What I've been up to...
I've had several goals for a while now of things that I wanted to do and I got them done this past week!!! Here's what they were:
1.) Order Food storage from the cannery (hard red wheat, dried black beans, powdered milk to start this month) I'm going to be ordering new items every month from the cannery and also focusing on a few things a month to stock up on for a year's supply.
This month I did "Beginning with the Basics" so I got what I ordered from the cannery. I only got 25 lbs. or wheat and 25 lbs. of beans and 12 #10 cans of powdered milk but the next time I go I'm getting my year's supply. I also got brown short-grain rice from Costco (12 lb. bag)
This month I also focused on getting all of my fats/oils for food storage. I have done a lot of personal research this last year on health and nutrtion and have concluded that I will not include hydrogenated oils in my food storage, meaning I will not be using them in my home. I stay away from as many foods as I can that contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils in them.
This means that I'm an avid lable reader and have become pretty informed on what products contain what ingredients etc. What I'm willing to sacrifice and what I'm not.
If you're wondering why I'm staying away from hydrogenated oils then you will have to wait for my more detailed post (I'm starting posts about health on "Wellness Wednesdays!!!") Now aren't you excited? But basically, hydrogenated oils are often rancid and old because they have been processed through a method that chemically changes them from liquids to solids. These are also known as Transfats which can intefere with many of our bodies' functions.
So what am I getting for fats/oils?
Peanut Butter (natural peanut butter is best but I personally cannot stomache it so this was one product I'm not willing to sacrfice)
Mayo/Salad Dressings (again, contain transfats, but do not use enough to be willing to sacrifice this from our diet)
Olive Oil Extra-virgin, first cold-pressed
Coconut Oil Extra-virgin
Butter (real butter, not margarine etc. I will do a post about this also)
Powdered Butter (available through food storage sites, I can give more info if you're curious)
Spray Oil (I also use olive oil in a diffuser most of the time but for baking I like to use PAM even though it isn't the healthiest)
Toiletries: I also got a year's supply of toothpaste, mouthwash, dishwasher detergent and dish soap. I plan to make all of my cleaners (I'll post about that later).
If you're interested in how much of each product I got/how much you'd need for your family you can email me. Also, the church has it on their website:
http://www.providentliving.org/2.) USE MY FOOD STORAGE EVERY DAY:This means learning how to use my basic staples for everyday meals. I want to incorporate more rice, beans and whole wheat not only because they are very inexpensive foods but because they are whole foods that are very nutritious for our bodies. The goals I accomplsihed this week for learning how to use my food storage:
Make homemade bread (this was a little labor-intensive because I kneaded the bread by hand for about 12 minutes). The bread came out wonderful and the smell of fresh warm bread was heavenly. Brady, Livy and I gobbled up 4 slices right away! Even Chris who HATES whole-grain anything thought it was good! I plan on getting a Kitchen-Aid or Bosch sometime this year. I would use a breadmaker but I don't like the shape of the loaf (I know, weird)
Here's the bread recipe I followed:
Basic Whole Wheat Bread Recipe:
Makes 2 loaves
2 C. warm water
1/3 C. honey
1 T. yeast
1/3 C. olive oil
2 tsp. salt
1/3 C. gluten flour
5-7 C. freshly ground whole wheat flour
Directions:
1.) In a large bowl or in a large mixer (such as a Kitchen Aid or Bosch type) combine the water, yeast and honey. Let sit for a few minutes to give the yeast a chance to start working.
2.) Add the salt, oil, gluten flour and 3 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour. Continue to add more flour until the dough does not stick to the side of the bowl and does not feel sticky to the touch.
3.) Knead for 4 minutes in a Bosch mixer or 7 to 10 in other mixers or 12 to 15 minutes by hand.
4.) When dough has finished kneading let it rise once until doubled in bulk (unless you are using a Bosch type mixer and in this case you can skip the 1st rising). Punch down dough and divide it into 2 pieces and form into loaves and set in bread pans.
5.) Let it rise in a slightly warm oven (this means that you turn the oven on for just 2 or 3 min. or until you can feel the heat and then turn it off, if it is too hot then it will kill the yeast) for 15 to 25 minutes or until the dough is 1 inch above top of pan.
6.) Turn oven to 350 (without taking bread out) and bake for approx. 30 minutes or until golden brown.
3.) Make Homemade Laundry Detergent
Chris thinks I'm completely crazy (and not normal) for this undertaking but it was suprisingly easy and I plan on continuing this. Here's the recipe:
2 C. borax (20 MuleTeam) 2 C. washing soda (Arm & Hammer)
1 3/4 bars of soap (Fels Naptha, Ivory or other mild soap) grated
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large pot with 1 quart (4 C.) water. Bring to a gentle boil and stir until well dissolved. Pour into a 5-gallon bucket and then pour 2 1/2 gallons of boiling water over the top. Stir well, cover and let sit for 24 hours. Use 1/4 C. per small/medium load and 1/2 C. per large/super load.
*Can add a couple drops of a nice mild essential oil to the detergent and mix well for a nice aroma. Mine smells fresh and clean without using any essential oils. Texture of detergent will be a runny/gelled texture. Mix before using. Fine for High Efficency Washing Machines; leaves no residue on machines or clothing.
Why MAKE your own laundry soap?
1 load of laundry normally costs me = 0.15 cents (my brand-name detergent is $8.99 and washes 64 loads)
1 load of laundry using homemade detergent costs me = cents (total cost of 1 batch is $ and washes 128 loads when using 1/4 C. and 64 loads when using 1/2 C.)
bar soap $0.35 per bar, so $0.61 per batch ($4.90 10 batches)
borax $0.42 per batch ($3.36 enough 8 batches)
washing soda $0.37 per batch($2.97, enough for 8 batches)
Total $1.14 per batch = $0.0089 cents per load (less than 1/2 cent per 128 loads using 1/4 C.) and $0.0178 cents per load (per 64 loads using 1/2 C.)
I can wash 1024 loads of laundry (using 1/4 C.) and 512 loads of laundry (using 1/2 C.) for $11.23 which is $2.24 cents more than what it would cost me to wash ONLY 64 loads when I buy namebrand detergent!!! That is AMAZING!!!!
Other uses for Borax: (all on box)
Laundry booster
Deoderizing odors from trash, mattresses, pet urine, sour milk, refrigerators
First Aid: in eyes and when something has been ingested
Cleaner: porcelain, hard water stains, washing delicates and baby clothes by hand, fiberglass, fine china, himidifiers and toilet bowls.
Other Uses for Arm and Hammer Washing Soda: (all on box)
Cleaner:cooking grease, oils and crayon. Safe on walls, countertops, refrigerators, appliances, tile, sinks, tub/shower and toilet.
Unclogging drains
Increases detergent cleaning power
Neutralizes and eliminates odors
