Dessert anyone?

I saw a discussion somewhere where people were talking about what "comfort" food they went for in a crisis. Overwhelmingly it was desserts. Now I'm not talking about a massive earthquake where you are happy to have crackers and water - notice the water :). I'm talking more about a stress crisis. In building up your food storage, desserts definately don't rank highly when it comes to nutritional value - but say you lost your income - wouldn't it be nice to have all the ingredients to make a birthday cake for your child - already in your storage? Like I've said before, my food storage is my grocery store for everyday use. I love to have a stock of cake mixes, brownie mixes, ect. for that last minute compassionate service dinner or the "home teaching" treats my husband wants to bring to someone on a Sunday. Anyway - I like to stock up when there is a good deal so when the need arises, it is already there.

That being said, Judy Watt passed this advertisement on to me. If you don't have desserts in your storage, this may be something you want to look at!!!

Strawberries

I'm sorry I dropped the ball last week about letting you know about the awesome deal on strawberries - but I'm here to redeem myself. Winco has them for .78/lb. For those that don't know where Winco is - it is off of the Freeway at 7200 South (on the west side). They are a no memebership warehouse type store (like Food 4 Less) and they only accept cash or check - no credit cards.

Let me know if you need a good, EASY jam recipe!

Food Storage buys THIS WEEK

So I have to admit that I love to copy great ideas from other sites. If you haven't checked out Pinching your Pennies - it is a great site. On that site they have a Utah Shopping Secrets and if you have a facebook account, great shopping deals will come up on your home page. For example, last week I learned that the Walmart off of 11400S had strawberries for $.77/lb. Can you say GREAT DEAL??? My freezer is now stocked with jam and frozen berries!

Here is what they have listed for this week. For the items that need an "in ad coupon" Just look for the extra ads as you walk in the store. If there is a limit on the number you can buy, ask the cashier to ring up several orders. I just went to Harmons and got 15 boxes of the instant oatmeal - I may get more. My kids love the stuff and it is so easy for them to make for themselves!


Fresh Market
• The Red Barn apple juice, 64oz $2.00 Use in-ad store coupon: $3 off when you buy 3, limit 1 coupon per customer Final price $1.00
• Prevacid 24HR, 14ct $10.95 Use Prevacid 24HR, any 14 or 28 count product $6/1 (4-24-10) EyemasterSS-3/28 or (5-8-10) SS-4/11 Final price $4.95
• Western Family AA batteries, 24pk $4.88 no coupon available

Harmons
• Quaker 15-15 oz. Capn Crunch, 16 oz. Oatmeal Squares, or 14-15.5 oz. Life
LIMIT 5 WITH COUPON $1.60 Use in-ad Harmons coupon: $3.00 off when you buy five Final price $1.00
• Quaker 10 ct. Chewy Granola Bars Chocolate Chip, Variety, Smores, or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
LIMIT 5 WITH COUPON $1.60 Use in-ad Harmons coupon: $3.00 off when you buy five Final price $1.00
• Quaker 10 ct. Instant Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon, Maple and Brown Sugar, Variety or Fruit and Cream
LIMIT 5 WITH COUPON $1.60 Use in-ad Harmons coupon: $3.00 off when you buy five Final price $1.00

Reams
• Western Family Rubbing Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide 16 oz. $.69 no coupon available

Smiths
• Kroger Broth, Chicken, Beef or Vegetable, 14 oz
24 count case. .50 ea (Limit 2) $11.99/case
• Kroger Mandarin Oranges, 11 oz
24 count case .33 ea (Limit 2) $7.99/case
• Kroger Water, 16.9 oz
24 count case $2.50
• Smiths Evaporated Milk, 12 oz
24 count case .65 ea (Limit 4) $15.60/case
• *Quaker Cereal, 14-16 oz, Cap'n Crunch Original, Crunchberry or Peanut Butter or Life Original or Cinnamon $2.00 no coupon available Final price $1.00
• *Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Select Varieties, 11.2.-15.1 oz $2.00 no coupon available Final price $1.00
Smith’s is having their second week of their case lot sale. Be sure to pick up items you need! They are also running a Quaker promo, buy 5 get $5 off instantly. Items are marked with a * above and final price reflects the $5 discount.

Macey’s
• Morning Moos Red or White Hard Wheat, 45 lb. pail $12.98 no coupon available
• Western Family Pasta, 48 oz. thin, long spaghetti or elbow macaroni
Case of 8: $14.24 $1.78 each no coupon available
• Wheat EZ, 50 lb. bag Hard White $12.98 no coupon available

Water - what else is there?

For those of you who know me, I am a water FANATIC! A bit of background - My husband works as a civil engineer designing all types of water projects for cities all over the west. Because of his experience in serving a mission in Brazil, he jumped at the chance to become involved with Water For People - a charity that was formed by water professionals here in the United States. As I organized all the information he was given when he became the Utah chairperson, I read the stories of families in developing countries and how their lives revolved around water. In our blessed circumstances, we don't realize how lucky we are to have a seemingly endless supply of water - clean water - in our home... that is, until a disaster strikes.

Craig Fisher (let's see if he reads this - hahaha) is our ward's Emergency Preparedness Chairperson. He has a unique perspective because he has worked with FEMA during many of our countries largest natural disasters. He was in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and gained some very insightful observations about water during a crisis.
1. Water may be everywhere - but none of it is suitable for drinking. During a catastrophe - most infastructure such as water pipes, electricity, gas, ect. are completely gone or rendered useless. The water that has flooded streets or running in our rivers and streams - is not suitable for drinking - it can compound an emergency situation by making you very sick.

2. The human body can go for up to 2 weeks without food, but it can not survive but a couple of days without water. That is expedited if the weather is hot and people are left exposed to the elements.

3. People get to a point, during a crisis, that the need for water is so dire that they would do ANYTHING and PAY ANYTHING just for a drink of water. Craig couldn't stress this urgency enough as he shared this observation. Just think - as a parent you are thirsty, but you are watching your young children dry up and die before your eyes - it is heart wrenching.

4. Water is used for more than just drinking. If you were to keep track of all the different times and ways you use water in a day, you would be suprised. In the short time my husband works on a leaky toilet, I'm shocked at how inconvienced I am when I constantly need to use water.

So, what do we do to prepare??? First of all, how many of you have those blue barrels sitting in your garage - empty. The reasons for this may be many - such as, "I'm not sure where I want them and I don't want to have them filled and then want to move them." Or "I'm not sure how to treat the water properly and I don't what barrels of bad water in an emergency." What ever your reasons or excuses - When a crisis hits - they are all going to sound pretty trivial. FILL YOUR BARRELLS NOW - WHERE EVER THEY ARE. We have chlorine in our water and as long as you fill it up to the top and put a lid on it, you are fine. You can always empty out your barrells if and when you decide to move them. Rotating the water every year is optimal, but if you go longer between rotations, you will be ok.

After you have filled the containers you already have - you can move on to additional containers and/or purifying methods. Below are several links that our stake has researched for us that have good information. After the links, I will post a water storage option that was sent to me from the stake. Please don't ignore this VERY IMPORTANT - if not VITAL element of preparation.

http://www.ldsmag.com/churchupdate/100303chile.html
Chile – Lord’s Earthquake Warning

http://connorboyack.com/drop/water.pdf
Water Storage/Purification


http://www.provident-living-today.com/Methods-of-Water-Purification.html
YouTube Video Presentation: #1 Gravity Water Filter
#2 Giant Water Sock
#3 Boiling
#4 Iodine
#5 Chlorine

http://grandpappy.info/wwater.htm
How to Find Water
How to Make Water Safe to Drink
Drinking Water Available Immediately

http://www.nationalterroralert.com/safewater/
Hidden Water Sources in Your Home
When and How to Treat Water for Storage

http://everythingunderthesunblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/here-are-pictures-of-some-great-water.html
Water barrel holders by Wendy Dewitt

http://www.utahpreppers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/fson_the_path_to_preparedness-handout.pdf
Food Storage – the Path to Preparedness by Debbie Kent

http://www.providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8207-1-4531-1,00.html
www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/water
www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html

http://www.seychelle.com/ $$$

http://www.ldscatalog.org/ - Online at the LDS catalog site
Welfare Services
Home Storage
08381000 Water Filtration Bottle (2 filters included) $22.00
08381951 Water Filtration Bottle (1 filter included) 16.50
08381952 Replacement Water Filter 9.00


Ongoing is a sale until April 17th for a 100 Gallon Water Tank: FYI

Honeyville Farms
635 North Billy Mitchell Road
Salt Lake City
801-972-2168

Recently this company placed an ad for:

100 Gallon Water Tank (26" diameter X 47" tall) for $88.19 Sale price - regular price $99.95

It comes in clear or black LLDPE plastic. Black plastic could be stored outside because lack of light discourages algae growth.

They also carry:

30 gallon Corner (14.5" wide X 14" deep) $69.95 for clear or black - These are not sale prices.
$78.95 for granite

Available in three standard colors: natural so that you can see the liquid level, black to reduce light penetration, and grey granite for a more aesthetically pleasing look. Stores in a corner of a room.

Each of the above tanks includes a plastic faucet located for easy dispensing into a secondary container. A plastic ball valve with hose thread provides an easy complete drainage solution for further water dispensing and quick rotation (every year please).

They also carry 55 gallon blue barrels - 3X thickness - UV is 20 years FDA approved for $42.75
Macy's price is $39.95 this week.

Canning opportunities

The following is an e-mail I received about the opportunity to serve and purchase at the Murray Wet pack cannery. Spaces fill up fast so if you are interested - sign up ASAP!
MURRAY CANNERY -- FAMILY CANNING


Sign up now for:

Friday April 30th BEEF CHUNKS - $66.00
(2 cases per person)

Reminder: As always, meat products can be picked up after 10 days.
Beef Chunks Can be picked up between May 10th and May 31st.


Friday May 28th
Help with Bishops’ Storehouse - Chili

Volunteers who work the 2 1/4 hour shift will be able to purchase
a Maximum of 4 cases per person.


* Chili $27.60

* Cream of Chicken Soup $27.60

* Ground Beef $54.00
OR (1case per person)
* Chicken Chunks $46.80


Don't procrastinate shifts will fill up FAST!

Shifts start at 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm
Each shift is 2 1/4 hours long.


Reservations can be taken in person or by phone.
Starting Monday April 12th between 8:00am and 3:30pm

Call 801-266-1460 Please DO NOT leave phone messages.
Reservation request left on voice messaging CANNOT be honored.


As always, please sign up for just one shift per Product.
No one under 16 years old.


Also - Our Dry Pack Stake day is April 24 1-5pm - This is a SATURDAY so it should work with everyone's schedule. Let me know if you would like some items but are unable to attend.

Happy canning!

Along with the batteries in the smoke detectors - there is a few other things that we can do during conference time to help us be prepared. The church has moved away from focusing on the food factor of the 72 hour kits (that doesn't mean you can't have food in yours) - and wants you to think of what your specific family needs would be during a crisis. Conference would be a good time to check the sizes of the clothes you have in your kits (and diapers!!!). Also - WATER. The stake has a strong focus on WATER and I will be posting on this topic shortly. Do you have portable water for a 72 hour kit AND how fresh is your water in your 55 gallon barrells? (By the way, if you have the barrells and they are empty, what are you waiting for - fill them right now - just with tap water - you will be so glad that you did.) Also, we are toying around with the idea of having people post any old clothes that they would be willing to donate to 72 hour kits. For example, I might have an infant sleeper that would be perfect for someone's 72 hour kit... Just an idea.
Have fun!

I was sent a great blog entry that got my creative juices flowing, and in looking at the other posts - wow - what a tremendous resource. Click here to see the specific blog post and I will set up a link to the entire blog on the side bar. Happy preparing!