Marti’s Corner – 96 – City Prepping

Hi Everyone,

NOTES:

I have not tried it.  If you do, LMK.

** I also thought this was very helpful:  10 Quick Ideas On How To Effectively Use Powdered Milk – Mom with a PREP

GARDEN HAPPENINGS

*  I think I probably planted the cucumbers WAAAAY too early.  They sprouted in a week and are 4 inches tall already!!  Not sure I can keep them in the house till Spring!  The tomatoes finally sprouted.  They 

are about 2 in. tall.  After the coming week of clouds and rain, I hope I can get them out in the sun.  If you have ever grown celery from seed, you’ll know they are very tiny!!!  It takes a LONG time for them to be ready to plant outdoors, which is good.  Here is a picture of my tiny celery starts.

The peppers FINALLY sprouted.  It was over 2 weeks of waiting. 

THIS WEEK’S PURCHASE: sauces

Time to pick up 3-4 additional bottles/jars of spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce, tomato sauce, or whatever you add to pasta for a meal.  Our primary presidency gifted the teachers with a box of spaghetti and a jar of sauce.  Yay!  Free meal!!!  Thank you, thank you!

MISC: portable shovel

You should consider having one of these portable shovels– $14

We have one with our camping gear, BUT if you off-road or camp out in the wild, I can think of a dozen reasons why you need this. Even just getting caught in the mud, digging out a fire pit, or needing to dig a latrine because of a lack of facilities, this would be a good item to have. And, cheaper than lunch at McDonalds!!!

FOOD STORAGE RECIPES

Someone on FB asked “What can I do with the leftover syrup in a jar or can after the fruit is gone?”  Here were some of the answers:

*  Boil to reduce and use it as syrup on pancakes or french toast.  (This seems like too much work for me.  Hahaha)
* Use it in cake mixes to replace the water called for.  (Not sure I want my chocolate cake to taste like peaches, but maybe a white cake?  When was the last time I even made a cake?
* A LOT of people said to use it to sweeten ice tea, but since I don’t DRINK ice tea……
*  A spoon or two in oatmeal or yogurt.  Now THIS sounds like a good idea!
* Mix with sparkling water for a nice treat.  I like THIS idea too.
* Use as a marinade for chicken.  A MARVELOUS idea!!!

*  Chili for 4-5 people
I haven’t posted a chili recipe for at least two weeks, so here is another one.  If you have canned ground beef (I do), this is extra easy.  I imagine you could also substitute canned roast beef.  This looks so good, I think I’ll put it on this week’s menu.
1 pound ground beef
1/2 c. chopped green sweet pepper (1 small)
1/2 c. chopped onion (1 medium)
4 cloves garlic, minced
In a 3 quart saucepan, cook and stir ground beef, sweet pepper, onion and garlic.  Drain off fat.
1 15-oz. can tomato sauce (At first I thought it was one hundred and fifteen oz. of tomato sauce.  Dang!)
1 can red kidney beans, undrained
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
2-3 tsp chili powder (or adjust for your taste)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp dried basil, crushed
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Simmer covered for 20 min.
Top with cheese, chopped onion, sour cream, whatever!!!

Three-Can Black Bean Soup
This recipe is from “The Prepper’s Cookbook” by Tess Pennington
1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 can black beans undrained
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes undrained
1 TB chili powder
3 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 TB dried onion flakes
2 TB chicken bouillon
1 TB dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
Add all ingredients to a 16-qt. pot.  Bring to a boil and reduce and simmer 20-30 min.
Optional:  Stir in coarsely chopped cilantro
Can serve with crumbled tortilla chips sprinkled on top.  

Creamy Corn Chowder
1 can whole kernel corn, drained and rinsed
1 can creamed corn, undrained
2 c. milk, or 2/3 instant nonfat milk mixed with 2 c. water
2/3 c. instant mashed potato flakes
salt and pepper

In a 4-qt saucepan, combine both kinds of corn and milk.  Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer, uncovered for 5 min.  Stir in the instant mashed potato flakes, a little bit at a time, until the chowder is as thick as you want it.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

—

Marti