Hi Michelle,
Just want to let you know our SunOven got it's first test trial on Sunday and passed with flying colors.
Wanting to try something fairly simple, a chocolate cake mix seemed a good choice. The only changes to the box recipe was substituting melted butter for the oil and using the brownie pan that came with the oven. Even with the wind flapping the reflectors around some and me not moving the oven to follow the sun, the cake baked in about an hour with the oven hovering about 275 degrees. It was very moist and perfectly done. Wendi and I can't wait to use it again.
Here are some suggestions gained from using it the first time:
- Make sure to remove blue plastic protective film off the reflectors. This took me about 10-15
minutes as it's hard to get off and you need to be careful not to scratch the reflective surfaces.
- Mount the "levitator" (the free hanging shelf that holds the pans) before you pre-heat the oven.
(Don't ask how I know this... )
- Use oven mitts or gloves- the sides of the cooking box get very hot and are narrow.
(Again, don't ask how I know this... )
- The cooking box is narrow and the sides of the "levitator" block the ends of the pans so its
easier to place and remove the pans by grabbing the front and back sides.
- The leveling leg is a bit tricky to figure out the first time. The key is to push in the button,
then twist the leg a bit, pull it down to the height you want and turn the butting back into the
hole. (My description takes longer to read than it takes to adjust the leg- play with it as it's
easy to figure it out.)
The SunOven website has some good videos which are also on the CD that comes with the oven.
Finally, if anyone didn't order pans or need more, they are just standard 11"x7" brownie pans and 9 1/4" x 5 1/4" x 2 3/4" loaf pans. The ones with the oven are made by Wilton but any good brand should work. They available at most good cooking stores and I've seen the at Kitchen Collection at the Anthem Outlets and Michaels- just make sure the are heavy gauge metal so they will good evenly.
Anyway, Wendi and I are looking forward to trying out more dishes and teaching the kids how to use it. Thank you for all of your great work and enthusiasm for your calling- we appreciate all you are doing. You have motivated us to go through all of our food storage and emergency preparedness items as we work on combining our households.
Lou Anderson
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Emergency Cash For Real Emergencies
Putting aside emergency cash is "an investment against the unexpected – situations where everything else has failed and I have no other options to turn to." TheSimple Dollar.com
Emergency #1: You just went through a major disaster. You can't leave the city and need some supplies. The power is out and the grocery store isn't accepting ATM or credit cards.
Emergency #2: You've suddenly been asked to evacuate because of a fire on the mountain near your home. You hope you can eventually drive to your sister's out of state, but suddenly the roads are congested. Everything is at a standstill. You need gas, food and water.
Emergency #3: Your youngest child is very ill. You need some medication from the pharmacist, but you left your wallet at work which is about 30 miles away.
Emergency Cash Tips From the Web:Put it in several locations
Keep it safe from water and heat damage
Nothing larger than a $10 bill (You could pay $5 for a bottle of water in an emergency.)
Keep about $20 to $100 hidden in your car
Keep about $20 to $50 in your wallet in small bills
Keep minimum $100 per person at home
Consider how you might use it in 72 hours - food, hotel, gas, etc.
Convert collected coins to smaller bills
Store it in unobvious locations, but make sure your trusted older kids know where it is. You may not be home when they need it.
Articles to Read:
Safely Gathered in: Keeping Cash at Home
Ideas from Readers:
"I was just reading your great blog and you mentioned to keep emergency cash. I thought I would share something that works for me. Whenever we tried to have an emergency stash, I would always end up using it for lunch money or last minute gifts, etc. So I picked up some of those small coin sorter banks that are always around for Father's Day and Christmas. We all empty our loose change into them each night. We have over $400--all in change. I'm not tempted to "borrow" it's too much of a hassle. As we fill a bank, we put it down in the food storage room. They are small, so they are not too heavy for us to grab when in need. Thanks for all you do."
DS
Emergency #1: You just went through a major disaster. You can't leave the city and need some supplies. The power is out and the grocery store isn't accepting ATM or credit cards.
Emergency #2: You've suddenly been asked to evacuate because of a fire on the mountain near your home. You hope you can eventually drive to your sister's out of state, but suddenly the roads are congested. Everything is at a standstill. You need gas, food and water.
Emergency #3: Your youngest child is very ill. You need some medication from the pharmacist, but you left your wallet at work which is about 30 miles away.
Emergency Cash Tips From the Web:Put it in several locations
Keep it safe from water and heat damage
Nothing larger than a $10 bill (You could pay $5 for a bottle of water in an emergency.)
Keep about $20 to $100 hidden in your car
Keep about $20 to $50 in your wallet in small bills
Keep minimum $100 per person at home
Consider how you might use it in 72 hours - food, hotel, gas, etc.
Convert collected coins to smaller bills
Store it in unobvious locations, but make sure your trusted older kids know where it is. You may not be home when they need it.
Articles to Read:
Safely Gathered in: Keeping Cash at Home
Ideas from Readers:
"I was just reading your great blog and you mentioned to keep emergency cash. I thought I would share something that works for me. Whenever we tried to have an emergency stash, I would always end up using it for lunch money or last minute gifts, etc. So I picked up some of those small coin sorter banks that are always around for Father's Day and Christmas. We all empty our loose change into them each night. We have over $400--all in change. I'm not tempted to "borrow" it's too much of a hassle. As we fill a bank, we put it down in the food storage room. They are small, so they are not too heavy for us to grab when in need. Thanks for all you do."
DS
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
3 Month Food A Yummy Plan!
3-Month Food Storage: 90 Menu Ideas
As you plan your 3-Month food storage menus, ask yourself this question:
“What type of adversity could come into our lives which our 3-Month food storage supply could help us with?”
Here are some possibilities:
Job Loss: If you or your spouse lost a job, do you have enough food stored to help reduce your expenses while you are searching for a new job?
Medical Emergency: If a member of your family became seriously ill, do you have foods, and menus, that your family could easily prepare?
Power Outages: If you were without power for a week or two, do you have enough easy-to-prepare foods to get you by?
Major Natural Disaster: If a major natural disaster occurred and you had to campout at home, do you have some foods you could prepare outdoors? And do you have enough fuel or a way to cook foods for a few weeks?
Creating food storage menus is a simple way to help you decide what to store. Consider the counsel to “Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months.” (Family Home Storage: A New Message, Ensign, March 2009.)
Below are 90 Food Storage Menu Ideas. Adjust to suit the needs of your family. The * indicates using a recipe which I am linking so you can print them. The x indicates how many times you serve the menu. These menus use a combination of small canned, packaged and long-term foods. Some bread may be stored in your freezer; however it may also be homemade. Menus have homemade spaghetti sauce, AND spaghetti sauce in a jar for times when you need simple preparation or emergency cooking. You decide. Snacks are included as many of us need to eat something between meals. Many of these meals are simple enough for teens or a spouse to prepare. Include a few freezer foods, but don’t depend on your freezer unless you have a generator. Menus that require freezer foods are italicized. Most menus use shelf-stable products.
90 BREAKFAST MENUS
3 x Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins, water
3 x Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins, water
6 x Applesauce Spice Muffins, water
12 x Blender wheat pancakes, water
12 x Wheat waffles, butter/syrup milk
24 x Oatmeal w/raisins, water
30 x Cold cereal, powdered milk, water
90 LUNCH MENUS
12 x PB & J sandwich, fruit cup, boxed drink or Tang
12 x PB & J sandwich, pears or mandarin oranges, water
12 x Chicken salad sandwich, applesauce cup, water or Gatorade
12 x Tuna sandwich, baked beans or applesauce cup, apple juice or water
6 x Chili w/beans, saltine crackers, water
6 x Tomato soup, saltine crackers, water
6 x Ravioli's, banana chips, water
6 x Spaghettios, saltine crackers, Gatorade
6 x Canned Stew, Ritz crackers, applesauce, milk
6 x Cup o’noodle soup, V8 juice
6 x Macaroni & cheese, fruit cocktail, Gatorade
90 DINNER MENUS
6 x Clam Chowder 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Chicken Noodle soup 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Vegetable Soup 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Chicken, Vegetable, Pasta Soup 19 oz., saltine crackers
6 x Spaghetti w/jar sauce, canned corn, milk
6 x Spaghetti w/homemade sauce, canned green beans, milk
6 x Quick Chili w/corn, Biscuits
3 x Pineapple Chicken*, rice
3 x Italian Pasta Salad*, Biscuits
3 x Chicken & Rice Casserole*, Biscuits
3 x Chicken w/ Egg Noodles and DH peas*, canned corn, milk
3 x Chicken w/ Egg Noodles and DH broccoli*, canned corn, milk
3 x Chicken a la King*, rice, canned green beans
3 x Creamy Chicken*, mashed potatoes
3 x Chicken, Noodles and peas*, canned pears
3 x Teriyaki Pineapple Beef*, rice w/broth
3 x Bisquick Vegetable pot pie*, canned peaches, milk
3 x BBQ Beef Casserole*, canned peaches
3 x BBQ chicken on hamburger buns, canned peaches milk
3 x Sloppy Joe's with canned meat* on hamburger buns, applesauce
3 x Enchilada Casserole w/corn*, canned peaches
3 x Beef Nacho Casserole*, Spanish rice*
3 x Roast gravy w/mashed potatoes, canned green beans, milk
90 SNACK MENUS
18 x Food bar
3 x Pretzels
6 X Fruit snack
6 X Graham crackers
6 X M & M's or taffy
6 X Hot cocoa drink(has milk)
3 X Corn Chips w/homemade salsa
3 X Chips w/refried beans & homemade salsa
12 X Homemade popcorn
3 X Simple Scones*
3 X Caramel Popcorn*
3 X Cake w/frosting
3 X Brownies*
3 X Snicker doodles*
3 X Chocolate Chip Cookies*
3 X Chewy Oatmeal Cookies*
3 X Apple Crisp* w/shelf whip topping
3 X Easy Peach Cobbler*
Still adapting recipes. After I am done, the 3-Month Food Storage Menu's with Ingredients spreadsheet on the sidebar will have some changes.
“What type of adversity could come into our lives which our 3-Month food storage supply could help us with?”
Here are some possibilities:
Job Loss: If you or your spouse lost a job, do you have enough food stored to help reduce your expenses while you are searching for a new job?
Medical Emergency: If a member of your family became seriously ill, do you have foods, and menus, that your family could easily prepare?
Power Outages: If you were without power for a week or two, do you have enough easy-to-prepare foods to get you by?
Major Natural Disaster: If a major natural disaster occurred and you had to campout at home, do you have some foods you could prepare outdoors? And do you have enough fuel or a way to cook foods for a few weeks?
Creating food storage menus is a simple way to help you decide what to store. Consider the counsel to “Gradually build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet until it is sufficient for three months.” (Family Home Storage: A New Message, Ensign, March 2009.)
Below are 90 Food Storage Menu Ideas. Adjust to suit the needs of your family. The * indicates using a recipe which I am linking so you can print them. The x indicates how many times you serve the menu. These menus use a combination of small canned, packaged and long-term foods. Some bread may be stored in your freezer; however it may also be homemade. Menus have homemade spaghetti sauce, AND spaghetti sauce in a jar for times when you need simple preparation or emergency cooking. You decide. Snacks are included as many of us need to eat something between meals. Many of these meals are simple enough for teens or a spouse to prepare. Include a few freezer foods, but don’t depend on your freezer unless you have a generator. Menus that require freezer foods are italicized. Most menus use shelf-stable products.
90 BREAKFAST MENUS
3 x Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins, water
3 x Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins, water
6 x Applesauce Spice Muffins, water
12 x Blender wheat pancakes, water
12 x Wheat waffles, butter/syrup milk
24 x Oatmeal w/raisins, water
30 x Cold cereal, powdered milk, water
90 LUNCH MENUS
12 x PB & J sandwich, fruit cup, boxed drink or Tang
12 x PB & J sandwich, pears or mandarin oranges, water
12 x Chicken salad sandwich, applesauce cup, water or Gatorade
12 x Tuna sandwich, baked beans or applesauce cup, apple juice or water
6 x Chili w/beans, saltine crackers, water
6 x Tomato soup, saltine crackers, water
6 x Ravioli's, banana chips, water
6 x Spaghettios, saltine crackers, Gatorade
6 x Canned Stew, Ritz crackers, applesauce, milk
6 x Cup o’noodle soup, V8 juice
6 x Macaroni & cheese, fruit cocktail, Gatorade
90 DINNER MENUS
6 x Clam Chowder 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Chicken Noodle soup 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Vegetable Soup 19 oz., bread/butter
6 x Chicken, Vegetable, Pasta Soup 19 oz., saltine crackers
6 x Spaghetti w/jar sauce, canned corn, milk
6 x Spaghetti w/homemade sauce, canned green beans, milk
6 x Quick Chili w/corn, Biscuits
3 x Pineapple Chicken*, rice
3 x Italian Pasta Salad*, Biscuits
3 x Chicken & Rice Casserole*, Biscuits
3 x Chicken w/ Egg Noodles and DH peas*, canned corn, milk
3 x Chicken w/ Egg Noodles and DH broccoli*, canned corn, milk
3 x Chicken a la King*, rice, canned green beans
3 x Creamy Chicken*, mashed potatoes
3 x Chicken, Noodles and peas*, canned pears
3 x Teriyaki Pineapple Beef*, rice w/broth
3 x Bisquick Vegetable pot pie*, canned peaches, milk
3 x BBQ Beef Casserole*, canned peaches
3 x BBQ chicken on hamburger buns, canned peaches milk
3 x Sloppy Joe's with canned meat* on hamburger buns, applesauce
3 x Enchilada Casserole w/corn*, canned peaches
3 x Beef Nacho Casserole*, Spanish rice*
3 x Roast gravy w/mashed potatoes, canned green beans, milk
90 SNACK MENUS
18 x Food bar
3 x Pretzels
6 X Fruit snack
6 X Graham crackers
6 X M & M's or taffy
6 X Hot cocoa drink(has milk)
3 X Corn Chips w/homemade salsa
3 X Chips w/refried beans & homemade salsa
12 X Homemade popcorn
3 X Simple Scones*
3 X Caramel Popcorn*
3 X Cake w/frosting
3 X Brownies*
3 X Snicker doodles*
3 X Chocolate Chip Cookies*
3 X Chewy Oatmeal Cookies*
3 X Apple Crisp* w/shelf whip topping
3 X Easy Peach Cobbler*
Still adapting recipes. After I am done, the 3-Month Food Storage Menu's with Ingredients spreadsheet on the sidebar will have some changes.
Getting Food Storage Started Step 1
How much food should I store?
Click here for: Basic Food Storage Calculator
This calculator will help you determine how much food you need for a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month supply of basic food items.
You will be able to determine how much to store based on the ages of family members.
Family Members, Ages 0 - 100
Basic Food Storage your family will need: (store ONLY the foods your family members will eat)
Wheat lbs
Flour lbs
Corn Meal lbs
Oats lbs
Rice lbs
Pasta lbs
Shortening lbs
Vegetable Oil gal
Mayonnaise qts
Salad Dressing qts
Peanut Butter lbs
Beans, dry lbs
Lima Beans lbs
Soy Beans lbs
Split Peas lbs
Lentils lbs
Dry Soup Mix lbs
Honey lbs
Sugar lbs
Brown Sugar lbs
Molasses lbs
Corn Syrup lbs
Jams lbs
Fruit drink powdered lbs
Flavored Gelatin lbs
Powdered Milk lbs
Evaporated Milk cans
Baking Powder lbs
Baking Soda lbs
Yeast lbs
Salt lbs
Vinegar gal
Water gal
Bleach gal
Remember most of the 'dry packed' items can be canned or purchased in bulk through the LDS Dry Pack Cannery in Mesa. Family canning days are on Friday's (see previous post for flyer about this). Stake Canning day is the second Saturday 9:00 am every month. Contact Michelle for more dry pack information.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)