Self Reliance Tip # 7...What to do With All This Wheat?

Hello Hello Hello :)


A question I get a lot is: "So, I have all this wheat...what do I do with it?"


Well, I was talking with my friend Marie the other day. She told me that a few years ago her grandparents served a mission in Adam-ondi-ahman. They decided as a couple that they were going to eat SUPER healthy. They made cracked wheat cereal, whole wheat bread, etc etc. They were so happy to be eating healthy...until...about a week into it, for the sake of the squeamish lets just say that her grandfather had some SERIOUS digestive trouble.


Poor Marie...she didn't know why in the world he was sharing this information with her. Well, Marie, it is because our "Tip-of-the-week" readers needed something to...chew on.


One of the big mistakes that Grandma & Grandpa made was that this much wheat is not something they normally eat. Their digestive systems weren't ready for all that. Our society is beginning to see many food allergies to wheat, soy, eggs, milk etc. I won't get into the hows and whys now, but if we HAVE to eat things that we aren't used to eating, some tummies might not be ready for that. So...lets plan ahead.


Suggestion #1: Plan several meals that you usually eat and have those items on hand...say, 3 months worth :).


Suggestion #2: Have at least one meal a week that is strictly food storage items. Pancakes are a good start :).


If you're going to be making Whole Wheat Bread, it is a good idea to also get "vital wheat gluten" found currently in the "emergency food isle" at Walmart. After many tries and failures, Sister Noelle told me that her husband uses the "vital wheat gluten" and 2 T to my 2 loaf batch turned out awesome!!! Thanks Noelle!


What if you have allergies to wheat? What if you want to cut gluten down in the things you currently eat in an effort to avoid gluten intolerance later? I have a tool for you! Check out Chef Brad


http://www.chefbrad.com/grain/articles.php?article=Wonder-Flour&qid=5

He has a natural "white flour" recipe and a gluten free flour recipe. I haven't tried them yet, but I'll let you know when I do.


And another thing....


While many are working this month on getting a hand crank wheat grinder, when you are first beginning to work with wheat use 1/4 wheat flour to 3/4 white flour. Then work it up to 1/2 wheat and 1/2 white etc. You can usually get about 1 1/2 C of flour out of 1 C of wheat berries.


I can get 6 bags of unbleached flour in a 5 gallon bucket from Walmart. The total cost for that is about $23. If you can find the flour for cheaper somewhere else GO FOR IT! I put a few bay leaves on top because WEAVLES hate bay leaves...and peppermint leaves...and lavender leaves or about 4 oxygen absorbers. You can get these at the cannery by calling Brother Estes @ 651-4681!

Pure Love of Christ

"The pure love of Christ is expressed as we give selfless service. Helping one another is a sanctifying experience which exalts the receiver and humbles the giver. It helps us become true disciples of Christ."

Silvia H. Allred "Essance of Discipleship", April Conference 2011

"Dear to the heart of the Shepherd" hymn #221

John 13:35

Information about the Church Cannery

Hello you little tamales!!


I wanted to get some information to you about the church cannery. There were some things I learned this week that I think you might find interesting.


Last week I received an email from "LDS Living Magazine" that the commodities (that usually rise annually), have risen in this month since January's adjustment. The prices have risen 11% to 49% with wheat being the highest rise. This is meant for information purposes only. A 25 pound bag of wheat is still inexpensive: $11.45, however, I do not know when they will be adjusting prices again.


So, for those of us (including me until this morning) who are unfamiliar with the workings of the cannery details will be able to order with confidence and have no fear in making full use of this awesome tool, here ya go:


This is a link from the Church's website to the updated order form. If you cannot print it and you want a copy, visit me (Marsha) or Sister Loi Gibbs' - we will give you a copy for only $19.95...just kidding.


http://providentliving.org/pfw/multimedia/files/pfw/pdf/123091_BSS_HCS_OrderForm_Mar_2011_US_ENG_pdf.pdf


OK - so how to order.
1. Decide what you want
2. Fill out the order form
3. Get your form to Sister Gibbs by the 23rd of the month. (So, in todays case, if you wanted to order something, get it to her by this Saturday).
4. In about 4 weeks your order is shipped and arrives at the cannery. Sister Gibbs will call you when it gets there for you to pick up.
5. Pick up your order
6. Call brother Lonnie Estes @ 651-4681 and schedule a time to come and can. Safford stake has Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays reserved at the cannery. The last time I was there, it went really quickly, he is a very efficient helper and very nice.


If you don't want to go by yourself, give me a call and we'll work out a time for others to be there too. Old Chinese proverb say: "Many hands make light work."


For Plannning Purposes:
It takes about 5 pounds of wheat/ beans/ rice per #10 can. So you would be using about 5 cans for a 25 pound bag of wheat/beans/rice etc.
You do not need to order cans, lids or oxygen absorbers on your order sheet. Those are already at the cannery. For all three of those items plan on $1.16 per set.
You can also order boxes that fit [ 6 ] #10 cans for .95 cents each. I am finding that all these cans don't stack on each other too well. I plan on getting some boxes for cans I already have.


When I spoke with Brother Lonnie Estes this morning he said that the best LOCAL places to get beans is at:
Eastern Arizona Ag in Thatcher aka the Case dealer (right across the street from EA Glass). He said they are clean and fresh. The beans from the Church are going to be a year or so old.
Thriftee
Kansas Settlement near Willcox - here is a link to directions on how to get there. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=kansas+settlement+willcox&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Kansas+Settlement,+Willcox,+AZ&gl=us&ei=6WSwTbfzDuXiiAKFrcWvBg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBwQ8gEwAA
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! YOU ARE AMAZING!
Marsha

Stake Conference

This is a reminder that this weekend is stake Conference.
Saturday
Priesthood - 4p.m.
Adult Meeting - 7 p.m.
Sunday
Special Meeting for new converts - 8:30 a.m. at the Mt. Graham Chapel
Session for everyone - 10:00 a.m.

Remember the overflow will be held at the Safford Center For The Arts. (next to Safford High School)

Hold On

"If ever you are tempted to become discouraged or to lose faith, remember those faithful Saints who remained true in Kirtland. Hold on a little longer. You can do this! You are part of a special generation. You were prepared and preserved to live at this important time in the existence of our beautiful planet earth. You have a celestial pedigree and therefore have all the necessary talents to make your life an eternal success story."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf "Hold on a little longer", Ensign, January 2010

The Iron Rod Hymn # 274

1 Corintians 2:9

Living in the Present

" Sometimes we let our thoughts of tomorrow take up too much of today. Daydreaming of the past and longing for the future may provide comfort but will not take the place of living in the present. This is the day of our opportunity, and we must grasp it."

Thomas S. Monson "Treasure of Eternal Value", Liahona, April 2008

"Today While the Sun Shines" Hymn # 229

D&C 64: 23-25, 33

Self Reliance tip # 6 What about Bob.... I Mean Butter!!!

What about butter? Its like...buuutta....Did you ever see the movie "What About Bob?" Sometimes, I think that's how butter feels. The BOTULISM scare.


Butter, always left out of long term storage...poor thing. If you do a search on the internet you will find all kinds of information about "Its Good", "Its Bad", "The FDA says this...", "The Department of Agriculture says that", "I have an Aunt that's been doing it for years...." etc etc etc.


But what if...???


Have you ever seen canned butter at the grocery store? If you do find it, it is like MEGGA expensive...I'm talkin' like $7 for 8 oz. Who's gonna wanna rotate that?


I have never had problems with the butter I have canned. I have canned my own butter for a few years, but still was a little nervous because of the information I had read. Well, this site answered many questions for me so that I could can butter with confidence and let Bob...I mean butter affordably become part of my storage without having a cow (a cow over the store's price or literally have an animal called a cow :) ). When you can your own butter, it is more like $3.50 for 16 oz. That includes a new jar. If you use it over and over, it becomes less and less. If you get the butter on sale...ta da!!

http://preparednesspro.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/to-bottle-or-not-to-bottle-butter/

When I make mine, I don't boil the butter. I melt it, put it in clean sterile jars and then hot water bath it for 30 min. The taste is a little bit different than fresh butter...more of a sharp taste, like cheddar.


An alternative is also this...I have heard great reports about this, but haven't tried it myself.
http://www.shelfreliance.com/butter-powder-1.html