Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Food Storage Recipe

Oatmeal Bread
Makes 2 loaves

1/2 cup warm water
2 tbsp. dry yeast
3/4 cup water, boiling
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 cup buttermilk (or 1/3 cup powdered milk, 1 cup water, and 1 tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice) 1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup honey or molasses
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

In small bowl, stir yeast into 1/2 cup warm water; allow to stand until yeast dissolves and bubbles up. In medium saucepan, bring 3/4 cup water to boiling; stir in oats and cook several minutes. Remove from heat; add buttermilk, oil, and honey or molasses.

Sift 2 cups flour, salt, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl. Add yeast mixture and oats mixture and beat with wire whip or slotted spoon; let stand 5 minutes. Gradually add enough of remaining flour until dough is stiff enough for kneading. Turn out onto floured surface and knead 8 to 10 minutes or until a soft, elastic ball forms.

Place dough in clean, greased bowl; cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until double in size, about 1 ½ hours. Punch down dough and divide into two portions; cover with bowl or towel and allow to sit 10 minutes.

Form into loaves and place in greased 8 x 4-inch pans. Cover and let rise until double in size. Bake at 350° to 375° for 45 to 50 minutes or until done. Remove from oven and from pans, and leave on wire rack to cool.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

72 Hour Kit

-This week add garbage bags to your kit.
-This is a great item to add to your pandemic supply as well. Use for all trash and possible contaminated materials.
-Costco has 200 13 gallon bags for $10.
-Bags will be essential for your emergency toilet. You will use these bags inside the 5 gallon bucket.
-I put most of my 72 hr items like clothes, blanket, food, in the backpack or suitcase after I place it in a bag to keep items dry.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Child Safety

Keep Your Child Safe!

-A child goes missing every 40 seconds
-An estimated 114,600 stranger abductions are attempted each year, with 3,000 to 5,000 of these attempts succeeding.
-Teenagers are most frequent victims of stereotypical kidnappings and non-family abductions.
-34% of U.S. parents do not know their child's exact height, weight and eye color.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC):
-The first three hours are most critical when trying to locate a missing child.
-The single most valuable tool in finding a missing child is a good current digital photograph. Create an ID kit for your children -Fill out the info, attach a recent picture, and mark on your calendar 6 mths from now to update it, or sooner if any distinct changes. My daughter recently lost 2 teeth and got a short haircut so she looks different from her recent photo. Sexual exploitation of children is a serious problem, and it may be one of the most underreported crimes.

-An estimated one in five girls and one in ten boys will be sexually victimized before reaching adulthood
-Less than 35% of child sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement
-Just as it’s difficult to pinpoint the number of sexually exploited children, it is also hard to identify potential exploiters. That’s because molesters and sexual offenders come from all walks of life, races, and backgrounds. The dangers to children are greater from someone they or you know, than from "strangers."
-Given all the unknowns it’s important to create an open environment of communication in which your children feel safe to ask questions without shame or judgment. That way they’ll come to you when things aren’t right

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recommends a program called Take 25....take time to teach these 25 things to your children.
-Teach your children their full names, address, and home telephone number. Make sure they know your full name.
-Make sure your children know how to reach you at work or on your cell phone.
-Teach your children how and when to use 911 and make sure your children have a trusted adult to call if they’re scared or have an emergency.
-Instruct children to keep the door locked and not to open the door to talk to anyone when they are home alone. Set rules with your children about having visitors over when you’re not home and how to answer the telephone.
-Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask children how the experience with the caregiver was and listen carefully to their responses.

On the Net
-Learn about the Internet. The more you know about how the Web works, the better prepared you are to teach your children about potential risks. Visit www.NetSmartz.org for more information about Internet safety.
-Place the family computer in a common area, rather than a child’s bedroom. Also, monitor their time spent online and the websites they’ve visited and establish rules for Internet use.
-Know what other access your child may have to the Internet at school, libraries, or friends’ homes.
-Use privacy settings on social networking sites to limit contact with unknown users and make sure screen names don’t reveal too much about your children.
-Encourage your children to tell you if anything they encounter online makes them feel sad, scared, or confused.
-Caution children not to post revealing information or inappropriate photos of themselves or their friends online.

At School
-Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. If your children ride a bus, visit the bus stop with them to make sure they know which bus to take.
-Remind kids to take a friend whenever they walk or bike to school. Remind them to stay with a group if they’re waiting at the bus stop.
-Caution children never to accept a ride from anyone unless you have told them it is OK to do so in each instance.

Out and About
-Take your children on a walking tour of the neighborhood and tell them whose homes they may visit without you.
-Remind your children it’s OK to say NO to anything that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused and teach your children to tell you if anything or anyone makes them feel this way.
-Teach your children to ask permission before leaving home.
-Remind your children not to walk or play alone outside.
-Teach your children to never approach a vehicle, occupied or not, unless they know the owner and are accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other trusted adult.
-Practice "what if" situations and ask your children how they would respond. “What if you fell off your bike and you needed help? Who would you ask?”
-Teach your children to check in with you if there is a change of plans.
-During family outings, establish a central, easy-to-locate spot to meet for check-ins or should you get separated.
-Teach your children how to locate help at theme parks, sports stadiums, shopping malls, and other public places. Also, identify those people who they can ask for help, such as uniformed law enforcement, security guards and store clerks with nametags.
-Help your children learn to recognize and avoid potential risks, so that they can deal with them if they happen.
-Teach your children that if anyone tries to grab them, they should make a scene and make every effort to get away by kicking, screaming, and resisting.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

72 Hr kit Item

It is important to have all of your personal documents safe in a disaster.

Copies of important documents: driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc

It is recommended to put them in a safe to protect them. Also to make copies and send them to someone outside your area. I sent copies of my documents out of state to my sister.

I am obsessed with taking pictures of my kids and capturing all of those moments.I would be devastated if they were lost. My husband jokes that in an emergency I will run back in to save the scrapbooks:) I will be sad to see them destroyed, but they are to heavy to save. But all of those pictures have been saved on discs and kept in the safe as well. I also sent 2nd copies to my sister:)

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Cannery simplified

There aren't too many amazing deals at the grocery stores this week. I am excited becasue I wanted to post my cannery trip this week anyway:)

This is mostly for those who live locally, considering I am refering to the Sandy LDS cannery. but you can click here for directions to a cannery near you.
This is the cannery closest to me and it's info.
Phone
(801) 561-8104
615 East 8400 South in Sandy

So how simple is it?


You simply drive to this location. I get lost most of the time and I found it fine. It is a grey concrete building. Not beautiful by any means, but it fulfills it's purpose:)

They are closed Mondays. Open Tuesday-Friday 9am-9pm and Saturday 9am-5pm ----pretty reasonable.




When you walk in there will be a cute old lady at the desk. She has order forms on that desk that you fill out according to what you want. You can be prepared and have one ready now. I have no idea why they are not more up to date but they can only take checks or exact cash. They ask you to write your ward and stake name on a list, but if you are not a member just say so.


As you finish up paying a cute old man is getting your order ready from the room in the back.

10 minutes later another cute old man loads it in my car.

Simple----100 lbs of grain to add to be my food storage for only $31. I was done in 10 minutes PLUS I had my 3 kids under 5 years old with me! I didn't feel the least bit stressed out during my cannery experience. A trip to walmart NEVER takes 10 minutes with kids and always stresses me out:)


What do I do now? I choose to get my food in bulk because it is cheaper. 25 lbs of red wheat in the bulk is $6.05. If I was to get 24 lbs of red wheat in the individual cans it would cost $11.80.

I personally think it is a pain to store all of those cans. I have either 5 gallon buckets or rubbermaid totes I store it in. I like that I can fill it up with more, less containers to move around, and stack nicely. A 5 gallon bucket that you can get for $4 on a Macey's sale holds one-25 lb bag. My 10 gallon totes hold 50 lbs. In Utah there is little moisture and this works for us and keeps any vermin out. Store your items such as wheat, flour, sugar, oats in cool, dry place. I have limited storage space but avoid the garage at all costs. I have food under dressers and beds, and in closets:

Another option: Buy it in bulk and stay and can it yourself. I was told you can no longer bring in your own food to can, but must buy it right then to can. As long as you are not a huge group you don't have to make an appointment to can your food. You will pay for the price of the food and will need a can, metal lid, plastic lid, moisture absorber--about $1 for each can you do.

Another option: Buy the supplies and rent the canner. You can "rent" it for free for 24 hours and do all of your canning at home. This works best when you get a large group of friends and family and set it up in your garage. Talk amongst yourselves if this is what you want to do and set a date:)

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Food Storage Recipe for your BBQ

This recipe was taken from one of my favorite sites Deals to Meals

Baked Beans (food storage recipe)
3 28 oz. Cans of baked beans (or 5-6 cans pork & Beans)
1 medium green bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
½ c. Worcestershire sauce
½ c. brown sugar
½ c. favorite BBQ sauce or ketchup
2 T. mustard
1 lb. bacon (optional)

Sauté bacon until crispy. Drain most of the grease from the pan. Add the onions and green pepper. Saute until tender. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer in pot for 30 minutes. If needs more kick add Tabasco or red pepper flakes. This recipe makes a lot! You can 1/2 this recipe if needed.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Declared a Global Pandemic...

In the World news...The World Health Organization declared Swine flu a global pandemic on June 11th. The first in 41 years, so I guess we are making history. Read more on MSNBC. Yes, it is considered mild and not deadly at this time but considered unstoppable to prevent spreading. We are advised to be vigilant for the next year or more as some may expect a 2nd and more deadly wave of the sickness.

Our State...Out of 50 states, Utah is number 8 on the list of having the most cases--688 cases. Wisconsin being number 1.

Even more local... I went to the doctor this morning at 11 am for back problems and my doctor told me he already had 2 positive cases that morning. 24 confirmed last week in his office alone. 4 out of his 6 children have already had it. My neighbor down the street has it. Since a student at my daughters preschool was diagnosed, he advised it wasn't worth going the last week and risk her getting sick. It is not deadly at this point but is certainly not pleasant to have. Watch for fever, runny nose, cough, basically flu-like symptoms. I am not in panic mode but have reached the mode that my kids will take a break from McDonalds play land:)

I thought this article entitled "Why is Swine Flu such a Big deal" was informative as well.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

What about the kids?

Well for those of you who have kids, and not pets, maybe we should figure out what they need. They need something to keep their mind off of the disaster around them. I know there are some that say in an emergency the kids will learn to deal with it. Who says they will though? In CERT training the last class is learning how to help the victims, witnesses as well as the rescuers after a disaster. We take care of them physically with food, water and clothing, but emotionally they will be going through a lot. This is one reason why it is suggested to have soft blanket in their kit as well.



Think of entertainment. You need a way to keep their mind off of what may be going on around them. In my kids packs I put in a coloring book, colored pencils, picture book, bag of marbles, a Polly Pocket, action figure, etc. You don't have to pack up the play room- just a couple items that they enjoy. I also included a small sandwich bag with hard candies, chewing gum, and some snacks like fruit snacks, granola bars,cheese and cracker pack, etc. This is seperate from my 72 hours meals and intended to be comfort food if we had to evacuate.



In an adult pack you can pack a notebook and pen, book, etc. You may want to journal the events around you to remember later, pass time at an evacuation center or to keep your mind busy. Grown adults can suffer from emotional trauma after an event and it is important to take care of yourself.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Swine flu update and sale

In the event of a pandemic, N-95 respirator masks would be important to have. I hope we never see a pandemic of the swine flu---but wouldn't it be nice to know you were prepared just in case. You may never need your 72 hr kit or your life insurance, but it is all "just in case".

Do your research on swine flu, the pandemic of 1918 , swine flu in your area and what you would need in your home.

The pandemic of 1918 began mild in late spring and put a lot of people in bed feeling sick but tolerable. By fall, the sickness mutated and approx 50 million died. 2 mths later it was wiped out like it never came.

Utah had it's first case diganosed May 2nd--I remember because those individuals were in Park City and I was going there the next day. Less than 6 weeks later our numbers are 688 diagnosed swine flu case and 2 deaths. My daughters' preschool sent a note home today informing us a student in her class was diagnosed with swine flu. Class will continue but precautions have been taken and children are being watched closely.


When do you need to use a respirator? These are n-95 respirator masks, not just regualr face masks. One common mistake in 1918 was to make it a law to wear masks---but these masks did nothing to filter the airborne particles. If you and your family was quarantined at home for 3 mths you would not need to wear a mask unless you were a caretaker for a sick individual. It would be necessary if you were to go into a large crowd. My husband is a mailman and there is a swine flu case in his office. He is told that masks and gloves may soon be required. Kind of makes me wonder what the mailman could be coughing on to my mail:(

Harbor freight is having a weekend sale on n-95 masks--2 piece for $.99. You can also order a pack of 20 masks for $14.95 from Emergency Essentials.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

What about Tito?

Do you have a 72 hr kit for your pets?
In a disaster you might not think of anything but making sure you and your children are safe. If you are a pet owner though, most of you consider your pets as a member of your family. As for me, if I had to choose between my child and my Chihuahua, there is no contest. But...if I could do both I will certainly try to do my best for my dog's safety as well.
As for the tadpole, turtle, and snails-they can fend for themselves:)

This is Tito (named after the Chihuahua on Oliver and Company:)

I figured out how much he eats and drinks each day and put in enough for 3 days. Luckily my little guy doesn't have much to store:) A disaster may be stressful for a pet as well, so a bone or a favorite toy would be good to calm him.

- It is also recomended to have a pet carrying case so it will have shelter if you needed to evacuate. Pets will not be allowed inside a evacuation shelter. You may even have a small tent for your pet to put outside of the shelter. As for my 7 lb dog, I have a box with a soft blanket and a rope.
-Apparently they have backpacks specifically for dogs to carry their own stuff-Mostly for medium and larger dogs--Tito would fall over:) The design doesn't look too complicated, so I am sure you could even save money and create something on your own. I just carry Tito's supplies in my bag.
-Small plastic bags are good for picking up after any waste.
-An emergency blanket may also be a good idea---those silver ones.
-It all depends on what kind of pet owner you are now. If you dress up your dog and it sleeps with you each night then you may want to include his favorite sweater and a pillow:)
-Others may think the last thing on your mind will be your pet. Keep in mind, if you are at home and living off of your storage, will you be sharing your food with your dog or starving him.... Eating your food storage will most likely make him sick, but it will also take valuable resources meant for your family. Buy an extra bag of food next time, so you can feel confident you have 72 hours of food for him as well as a longer term supply.

On ready.gov they advise a plan:
Consider family or friends willing to take in you and your pets in an emergency. Other options may include: a hotel or motel that takes pets or a boarding facility, such as a kennel or veterinary hosp ital that is near an evacuation facility or your family 's meeting place. Find out before an emergency happens if any of these facilities in your area might be viable options for you and your pets.
Develop a buddy system. Plan with neighbors, friends or relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so. Talk with your pet care buddy about your evacuation plans and show them where you keep your pet's emergency supply kit. Also designate specific locations,one in your immediate neighborhood and another farther away, where you will meet in an emergency



Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Food Storage Recipe







Ingredients: Canned Chicken, Mayonnaise or equivalent, Craisins, Almonds or other favorite nut




Drain your chicken and place in a bowl. Take two forks and shred the chicken.




Now add some mayo. I add a little spoonful at a time and mix around until its a nice salad consistency.




Add some salt and pepper here too.




Stir in the craisins, or you could use raisins, and add the almonds .


Make yourself a sandwich or eat it plain.