Stockpiling Homemade Style (UPDATED)

I don't know about all of you but my recipes never turn out exactly like the ones I post about. If you are a new cook/baker my recommendation is to stick to the recipes. If you have been cooking a long time..(like me) then I usually use the recipes as a base for what I am making. The recipe for cream of chicken soup below is a great way to get started. I used my fresh stock broth and I didn't use as much milk as they said. I also used clear jel as a thickening agent. (Tip: if you can find clear jel get it. It is wonderful in all types of foods). I didn't have all the spices they suggested so I used what I had and it came out wonderful. So don't be afraid to try some variations on the recipes. If it doesn't work try something different next time.

I have been extra busy lately preparing food for the family and getting things in the freezer. I told you about a great local store near me that has good prices on fruits, veggies and meats. I usually use the Amish butcher for my meat but lately they have had better cuts of beef for better prices. Today I got 20 lbs. of ground sirloin for 2.29 a pound. I also got 10 pounds of chicken breasts (boneless) for a little over a 1.00 a pd. So what did I make today?

I made a big batch of tater tot casserole. We ate half tonight and the other half is lunch tomorrow. I made sloppy Joe's for dinner tomorrow night. Everyone has crazy schedules tomorrow. I browned and froze about 6 pounds of taco seasoned meat. I made up four 1 pound meatloaves and froze those as well. I have about 5 pounds of beef left which I will probably just brown and freeze tomorrow.

Chicken I slow simmer all day to get a wonderful homemade broth. I am going to make homemade cream of chicken soup tomorrow. See recipe here. I am going to shred most of the chicken tonight yet and freeze it for recipes. I will either freeze the broth or make chicken and noodles this week yet.

My freezer is getting pretty full and I have a few homemade desserts in there as well. Good thing because it looks like I have a belly button hernia and will probably have to have surgery. Hopefully this will be a quick in and out procedure. In Jan. 2008 I went in for two hernias and they ended up having to take care of eight hernias and I was cut from breast to belly button. I was laid up awhile with that and never want to have a repeat.

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Emergency Preparedness Plan

There are lots of sites that talk about getting ready for emergencies, having a kit ready, storing food and so on...I certainly need to get going on this myself but I just never know where to start and now I do. Click on the picture above to go to food storage made easy blog site and you can download a pdf to help you get started.

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Did you know?

There are a lot food storage blogs out there (a few on my side bar) and I think food storage is important for several reasons.

• stockpiling
• saves money
• saves trips to the store (environmentally helpful)
• Emergency preparedness

These are just a few reasons. Sometimes I think maybe they go a little crazy storing enough food for a year, having emergency supplies and so on, and then I think ...what if something were to happen would I be prepared at all other then food supplies for a few months?

So I think I need to be a little more prepared then I have been and I think I will highlight some areas in which I will help my family get an emergency kit together. Here in Indiana, we do get unfortunately a lot of tornadoes, storms, ice storms, blizzards and being prepared would be helpful in these cases.

What got me to write this today was this blog spot on how to make an oven out of a box. I am not kidding. Check it out. I have a fireplace so I don't worry about things like that as much but this is just interesting. I think in my case I am going to get a big tote that can be stored and stock it with emergency items. One thing may be a folder or binder with emergency information, how to do things, other information (how to build an oven). But it is something I am going to do over the year not stress over.

What are you thoughts on this? What do you think about the box oven? Pretty cool.

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