Todays Preps 06-19-09 to 07-25-09

Milk

Whole milk, soy milk, condensed milk, powdered milk, evaporated milk, UHT milk.....  

For prepping I like UHT milk.  The UHT stands for ultra high temperature.  Since they pasteurize it at such a high temp. it has a long shelf-life unrefrigerated.  Not as long as powdered milk which I stock for longer range.  But it tastes so much better.

The exp. dates on UHT are usually 4 to 6 months from when you buy it.  I find that after about 8 to 10 months at room temperature it starts to have quality issues. Curds start to form.  Unlike sour milk curds these taste flavorless or milk flavored, so you only notice the texture.  This will not be a problem if you remember to rotate your preps.  The curds did not make me sick.

UHT milk is more expensive then regular milk but not too much more if you shop around.  I get the permalat brand, 1 quart size, at my super WalMart.  It's in the flour aisle.  At Krogers it can be a dollar or more, higher.  

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 16:33:24 PM UTC

You still have to rotate it. I'm a dry milk kidna gal ;-)

Dry milk is very versatile.  I also like canned evap milk for the same reason.  I know the "substitute ingredient" thread is still around.  It has lots of good ideas in it for using all the various kind of milk subs for different things.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

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by: KathyinFL @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 19:22:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I love evap!

It tastes better, even watered down, than the reconstituted powder, I think. And the calorific value (660 per 1/3 pint) makes it one of the most useful items in my store.  

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by: Ruby Murray @ Sat Jul 11, 2009 at 23:36:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Substitution thread ... found it

Here's the thread we were running on ingredient substitution just in case anyone is interested:

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/dia...


Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

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by: KathyinFL @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 19:24:42 PM UTC

Any KathyinFL thread is a good thread!

You have never 'met' me - but your diaries/posts/threads are what got me 'unfrozen' & acting! We're somewhere between 6 & 9 months prepped, with holes still getting filled as quick as I can get 'em. But ... with guidance, info & reassurance from reading you I've learned to can, dehydrate, substitute, make do, & make it myself (on a verrry slim shoestring!) in the course of the last year! Not too bad, old dogs=tricks=me, w/lottsa late nights! Canning! Now, that took some doing. When Bronco send out the 'this is not a warning' email - 1st person I scanned for was you, & was so pleased when you showed up. I love the medical people we have here (& have learned so much from them!) - but I identified w/the mom figure 1st. That helped to make all 'this' less overwhelming, & let me begin to take my baby prepping steps while feeling not so 'stranger in a strange land' (I HOPE that makes sense!). KathyinFL showed that there is a place here for all & all have their own strengths to contribute ... so Thank You!

(1st 'fan letter' I've written in mannnny years - but I couldn't resist the impulse to tell you ... you've helped tremendously!)

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by: ebayfool @ Fri Jun 19, 2009 at 23:12:09 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thank you ebayfool

I "came out of my shell" and wet my feet at the old yeller forum.  It was simply finding my path and where I could contribute to repay all the knowledge that I was gaining from the people in other areas.

I am very glad that I've helped others over the years.  

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

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by: KathyinFL @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 01:03:52 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You are right ebayfool....

KathyinFL has produced some of my favorties diaries. I miss seeing you post Kathy!

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 01:44:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The Fluwiki Food Goddess

I have a whole "cook book" I call Meals From The Pantry, (that I've made copies of for many people in the past few weeks.) that is made up almost completely from KathyinFL diary posts!!!
Seriously, when we come out on the other side of a pandemic, or economic collapse, or any other terrible thing that could cause us to SIP for a long time, I think KathyinFl will have saved many lives.

ROCK ON Kathy! or maybe that should be COOK ON, or CAN ON.

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by: cinda @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:41:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Shelf life

Be sure to rotate your preps.  Sometimes there is no date on the can, but instead, there are a bunch of indecipherable numbers and/or letters.  Use this site to demistify.
Canned Good Shelf Life And Stamped Code Decoder
http://www.y2kkitchen.com/html...


To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 18:10:59 PM UTC

demystify n/t

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 18:11:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Longer-Term Storage-30 Years or More

http://providentliving.org/con...
Properly packaged, low-moisture foods stored at room temperature or cooler (75°F/24°C or lower) remain nutritious and edible much longer than previously thought according to findings of recent scientific studies. Estimated shelf life for many products has increased to 30 years or more (see chart for new estimates of shelf life). Previous estimates of longevity were based on "best-if-used-by" recommendations and experience. Though not studied, sugar, salt, baking soda (essential for soaking beans), and vitamin C in tablet form also store well long-term. Some basic foods do need more frequent rotation, such as vegetable oil every 1 to 2 years.

While there is a decline in nutritional quality and taste over time, depending on the original quality of food and how it was processed, packaged, and stored, the studies show that even after being stored long-term, the food will help sustain life in an emergency.
http://providentliving.org/con...

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 18:45:09 PM UTC

How About Dry Eggs?

Was there any information on the shelf life of dry eggs.  I have lots of eggs!!  The "shelf" life given is 5-7 years.

I have a basement that is 60 degrees most of the year and only gets to 70 in the summer.

My eggs are my biggest concern.

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by: FluMom @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 05:02:05 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

National Center For Home Food Preservation

KathyinFL should be on staff here:
http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/quest...

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 18:56:29 PM UTC

Cooking old dry beans

How do I cook old dry beans?

The longer dry beans are stored, the longer they may take to cook. First, sort and rinse the beans. For each cup of beans, bring 3 cups of water to boil, add the beans to the boiling water, and boil for two minutes. Next, add 3/8 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) for each cup of beans, cover, and soak for 1 hour or more. More baking soda may be required for older beans. Next, drain and rinse the beans thoroughly, cover with water, bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 1-2 hours or until tender. Do not add salt or other ingredients until the beans have softened adequately.

Hat tip: Provident Living

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Sat Jun 20, 2009 at 19:06:11 PM UTC

Storing in buckets

Plastic buckets may be used to store food commodities that are dry (about 10 percent moisture or less) and low in oil content. Only buckets made of food-grade plastic with gaskets in the lid seals should be used. Buckets that have held nonfood items should not be used.

To prevent insect infestation, dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide) should be used to treat grains and dry beans stored in plastic buckets. Treatment methods that depend on the absence of oxygen to kill insects, such as oxygen absorbers or nitrogen gas flushing, are not effective in plastic buckets. Avoid exposing food to humid, damp conditions when packaging them.

Dry Ice Treatment Instructions

1. Use approximately one ounce of dry ice per gallon (7 grams per liter) capacity of the container. Do not use dry ice in metal containers of any kind or size because of the potential for inadequate seals or excessive buildup of pressure.

2. Wear gloves when handling dry ice.

3. Wipe frost crystals from the dry ice, using a clean dry towel.

4. Place the dry ice in the center of the container bottom.

5. Pour the grain or dry beans on top of the dry ice. Fill the bucket to within one inch (25 mm) of the top.

6. Place the lid on top of the container and snap it down only about halfway around the container. The partially sealed lid will allow the carbon dioxide gas to escape from the bucket as the dry ice sublimates (changes from a solid to a gas).

7. Allow the dry ice to sublimate completely before sealing the bucket. Feel the bottom of the container to see if the dry ice is all gone. If the bottom of the container is very cold, dry ice is still present.

8. Monitor the bucket for a few minutes after sealing the lid. If the bucket or lid bulges, slightly lift the edge of the lid to relieve pressure.

9. It is normal for the lid of the bucket to pull down slightly as a result of the partial vacuum caused when carbon dioxide is absorbed into the product.
Storage of Plastic Buckets

• Store plastic buckets off the floor by at least ½ inch (1.3 cm) to allow air to circulate under the bucket.

• Do not stack plastic buckets over three high. If buckets are stacked, check them periodically to ensure that the lids have not broken from the weight.

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 18:20:27 PM UTC

bucket storage

Do you know what number it has to say on the buckets to be food storage safe?

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by: DebP @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 10:15:50 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

plastic numbers

the number inside the triangle

1, 2, 4, and 5  are safe

3, 6, and 7 may break down when heated or longtime use.  

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 16:41:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks

 I just got a couple of buckets with the 2 on them, and I wanted to make sure they are safe.

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by: DebP @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 22:45:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

DebP, Oremus, food-grade-buckets question:

Someone posted a while back that those numbers only refer to the type of plastic for recycling purposes.  The number 2 doesn't guarantee that it's food quality, unfortunately.  You have to ask the manufacturer, I think.  

For example, if the bucket has been made of recycled plastic, would it say so?  We don't know if its previous content was paint or plaster or something else that may leave a residue.  We were told that the buckets from Hansen, I think is the company name, from a big-box store (Home Depot?) were food-safe.  Don't know if they still are, though.

I suppose if you line them with mylar bags, it wouldn't matter, though, would it?  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Mon Sep 14, 2009 at 01:50:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Prep Library

Got a new book for my library.  

Mary Bell's Complete Dehydrator Cookbook
by Mary Bell

I've already given several of the recipes in it a try like Fruited Hominy Grits and Dried Fruit Relish.  I also made the dried Yogurt Pudding Cookies and didn't get a single one because hubby and kids got to them first.

It has directions for drying bacon which is pretty cool though a shorter term shelf item obviously.  And found a recipe for using my dried corn to make cornbread.  Gotta hurry up and do something with all that corn now that my husband has been diagnosed with diverticula and can't have a lot of his favorite foods (such as said corn) that I had previously stocked up on.

Side note:  for those with diverticula, diverticulitis, and diverticulosis I found out a neat thing.  While they can't have corn per se they can have hominy because even though it is corn, its corn that has had the husk soaked off of it.  Guess what I'm placing all my whole kernel corn supplies with now?

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead

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by: KathyinFL @ Thu Jun 25, 2009 at 17:01:43 PM UTC

Botany Ballet and Dinner from Scratch - book about local foods, cooking, preserving

Leda Meredith lived in Greece, traveled in Brazil, now in a NYC apartment and still eats local foods (has jars under her bed because, as she says, you have to preserve the food when it's available if you're going to eat locally).  

Meredith's journey goes beyond New York to include her own old-world family vignettes and recipes as well as glimpses into other cultures she has visited as a ballet dancer on tour, and as a botanist. Always personal, with dry wit that does not wax "preachy," she explores the ecological losses entailed by transporting food from long distances, as well as the surprisingly delicious power of local cuisine. Her conclusion: "Why eat local? Because saving the world tastes good."

http://www.amazon.com/Botany-B...

Good reviews at link.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Fri Jun 26, 2009 at 16:59:27 PM UTC

Honeyville sale

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/
Many preppers know Honeyville.  I've bought my powdered eggs and oxygen absorber there.  They email me their specials. Here is the latest.

From Thursday, July 9th, 2009 thru Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 we're offering 10% off of everything in your cart (except for our already low flat-rate shipping cost of $4.49).  Just order as usual and enter the coupon code FREEDOM during checkout.  The coupon code field is on the second page of the checkout process.  Enter the FREEDOM code, click the APPLY button to the right and the savings will automatically be calculated for you.


To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 14:04:47 PM UTC

THANKS!

Thank you, Oremus!  I am a recent Honeyville convert and my family love, love, loves it...

I have to order more cheese and butter...one of each to store and one of each to shake on popcorn. Yum...

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by: kristikaylene @ Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 14:10:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Instructions please!

Powdered butter and powdered cheese to shake on popcorn? Really?  That sounds heavenly!  

How do you do it? I'm picturing clumps of dried stuff on top of popcorn...    

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by: KimD @ Sat Jul 11, 2009 at 18:17:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Powdered Cheese on Popcorn

We sprinkle the powdered cheese on popcorn all the time. It's not clumpy, and adds extra nutrition. Yummy!

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by: tjclaw1 @ Sun Jul 12, 2009 at 12:51:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

on popcorn

The stuff from Honeyville is a very fine powder...we just sprinkle it on the hot popcorn and toss it a bit.  It doesn't clump at all...sometimes we will get a little energetic with the shaker and end up with a layer of the powder at the bottom.  DD12 thinks that is a treat and licks it up with her fingers! ;-)

It is really quite heavenly...

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by: kristikaylene @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 01:51:54 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Also...

We have tried using Butter Buds, Molly McButter and the special (expensive!) popcorn toppings from the store-- the Honeyville powdered butter and cheese works better than any of them.  The others seem to require a much larger amount to get any flavor-- maybe they have lots of fillers?

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by: kristikaylene @ Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 01:53:40 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Spam

E-Mail Warning

If you receive an email from the Department of Health telling you not to eat
tinned pork because of swine flu, ignore it.

It's just Spam.  

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Thu Jul 16, 2009 at 08:39:02 AM UTC

Have you inventoried your preps?

How much preps do you really have?  It looks like a lot doesn't it.  Looks can be deceiving.  

I use a spreadsheet to inventory my preps. I include the caloric content in the data so I can gauge how many 2000 cal/day rations I have stored.  Fish, deer, and vegetables from the garden are bonus.

Others calculate with different methods (meal plans, MRE's, etc.)

Here is a Food Storage Calculator

It is pretty basic (grains & beans) needed after you enter number of people and length of SIP.  It will give a pretty daunting amount needed if grains and beans were all you prepped.

Additional preps of other items (chocolate, spam, tuna, peanut butter etc.) will reduce the amount of grains needed, which is why I do a calorie count.

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Fri Jul 17, 2009 at 22:19:07 PM UTC

Thread continued here

http://www.newfluwiki2.com/dia...

To calm the wife buy cases of chocolate, to calm the husband buy cases of booze, and to calm the children...... heck the booze and chocolate should work.

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by: Oremus @ Sun Jul 26, 2009 at 13:40:06 PM UTC