Staple Foods- Milk

I went shopping for some basics last week, you know, milk, sugar, flour,etc. and you can't help but notice how much food prices have gone up in the last 8-12 months. For example, at a local store that sells the Western Family brand, I had bought some dry beans for .98/lb. this spring. Those same beans are now $1.78/lb. That's a 55% increase in the price of a staple food item, not the 3-6% increase that the media tells you. In my little area of the PACNW, milk prices have remained relatively stable, at about $2.49/gallon over the past year or so. But I noticed that milk is creeping up, anywhere from $2.59-$3.19 a gallon. Dry milk prices are about $15 for a box that makes 5 gallons, so that works out to about $3/gallon. So it may be cheaper for some folks to buy nonfat dry milk and reconstitute it for drinking and baking.

Some people don't like the taste of nonfat dry milk, but where I grew up, our milk was frozen and barged in from Seattle and mom always mixed 1/2 reconstituted dry milk with 1/2 the regular milk from the store. There were times that if the barges didn't make it, we were drinking straight up powdered milk. I liked chocolate Nestle Quick in mine and my brother had Strawberry Quick in his. That was how mom got us to drink a tall glass of milk at every dinner. But I also had it on cereal and with cookies, and I drank it however we had it.

You can improve the taste of nonfat dry milk by adding a tsp. of sugar or vanilla to it. But I like it just plain, too. If I am running low on milk and am not going to be making a trip to town, or when money has been tight, I often mix up a quart of powdered milk, and add it to what is left in the gallon of milk that is in the fridge to stretch it. Just shake it up. You won't even notice. It is a good staple food item to have on hand. If you find it cheaper to buy, or necessary to use dry milk, here are some ways to use it.

To make 1 quart of milk, mix 3 3/4 C water with 1 1/3 C dry milk and mix well.

To make 1 Cup of milk, mix 1 C water with 1/3 C. dry milk and mix well.

Sweetened
Condensed Milk
(14 oz. can)
1/2 C. Hot Water
1 C. Dry Powdered Milk
1 C. Sugar
1 T. Butter
Blend VERY WELL
in blender or with beater.

Evaporated Milk
(12 oz. Can)
1-1/2 C. Water
1/2 C. + 1 T. Dry Powdered Milk
Blend VERY WELL
in blender or with beater.


Buttermilk
Add a tablespoon of
lemon juice or white
vinegar to a cup of
milk and let it stand
for 5-10 min.

Whipped Topping
1/2 C ice water
1 TB lemon juice
1/2 C instant nonfat dry milk
3 TB sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Put water and lemon juice in a bowl and add instant nonfat dry milk, stirring until mixed. Beat until stiff with electric mixer, beat in sugar and vanilla. Use right away.

White Sauce Mix (Magic Mix)

Been Busy....

I have been very,very busy this past week with preparations for my new teaching assignment. I have spent at least 50 hours last week trying to get my room ready for students and reviewing the curriculum. Tonight is Back to School Night, and I will be in my classroom most of the day getting even more things ready.

My prayers and thoughts go out to all those affected by Hurricane Irene, but have you been distracted with the excessive Hurricane Irene coverage? I always wonder what Obama has up his sleeve when there is a crisis distraction. Gold is up over $1,800 per ounce. There are more than 46 million people on food stamps, up 20 million from about 3 years ago (when who came into office?), people are struggling to pay rent, and the list goes on and on. Oh, and I found this disturbing article on trans-humanism, where freak scientists are aiming to improve the human race with humans that are disease resistant, impervious to aging, and don't get hateful. Massive food shortages are being predicted worldwide,even here in the U.S. I don't know about you, but my mind has a hard time trying to keep up with everything that is happening in our world with lightning speed. I'm like most people just trying to get by and be the best that I am able.

How is your life right now? Are you prepared for natural disasters, dollar devaluation, food shortages? Super human freaks? How will you deal with adversity? Prepare, my friends.

Are You Ready? Hold on to the Seat of Your Pants!

Just this morning (8 a.m. Pacific), gold has shot up $40 since closing on Friday, from $1,662 to 1,703. The Dow Jones lost 500 points last week and now it has dropped 303 points this morning (an 8.25% loss in one week). Is it just me or didn't GM and Citibank used to be in the Dow Jones? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me they were, along with a couple of other big companies. Taking those 2 and others out of the equation sure appears like it would alter the actual percentage and points in the Dow Jones, wouldn't you say? Hmm, now why would they do that? Manipulation of numbers and false security. The S&P downgraded the US , as you already know from a AAA rating to AA+. Freddie and Fannie Mac have been downgraded. The European Central Bank is buying up Italian and Spanish government bonds. The Euro zone is in crisis. This whole situation is global in nature and is affecting everyone. If there is a run on the banks, do you have some cash on hand? Bartering items?

On another note, Iran is furious that another one of its nuclear scientists was assassinated last month and Iran is vowing retaliation against the US in the form of a cyber attack on our electric grid. Is your generator in good working order with a supply of gasoline? Have you thought about how you would manage day to day living without electricity?

Are you ready? Hold on for a bumpy ride!

Economy, Guns, and Soup

Economic stocks, gun stocks and soup stocks. What do these stocks all have in common? Well, how are your stocks doing in the Dow Jones? I bet you don't feel that your gun is losing value and not a tangible stock- it'll help you hit the mark. There's nothing like a good soup stock to come home to after a long day in the woods hunting for wild game to fill up that freezer. I prefer owning guns and having home made stock on hand over investing in the stock market. My tangibles are not going to go up and down in value, but will provide for me in good times and bad.

The economy, as we all know, is in the tank. With a gun, or several, I can hunt for food to feed my family. I can protect my home and my valuable supply of soup stock. If you need to get reaquainted with your guns, or if you don't own one, you should have one. Why?

If you have any animals at all, chickens, sheep, goats, or dogs, at least have a Ruger 10/22. We have personally had predator problems with owls, coyotes, skunks and bad, at-large neighborhood dogs. We have had to deal with these creatures accordingly. It is not pleasant, but a necessary aspect of dealing with life in the country. Protection of our family and livestock is paramount. A 10/22 is accurate, keeps on going, and requires little maintenance,not to mention all the accessories available like 50 round clips.

Actually, just today, as DH was attempting to make the barn more secure for our chickens in the evening hours against nocturnal creatures, our rooster

(isn't he handsome?) had to come and check out what was going on in the chicken yard.
Actually, it is a wonder that we haven't already turned the gun on him. He has become highly aggressive since we added 17 pullets to our flock on tax day. He was content with 4 hens, but now that he has a harem of 17 up and coming pullets, the chip on his shoulder has gotten the best of him, and unbeknownst to him, he may soon be on the chopping block because of his surly attitude. He and DH had 2 showdowns today, and he has become adept at avoiding DH's kicks.

Of course, a shotgun is always useful for defense in a worse case scenario, especially if your nerves get the best of you, you're apt to at least hit your mark.
They're great to have next to your bed and you don't have to be that good of an aim. They can put a duck or two on your table as well.

Guns are good for self-defense. You never know when a weirdo may show up. Small arms are good to have on your person. I personally like a .380. It is comfortable in my hand, easy to shoot, easy to carry, and packs a powerful punch. DH likes a 357 Mag because there is no doubt it will stop what you want it to.

With our economy and rising inflation, I want to know that we can feed our family and protect our tangible assets. Security in our economy and uncertain times is peace of mind in the form of home protection, a source of getting protein, and a pot of soup stock simmering on the stove.

Jobless Rate 9.2%

I am among the newly unemployed in the most recent statistic that shows the jobless rate at 9.2%. And after only 1 month of searching for work I am already getting frustrated. We do not know what our future will hold. The US unemployment ranks 106 out of 200 countries. IN addition, The US account balance is ranked 191 out of 191. Yes, you guessed right, China, Japan and Germany are at the top with China holding much of our debt. That reminds me. China wants to build a 50 square mile self-sustaining city near Boise, ID. That creeps me out if you ask me.

But back to unemployment. It's not only people without work that are suffering. The price of everything is rising. Gas, groceries, electricity, grain, and on and on. We are slowly losing our standard of living. We are making changes in our lifestyle now.

So we planted our largest garden ever this year with over 70 potato plants which are now affected with some sort of insect. I bought 2 pounds of white beans for $2.09 yesterday and made up 4 quarts of bean soup with leftover ham, carrots, celery and onion for a cost of well under $3.00. That's .75 cents per qt. and at 4 servings with some biscuits or cornbread, that is a cheap, nutritious and filling meal. Tomorrow, I am canning up 5 qts. of black bean, corn and sausage soup, at a cost of $7.00, or $1.40 per quart (.35 cents per serving). I will be canning up a storm this summer so my family can eat this winter, even if I don't find work. I am the ant. Are you?