engine, or pitch manure will be you and your family."

[From: "How To Survive The End Of The World As We Know It"--James Wesley, Rawles, p. 17]

Being Prepared

Kellene, the Preparedness Pro, has brought up a good point about being prepared. Her articulate article, Tornado Warnings for Us All, is not about tornadoes, but about being prepared for what is happening in the world today.

On the Idaho Preppers Network, there is an article that is meant to inspire people to be preparing to be dependent on themselves and their neighbors when trouble starts in.

Jim Rawles of the Survival Blog is all about survival, of course, and he says: "The purpose of [his] Blog is to inform and motivate readers to take steps that will help prepare themselves and their families. Survival is not just about guns, groceries and gadgets. More importantly, it is about having friends that you can trust when times get hard, such as for:

--A Dollar Crisis/Monetary Collapse (witness the current hyperinflation in Zimbabwe)
--Naturally occurring plague or pandemic
--Nuclear Blackmail (North Korea and China have already made public threats)
--Terrorist LNG fuel sector or power grid attack
--Terrorist nuclear, biological, or chemical attack
--Fuel and/or food shortage crisis
--Major volcanic and/or earthquake events
--Nation-state nuclear, biological, or chemical attack

What I am getting at is that there are a lot of people, from many different viewpoints, all saying that we need to be prepared, and to get it done now, and they show us different ways to prepare. Our LDS church leaders have also warned us for many years to be prepared. How are you doing? Are you ready?

Alternate Power Sources--Solar Jar Cooker

People are so creative! Who would have thought to take a quart (or larger) canning jar, paint it black, put food in a baking bag, put the bag in the jar, and set it in the sun to cook the food! Kellene, The Preparedness Pro, did just that! You don't need any fancy solar oven in an emergency, but you do need a jar, a baking bag, and black paint. To learn more, go here. This picture shows what the jar looks like once it's painted [from solarcooking.org]. To see a variety of homemade solar cookers, go here.

Medical Handbook

Riverwalker has free downloads (in three parts) of the U.S. Army Special Forces Medical Handbook here. All it will cost you is the ink and paper from your printer, and you will have a medical reference to go with your first aid kit.

If you don't want to print it up, you can find the book at online bookstores, like Amazon (cost: $20.00).

Skills for Survival

If the worst happened and we had to do things for ourselves, we would need to have various skills--we would need to know more than first aid and cooking over a fire. M.D. Cheekmore, at thesurvivalistblog, has created a list of links of skills that would be important to learn. We could apply those lessons to keeping our own family alive, and also teach others that are not prepared. To read about these skills, go here.

Salt

Riverwalker has posted a list of ways to use salt in a survival situation. There's more to salt than just adding it to food! Go here to learn more.

Medicines

If there was a sudden emergency, and you had to depend on your personal supply of food and necessities, how long would your medicines last? Especially important are your prescription drugs. Have you stocked up? Consider talking to your doctor to see if you can have a three-months supply on hand.

I think about my Mother, who is on oxygen 24 hours a day. My parents live in snow country, with occasional power outages. My Mother has a machine that makes oxygen from the air, but it runs on electricity. She also has one bottle of oxygen that is used when she is out of the house. If their power is out for several days and the roads are blocked with snow, that one bottle of oxygen won't last long.

Evacuation Kits---Light Weight Food

This is the start of November and I will be posting about a variety of things, some of which would have fit into past post categories. If there is anything you would like me to post about, please let me know!

--------------------------------------------

If you thought that the food list in a bug-out bag would be too heavy for you to carry, here is another list to consider. It isn't the healthiest, nor does it give the feeling of being full, but it would give you the necessary energy to get to where you need to go with just six pounds of food to carry. To read the article written by Brian Dolge, go here.

Vacation Time!

I apologize for not posting for a couple of days--I am in Los Angeles on vacation. I thought I would have time to post, but I was wrong. For my husband's birthday he wanted to go to Disneyland for a few days. We will be back some time this weekend.

Alternate Power Sources---Wood Cook Stoves

If your power will be out for several days or weeks or months, do you have another way to cook? The solar oven is great when you have sunshine, but what about weeks of heavy fog (which we get in the valley every fall and winter), or weeks of rain or snow clouds? You might be interested in a wood cook stove. This is different than a wood stove to heat your house, although you can cook on the top of those, too. There are new and used wood cook stoves available; you just need a way to get the smoke outside, and to make sure the walls and floor are protected against the heat. Around 1900 some wood cook stove companies started adding a propane tank for an alternate way of cooking. They also made propane cook stoves called ranges.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to cook and bake using a wood cook stove? Sharon explains why she loves to cook with wood here. My Mom and Dad had a wood cook stove about 30 years ago (it was in a house they bought) and they cooked on it and also baked in it. The only complaint they had was that it heated the house up too much in the summer. They live in Idaho, an hour below the Canadian border, so it is snow country. They still have a wood stove and use it in the winter, especially when the power is off.

Alternate Power Sources---Bicycles

Have you ever wondered how you would wash your clothes if the power was out for an extended period of time? About 35 years ago I made a photo-copy of a line drawing showing a bicycle that had the back wheel removed, then the bike was placed on a stand (a stationary bike). A belt replaced the chain and was connected from the bike to a washing machine. Pedaling the bike made the gears move, thus the clothes were washed. That picture has since disappeared, but the concept is still the same.

There are other ways to wash clothes. My youngest son lived in a poor part of Mexico City for two years and had to use a concrete washboard to wash his clothes (this was about 18 years ago). I think that would be a harsh way to wash clothes.

There is a James Hand Washer, where you rock the unit back and forth to create the washing motion. There is a wringer at one end of the unit to remove most of the water from the clothing. These washers can easily be found on the internet.

The "Wonder Washer" is a table-top container that you put the clothes, water and soap into, then hand crank it. The pressure builds up and forces the soapy water into the fibers and the turning helps release the dirt. This can be put in a car that will be moving, which will wash the clothes for you. These can also easily be found on the internet.

A 5-gallon bucket, clean plunger, and a mop wringer is another way to wash clothes. Even a washboard would work, although I think a wooden one would be better than concrete one! Doing the wash by hand is hard on the hands, arms and back, but it has been done for centuries.

Alternate Power Sources---Solar Ovens

Last spring I bought a solar oven and have used it several times. It works great! Cooking time is not as crucial, you can leave food in the cooker longer than usual and it won't burn. A solar oven will cook almost anything a regular oven will cook.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can go here to find how to make several different kinds of inexpensive solar ovens. If you have way too much time on your hands and are looking for a fun solar oven project, go here. Scroll down on this webpage to find information on using a solar oven in the winter, and what kinds of pots are best to solar cook in.

Alternate Power Sources---Candle Power

I was curious about candle power and what a foot-candle was. I found this explanation easy (and kind of fun) to understand:

"This one's simple. Get a birthday cake candle. Get a ruler. Stick the candle on one end of the ruler. Light the candle. Turn out the lights. Sing Happy Birthday to Doc. It was his 47th on the 23rd. OK, quiet down. Enough of that nonsense. One foot-candle of light is the amount of light that birthday cake candle generates one foot away.

That's a neat unit of measurement. Why? Say you have a lamp. You are told it produces 100 foot candles of light. That means at one foot from the lamp, you will receive 100 foot candles of light."

[From The LED Light]

Alternate Power Sources---Candles

For the rest of this month we will be taking a look at alternate power sources.

We often use candles to light up birthday cakes, to set a romantic mood, to meditate, and to scent a room--but, there is more to them than that. Candles are important for an emergency source of light. Anita Evangelista has some interesting things to say about candles in her book, "How To Live Without Electricity--And Like It". She says that "you can easily read by the light of two candles, do needlework by the light of three, and can keep a medium-sized room moderately lit with six to eight." Candles can be expensive, but making your own is almost as expensive. So, how do you stock up on candles without breaking your bank account? Yard sales and thrift stores have all different shapes and sizes of candles that are low-cost. Anita finds them at these places for 5-10 cents apiece. Make sure that the candle holders are not made of unprotected wood, as they can burn. Keep a plate under burning candles to catch their drips, which can be melted down and made into new candles. Clear glass chimneys placed around candles will help them burn a little longer and flicker less.

"Benefits of Candles: Easy to use, inexpensive if you shop around, familiar, the light is tolerable.
Drawbacks of Candles: Wax drips, soot, smoke, fire danger, expensive if bought new."

First Aid Kits---Practice

It's one thing to have a first aid kit, and then it's another to use it. Make sure that everyone in the home knows where the first aid kit is located, and then make sure they all know how to properly use it. Practice many times as a family so that everyone is really familiar with the kits contents and procedures. Sometimes when an emergency happens, our minds will go blank, it's just part of human nature. But, if you have practiced the procedures, then your mind/body will react automatically and take care of the problem.

First Aid Kits---For Cars

A first aid kit for the car can help give you and your passengers a feeling of security, especially when going on a car trip. Food and water would be particularly important if you get stranded in the outer edges of no-where. I have family members that were stranded for a couple of days in deep snow, but they didn't have anything to help improve their situation.

1. Fresh drinking water.
2. Food (nuts, dried fruit, energy bars or cans of liquid nourishment).
3. Waterproof matches and candle.
4. Flashlight.
5. Road Flares.
6. Whistle.
7. Blankets.
8. First Aid Kit.
9. Towel.
10. Collapsible Shovel.
11. Jumper Cables.
12. Cell Phone & charger.
13. Rope.
14. Cutting device (box cutter, pocket knife).
15. Duct tape.
16. Tool kit.
17. Gloves, hat and boots.
18. Chains or traction devices

[A more extensive car emergency kit list can be found here]

First Aid Kits---Cat and Dog Kits

Many of us have cats and dogs that we love, and would hate to see them suffer. Once you get your family first aid kit completed, then you might consider a more specific cat or dog first aid kit. Many of the items are the same as human first aid, but there are a few differences. I don't need a muzzle, but an injured cat or dog might. A dog first aid kit list can be found here, and a cat first aid kit list here.

It is also important to keep our pets shots up to date and have certificates that show this. Certificates can be obtained when your pets are at the veterinarian getting their necessary shots--just request a certificate before you leave. Keeping this paperwork with the pet carriers would help if you had to evacuate quickly. Shelter centers that are set up to house people, may not accept animals; or if they do, they will only take those pets that have the paperwork proving that their shots are current.

Bird First Aid Kit List

Horse First Aid Kit List

First Aid Kits---Snake Bite Kit

During an emergency, some people will move out of the area on foot. If you live in an area where there are poisonous snakes, you might want to include a snake bite kit. What kind is best? According to Wilderness medical experts, snake-bite kits, ice, electric shock treatment, constriction and those tiny kits with razor-sharp blades and miniature rubber suction cups are not safe, and can do much more harm that good when treating for a snake bite. The Sawyer Extractor is the only snake bite kit that is actually acknowledged as useful in certain situations. The recommended first aid? Get the victim to a hospital where antivenin may be given safely.

Not only is The Extractor useful for snake bites, but it is also useful for the bites and stings of bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, fire ants, ticks, scorpions, mosquitoes, spiders, flies, and marine life. The Extractor pump removes the poisons which cause the pain. To use, you simply thrust the plunger downward, using the thumb and two finger's.

The Sawyer Extractor can easily be found on the internet.

First Aid Kits---Bandages

We all know about the regular bandage strips that are commonly used, especially if you have children. There are many different kinds bandages that you should consider to include in your First Aid Kit. This webpage shows other types of bandages and what their uses are.

First Aid Kits---Essentials

This is another list of items that should be included in first aid kits. Select which ones you would like to have in your kit.

• Blood pressure gauge (electronic)
• Stethoscope
• Bandage scissors
• Long tweezers
• 2-locking forceps (1-curved point)
• Disposable scalpels
• Thermometer (oral and rectal)
• Inflatable splints
• Bandages elastic, self adhesive band-aids large compress type with straps.
• Sutures (dissolvable)
• Cotton backed adhesive tape
• Gauze
• Aloe vera burn ointment
• Anti-biotic ointment
• Aspirin
• Rubbing alcohol
• Ipecac syrup (to induce vomiting)
• Container of sterile water (1 qt)
• Clean absorbent cotton rags
• Soap (liquid)
• Long stemmed cotton swabs

[From The Big List]

First Aid Kits---Medications

The Mayo Clinic recommends the following medications be included in a first aid kit:

• Activated charcoal (use only if instructed by your poison control center)
• Anti-diarrhea medication
• Over-the-counter oral antihistamine (Benadryl, others)
• Aspirin and nonaspirin pain relievers (never give aspirin to children)
• Calamine lotion
• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
• Personal medications
• If prescribed by your doctor, drugs to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine (EpiPen)
• Syringe, medicine cup or spoon

[From the Mayo Clinic]

Survival Book

James Wesley, Rawles has written a new book that was just released, How To Survive The End Of The World As We Know It. The book is jam-packed with information that would help anyone in an emergency situation. It is easy to get overwhelmed with what might need to be done to be prepared for an emergency, but this book breaks everything down into do-able pieces. There are likely things he suggests that we have not considered before, that are important to help with survival living--instead of just surviving.

First Aid Kits---Gloves and Masks

If we are dealing with people's injuries during an emergency, then we need to protect ourselves (and them) by wearing gloves and masks. These can easily be found in stores and on the internet, and are usually sold in bulk. The gloves and mask pictured here are disposable, which is important, so that you could help several people and not compromise their health with cross-contamination.

There are many things to consider when purchasing gloves. There are latex and vinyl, so if you have an allergy to one type you can get the other. Some are powdered, which makes it easier to put on and remove; and makes the gloves more comfortable to wear. Others are not powdered, which is more important in a critically sterile environment.

Masks come in several different forms. It depends on what your emergency scenario might be for you to decide which kind of mask you might need--or you could have a variety. Masks can be molded latex or paper, or they could be a cotton pad that wraps around the ears (like in the picture). There is fluid resistance and the bacterial filter efficiency to be considered.

First Aid Kits---Surgical Set

If we are involved with a true, large-scale emergency, you know that some people will be badly injured. A surgical set would be a good addition to your first-aid kit, even if you don't know how to use it. Likely there will be someone that will be able to use your set, to help others, or maybe you or our family. This isn't a normal item in first aid kits, but it might be a lifesaver.

Time To Check Those Kits

If you have previously completed your 72-hour kits, now is a good time to check the contents. This should be done twice a year, to make sure everything is in good order, and that it contains everything you need. As we age, we have different needs. Besides that, it's not the little children that outgrow their clothes--we adults need to make sure our emergency clothes still fit! It would be a sorry state for us to experience an emergency and need those "long-johns", just to find that they fit us about 30 pounds ago, but not now! I have started taking a low-dose aspirin a day, so that is something I need to include in my kit.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, Latter Day Saints, we have our General Conferences twice a year--and this is a good reminder to review our water storage (it needs to be replenished once a year), our food storage, our emergency kits, and our emergency kits. Often we will remove items from our storage or kits and forget to replace them. Or, our children will use items without telling us. Either way, it's good to take inventory and replace outdated items, especially medicines.

First Aid Kits---Celox

You may be thinking, "What in the world is Celox?"

This could very well be a key item for your first aid kit. Celox is a blood clotting substance that is used in the military battle field, so it has been tested extensively and found to work extremely well. It comes in a granular form, in a gauze, and with an applicator. The granular Celox is poured into a wound (the applicator contents is injected into a wound) and will even stop arterial bleeding. The gauze is packed into a wound and stops the bleeding. It doesn't act like human blood-clotting, but creates a gel-like clot that binds to the surface of the red blood cells. It even works if the patient has taken common anti-coagulants like Warfarin and Heparin. Maybe now you can see the importance of Celox! It could save a life. Celox can be found many places on the internet.

First Aid Kits---Containers

The next two weeks we will be covering first aid kits--not the evacuation kit size, but a larger, more encompassing kit. This kit can be taken when traveling by car to a destination or can be used when you are waiting out an emergency at home. There are many things that can be included and the list can seem endless. We will go over some of the items, but the kit will need to be filled with what you deem important.

What kind of container will you use to house you first aid supplies? My son uses several cardboard boxes, the kind you buy at the office supply store and are folded flat. He wrote the contents on the outside of each box so he can find an item quickly. I have a large tackle box that is overflowing, so I need to get a second one. Your kit can be stored in duffel bags, suitcases, boxes, tackle boxes, plastic bins, etc., depending on what you want. Just make sure you can carry the containers to the car if it is necessary to transport it along with your family. Also, be sure to mark the container so that it is easily recognizable as a first aid kit.

Another important item for your first aid kit is to have a master list. I made an Excel spreadsheet to list the items I need, what I have, and the expiration dates of the medicines. It is a simple task to look at the list each month and replace what is expiring.

Evacuation Kits---Defense

This is something we hope won't be needed, but it may be necessary to protect you and your family--a hand gun. A holster of some sort to hold the gun on your person would be important, so that it is handy if there is an urgent need to use it. And, lastly, ammo. The Preparedness Pro suggests 50 rounds of ammo and that sounds like a good number.

This is a picture of my gun and 3 rounds of ammo. It is a 357 Magnum, a "Dirty Harry" gun. I do know how to use it and have shot it many times in competition. I don't have a holster, yet, but I do have a gun cleaning kit.

[PS--I'm a female].

Evacuation Kits--Clothing

There are many different items of clothing that need to be considered when making an evacuation kit. There are items that are needed for rain, heat, cold, colder yet (snow), high wind, and then washing--your body and your clothes. You may be in a group of people, need a bath, and need to maintain a bit of modesty, with only one body of water, such as a lake or river, to get clean in--so a bathing suit would be handy. Other items to consider would be:

--T-shirts
--long sleeved shirts
--shorts
--tough work pants, belt
--light jacket, rain coat, poncho, windbreaker
--socks (lots) [wool would be a good choice]
--sock liner (thin, wicking)
--undergarments
--work boots, boot grease, tennis shoes
--work gloves
--stocking cap [wool would be a good choice]
--bandanna, ski mask, hat
--washcloth, towel
--laundry soap
--plunge clothes washer
--small scrub brush

[List from Utah Preppers]

Evacuation Kits--Shelter, Bedding

A shelter and a sleeping bag are not essential, but will make your nights (and rainy days) away from home more pleasant. This list of shelter and bedding items is from the Utah Preppers website [comments are mine]:

--tent
--blankets
--emergency blankets (mylar)
--cloth sheet
--plastic sheet (placed under tent or sleeping bag)
--wool blanket (keeps you warm even when wet)
--sleeping bag
--foam or inflatable pillow (I have used the hood of my down jacket for a pillow)
--foam sleeping pad (to make the ground more comfortable)
--light throw blanket
--tarps
--tent/pack/bag patches
--stuff/compression bags
--nylon line--100'

What other items might you need for shelter or bedding?

Pectin

Have you been making a lot of jam this summer? Some recipes call for liquid pectin and some call for powdered pectin. What's the difference, and can you use them interchangeably? Those questions are answered in a short post by Jen on her blog, The Hall Family, here.

Self-Reliance

I came across a magazine that surprised me--Popular Mechanics--which has a "self-reliance" issue that is out now. The cover says, "Beyond Survival: How To Live Through Any Disaster--For A Day, A Month Or Forever." It is full of all kinds of information.

Evacuation Kits---Navagation

In the event of an emergency evacuation, maps may be crucial in getting you from point A to point B. Most communities are continually growing, and paving new streets. Current maps are necessary so that you can get where you need to go and avoid obstacles. A GPS may work, but there is a need for maps in case the GPS won't work.

Riverwalker has a great post on his blog, Stealth Survival, about emergency kit maps. He says we need state, county, and city maps, and gives ideas where we can get maps for free. He says, "No matter how familiar you may be with your area there is always the possibility of the stress caused by a disaster or emergency situation that may make it harder for you to remember all the different shortcuts you may be familiar with and a good set of maps will help to eliminate any confusion or problems."

If you use a compass, then a topographical map would be handy. If you don't know how to use a compass, now would be a good time to learn. A Boy Scout could show you, you could learn from a Boy Scout Handbook, or go online. Don't wait until you are under a great deal of stress and then try to figure out how it works.

Vacation Time!

I'm in Sandpoint, Idaho on vacation. I thought I would be able to post each day, but I am finding it difficult to have the time. So, I may not be posting much until I return home late next Tuesday night, Sept. 22. In the mean time--keep prepping!!

Trouble Again

Once again I am having trouble with my internet provider. My computer is slower than dial-up and won't connect to most websites. So, if I miss posting, that will be the problem. Except for Monday, when I will be flying to Idaho--I might not make it online that day!

Seniors or Disabled Emergency Kits

These items are in addition to the Adult Emergency Evacuation Kits.

--Food for special diet needs
--Batteries for hearing aids, wheelchair, etc.
--List of style and serial number of medical devices
--Special supplies: oxygen, catheters, etc.
--Prescriptions for eyeglasses (not older than one year)
--Personal sanitary items (Depends, disposable bags, ties, wipes)
--For guide dogs--a Pet Grab 'n go Bag

[From: Anaheim.net]