LONG TERM STORAGE: MONTH 2

Back in the 90s I worked in a little candy store in the middle of the mall.  I became a pro at making Cotton Candy and Stringing Taffy.  I took the food safety classes (which really only told me not to put meat and produce on the same shelf in the fridge and to rotate food items "first in-first out"), and saved my paychecks for college tuition.  I remember almost all the gummy and sugary candy we got all had the big "Fat Free!" labels.  I realized there was a whole lot of candy that fit right into the fat-free craze.  I thought it was funny that there were people that actually thought that fat free always meant healthy.   Fast forward about 10 years and I was attending Weight Watchers classes.  I loved them and learned a ton about nutrition.  One of the things that stuck out in my mind was that we need fat in our diet.  Now, this is not license to go out and be crazy about French Fries, but the human body does need the right amount of good fats to be at it's peak.

It is suggested to store a minimum of 10 quarts per person of cooking oil for your year's supply.  For my family, that is 95 quarts.  

"Fat" comes in several forms:  Olive oil, Canola oil, Vegetable oil, Coconut oil, Butter, Peanut oil, etc. One thing to remember about fats is that they do have a shorter shelf life and need to be rotated and replaced often.  Because of this, it is important that you choose fats that you know you will use on a regular basis.  Remember that "first in, first out" rule and you will be great.

I challenge you to get enough cooking oil for your family to add to your long-term storage.

If you would like to add a few extras to your storage, I will list some suggestions each month.  Remember the #1 Food Storage Rule:  Store what you Eat and Eat what you Store!

5 lb Peanut Butter and 2 jars of jelly or jam

6 lb pasta for each member of your family

Safety matches, flashlights, batteries

Condiments:  watch for sales and stock up on mustard, ketchup, relish, mayo, salad dressing, soy sauce, etc.

Sleeping Bag or Tent

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LONG TERM STORAGE CHALLENGE

Month 1--Salt, 8 lbs per person

3 MONTH MEAL PLAN--MONTH 2

I'm one of those people that you hate to see in front of you in a grocery line.  Yes, that person with the heaping huge cart that takes almost forever to get through the line.  What most people don't realize is that being able to get their cart to this state is an organizational feat that takes years to perfect.  It all depends on the store though.  When I go to Costco, I have a list.  I also know I am going to have to fit a huge amount of "stuff" in my cart.  I start organizing my cart with the first item and every subsequent one has a specific spot to maximize the amount I can fit.  Even the Costco checkers are amazed at how much I can fit.  My Target trips, on the other hand have zero organization.  As much as I try to  stick with my list, extra things inevitably jump into my cart, until it is all a heaping mess as I head to the checkout.  Personal experience tells me it is always best to have a list, and organize along the way.

Now that we have finished the first month (Find January's goal:  Plan, here),  here's the next step!  3-month preparedness, here we come!

February's goal:  Organize

(1) Recipe Compilation.  Get all your 3-month plan recipes in one spot and make a soft and hard copy.  Put these both somewhere where you can find it again.
(2) Ingredients list.  List everything you need to make your meals, along with quantities.
(3) Multiply your ingredient quantities by 12--yes you will be buying enough to make each meal 12 times.
(4) Make a master shopping list.  This is based on your multiplied ingredients lists and will include everything you need to make all your meals and snacks.  Some find it helpful to put the items in categories:  Spices, canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruit, etc.  Don't forget the small things, EVERYTHING should be on your list.  Print (or copy) this list and put the original somewhere where you can find it again, and place the copy in your purse.
(5) Clear a spot where these items will be stored when you buy them.
(6) Report. Send me an email (raelynstoddard(at)hotmail(dot)com), text me 7six0-two24-721seven, or leave a comment on my blog post to let me know you have done this.  I want to hear!

3 MONTH MEAL PLAN--MONTH 1

Life is about adjustment...When we moved to Stoddard Valley almost 5 years ago, I found myself at least 20 minutes away from any grocery store (even Daniel's).  Those quick trips to the store for the forgotten or unplanned-for item were simply not an option anymore.  I learned to plan a little better, or adjust to meals we could make with what we had on hand.  Luckily I had a fallback.  Can I tell you how amazing it is to have family living next door?!  I knew that I could borrow a can of tomato sauce, a package of graham crackers, or just about anything else, anytime.  It was like having a grocery store next door!  Awesome.  Then, adjustment came again when my grocery store family next door moved away.  I cannot even begin to tell you what a bummer this has been, but we move forward.

The church is amazing, they have given us a plan to get in place to totally solve my dilemma.  It is called a 3-month supply and all we need to do is follow it.  The short version is that we are supposed to have food in our homes to last our family for 3 months.  Brilliant.  During 2018, I invite you to follow along as I challenge myself to build an amazing 3 month supply.  The blessings will be many-fold!  Some of them include: less last-minute trips to the grocery store, knowing you can always make a meal, food on hand in case of need, and much more!  LET'S DO THIS!

January's Goal:  PLAN

(1) Finances.  Determine an amount you can spend on Food Storage every month and incorporate it into your budget.
(2) Make a list.  Come up with 7 breakfast meals, 7 lunch meals, 7 snacks, and 7 dinners that can be made entirely from non-perishable food (think: cans and pantry items).
(3) Gather Recipes.  Make a recipe file (binder, cards, etc.) of these recipes.  If you need ideas, Pinterest has a plethora of them.  I searched for "LDS 3 month food storage recipes" and got more ideas than I can use!  I shared one dinner recipe for Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup awhile back, so you can for sure use that!  The #1 rule for this step is you can only list and gather recipes you KNOW your family will eat (and love).
(4) Follow up.  Visit my blog and leave a comment at the end of this post with a recipe or an item you have on your list (then check back to get ideas from other people).