Food Storage Made Easy - Latest Comments in Christmas/New Years Recap

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Diane — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 23:08:31 -0000

This is my first time on this site and I love it already and will definitely share it with the ladies in our stake. thank you! I wanted to let you know another way to use the dry beans is that I can them. I wash the beans and sort them. The bad ones usually float, and take those out. Then I take one cup of beans and put it in a quart jar. Fill to the top with water and then add one teaspoon of salt. then put the lid on and process it with a pressure cooker for 90 minutes. It is so good because you then have 7 quarts of beans already cooked and ready to make into chili or add to a soup.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Shawna — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:45:16 -0000

Seconding Prepper's comments! Thanks for reminding me of this great budget element I should be using more. I've found that one of the best ways to QUICK COOK with beans is to cook a JUMBO batch of beans, drain them and divide them into quart zip-loc bags. Pop them in the freezer and use as needed. If you're like me and forget when you did it, you'll want to make sure there is a date written on the front (and maybe the TYPE of bean it is). It's faster even than opening a CAN...and CHEAPER too! I find that when I have them in the freezer, I use them WAY more.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Vicki — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:00:16 -0000

I can meats all the time, it is very easy and a great convenience food (no defrosting!). For instructions get a Ball Blue Book, they are around $6 where they sell canning supplies, or look at www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can5_...
or any extension office website, they all have safe, tested directions and recipes.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Christie — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 05:43:21 -0000

Jean,
I canned meat for the first time this year. I did chicken tenders, sloppy joe sauce, chili and sweet & sour with meatballs. The last three were mainly for my college son. The chicken is so easy and wonderful to have. I can open a jar and have dinner ready so quickly. I also canned beans (pinto, white and black) this year - also easy, way less expensive and really handy to have.
I just look up information on canning on the internet. I am careful to only use canning info from extension agencies. You can always call your local extension agency to ask advice and get information.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Morning Sunshine — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:10:06 -0000

Jean, I cannot help with canning meats (although that is on my list of things to do/learn this year). But if you have your pressure canner and want to start on some "meat" recipes, start with a homemade stock/broth.
I have posted a number of times on this at my blogsite:
http://www.homesteadblogger...
http://www.homesteadblogger...

you can save chicken carcasses from Roast chicken dinners, or the rotisserie chickens in the freezer. When you have about 6 lbs of bones, make a nice hearty stock with the bones, some seasonings, and a few veggies, then can it. You will NEVER buy chicken broth again.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Jean — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:45:23 -0000

I bought a large pressure canner- anyone have recipes for canning meats???

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Jodi — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:26:36 -0000

Julie, You've been holding out on me!!! Time for me to come play at your house ;)

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

jweiss08 — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:30:43 -0000

OK OK CONFESSION TIME! I have a pressure cooker. My mom got it for me a couple years ago and it's still in the box. She would love this I told you so moment right now. I'm gonna try it, the pressure cooker is coming out of the box.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Kati — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:57:41 -0000

Just wanted to second the comment about the pressure cooker! You REALLY CAN have a big pot of beans in 45 minutes. A PRESSURE COOKER really expanded the use of my food storage items.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Marni L — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:41:51 -0000

YAY! I LOVE Those kind of gifts! I just picked up a Kitchen Tech mill a few months ago and I LOVE it! My 40th b-day is in just a few weeks (eeek!) Wanna know what I asked for? A Pressure Canner! How fun is that? I never in a million years thought I'd want something like that - hehe

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Prepper — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:25:29 -0000

I too cook my beans in the crockpot. It's easy and you don't have to think about it. Most of the times I'll cook more than I'll need and freeze the extras. Makes throwing a meal together so much easier and I don't resort to opening an expensive can.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Hilary — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:45:01 -0000

Genius to cook more with dry beans. That's a big wish of mine too.
Just scared I suppose. One time I did black eyed peas and it did NOT smell good.
At all.
Maybe it's just them....

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

LindaW — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:17:29 -0000

BTW You don't have to soak beans if you have a pressure cooker. :) They cook in like 20 min or less.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Lindsay — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:31:28 -0000

I am SO jealous!! I am asking for a wheat grinder for my birthday this year. Let us know how you like the wonder mill.

Great goals!

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Grandma Lori — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:02:51 -0000

I read somewhere that if you add 1 Tlb. of vinegar to the water you soak/cook the beans in, the gas effect is lessened. I know the vinegar taste cooks away. Someone should test this out and see if they toot a little less.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Maggie Goebel — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:59:15 -0000

JODI- I love your goal to have the binder of food storage recipes. I want that too. I hope Crystal can help us with that.
JULIE- Your spreadsheets are great. I don't know how to use Excel.. but I'll learn.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Crystal — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:59:33 -0000

I love this post! Especially that you guys are going to be cooking with it more! I know this great blog you should check where she cooks with food storage everyday...JK! (well not really the blog is really great, if I do say so myself :) Anyway...super jealous of the wondermill and the gardening. Jodi you'll have to come help me with mine this year.

Crystal

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

pam — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 10:56:28 -0000

About your grinders, do you think the wondermill is one of the best grinders? I have not bought one yet (borrow) and when I do buy one I want to get one that last and can up hold to a lot.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

christy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:27:40 -0000

i just wanted to comment on julie's resolution to cook more with dried beans. i don't soak my beans i just rinse them and then cook them in the crockpot on low for 6-8 hours. they are perfect everytime! try it, they're great. we live at a very high altitude and no matter how long i would soak/cook my beans i could never get them done....that is until my friend told me to just cook them in the crockpot. it's been wonderful ever since and we have beans every tuesday.

Re: Christmas/New Years Recap

Shelly — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 08:27:03 -0000

I LOVE Julie's third resolution! Too funny!