Wheat

7/31/08
I found something new to do with my cooked wheat berries that shows some promise. I took the cooked wheat berries and then toasted them in butter in a frying pan. They popped like popcorn. Wesley thought it was a lot of fun. Wesley, Mr. Picky Eater, actually tried them and said they were pretty good, like a mixture of popcorn kernels and burnt popcorn. Ha! Burnt popcorn is a good thing for him I guess. I think they are pretty good too, an interesting crunchy little snack. They would be good as something crunchy on a salad. I then tried to coat them in curry before I cooked them and found that they didn't pop and just got super hard. I then popped a few more and added curry after. This worked out well. I am wondering what other flavor might be good, Tabasco? Maybe soak them in some kind of salad dressing....
Stay tuned.



7/30/08
Here is a recipe that I found that sounds interesting. I have eaten the wheat that I cooked Monday a couple of times. I still have a bit left and am looking for a way to use it. It doesn't really keep me feeling satisfied until lunch. I like the way it tastes, but I can't eat much of it.

Here is the link to Creamy Wheat Berry Hot Cereal with oats, raisins, etc. I'll let you know if I actually get around to trying it. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/wheat_berry_porridge.html


I am not really cooking much this week with Marty and Tyler being at the high adventure or I would try to sneak the wheatberries into some enchiladas or soup or something.

7/27/08
I have been thinking about wheat for some reason the past couple of days. Wheat is something I think more of as the "long term" food storage rather than the 3 month of food your family is used to eating. However, I really like wheat so I think that I will incorporate it into my 3 month plan. I am fortunate to have a wheat grinder, so making flour for bread is possible for me. There are other ways to use wheat that I really like. The one that I think I will try this week is to cook wheat whole (wheat berries) for breakfast with honey and milk. They can also be added to other recipes. I'll let you know what I use them in this week and how it works out.

Please let me know if you have a way you like to use cooked wheat berries.

What I am going to try is to pour boiling water over the wheat in my crockpot and then cook on low overnight. This should work.

Here is another recipe that I use often that uses wheat, but no wheat grinder. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKl2QyHFzy0

Blender Pancakes
1 1/2 cup water
1/4 cup powdered milk (or just 1 1/2 cup milk)
1 1/4 cup wheat
Blend for 3 minutes

Add:
2 eggs
2 Tbls oil
1 Tbls sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Blend 2o seconds

Add:
1 Tbls baking powder
Pulse 3 times

Three Months of Food Storage Recipe of the Week

Chicken Salad
1-13 oz can chicken
2 Tbsp Mayonnaise (approx. can use Miracle Whip and/or yogurt)

Optional additions - add what you have and like
1/2 cup craisins or raisins
1/4 cup chopped nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews, etc)
1/4 cup wheat berries
pickles
celery
grapes cut in half
mandarin oranges
water chestnut
seeds like pumpkin, sunflower
1 tsp. flax seed

salt and pepper

Drain and shred chicken. Add mayonnaise, seasonings and additions. Mix together and serve or chill until ready to eat. Makes approx. 4 sandwiches--Serve in pitas, rolls, bread, or eat plain.

This is quick and easy. I tried it and it took me less than 15 minutes to make!



Cajun Curry Chicken
2 tsp curry
1/3 cup honey
3 Tbls prepared mustard
2 Tbls marg or butter (optional)
2 tsp Cajun Seasoning
1 tsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
Boneless skinless chicken breast (up to 6)

Combine ingredients and pour over chicken. Bake at 375 for approx 45 minutes.
Serve chicken and dripping over rice. I like brown rice.


7/21/08

Thai Chicken Crock-Pot
These ingredients should be easy to store. The only fresh ingredient is the ginger. You could use powdered ginger if you don't have fresh or freeze some shredded ginger should work.

Cook Time: 9 hours,
Ingredients:
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 cup salsa
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 Tbsp. lime juice
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. ginger root
1/8 tsp. white pepper
1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts
Preparation:
Place chicken in 3-4 quart crockpot. In medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients except peanuts; mix well. Pour this mixture over chicken in crockpot. Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 8-9 hours or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and serve over hot cooked rice or couscous. 4 servings

Confessions of a Penny Pincher

I haven't put in any new tips recently, but I just thought of a good one. Send me YOUR tips!!

>Do you get coupons in the mail for $10 off a $10 purchase? I get these for Office Max, Kohls, JC Penny, Famous Footware, and Fashion Bug. I used to use these to try to time a good shopping trip. Sometimes this works, but sometimes I don't need anything or don't have the time to search for a good deal. $10 doesn't go very far, except for socks. So now these $10 coupons mean "new sock time", except the Office Max coupon. I can always think of a $10 need at the office supply store. BTW, I use the Office Max coupon at Office Depot because Office Depot is in my neighborhood. They accept it with no problem.

>Albertsons and rainchecks. One of my favorite tricks is to buy the rest of whatever is on sale off the shelf and then ask for a raincheck for a lot of the item. This way I can fill my shelf now and can fill it again later at a super low price. Sometimes I will go back a couple times and get more rainchecks if they are still out so I can fill my shelf a couple of times.

>I seldom buy a drink when I eat out. Lately I've figured out a trick that is pretty nice. I get water with lemon. I squeeze the lemon into the water and add Splenda (or sugar), and walaa!, freash lemonaide. This is also great because it is rare that a restaurant has diet anything with no caffeine. Yesterday, I did this at Baja Fresh, they have limes, so limeaide, yumm!

>WalMart price matches anything. You need to bring some proof of the price, like the ad from the paper. This is particularly worth while at back the school time when every store has a great ad, and you feel like you have to visit them all to get the best deal.

>Deseret Book also price matches, even with Distribution. So, if you want to buy something that you could get through Distribution at Deseret Book, just let them know that you want the Distribution Price and they are very happy to look up the price for you, and you get the points toward your book club, if you have one. Pretty cool deal. You don't have to prove to them that WalMart or Costco has a better price, they generally know and will take your word for it.

Important Points

In the post below are "Official Church Answers to questions about Family Home Storage".

I love the simplicity of the new guidelines. The brochure "Family Home Storage" and Family Finances are very short simple and to the point.

I think that it is very important to prioritize. As King Benjamin counseled, “See that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.” I think this could apply to our food storage as well.

To me wisdom would be to prioritize. This order makes sense to me.

1. Do we have enough food and water to sustain our family for 72 hours, and is is portable and easy to access?

2. Do we have enough food and money to sustain our family for a 3 month period. Is this food that our family is used to eating? Don't forget the money part! The church does not specifically say 3 months, it does say, "Gradually build a financial reserve, and use it for emergencies only. If you save a little money regularly,
you will be surprised how much accumulates over time."

3. Get out of debt. We have been counseled, "Spending less money than you make is essential to your financial security. Avoid debt, with the exception of buying a modest home or paying for education or other vital needs. Save money to purchase what you need. If you are in debt, pay it off as quickly as possible."

4. Long term food storage. Once your house is in order as outlined above, it is time to work on long term food storage.

"We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve."

Sources: http://providentliving.org/fhs/pdf/WE_FamilyResourcesGuide_International_04008_000.pdf
http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7587-1-4087-1,00.html

Family Home Storage: Official Church Answers to questions about Family Home Storage

What is the most important thing I can do regarding family home storage?
Get started!
If you have already begun, faithfully continue your efforts. As President Hinckley taught: “We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with one week’s food supply and gradually build it to a month and then to three months. I am speaking now of food to cover basic needs. As all of you recognize, this counsel is not new. But I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all. Begin in a small way, my brethren, and gradually build toward a reasonable objective” (In Conference Report, Oct. 2002, 65; or Ensign, Nov. 2002, 58).

What’s new or different in the new pamphlet All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Home Storage?
The pamphlet emphasizes the need to build a small supply of food that is part of your normal daily diet, store some water, and save some money. Over time establish a supply of basic foods such as wheat, white rice, and beans for longer-term needs.

What’s the difference between the three-month and “longer-term” supply items?
Three-month supply items are non-perishable foods that you normally eat, such as canned and commercially packaged foods that have a stable shelf life. “Longer-term” supply items are basic food items like grains and beans that have very low moisture content (about 10% or less), can be stored for long periods of time (20–30 years), and would sustain life if nothing else were available to eat. A portion of longer-term supply items may be rotated into the three-month supply.

The Web site and the family home storage pamphlet state that longer-term storage items can last 30 years or longer. Isn’t that a much longer period of time than previously thought?
Yes. 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 recent scientific studies. The studies, which are the first of their kind, increase the estimated shelf life for many products 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.

New "Life Sustaining" Shelf-LifeEstimates (In Years)
Wheat 30+
White rice 30+
Corn 30+
Sugar 30+
Pinto beans 30
Apple slices 30
Macaroni 30
Rolled oats 30
Potato flakes 30
Powdered milk 20
Carrots 20

Why was the pamphlet produced at this time?
To teach the simple principles of home storage and encourage participation. It offers hope by showing that it is possible for most Church members to prepare for adversity, starting modestly by storing a few items of food, filling a few leak-proof containers with water, and saving a few coins each week. The pamphlet helps eliminate the perceived complexity of home storage.

Does the information outlined in the pamphlet supersede all previous counsel?
Yes.

Where do I start?
Start by adding a few storable items that you typically eat, storing some water that is safe to drink, and saving some money, if only a few coins each week. Then over time, expand these initial efforts—as individual circumstances allow and where permitted—by storing a longer-term supply of basics such as grains, beans, and other staples.

How quickly should I obtain my food storage?
It is not prudent to go to extremes or go into debt to establish your home storage all at once. Gradually build reserves over time as financial resources and space permit.

How often should I rotate stored products?
Continually use and replenish the food in your three-month supply to avoid spoilage. You may wish to rotate into your regular meals elements of your longer-term food supply. Such items can, however, if properly packaged and stored in a cool, dry place, last 30 or more years. See the Home and Family section of the Church’s Web site, LDS.org, for more information about home storage rotation and packaging.

Where can I get more information on family home storage?
Go to the Church’s Web site, LDS.org, and look under "Home and Family." You can also get information at Church home storage centers.



Will more information on home storage be forthcoming?

The pamphlet was included in the August 2007 issue of the Ensign and Liahona magazines. Additional magazine articles on various principles of home storage and family finances will regularly appear through 2009. The Church’s Web site will also have periodic featured articles on home storage and finances.

Will Church home storage centers offer fewer products?
Home storage centers continue to offer the same products. However, the product list is being reviewed and may be reduced in the future. What about 72-hour kits? Church members are encouraged to prepare for adversity by building a basic supply of food, water, money, and, over time, longer-term supply items. Beyond this, Church members may choose to store additional items that could be of use during times of distress.

Source: http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7636-1-4104-1,00.html#question_14