Saturday, April 30, 2009

Oink, Oink (Flu info)

Whether or not this Swine Flu is the ‘ONE’ that will become a pandemic is debatable. (I won’t debate because I don’t have enough info yet and besides, I'm too busy getting ready.) Regardless, this should serve as a wake up call to you to be ready just in case…I’d rather be ready a year too soon then find myself not ready a minute too late.Please take a minute to visit the following site for updates, http://blog.totallyready.com/ or you can also check the Center for disease control (CDC) website here, http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm or the World Health Organization (WHO) here, http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.htmlTake some time to evaluate where your gaps are in your preparedness efforts. Follow the Prophet and get your 3 month supply of food as soon as you can. Now would be a great time to sacrifice some of the luxuries that we are accustomed to living with in order to be obedient to counsel. Do NOT go into debt and don’t panic but be prudent following the Spirit and heeding the promptings that you receive. Do the best that you can and you will be blessed.

Pandemic Preparedness Challenge

Well, we survived Christmas and are well on our way to 2009.I thought that a great way to start the year would be to issue a challenge. So here it is...This is a 10-week program. This week by week challenge will give you the babysteps to help you along the path to peace. You'll have the items you'll need so you can deal with a pandemic flu situation. CLICK HERE for the details. Your family will be much better prepared than you otherwise would have been.Please let me know if you take this challenge and how it's going for you.

Got Flu?

It's that time again, Flu season is upon us....and more importantly, we are preparing for the big nasty.....a flu (or other) pandemic. This can be a very scary and overwhelming thing IF you are not prepared for it. Remember "if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear". So let's get ready for this, the Church is getting ready and so should we. The following are great step-by-step instuctions on how to deal with and treat your loved ones who are infected. Of course avoiding a pandemic, by following a strict SIRQ (self-imposed reverse quarantine) is the best way to deal with it, but chances are you may need to care for someone who was unable to avoid being exposed.
Please take the time to:
1. Print-out these documents (click on the words that are highlighted above) and add them to your preparedness binder, so that they'll be accessible when needed.
2. Take an inventory, and then make a list of the 'FTK' (flu treatment kit) items that you are missing.
3. Take the list to the store and get it done. If you can't get it all now, add several items to your grocery list each week and buy these items instead of frozen dinners or oreos.
4. The most important thing, that is not included on the list, to have in your FTK is a vial of consecrated oil, and a worthy priesthood holder at the ready. If you don't have one in your home, find one who will come when called.
Please don't put this important stuff off for later. Do it now!

Dr. Puls Fireside Followup

For those of you who attended last night, I think you’ll agree that the Pandemic awareness/preparedness fireside was fantastic. Dr Puls, shared so much great useful information. (THANKS SUSAN!) Granted, it can be a bit overwhelming when you first realize the potential impact that this event can have on your family.We know, from scriptural references, and from our living prophets that this will occur. Now, you have two choices, be afraid or be ready. I choose the latter and I pray daily that you will too. Please take some time with your spouse and family to read and review the fact sheets on the provident living website. (The link is below) I suggest that you read with a highlighter and mark the things that impress you.****Your assignment for this week is to locate or purchase a red binder ( the larger the better), some dividers, and a ream or two of paper. This will be your Emergency Binder. It’s red for obvious reasons, so you can locate it quickly, all you have to do is offer a dollar to any child that locates and retrieves the ‘red binder’, I promise that you’ll have that binder in your hand in under 2 minutes.All of these wonderful electronic resources will do you no good at all if you have no power (electricity), so. Beginning today, I’d like for you to print out the resources that you’d like to have handy in an emergency or even a non-emergency. If you think that it’s worthy to put in an electronic folder, Print it out, hole punch it and slip it in your binder. Not too tough.The Church's Pandemic Fact sheets are now LIVE on the Provident Living website!Here is the link! http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,8041-1-4414-1,00.html

Cooking with Basic Food Storage: Powdered Milk

POWDERED MILK
All of the following recipes can be made with powdered milk

WHOLE MILK1 C Water1/3 C Powdered Milk

EVAPORATED MILK1 C Water2/3 C Powdered Milk

WHIPPED EVAPORATED MILK1 C Evaporated Milk2 tsp lemon juiceWhip at high speed until desired consistency is achieved. Store in refrigerator.

SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK1 C Hot Water4 C Powdered Milk2 C Sugar1/4 C ButterBlend in Blender Well

BUTTERMILK OR SOUR MILK1 C Water1 Tbsp Vinegar or lemon juice1/3 C Powdered Milk

DRINKABLE POWDERED MILKTo improve the flavor of powdered milk, mix it half and half with whole or 2% milk. Another suggestion would be to try adding a little sugar or vanilla to enhance the flavor. Let it chill several hours before drinking.

COCOA MIXMakes enough for 10 qts. or 40 1-Cup servings15 C Instant Dry Milk1 C Cocoa1 1/2 C Sugar1 1/2 tsp SaltTo use: Mix 1/2 C Mix with 1 C Hot Water

ORANGE JULIUSMakes (3) 6 oz. servings2 C Orange Juice1/2 C Powdered Milk1/2 C Crushed Ice2 Tbsp Sugar1/2 Tsp vanillaPut all ingredients in blender and blend until ice is totally crushed.

EGG NOG2/3 C Powdered Milk2 C Water2 Eggs (do not use dry eggs)1/2 tsp vanilla2 Tbsp honey or sugarBlend together. Top with spice and serve.

FRUIT SMOOTHIES2 C Bottled/Canned Fruit with juice3/4 C Nonfat powdered milk (4 tbsp nonfat dry milk to 3/4 C water)1 to 2 drops almond flavoring or 1 tbsp lemon juicePut in blender and blend ntil smooth. Add 1/2 tray ice cubes and blend until smooth.Variation: To use fresh fruit, use one cup of fruit and 1 cup water and sweeten to taste. (Use almond flavoring with cherries and large stone fruits, lemon juice with berries.)

YOGURT1 qt. lukewarm water2 Tbsp plain yogurt or dry yogurt starter2 C Powdered MilkMix all ingredients together. Pour into thermos bottle and let stand overnight.To serve as a dessert, add sugar to taste.YOGURT: Arizona Dairy CouncilAdd 1/2 C Instant Non-Fat dry milk to 1 qt. fresh milk and shake in a covered container or mix with an electric mixer. Heat mixture until hot, but don't let the milk boil. Into hot milk (test with drop on hand,) should feel hot but not burn. Stir in 3 Tbsp. ready made yogurt. Pour into double boiler or other container and place over water maintained at an even temperature about 110 - 115 degrees F. Cover with a cloth as you would when allowing dough to rise. After 5 hours, you'll have a quart of delicious fortified yogurt. Place in refrigerator to cool and eat with your favorite fruit, granola or even plain.

COTTAGE CHEESE: Arizona Dairy CouncilMix instant non-fat dry milk, or use skim milk. Allow to sour naturally (about 30 hours at room temperature). Stir thoroughly. Heat curd to 100 degrees for 30 minutes to expel the whey and give curd a firm texture. Drain the curd until the whey ceases to flow in a steady stream. Strain curd through cheese cloth for several hours. Salt to taste. One gallon of milk makes 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of cheese.

CREAM CHEESEHang the finished yogurt in a cheesecloth bag overnight. Add salt to taste.

SALAD DRESSING or SOUR CREAM SUBSTITUTEAdd salt and seasonings to yogurt.MAGIC MIXMakes 5 C Magic Mix4 C instant (2 1/3 non instant) dry milk1 C flour or 1/2 C Cornstarch1 C (2 sticks) Butter or MargarineCombine dry milk, flour and butter into a large bowl and mix until it looks like cornmeal. Keep mix tightly covered in the refrigerator.NOTE: Magic Mix can be used in many recipes to make food preparation easy & economical. Try a few of the following recipes.

CREAM SOUPServes 44 C Water1 Cube or 1 tsp bouillon granulesAdd one or more of the following:3 cooked carrots, mashed3 potatoes, cooked and chopped and 1 Tbsp chopped onion1 can chopped clams1 pkg. chopped spinach, cooked1 can cream style corn and 1 tbsp chopped onionCombine water, Magic Mix and bouillon in saucepan. Stir over medium heat until slightly thick. Add desired ingredients. Heat thoroughly.

WHITE SAUCE2/3 C Magic Mix1 C WaterIn saucepan combine Magic Mix and water. Stir rapidly over medium heat until it starts to bubble.NOTE: Use Magic Sauce for all recipes calling for a white or cream sauce. Makes 1 Cup.MACARONI & CHEESE1 C White sauce from Magic Mix1 C Uncooked Macaroni4 - 5 oz. Grated Cheese1/2 - 1 tsp salt or garlic salt (optional)Cook macaroni in boiling water until tender. Drain. Combine macaroni in boiling water until tender. Drain. Combine macaroni, white sauce, cheese and seasoning. Heat. Serves 4.

PUDDINGMakes (4) 1/2 C Servings1/2 C Sugar1 C Magic Mix1 tsp Vanilla2 - 3 Tbsp Cocoa (Optional)2 C WaterCombine Magic Mix, sugar and cocoa in saucepan and mix well. Add water, stir over medium heat until pudding bubbles. Add vanilla and beat. Cover and cool.

PUDDINGSICLES1 Pudding recipe (see above)1/2 C MilkPrepare pudding according to directions. Stir in milk and beat until smooth. Pour mixture into ice cube trays or small plastic cups. Insert plastic spoon and freeze until solid.