how to: can chicken

so this past year i've really been "growing up" as far as my food storage goes and have even bravely ventured into canned chicken. for just a few select recipes, and i always buy it at costco. but this past week, i learned how to actually can and preserve chicken at home! seems gross - i'm not going to lie, it kind of is. but i think it's a money-saver, and it's a great way to be able to have more protein in your home storage, especially if you don't have a deep freeze (or it's already full). so here goes:

(1) chop your RAW chicken into chunks and put in a large bowl, sprinkling a
layer of salt on in between each layer of chicken. at this time, also add about 1 1/2 inches of water to your pressure canner and turn heat to high.

(2) wash your jars before using, leave them in the dishwasher so they stay warm
until ready to use them. wipe the rims of the jars, making sure there is no dirt/specks of dirt on your rims (otherwise they may not seal properly). keep your lids in a pan of hot water until ready to use. spray inside of jars with cooking spray -- this will help your chicken come out easier.

(3) using a funnel, fill your clean and warm jars with chicken. do not add
water or anything else. using a plastic knife, stir it around to get out any air
bubbles. leave about 1/2 inch headspace. re-wipe your rims and put the lid on.
place jars in your pressure canner.

(4) place jars in your pressure canner. put the lid on, but do not put the
weight on yet. let the canner exhaust (blow steam out of the top) for 7
minutes.

(5) after 7 minutes of exhausting, put the weight on and then watch for your
gauge to get to 10 pounds of pressure.

(6) when it reaches 10 pounds, adjust your heat so the pressure stays even at 10
pounds. if using pint jars, then process for 75 min. if using quart jars, then process for 90 minutes.

(7) at the end of your processing times, remove jars and let cool until
completely cool. wash jars and write the date on top. you're
done!

alright, i hope you learned something. good luck!

basic estate planning checklist

so last night was the workshop, and in case you missed it, here is an overview (albeit a pretty shallow one) of what we talked about.

the 4 very most basic estate planning documents that every adult should have on file and accessible - like i said before, it's the responsible thing to do - these documents include:

(1) durable power of attorney: this names a person who is authorized to make financial decisions for you in the event that you are unable to. as long as you are mentally competent, you are free to revoke, change or create a new power of attorney at any time.

(2) durable medical power of attorney: same idea. this names a person who is authorized to make medical decisions for you in the event that you are unable to. make sure you choose someone you trust who understands your wishes and values.

(3) advance directive (also known as living will, physician's directive): this is a document that allows you to specify what medical care you do and do not want, generally for "end of life" care. this allows you to take control of your own medical care and as long as you are mentally competent, your instructions will control.

(4) last will and testament (also known as a will): instructs the distribution of your estate when you die. and more importantly, you can name a guardian for any minor children you have. allows you to make decisions about your property and your family for after you die. if you don't have a will, then the state law kicks in and directs where your stuff and even your kids go. for more reasons on why you need a will, see this post.

how do i get my hands on these?

Q: so i wasn't able to make it to the workshop last night, so how would i come across these oh-so-important documents that every adult should have?

A: good question. if you missed the activity last night and would still like the info, please email me or comment here and if there is enough interest, we can do a repeat of the workshop. (i am hesitant to post the forms here. as an attorney, it's probably not the most responsible thing in the world for me to just send them out willy nilly without any accompanying instructions).

or... for help in getting started, you can hit up these websites and get a little more information.


www.nolo.com

www.legalzoom.com

www.buildawill.com


and finally, hear this and hear me well: to get a thorough, comprehensive and complete will, please please please consult an attorney. there is a price range, and attorneys generally charge by the hour, so call around and get a few quotes. if you get sticker shock from the first one you call, don't be discouraged, call another. for a directory to find an attorney in your area, click here.

basic estate planning: a glossary

for a little help, below is a list of commonly used terms that you may come across when getting your act together:

- agent – a person who is authorized to act for another (the principal)

- beneficiary – the one who receives assets/property from a will, trust, estate

- community property – property and income that belongs jointly to a married couple

- estate – all that you own in property or assets

- executor- the person appointed to administer the estate of one who dies with a will

- guardian – a person appointed by the ct to take care of a child or incapacitated adult

- intestate – you die without a will

- personal representative – a generic term for an agent, an executor

- principal – the chief actor

- probate – the process of administering your will

- separate property – property that is owned separately by one spouse acquired through gift,
inheritance or property owned before the marriage

- testator- the one writing the will

- trust – something held by one party for the benefit of another- will – a written document directing the distribution of your estate

72-hour kits: food packs

to decide what to include in my food pack for my 72-hour kit, i looked around online and looked at other people's lists and stuff and then used those to decide what my family would eat. i did do some variations depending on if the pack was for a kid or a grown-up. i planned on eating the same thing for all 3 days (that's the simplest).

here is the list for the kid pack:

• 3 fruit cups
• 3 jif mini peanut butter cups
• 3 boxes of raisins
• 3 mini chef boyardee raviolis or mac-n-cheese (make sure you get the pop-top)
• 3 packets of fruit snacks
• 3 mini power bars
• 2 twin packs of pop-tarts (which is 4 single pop tarts)
• 2 twin packs of "oats'n honey" granola bars (which is 4 single granola bars)
• 3 10 oz. bottles of cran-apple juice
  

this brings us to a grand total of 1,610 calories per day. and since i'm nerdy and save weird things, i had one of those little plastic cases that you buy sheets in with a zipper, i was able to pack it all neatly into one plastic bag.

the adult pack is basically the same, with a little more. contents include:

• 3 chef boyardee ravioli or spaghetti (make sure it's pop-top)
• 3 fruit cups
• 3 jif mini peanut butter cups
• 3 boxes of raisins or craisins
• 3 twin packs of pop-tarts
• 3 mini power bars
• 3 regular-sized power bars
• 3 twin packs of "oats'n honey" granola bars
• 3 packs of fruit snacks
• 3 powdered drink mixes
• 30 jolly ranchers
• 3 packs of gum
• i also included a single high-calorie meal replacement bar

this brings us to a grand total of 2,090 calories per day. i included plastic silverware in each pack and also hand sanitizer spray as most of it is finger food. oh, and i got it all at wal-mart.

so get gathering your food packs together and please note that the items i have listed here are not for long-term storage, but will need to be rotated every six months or so. it's a good idea to get into a routine so you don't forget to do so - general conference is a great reminder and with conference coming up this weekend, you'll be right on schedule if you get it done soon!

another option for food include MRE's ("meals ready to eat") which you can purchase with any of the companies listed on the post about equipment. the advantage to these is that they take up less space (and weight) and will keep longer. the disadvantage is that your kids may not eat them. so think about what would work best for your family as you build your kit.

sidenote: if you are looking for alternative ideas for your food packs, i have a pdf document that has a great menu for your 72-hour kits, and everything is broken down with all the nutritional information and will keep you in high-energy mode... but i don't know how to post it online. so leave a comment or email me and i'll email it to you if you're interested.

72-hour kits: equipment

the list of equipment and stuff to include in your 72-hour kit can be overwhelming and exhaustive. i feel like i've looked over trillions of them in preparing for this month's activity and building my own and have come up with what i feel like is a pretty comprehensive list of all the stuff you could want and should think about including:

1. Hooded Poncho
   
2. Emergency Heat Blanket


3. Flashlight


4. Extra Batteries


5. Candles


6. Flares


7. Lighter


8. Water-Proof Matches


9. Dishes/Utensils


10. Shovel


11. Radio (hand-crank or remember to pack batteries)


12. Pen and Paper
13. Axe


14. Pocket Knife


15. Rope


16. Duct Tape


17. First Aid Kit


18. Toiletries


19. Toilet Paper
    o Feminine Needs
    o Toothbrush & paste
    o Soap, Shampoo
    o Hand Sanitizer
    o Medication (Tylenol/Advil, etc. and a 3-day supply of any prescriptions)


20. Cash


21. Pre-Paid Phone Card


22. Paper Surgical Masks


23. Small lockbox or safe that you can carry all your documents in - for more details on this one, see the post entitled "72-hour kits: documents."
    

and you will of course need some sort of bag in which to haul it all. most people opt for the backpack, you could also use a bag with wheels that you can roll, a giant tupperware container (this one really only works if you have your car), or a duffel bag. keep in mind that if you are packing 72-hour kits for small children, they probably won't be able to carry it themselves. for that reason, my husband and i each used a backpack and packed a duffel bag with a shoulder strap for our toddler.

hopefully this about sums it up -- you can find most of it at wal-mart, target, in the camping section of any sporting goods store, emergency essentials or shelf-reliance.

72-hour kits: where can i just buy one?

ok, so you've read all the stuff before this and you really just don't want to make one yourself; just reading about all that gathering really did you in. the good news is that it's really easy to purchase a pre-made emergency kit and they're pretty affordable. you've got lots of choices, so here are a few:

(1) emergency essentials - to see their selection, click here.

(2) shelf reliance - they will even help you custom-build emergency kits for you, your family and your pet! click here

(3) nitro-pak -- these guys can get you a kit for your car, for the wilderness, or just a simple 72-hour kit. click here.

(4) the ready store -- this site also has a range of kits, and right now they are 20% off! click here to see the selection.

so those are some sites to get you started. if you don't like any of those, google it. you'll find more.

photo source

in case you missed it

for those of you who didn't show, we partied hard with powdered (dry) milk this week. so here's the info you missed:

we taste-tested and the verdict is in - morning moo is (relatively) delicious. it is powdery and when chilled, can just about pass for actual milk.

Q: but my family won't drink the powdered stuff. why should i store it?

A: good question. you can use dry milk in tons more ways than just to pour on cereal or wash down a cookie. you can use it for:

• Mashed potatoes – stir dry milk in with dry potatoes, add milk mix and the water to replace the same amount of milk. (1/8 c. moo milk mix and 1 c. water = 1 c. milk)
• Cream based soups,
• white sauce,
• smoothies,
• Orange Julius,
• Pudding,
• fudgesicles
• Light cream,
• Evaporated milk,
• Sweetened Condensed milk,
• Buttermilk (add lemon juice)

Here are the recipes that were handed out:

GRIDDLE MIX FOR PANCAKES

3 c. flour ¼ c. sugar
1 c. wheat flour 1 T. baking powder
1 c. non-fat dry milk 1 T. baking soda
½ c. cornmeal 1 tsp. salt
½ c. wheat germ (or oat bran or wheat bran flakes)
Optional: add ½ oatmeal and a Tablespoon ground flax)

Mix together and store in a ziplock or airtight container for up to 3 months. Makes about 6c. mix.

***

PANCAKES
2 eggs 1 ½ c. griddle mix
3 T. oil or melted butter ½ c. berries, grated zucchini, or nuts
3/4c. water

Mix together eggs, oil and water. Add the pancake mix and stir until blended. Gently fold in berries or other additions. Cook and enjoy! Makes about twelve 4 inch pancakes.

***

QUICK MIX

(use in place of Bisquick)

8 ½ c. flour 1 tsp. baking soda
4 T. baking powder 1 ½ c .non-fat dry milk
1 T. salt 2 tsp. cream of tartar
2 ¼ c. shortening
(variation: use 4 ¼ c. flour & 4 ¼ c. whole wheat flour. Increase baking powder to 5 T.)

Mix all dry ingredients together. With a pastry blender or heavy duty mixer, cut in shortening, until mixture resembles cornmeal in texture. Makes about 13 cups.

***

GOLDEN CORN BREAD

2 c. Quick mix 2 eggs
½ c. cornmeal 1 c. milk or water
2/3 c. sugar ¼ c. melted butter or margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square pan. Mix Quick mix, cornmeal and sugar in a bowl. Combine eggs, with milk or water in another bowl. Add to dry ingredients and blend. Add melted butter and stir to blend. Pour into pan and bake 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 8-10 servings.

***

MAGIC MILK SHAKES

(tastes like a Frosty)

1 ½ to 2 c. ice water 1 tsp. vanilla
1 ½ c. non-fat dry milk 1 to 1 ½ trays of ice cubes
2/3 c. sugar 2 T. vegetable oil
¼ c. unsweetened cocoa 5 second squirt of non-stick spray

Place all of the ingredients into the blender, including the oil and the non-stick spray. (remember your milk is non-fat and the oil is needed to make it creamy and thick, the spray emulsifies it) Use less water for thicker shakes. The blender should be ¾’s full. Place the lid on and process for a full 2 minutes. Pour into cups and serve. Makes 4 – 12oz. servings.

Variations: add a banana, or a big spoonful of peanut butter, add a few broken red & white candy mints for chocolate mint. For vanilla omit cocoa and reduce sugar to ½ c. and add 1 T. vanilla.

***

PEARL’S PERFECT HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

5 ½ c. non-fat dry milk 1 1/3c. powdered non-dairy creamer
1 ½ c. powdered sugar ½ tsp. salt
½ c. heaping unsweetened cocoa 2 c. instant chocolate milk mix (Nestles)

Mix all ingredients well. Store in air tight container in cool dry place. Mix 1/3c. (or 3 heaping Tbsp.) mix to 1 cup hot water.

***

SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK

(EAGLE BRAND)

On the stove, bring to a boil:
½ c. water 3 Tbsp. margarine
1 c. sugar dash of salt

Stir the mixture every now and then. When it comes to a full rolling boil, remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly. Add 1 c. non-fat dry milk slowly, using a whisk. Stir until smooth. Makes 1 can, store in fridge for 2 weeks or freeze.

Fast Fast Fudge

1 pound powdered sugar (3 ¾ c)
½ c unsweetened cocoa
½ c butter (one stick, unmelted)
½ c reconstituted powdered milk
1 t vanilla extract

Sift powdered sugar and cocoa into bowl. Add butter and milk. Do not stir. Microwave 2 minutes on high. Stir. Add vanilla, stir. Pour into 8” square baking dish. Refrigerate one hour before cutting and serving.
Serves 16
Source: http://www.mormonfoodstorage.blogspot.com/

***

Homemade Cream Style Soup Mix

2 c non-fat dry milk powder

1/2 c plus 2 T cornstarch

1/2 c mashed potato flakes

1/4 c chicken buillion granules

2 T dried vegetable flakes

1 t dried marjoram

1/4 t garlic powder

1/8 t white pepper

In a food processor or blender, combine all ingredients; cover and process until vegetable flakes are finely chopped. Store in airtight container in a cool dry place for up to one year.

Yield: 3 cups total

Use as a substitute for a half a 10-oz can of condensed cream of chicken, mushroom or celery soup. For half of a can of soup, in a microwave safe dish, whisk together 2/3 c water and 3 T soup mix. Microwave, uncovered on high for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, whisking occasionally. For mushroom soup, add 1/4 c to 1/2 c sauteed sliced mushrooms. For celery, add 1/8 t celery salt or one sauteed sliced or chopped celery rib.

Source: http://www.tasteofhome.com/

for more information on how to use or order "morning moo," click here.

where do i put all this stuff?

we also talked about how and where in your home to create your food storage. here are some tips for storing:

• if you can't find it -you don't have it! know where you put it.
• your sharpie is your best friend. label the tops and the sides of your buckets, boxes, etc so you don't have to move heaven and earth to find stuff; make sure labels are facing out
• keep like items together
• come up with a system - any system at all - that you will use. for example: always take from the left of the shelf and stock on the right... this will ensure that your food is getting rotated and you use the oldest items first - and be consistent

some ideas for storage if you're challenged for space:

• under beds in boxes or on cardboard flats for easy retrieval
• under baby cribs hidden by dust ruffle
• between the couch and the wall
• along the wall of a closet underneath hanging clothes
• install a shelf on the top of your closet above the hanging clothes
• look for unused space under the stairs or odd-shaped rooms
• mount 12" deep shelves, floor to ceiling, along a wall - cover with drapes hung from the ceiling
• convert an extra closet or half or a large closet to shelves -- either built-in or free-standing
• buy or build a free-standing cabinet or armoire

a few words of caution:

• do not store food in your attic if it heats up in the summer, as texas does, the food will spoil quickly in hot temperatures
• remember, the further you store from your kitchen, the less likely you are to rotate and use it
• make sure you have inspected any storage areas for cracks and/or crevices - bugs and/or rodents will find it, if you don't find it first and seal it up
• if anything spills - clean it up immediately to avoid encouraging pests
• if you are using a space with dirt or cement floors, do not put anything directly on the floor; use a wooden pallet or shelves. moisture can seep in from the floor and cause rust or spoilage
• do not use any containers that were once used to hold chemicals, cleaners, paint, etc.
• do not use trash bags; many have been treated with pesticides and are not food-safe

the following are enemies of your food storage:

• oxygen
• bacteria
• insects
• light
• temperature
• humidity and moisture

now, onto the can racks - we talked about these, and they were a hit. i am posting the link so you can get step-by-step instructions for how to build your own can-rotating racks. so for the tutorial with pictures, see here.