Angels are here: They came to us today with overflowing blessings

We went to our family doctor yesterday morning. Tommy was hurting very badly, just about in tears. They gave him 2 shots in the butt, gave us a Advair inhaler( we did not have the money to buy it), and 6 of the albuterol inhalers, then they called in a muscle relaxer pills and  gave me the money to pay for them.(Tommy does not get his check until Monday).Then they called a local hospice to come and see us.

Hospice came and talked to us for about 2 hours. They are taking our case. If their Social Worker can not find a way for Tommy to get some kind of Insurance (Medicare/ Medicaid), the hospice will pick up all the bills. We will not have to pay anything.When they told me, I lost it, I cried and cried, and made them tell me again ( I really thought I miss understood them.)Thank you Lord. They will be covering all of  Tommy's COPD med's and pain pills. And they will help me find a way to pay for or get the Zometa ( for his bones). Before they left, they ordered and had delivered: a tank of oxygen( to use if the power goes out), a machine that turns air into oxygen ( a big machine, has a bottle of water you have to put on it. I don't know it's name.), and a new nebulizer with a face mask.

They called our drug store and told them they were now paying for Tommy's COPD med's and pain pills. They also called our doctor, so they could call in Morphine drops for Tommy.

The hospice will cover/ pay for: nursing care( an RN will come once a week, and is on call 24/7 , if I need her for anything.), medical equipment, medical supplies, drugs, home health aide, therapy, social worker services( she said my work was done here, she'd being handling it now, my heaviest burden lifted, Thank you lord.) 

My shoulders feel so light now, oh what an awesome blessing. Thank you Lord for your care and blessings on us.I cried so much yesterday, it was a good overwhelming cry. They told me they would now be taking care of everything for Tommy.  All I had to do was tell them what he needed and they would do it or get it. When the Lord blesses, He does so in a great and mighty way.  The windows of heaven opened wide on us yesterday, the Lord was right on time again. We are so very thankful. 

I will go this morning and get his pain pills,  cough pills, and morphine drops. He used the oxygen machine last night and said it helped.

Thank you Lord for answered prayers and all Your blessings . Thank you all for your prayers as you all have blessed us too.

Very thankful and very blessed,

Becky

Comments:

1. That is wonderful Becky! Hospice does a wonderful job. God is good! Comment by Caroline | July 31, 2008 |

2. Oh, I’m crying too.  How wonderful! The Lord is indeed so GOOD. Blessings and hugs,
   Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 31, 2008 |

3. Wow! What a BUNCH of blessings! He certainly did “open the windows of heaven.” Thanx for sharing. Comment by Darce | August 3, 2008 |

Store bought goods: What I have and what else is needed for at least 1 year.

With the list below and our garden food, cow meat, our milk cow, chickens(meat and eggs) will give us over a years supply of food. I'll buy things here and there, but not much. I cook from scratch, so you may or may not use what's on my list. Over the years I have found lots of ways to make different things, with a little in store. Example: elbow noodles can be used in soups,mac and cheese, spag. I have other things stored, but this is our MUST HAVE list. And I have been stocking up now for over a year, so please don't let this overwhelm you and you feel it's to late, because it's never to late. Just start slow and easy, buy a few extra things here and there. Some stored food is better than none.

Yeast: 3 lbs. ( this should last us over a year, used to make bread)

Flour: 35- 5lbs. bags ( we don't have a grain grinder yet, but it's on my wish list, so for now I buy flour. And I will most likely need to buy more before years out, due to not lasting for more than a year.)

Sugar: 42-5lbs. bags ( yes, this is a lot of sugar, but not really when you start making jellies and will most likely need more before the year is out.)

Lard: 50 lbs.

Salt: a full 5 gallon bucket ( we try and keep extra, in case we need to salt down meat to keep it good. I would like one more bucket, well it's on list.)

dry powered milk: 10 big boxes= 50 made gallons (there is so much you can do with this, and we LOVE the hot cocoa mix.)

instant oatmeal packets: a full 5 gallon bucket (you say instant? Well they were on a great sale and well mine like a little flavor now and then)

rice: 60+ lbs.

elbow noodles: 30 lbs. ( use this for mac &cheese, soups, spag.)

fruit cocktail: 10- #10 cans ( these were a blessing from someone)

tomato sauce: 15 oz. cans- 30 ( used in homemade spag. sauce, chili, pizzas, soups)

lemon juice: 9- 1qt. bottles (use in making cheeses, putting fruit in, making jams)

mixed vegetable: 14 oz cans=30 and #10 cans=4 ( we love beef veg. soup, so in late fall I make big batches of soup and can it for the winter. I use our beef ribs as meat for soup, as we like the pork ribs better. And the beef ribs take up more room in the freezer. I use these veg's. to save a little time, and it still works out cheaper then buying soup in cans.)

tomato juice: 18= 46 oz cans ( for drinking and adding to soups)

pork and beans: 20 cans

kidney beans: 24 cans ( just for chili, hubby is only one who eats it.)

molasses: 6- 12 oz jars ( cooking)

cocoa: 8 lbs.( for homemade brownies, hot cocoa, cookies, cakes)

cans of fruit(peaches, pineapples, etc.): 29 cans

tomato paste: 2-#10 cans and 6 little cans ( used in soups, spag. and sauces)

bisquick: 16 lbs.( I know a boxed a mix, but hubby makes breakfast and he like using this for only pancakes and a chicken coating. And if I can come in from milking to hot cakes, it's ok.)

ketchup: 4 bottles

pancake syrup: 9 bottles

rolled oats: 25 lbs. ( used for baking, eating and cookies)

peanut butter: 17 jars ( life is good if you have enough PB&J)

spag. noodles: 20 lbs.

baking soda: 15 lbs.

corn starch: 12- #10 cans ( someone gave us, but stores just about forever, I will not use this much in a year, maybe not even 5 years.)

powder sugar: 8-#10 cans (someone gave us, and will not use this all in a year, but stores a long time.)

BBQ sauce: 15 bottles ( on sale at $ .50 each, this was all that was left. Used for BBQ - Ribs.)

honey: 3 qts.( cooking and eating)

can potato slices: 24 cans ( if you drain them, then fry in butter and onions, on very good. a good sale on them.)

pop corn: 10 lbs.

grits: 5 lbs.( should last a year, hubby is the only one to eat them.)

barley: 2- #10 cans ( used in soups, and side dish)

spag. sauce: 15- 26 oz cans ( this is the smaller can and we always doctor it up and add more, it's used a a base.)

pizza sauce: 9 jars ( time saver. I make the Mozz. and crusts for homemade pizzas. The jar is only a dollar and makes 3-4 pizzas)

hash browns: 4-#10 cans

instant potatoes: 2-#10 cans

chocolate pudding instant: 4- #10 cans ( someone gave us, and it's ok)

can peas: 10 ( the only way to get my family to eat peas is in soups and to make cheesy peas( using my canned cheese sauce).

mayonnaise: 5 jars

sweet relish: 3 jars

can mushrooms: 7

evaporated milk: 18 cans

both vinegar: 8 gallons

veg. oil: 10 bottles

shortening in cans: 6

vanilla: 6 bottles

baking powder: 6 cans

onion powder: 8 bottles ( we use powders instead of those mixed with salt, you get more for your money. And we use them daily. I might have to buy more. To spice up a grilled cheese add the onion and garlic powder, it's a great change.)

garlic powder: 8 bottles

cinnamon: 8 bottles

seasoned salt: 5 bottles

spray Pam bottles: 6 ( don't usually buy, but they were on a great sale)

Hershey's syrup: 5 bottles

dried potato slices, instant mashed potatoes: 14 boxes ( used on busy nights )

box cake mixes: 15 ( these were on sale too)

tubs of frosting: 6 ( I have not master this from scratch yet, and will need to buy more)

powdered Gatorade( big cans, makes 6 gallons each): 7 ( this is so great for everyone, for when their sick or out in the sun)

Between these two list, has help me to really see what we have and need. And it's been a while since I done it. For some reason if it's on paper it goes in brain better than just looking around. Please only stock what your family will eat, even if it's a great sale. And the more you can make from scratch the better and will save you more money. Try and learn to cook at least one new thing a week from scratch. Happy stocking.

Hope this helps.

Becky

Technorati Tags: food storage,self sufficiency,stocking up. stockpiling food

Comments:

1. Well, I’m truly in awe of you, Becky Thank you for a very comprehensive list. I must admit, it makes me feel rather inadequate. At this point, I’m still working on a three month supply of what we eat on a regular basis. Your list gives me a lot of inspiration and renewed motivation to achieve my own goals. Thank you! Joyce Comment by Joyce July 23, 2008

2. I keep a similar list of my home canned goods and store bought goods. It really helps out when you are stockpiling to know how much you have on hand and what your goal amount is. I also date each item so it makes for a good revolver system. Comment by Caroline July 23, 2008

What's Stored, What's else is needed for at least 1 year?

Ok, I have check on what and how much I have stored this far. So I will know just what else I really need to store to go at least a year. This is only for canned foods I've canned, not store brought goods.  This list and how many jars needed for a year is for 3 people and I figure for not being able to go to store at all , so my numbers are really a little high( so it might last more than a year).  Some of this is from last year. But due to time and strength, I did not want to can more than we really used from the garden.

GREEN BEANS:(use 3 qts. a week)  have 159 qts. ( might can more)

SWEET POTATOES: (only 1 person eats) have 25 pts.

POTATOES: ( use about 2 qts. a week)  have 13 qts. ( need about 91 more qts.)

SHARP CHEEDAR CHEESE:  have 6 pts. and 5 jelly jars ( want to can more, if they go on sale again)

CHEESE SAUCE: have 42 jelly jars ( want to can more, if they go on sale again) ( one jar makes mac and cheese for 4 people.)

MILK: ( use about 3 qts. a week) have 56 qts ( need about 100 qts. more)

CARROTS: have 30 qts. (only used it stew and soup, have enough)

TOMATOES: ( use about 1-2 qts. week) have 44 qts. ( will can more if tomatoes do good this year)

FRUITS(use about 2 qts. a week)

APPLE SAUCE:  have 48 qts.

APPLE SLICES: have 27 qts.

PEAR CHUCKS: have 45 qts.

JELLIES AND BUTTERS: ( use about one pint a week)

APPLE BUTTER :  have  9 pts.

APPLE JELLY: have 17 jelly jars

PEAR JAM:  have 40 jelly jars

MIXED JELLIES:  have 5 jelly jars

STRAWBERRY SYRUP: have 3 jelly jars

STRAWBERRY JAM: have 6 jelly jars and 2 pts. ( 7 gallon freezer bags in freezer to make more jam) 

I am so thankful for all my stores. I know I have stated before that I was going to can every thing I could get my hands on, but well this was really stressing me out. I know how to garden and have seed for next year already, so why stress myself out? And all this will last us more than a year.  And I'm slowly running out of shelf space in the food barn.  I do not want  3 years of apples and no potatoes or green beans, ect.

Our beefalo (bull cow) is going in the freezer within the next 2-3 weeks.  And 1 cow would last us a year with 5 people (2 adults, 2 teenagers, 1 child)eating. Now only 2 adults and one child, should last us much longer. We have about 26 young chicks that should be ready for the freezer by winter. If we need more, we'll kill as needed. I can get 2-3 meals out of one chicken for us. We still have about 1 pig in freezer from last year, so we are good on meat.

My next post I'll do store bought goods and how much I have and need for a year for 3 people. Hope this helps someone. If you need any help or have any questions, just let me know.  If you can figure out about how much your family eats a month, that's the place to start, even a week is a good start.

Hope you all have a great day.

Becky

Technorati Tags: canning,food storage,garden,self sufficiency,stocking up,stockpiling food

Comments:

Wow! Becky, you are so well prepared!I didn’t know you could can potatoes. Do you use a pressure canner? Is there a varieties that are better to use than others?I’m looking forward to your store bought list, since this is mostly what we have stored right now.Thanks for sharing
Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 20, 2008 |

That’s awesome! Where do you keep it all? How many freezers do you have? Do you have grains (wheat, oats, flour, sugar, etc.) too? And, the fact that you do it all mostly by yourself is amazing to me! You are quite the woman! Comment by Darce | July 20, 2008 |

Great list Becky, I think most people have no idea how much they need for an entire year. You putting all this down will help people just starting to stock their own food supplies.
It takes a huge effort, don’t work too hard and take care. Comment by matronofhusbandry | July 21, 2008 |

Joyce: yes I pressure can the potatoes. I am not sure about varieties, I just can what comes out of the garden.
Darce: I have three freezers in the food barn, I have photos here:
http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/why-what-how-i-am-storing-and-stocking-up-food/I do have grains, but they are store bought, and will be listed in next post, ok. Comment by jordansfarm | July 21, 2008 |

Thanks, Becky! Hope you’re not working too hard today. I’m making a birthday dinner for our daughter today. She would want fried chicken on such a hot day. Off to finish the potato salad and carrot cake. Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 21, 2008 |

Joyce,
We do fried chicken for birthdays too, but I’m lucky because it’s in Jan. when it’s not hot.
And for some reason when I make potato salad, the potatoes are to soft or to hard. But I found a way to make perfect potato salad every time. I use my canned potatoes, it’s great. I make carrot cake too, but just for birthdays. Hope you all had a great day.
Becky Comment by jordansfarm | July 22, 2008 |

Thank, Becky Everything went wonderfully! I nearly melted into the kitchen floor…but other than that…Joyce Comment by Joyce | July 22, 2008 |

Might want to run a thin strip of wood along the outside of your shelves if you are in an earthquake prone area - don’t want all of that work to fall off and break ! Comment by Debra | July 22, 2008 |

You are amazing! Comment by Jodi | July 26, 2008 |

Could you tell me how you can your carrots? I bought some baby carrots on sale and am thinking about canning them. I’d appreciate your thoughts! I consider you to be my canning guru!  D

Thanks so much!
Stacie  Comment by arksoaper | September 16, 2008 |

Stacie,just wash, can cut in half of leave whole,
cook: at 10 lbs pressure, pints 25 mins and qts. 30 min. Good luck
Becky  Comment by jordansfarm | September 17, 2008 |

Thank you so much, Becky! Have a wonderfully blessed day!
Stacie Comment by arksoaper | September 17, 2008 |

Why are you not canning your beefalo and chickens? I have done it and it is so easy! Comment by other canning mom | October 3, 2008 |

Other canning mom,
I do can some meat, but not a lot. I seem to only have enough canning jars for vegs, fruit, jellys, etc. Have a great day. And thank you for stopping in.
Becky   Comment by jordansfarm | October 3, 2008 |

Blessings, Apples, Stocking

We have a week of on and off rain. Which we so badly needed. The youth group came back. They mowed the yard, weed eatted around the yard, and moved just about all the mulch into the upper garden. They were a great blessing to us.

I went yesterday, and picks 2 big plastic totes of apples. I got them free, off  the ground. The older man has a hard time picking from ground. He told me I could come any time and get all I wanted off the ground. Thank you Lord for the fruit. His trees are loaded. And so was the ground. As soon as I get these apples put up, I'll go for more. I hope to make applesauce, can apples in a light syrup,  and for the first time make apple jelly. We could not get apples from him last year due to a late frost, but did get some the year before. And I only have a few quarts left from that year.

If you all see an apple (pears,oranges,....) tree in someone's yard, and there are apples on ground, stop and ask if you can have the ones on the ground. 9 times out of 10, them will just give them to you so as they do not have to pick them up or mow them.  This is how I started, and now they call me when they are ready to pick up, year after year.   Put the word out that you want peoples extras. After I have canned and froze all I need for the year, I call in people to come and pick the extra, and some people call me to come and get their extra ( things I don't grow or have). Find out every one around you who farms or gardens, trade things with each other. More people are willing to trade than buy right now. I offer people a 1/3 to 1/2 on what I am doing for their help( snapping beans to can, peeling apples,  peeling potatoes to can), just let people know. I have a list of people wanting to help. And Lord knows I need help.  It is really time to start helping one another, and it blesses me so to see so many doing just that.

Well, yesterday I went to town ( I  go  every two weeks, now), and I could not believe the prices are still going up, even on my feed for the animals. And just in two weeks, some things with up as much as $1.00 per item. Boy, I  really hate going to town.  But I found a few good deals: Ivory soap 4 @$1.00 (was 3 @$1.00), cans of coffee $3.00 cheaper than anywhere else( I got 6, that's all they had left),cereal for $1.89 a box( got 8), 2 baby changing pads $.25 each( for my homemade pads). This week there was not many sale for me, so not much to add to stock, but I got some.  I got 700 pounds of feed for animals for two weeks, this bill was up by $30.00 . I wish I had enough room to grow my own feed, but I don't, so I buy. 

Well I have a lot of work I needed to do, pray you all have a great weekend.

Becky 

 

 

Technorati Tags: blessings,canning,food prices,saving money,stocking up

Another day on the Farm -a little of this and that.

We got a good rain today.  I have another 3 hens sitting on eggs (6, 12, 6) and 9 chicks: we'll have chicken this winter.  Peaches, our milk cow, is giving us a lot of milk, now we're getting  3  1/2+ gallons.  Time for me to make ice cream again. Would you like some? :)  Tommy's doing better, still at times having a hard time breathing, but this to is getting better. I will be picking green beans again in the morning.  The Lord has really blessed our garden and farm, thank you, Lord. 

Recipes:

Homemade Mayonnaise

1 whole egg

2 teaspoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoon vinegar

dash pepper

1 cup oil

Put all ingredients in the blender, except for  3/4 cup of oil. Blend together well. While blending, slowly add the remaining oil until the mayonnaise is thick.

 

Tortilla Chips

1 dozen corn tortilla   and oil for frying

Cut tortillas into triangles ( like a pie) and fry a few at a time in a pan of hot oil. Salt to taste.

** Variation** Try frying flour tortillas the same way and sugar mixture. 

These recipes are from the  "Cooking with Home Storage"  by Vicki Tate , used with permission of author. A most have book. This book has pioneer recipes, dried foods recipes, and more.   This is the last of the recipes I'll post from this book.   It is well worth the $14.95. If you'd like to see the book index it's HERE at the end of post.

The New Cookin' with Home Storage- New and Expanded version with Index

By: Vicki Tate    (435)835-8283 in Utah, USA

Vicki has said if you call in to order the book price is $14.95 + S&H, and can order a CD of her lecture for $4.00, too.

 

Home:

Plant sweet basil around your doorways as this repels flies. I know this works, even on a farm. I have a net bag on my screen door and fill it with sweet basil leaves every few days ( leaves- the snips I take off every few day, so it'll grow bigger, some leaves get dried for winter use).

Comments:

 

 

Thanks to you all.

Just wanted to thank you all for stopping by. I pray this blog is a help to you. You all have been a blessing to me. Thank you again.

Becky

Comments:

1. Thank you, Becky! I have been reading your blog entries for about a week now. I’m really enjoying them! Blessings to you! Joyce Comment by Joyce July 8, 2008

2. Becky I have checked all your pages and Tommy's health page. I am sitting here crying as I read his wonderful guest book. I have copied the address from his wood shop page and that is were I will send the thread and whatever else. Please take care friend,
   Peg (sweet mama) Comment by PEG July 8, 2008

Cooking with Home Storage--Homemade Cheese recipes using Powdered milk

These recipes are from the "Cooking with Home Storage" by Vicki Tate , used with permission of author. (see end of this post to order this wonderful book) A most have book. This book has pioneer recipes, dried foods recipes, and more.

Parmesan Cheese

1 cup boiling water , 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 cup powdered milk

blend all ingredients and cook over medium-high heat until milk boils. the curds will be very small and milk will be frothy. pour into a cloth lined strainer, rinse and press out excess water. put curds into a bowl and stir with a fork to break up. spread on a cookie sheet and dry for about 10 minutes in a 150 degree oven. this cheese can be salted and used in place of parmesan, or mixed with 1/4 to 1/3 commercially dried parmesan cheese. refrigerate or freeze. makes about 1 cup of curds. a pleasant flavor change takes place after about 3 months of aging under refrigeration.

Mock Mozzarella

4 cups warm water, 1 3/4 cup white vinegar, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 3 cups powdered milk

blend all ingredients, pour into hot, oil-coated saucepan and heat to 115 degrees to form curds. rinse in warm water, drain and salt to taste. place in cheesecloth bag and hang to drain or squeeze out excess liquid. cool and grate or crumble. use as you would commercial mozzarella. for a firmer texture, use only 1/4- 1/3 cup of oil. *note: this has the texture and melt ability of comm. cheese, but not the flavor. you could mix 1/2 grated mock mozz. with 1/2 cup comm. mozz. for an authentic flavor.

I will post a few more later. This is a great book. I use the recipes weekly and they help save money.

The New Cookin' with Home Storage- New and Expanded version with Index

By: Vicki Tate (435)835-8283 in Utah, USA

Vicki has said if you call in to order the book price is $14.95 + S&H, and can order a CD of her lecture for $4.00, too.

Table of Contents

1. Pioneer breads
2. Breads
3. cornmeal
4. toppings
5. quick mixes
6. muffins
7. quick breads
8. hot cakes
9. syrups
10. tortillas
11. specialty breads
12. crackers and chips
13. breakfast cereals
14. sourdough
15. soups
16. beans and pea soup
17. chowders
18. stews
19. chili
20. sauces
21. pioneer dinners
22. dried beans
23. one-pot-meals
24. pizza
25. mexican
26. rice
27. meat substitutes
28. meat dishes and fish
29. pasta
30. dutch oven
31. manti pageage bar-b-q turkey
32. milk products
33. cheese
34. eggs
35. fruit
36. vegetables
37. salads
38. sprouts
39. puddings
40. pies
41. cakes
42. cookies
43. confections
44. remedies
45. natural beauty and personal care
46. emergency baby care
47. household cleaners
48. survival
49. reconstituting dried foods
50. substitutions
51. preparedness tips
52. what to store
53. where to go for preparedness products

The book has 302+ pages.

Technorati Tags: food storage,homemade cheese,powdered milk,saving money,self sufficiency

Comments:

Becky, you are giving good advice telling people to only stock up on what they will eat. It’s a waste of money to have things the family will turn their noses up at. Be Well.
Comment by Nita July 7, 2008

I just discovered your blog. I am really enjoying reading your posts. We too live on a farm and do food storage and preservation.
Comment by Caroline July 7, 2008

Your blog makes me so excited! I love your ideas, and they seem doable! Thanx for sharing, and please don’t stop!
Comment by Darce July 7, 2008

Here's more in home, recipes, and stocking food

Around the farm: It's been over cast most of day, praying for rain. I have cut the runners from my strawberries, suckered my tomatoes yet again, washed clothes and hung out side, weeded some, and now taking a break.

Home Tips ( http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/home-tips/ )

I found this recipe and like it the best for a few reasons: I can get Ivory soap bars for 3 for a dollar and baking soda is cheap, both Ivory and baking soda store just about forever, not a lot of work to make, can be used to clean other things. We use ERA detergent the most as it works best on the farm, and being able to make something's is better than nothing . And I have not learned yet to make soap. But I'm am preparing for hard times to come,( power outages, no money, nothing in stores to buy, etc.). I have bought Ivory and as have baking soda, for when it's need. There are some many things happening all around us. This recipe is the cheapest I can find and the easiest to make( which is what I look for in all recipes).

Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipe

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

• Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
• In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
• Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load

I got this at: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/ ( Recipe #8) There are other recipes here, too.

Homemade Sanitary Pads

Ok, ladies what happens when and if you can't buy sanitary pads. This is a must, to use all the time not really. But if you made a few to just have in case, this is something that we need, monthly. Yes, you could stock up on store bought ones, this is just a money saving tip. These could also be used in a first aid kit, if needed. When I find something like these, I think of other ways it can be used. The site I found to make them is: http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm

Recipes ( http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/ )

I know this is a winter time recipe but if you had it now, you might be able to stock up for it.( the price of powdered milk keeps going up, but this drink can also replace a glass of milk too, which is a treat for kids, and us older people.) And here they will not drink the powered milk any other way. And in hard times, this is a great boost.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix

Makes 14 cups (this makes a 28 cup batch)

2 cups instant non fat milk (4 cups)

1/2 cup cocoa (1 cup)

1 1/2 cup sugar (3 cups)

1/4 teaspoon salt (1/2 teaspoon)

Mix all together well, store in an air tight bowl. To use add 3 heaping tablespoons to a cup of hot water, not boiling. If you have a coffee maker- run water with no coffee, this is just the right temp. ( after making it with the hot water and stirred good , it can be put in the ice box and becomes choc. milk, this is good too.)

Stocking Food ( http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/stocking-food/ )

Yes, we do have a milk cow, who gives 3 1/2 gallons of milk a day. And yes, I can and freeze the milk. But I also keep the dried milk on hand( 3-5gal. buckets, about the time I run out, it's on sale again and well keep 6-8 months in a cool dark place.). If I can't get feed for her due to no money and or no food to buy, and when she dries up- I'll have milk. We use a lot of milk both to drink and cook with. What I do with the dried milk: make cheeses , hot cocoa mix, in baking.

The many uses of powdered milk-great site for more ideas; http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/powderedmilk.htm

Technorati Tags: food storage,ideas,making do,recipes,saving money,stocking up,stockpiling food

Comments from Becky's Farm Life:

You sound like my kind of person.Heres a hint you may want to try. Air and moisture is your enemy for long term storage of almost any item.Grit your teeth and get a vacuum sealing machine. They remove most of the air and moisture and make an air tight sealed container. Without air, bugs, mold and ohert pest can not survive. Vacuum sealed soap, powered milk, beans etc will last for years if stored in a cool dry place.
Try placing a few tampons in you first aid kit, out soldiers in Iraq say they are real life savers when used in large wounds to stop bleeding until medical help can be had.
Comment by pobept July 6, 2008

very interesting
Comment by JoAnn July 27, 2008

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Have you tried this particular recipe for laundry soap? I made the traditional one with washing soda,etc. I have a huge bag of baking soda from Costco that I’d love to use it. How do your clothes turn out?
Comment by Georgene September 16, 2008

Georgene,Thank you for stopping in. This soap not yet. A friend did and says it’s great. I am making my first batch this week as we are about out of the store brought. I have been saving the empty bottles to fill up with the homemade soap.Becky
Comment by jordansfarm September 17, 2008

What kind of bottles are you putting the laundry soap in? I have an old detergent bottle with a lid that I use. I sit it on top of my dryer, next to the washer, and leave the 1/2 cp. measurer next to it. I’ve been making my own soap for a few years and love it. I used to not be able to wash my towels in the soap because our well water had a high lead content but now that we’ve moved back to the city I think it might be better.
I loved your clothes line ideas and went to purchase some chain today. Great idea!
Comment by Georgene September 17, 2008

Stocking food, brownies recipe,

Expiration Dates on stored food ( put in stocking food tab)http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/stocking-food/

I use a big black pen to write the date in big letters on front of package, then as I buy new, I put it where the dates go from oldest to newest. I just look around my stores at the dates facing me. Then once a month, I go though and pull every thing that needs to be eaten that month, and bring in to the house. Most can goods are good for years, but as the years go by they loose some nutritional value with age. If you are buying for your stockpile, look at the expiration dates as you buy, I have moved cases of food to get food that has more than a year from exp. date( I do put the other cases back like I found them). The oldest food is always on top or in the front. No store people have said any thing to me as long as I put things back. It your money, and with money being tight, why not buy the freshest you can. It takes a little more time, but if your like me you have more time than money.

Recipes (is in tab too)http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/

More Brownies Please

1 cup butter(2 sticks)

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

3/4 cup cocoa

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup nuts optional ( but are great with walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350, grease 13 X 9 X 2 pan, melt butter in a pan then turn heat off and stir in sugar and vanilla, add eggs one at a time beating well with wooden spoon after each egg, add cocoa, beat until blended, add flour, baking powder, salt, beat well. stir in nuts. Bake at 350 for 30 - 35 min. or until brownies pull away from the sides of pan. Enjoy!

Home Tips (is in tab too)http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/home-tips/

I found flannel sheets at thrift store, full sets, king size set $2.00 and queen size set $2.00. I will cut these up to make: washable paper towels, washable tissues, washable napkins, and to make pads. That's a lot of material for $4.00.

I am buying less cleaners and making my own cleaners. I will list some in a few days.

Hope everyone has a happy 4th. Becky

Technorati Tags: food prices,food storage,ideas,making do,saving money,stocking up

Comments from Becky's Farm Life:

With the current uncertainties with food prices there is a greater need for us to conserve and be increasingly economical about food consumption at home. We have become wasteful as consumers of food and have never really had a need to feel otherwise before this crisis started. Blaming the rampant consumerism of the supermarkets has now irrelevant in this discussion. The situation now is that if we don’t change our food habits this situation could easily escalate completely out of control. The responsibility is now on us all to change our food buying and food consuming habits.Simple food saving tips are things we need to get used to and practice more regularly. Most of these are common sense and can be quite creative. You can find a list of free food saving tips at sites such as http://www.foodcrisis.co.uk amongst other similar sites as well.We all need to contribute to a fairer and more food wise program for ourselves.
Comment by hungrybritain August 7, 2008

Garden and Farm and Home

I have been going full speed last few days. Right now it's over 90, so I am taking a break in front of a fan. I am mulching everything I can, this so helps with less weeding, and holds water in longer. I canned more quarts of milk and quarts of green beans. Froze milk and eggs, and some cream(the only things you can not do with cream that has been frozen, is whip it. I make butter, ice cream and cheese with it as time allows). Thank you Lord, for a great garden and a milk cow who is giving more milk ( over 3 1/2 gallons a day, now)than I can keep what with, and 80+eggs to eat and eggs to put under hens( meat this winter). I hoed up another row of potatoes. One of our hens hatched 3 more chicks ( total so far this spring 11 chicks). I have got to find time (somewhere) to make strawberry jam, and I'm almost out of butter. The Lord has really blessed our farm and garden again. I am putting up everything I can get my hands on. Our daughter is bring in more blackberries than I can keep up with and finding them in places they were not in before. I know it's going to be a very long, hard winter. And the Lord is providing food now to put up. Usually, when our garden and farm do above average, the winter coming has been hard and long. It has happened three different years, here. So that is why I am preparing more than I normally do, not just because of our economy and our income dropping to a third. This blog, Becky's Farm Life , has gotten some many hits, from people looking to stock up on food and stretch their money, I know the Lord is trying to prepare them too. I am just trying to help all I can. It's becoming my mission for the Lord. People, I talk to face to face think I'm crazy for telling them to stock up and get ready. So the Lord showed me to start this blog, and they will come, and they have. Please if any of you have ideas to add, please do so. As we are to help one another. And again, I don't have all the answers, just telling what I know and what has worked here on our farm for years.

Tommy still has not gotten the gas line fixed under the house. So I am glad I have a gas stove top outside( this is where I can in the summer). In a way it's a blessing, I can cook simpler meals,and the kitchen does not get so hot. Last night, we had eggs and bacon and toast and milk. I just have to keep an eye out for the cats, they think it's their dinner. I am checking all my stored things as I go to the store next week. I have cut going to town to every two weeks, it would be once a month but I don't have room to store that much animal feed. As it is I get 700 lbs, every two weeks, this feeds 3- cows, 30 chicken, 4- dogs, 4- cats, 6- kittens. Do you need a kitten? And many food we need for the next 2 weeks, I am so blessed to have a truck big enough to carry it all. When I come home from a day in town, the truck is packed tight. And usually takes us about 3 hrs. to get everything put up.

The milk cow has been giving me a hard time. She was in her worse heat the other night. She want to play with the bull more than she wanted to eat and get milked. It took me 3 1/2 hours to milk her out, usually 20 min's. She a great milk cow for it being her first year milking. Tommy says, It's a female thing, men think they know it all. I have another chicken wanting to sit on eggs, I will let her in a few days. I have strawberry runners to cut off, and sucker the tomatoes, clothes to wash and hang out side. Hope every one has a blessed day. So I better get up from in front of this fan and get more things done today.

Becky

Technorati Tags: canning,eggs,farming,food storage,freezing,garden,stocking up

Freezing eggs,milk and canning cheese and milk :answers(hopefulheart)

hopefulheart wrote a comment: Your blog is fascinating. Could you please tell me how to freeze eggs? I am buying fresh eggs from my friends now but as you now the chickens can be fickle And how long do they last in the freezer? What is the best way to freeze milk? How do you can cheese and milk? Do you use a water bath or pressure canner? Thanks for the help.

Freezing eggs: You crack say 2- 3 eggs into a bowl, 1/4 tsp of sugar or salt(use sugar or salt-depending on what the eggs will be used for), just pop the yoke , and pour into a freezer bag. Label your bag sugar or salt. Check your most used recipes to find the number of eggs you use most. I use 6 eggs in ice cream- 6 eggs with 1/2 tsp sugar. Eggs to eat, I pack in 3 eggs with 1/4 tsp. salt. Eggs for cake mixes, add sugar to eggs. We have eaten the eggs I froze with sugar in them and they were good. The only thing you can’t do with these eggs, is have them fried. I have found they last 6-12 months. The older they get, its best to use them in recipes than to eat plain. A lot of people don’t know you can freeze eggs. After the first year here of home grown eggs, store bought didn’t look so good any more. So I found a way to keep us in eggs when the hens slowed down. This does work with store eggs ,too. Date your bags and use oldest first.

Freezing Milk: I have found that best way to freeze milk is to use juice bottles or 2 liter bottles, WHY? the jugs that milk comes in is very thin and weak. And more times than not, when the milk thaws the jug leaks. In a 2 liter bottle put a 1/2 gallon of milk, this will leave room for it to freeze. Always date your bottles. And it will thaw over night in ice box. I have found it will last 6- 12 months in freezer, I know that is not what is said, but that’s what works here. Just always use the oldest first. We have done this for over 6 years now, and same with eggs.

Canning Cheese sauce and Milk and Butter: These are listed in the recipes tab at the top. http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/

Canning hard cheeses: We love sharp cheddar cheese but don’t like it frozen. You can, can any hard cheese this way. So I found a way to can it. In jelly/ or pint jars, in a pan of water (put jars in water), put cheese in jars(slice into small pieces) , allow to melt down to 1 in. from top, then put lids on and hot water bath 40 min. for both pints and jelly jars.The longer it sit on shelf the sharp it gets. We just got plans to build a cheese press, so as I can make my own cheddar cheese. We have had to wait to make it because I had no way or place to allow cheese to ripen. So now I’ll make it and can it. The can cheese will last 2 plus years in a cool dark place.

I will also copy this post into the recipes tab, so as it will be easier to find. Hope you all have a great day. My other blog has the recipes tab at:

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/ : main blog

http://jordansfarm.wordpress.com/recipes/ : recipes page

Technorati Tags: canning,freezing,milk,cheese,eggs,stocking up,storing food

Comments:

1. My husband grew up on a ranch with laying hens. I freeze eggs by cracking them out of the shell and poking the yolk, beating a few times and freezing in an ice cube tray. When frozen pop them out and place in freezer bags. Take out what you need and defrost in the fridge over night. Comment by CJ July 1, 2008

2. I have been trying to can my excess goat milk. One site said 10#’s for 25 minutes and the other said 15# ’s for 10 minutes. Both of these times curdled my milk in the jar. I have previously canned milk in the 80’s without a problem, but I do not remember the directions I used then. Can you help me? Comment by Hope Gaines July 11, 2008

3. Hope,
   I’m not really sure about goats milk. Does goat’s milk have cream like cow’s milk? If it does, I think the “curdled part “is the cream turning into like a butter. This happens on cow’s milk, and is fine to cook with. One of my books says you can water bath for 60 minutes. It’s in with the cow and goat part, extra milk. But does not say, goat milk. Have you tried cooking with the milk you have canned? My canned cows milk is not really drinkable due to taste, but is great to cook with. I know you can freeze the extra goats milk, but again I’m not sure about canning it. I’m sorry I could not help you. Have a great day. Becky Comment by jordansfarm July 12, 2008

4. 
   I have a homemade pizza sauce that I make, and when I make it I have alot so I have had to put it in the freezer and take up alot of freezer space,the pizza sause has parmasian cheese in it. I am wanting to can the sauce but I cant find any information on how to can a pizza sauce the has cheese in it. Do you know what the time and presser on that would be? Comment by Robin Lee February 10, 2009

5. Robin,The best I can tell is what I’d do: make a big batch of your sauce without the cheese, and add the cheese when you use the sauce, this would be the safest way. The cheese usually has a long shelf life. Hope this helps. Becky Comment by Becky February 15, 2009