Happy Halloween!

Twice Blessed - Donating Food Storage

Do you have cans or cases of food nearing expiration? Don't let it go to waste - donate it to a local food bank. Not only will you have had the peace of mind knowing that you had food available on your shelf, but you will also bless others who are now in need.

This would also be a good time to re-evaluate your family's likes and dislikes as you replenish your storage. I over-estimated how much chili my family would eat the last time I purchased an entire case. As the expiration date draws near, I'm making plans to make a donation to my local food bank before it expires. No guilt, no waste - twice blessed.

For information about Utah Food Bank Services, go here.

Pear Freezer Jam Tutorial

If you're canning pears, be sure to set some fresh pears aside to make this delicious jam. (Even if you're not canning pears, go buy some fresh pears and try making it.) It's gotta be my favorite!

BALL SIMPLE CREATIONS
NO COOK PEAR FREEZER JAM

4 cups crushed fresh pears

(peel pears and remove seeds before crushing)

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 (1.59 oz.) pkg. Ball Simple Creations No Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin

5 (8 oz.) glass or plastic freezer jars

1. Stir sugar and contents of package in a bowl until well blended.

2. Stir in 4 cups crushed fruit. Stir 3 minutes longer.

3. Ladle jam into clean jars to fill line. Twist on lids. Let stand until thickened, about 30 minutes.

4. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for up to one year.

Makes 5 (8 oz.) half pints.

Ball has created a demonstration on how to make strawberry freezer jam. You can see it at: http://www.freshpreserving.com/pages/quick___easy_videos/33.php

Principles of Self-Reliance

While going for a walk the other day, I listened to a talk given by Silvia H. Allred entitled, "Principles of Self-Reliance" on my mp3 player. Today I decided to look it up on the internet and found a pdf of her talk. If you'd like to read it in its entirety, click here.

She has personally experienced an unexpected family tragedy as a child, the financial collapse of Argentina in 1989, and "the devastating effects of earthquakes in El Salvador and Chile." She said, "These events have taught me to follow the counsel of our leaders about living the principles of self-reliance."

"There are many other types of adversities we might encounter in the normal course of our lives, such as loss of a job, accidents, divorce, health problems, death, etc. Those who prepare are blessed in the present and will be blessed if adversity comes.

"Family preparedness is a well-established welfare principle, and women are instrumental in family preparedness. We prepare for difficult times. We prepare for the day of scarcity. We put away for emergencies. We save for a rainy day."

Some other highlights from her talk:

Personal and Family Finances -

"The two overriding principles of sound financial management are: first, live within your means, and second: save for a rainy day.

"What does it mean to live within your means, and how do you do it? It simply means to ensure that your expenses are less than your income." ...

"The second principle is to save for a rainy day. Keep in mind that small sums saved regularly, over time, compound into large sums of money. Financial advisors agree that saving at least 10 percent of your income will provide flexibility and security in your future." ...

Home Storage -

"We have been advised to acquire and store a reserve of basic food and water that will sustain our lives during difficult times or in emergencies. By following this counsel, we will help protect ourselves if adversity comes. Through careful planning and faithful efforts, we can gradually store a supply of food according to our circumstances."

"Begin modestly by purchasing a few extra items of food that are part of your normal family diet. You can do it when you do your normal grocery shopping. Take advantage of items that are on sale. Here are just a few other ideas:

• Complete a three-day supply of basic food items and then build your storage to a one-week supply.
• Gradually increase it until you have a one-month supply, two month supply, three-month supply.
• Consider items that will keep and store well, such as wheat, beans, rice and canned goods.
• Concentrate on essentials.
• Create a rotating system to avoid spoilage.
• Water should be stored in leak-proof containers and should be kept away from heat sources.
• Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit for each family member and keep them within easy reach.
• Be prudent. Don’t go to extreme measures to store food. Be obedient and faithful, and God will sustain you through trials."

Physical Health -

"The state of our health affects every facet of our lives: our feeling of well-being, our attitudes, our social interactions and our service to others.

"Habits that contribute to our physical health are:

• Eating nutritious meals.
• Exercising regularly.
• Getting adequate sleep.
• Practicing hygiene and sanitation.
• Avoiding substance abuse."

She concludes with:

"To be self-reliant in all these, we should:

• Assess current circumstances.
• Set realistic goals.
• Identify available resources.
• Make specific plans to reach goals, and follow such plans.

"I know that sound personal and family financial management, home storage, and physical health will be a great blessing to our families. Being self-reliant increases our ability to serve others, to assist the needy, and to give support and understanding to the emotionally-starved. Through righteous living, gospel study, and loving family relationships, we can achieve self–reliance and family preparedness, which will help us solve many of life’s problems." ...

I appreciate her words of wisdom. Thank you Sister Allred!

(Source: Silvia H. Allred, "Principles of Self-Reliance," May 1, 2008)

Free Produce - Everybody Wins!

Sara at The Pantry Panel shares some great ideas on how to preserve fruit that would otherwise go to waste.

"Many yards, especially in older neighborhoods, have fruit trees with fruit that go to waste because it is never picked. Many of us would like to preserve fruit, but either don't have fruit trees, or our fruit trees are too young to bear fruit. Is there a way to make a connection between unwanted fruit and people who want to preserve it? ...

• Keep your eyes open. Look for fruit trees around town, especially trees that have started to drop ripe fruit. This is a sign that the tree's owner may not be using the fruit.
• Be prepared. Look trustworthy and well groomed; these people may be trusting you to be in their yard. Bring ladders, gloves, and boxes or buckets.
• Knock and ask in such a way that they do not feel pressured to say yes. Never steal!
• Leave the yard cleaner than you found it. It's nice to put overripe fruit into a pile so it's easier for them to clean up after the overripe fruit."

Read the complete post here.

(Source: Sara, The Pantry Panel, "Finding Fruit with April", October 9, 2008)

Join the "FOOD STORAGE TELL-A-THON"

Liesa Card, author of "I Dare You to Eat It", has another great idea:

"So here’s the challenge. Beyond chatting about provident living tips and recipes, I invite you, and every single one of you, to please help someone else get started on designing and building their food storage. Just look around. Think about your family, friends, and neighbors. Pray for inspiration and then start offering to assist others in their steps towards preparedness.

And here are the rules:

1. Everything counts. You could take someone to the cannery and just be an extra set of hands. Teach others how to cook with food storage. Or, simply help them purchase their food storage online. Create opportunities and pay it forward.

2. Share your story. Long or short, and everything in between, I hope you’ll TELL your story of action taken and contribute to an endless variety of good ideas. If you think this tell-a-thon idea has merit, please teeeeeeell others and invite them to join us.

3. Don’t get discouraged. I get turned down all the time. If you are sincere about helping, and stay focused, I bet you’ll find success.

Now we have to have a poster child, or two. Meet Luke and Candee.

We’ve only gotten to know each other during the last few months but when we invited them to eat dinner at our house, Candee told us that she wanted to get going on her food storage. (!) We casually offered to help…and desperately hoped that they would give us the chance.

A few weeks went by and then Candee mentioned it to me again. (This almost never happens.) I repeated my original offer and encouraged her to choose the date and time. About a week later, the four of us met at the cannery right after work and knocked out sixteen cases of food storage, 6 for them and 10 for us, in just over one hour. And we had fun! I was so happy for this young couple as they loaded their small car and drove home with 25% of their long-term storage done. I don’t think they have tons of extra money, and I know they don’t have any extra space, but they made it happen. That’s very cool.

A couple of things I learned, again, from this experience with Luke and Candee: Having your own food storage brings peace. That’s wonderful. Helping others with their food storage brings JOY, and that’s even better. I hope you’ll give it a try!

Liesa, out"

(Source: http://www.idareyoutoeatit.com/2009/07/food-storage-tell-a-thon)

Real Life - Living It

Because we can learn so much from each other, Monday's posts will be "Real Life -- Living It" featuring a guest post.

Waste not, want not! Being resourceful can help you save precious dollars that need be spent elsewhere. Bellen shared a great idea in the comment section of yesterday's post for using zucchini. Thanks for sharing Bellen!

"When the zucchini outpaces my recipes and our taste for it, I make "Zucchini Milk". Found this recipe many years ago in a little cookbook from Current Cards.

Peel (or not), seed (or not), cut in chunks and puree in blender or food processor. Freeze in 1 cup (or whatever measure you use most in your recipes). To use, defrost, stir well and use instead of liquid in your muffin/quick bread recipe. Or use as a soup base, add to spaghetti sauce, etc.

If you don't peel, your 'milk' will have a green color but a little more fiber. Usually I don't peel or seed but that's because by the time I'm making 'milk' I just want to get rid of the zucchini as fast as I can."

(Source: Bellen)

Got Zucchini?

LOW FAT ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 1/4 tablespoons dry powdered milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup shredded zucchini, packed
1 tablespoon lemon zest (optional)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup raisins OR chocolate chips (optional)
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper cases or spray pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together flour, dry powdered milk, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and sugar. In a medium bowl, combine zucchini, lemon zest, canola oil, egg and water, stirring well.

Make a well in the dry ingredients; add zucchini mixture, raisins (or chocolate chips) and pecans. Stir until just moist. Do not over mix. Spoon batter into muffin cups. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

OTHER ZUCCHINI RECIPES:
Baked Stuffed Zucchini
Chocolate Zucchini Country Cake
Confetti Zucchini
Egg-Fried Zucchini Crisps
Italian Zucchini Crescent Pie
Three Cheese Garden Pizza
Zucchini Bread
Zucchini Casserole
Zucchini Drop Cookies
Zucchini Garden Chowder
Zucchini Oatmeal Cookies
Zucchini Pancakes