“I do it my own self.”

Those words were commonly spoken by one of my daughters from the time she was old enough to walk and talk. To say that she has an independent streak is an understatement!

It is an independent streak that prompted me to see what I could do to cut costs and “do it my own self” rather than pay the ever increasing grocery prices.

Ingredients are cheaper to buy than products. If we have been preparing for any length of time, chances are good we have ingredients stashed already. With that in mind, the following are some of the recipes I am putting together to avoid at least a few of the higher costs at the store.

HOT CHOCOLATE MIX

5 cups nonfat dry powdered milk

3 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups dry cocoa

1 cup nondairy coffee creamer

pinch of salt

Mix powdered milk, creamer, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Sift in cocoa and powdered sugar. Mix well. Store in a airtight container.

When ready to use, add approximately 1/3 cup to a mug of boiling water. Stir until cool enough to drink.

CORNBREAD AND MUFFIN MIX

4 cups flour

4 cups cornmeal

2 cups nonfat dry milk

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

Put all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Store in airtight container in cool dry place. Makes 9-1/2 cups. Use for the following recipes:

USE FOR CORN BREAD: Melt 1/4 cup butter in 8" square pan while preheating oven to 425ºF. Beat 1 egg and 1 cup water with fork in mixing bowl till blended. Add 2- 1/3 cup Mix and the melted butter. Stir just to blend. Pour into pan and bake about 20 minutes.

USE FOR MUFFINS: Prepare batter as for Corn Bread and spoon into 12 greased medium muffin cups.

USE FOR CHEESE CORN BREAD: After turning Corn Bread batter into pan, sprinkle with shredded Cheddar cheese.

CHICKEN, BEEF OR HAM GRAVY

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp ground black pepper

3 tablespoons of chicken, beef or ham bullion

COUNTRY GRAVY

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp salt

1 -2 teaspoons of ground black pepper

1 teaspoon of minced dehydrated or freeze-dried chopped onion

To make 1 cup of gravy:

Melt a tablespoon of butter, lard, bacon grease or oil in a pan and mix with 2 tablespoons of gravy mix. Once all combined, add 1 cup of cold water and whisk until smooth. Stir until it thickens.

VANILLA PUDDING MIX

3 cups nonfat dry milk

4 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all except the vanilla, and store in an airtight container. To prepare, mix 1/2 cup of mix to 2 cups milk. Heat and stir constantly while boiling. Cool, then add 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING MIX

2 1/2 cups nonfat dry milk

5 cups sugar

3 cups cornstarch

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 cups unsweetened cocoa

Mix and store in airtight container. To prepare, add 2/3 cup mix to 2 cups milk. Heat and stir constantly while boiling. Cool, then serve.

BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING MIX

2 cups nonfat dry milk

5 cups brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups cornstarch

Mix and store in airtight container. To prepare, add 1/2 cup mix to 2 cups milk. Heat and stir constantly while boiling. Cool, then serve.

Taking my age and physical limitations into account, I find some convenience foods easier for me to make.  But with prices heading higher each day and no end to it in sight, it just makes sense to me to "do it my own self." 

Bits and Pieces

Our world seems to be changing at a rapid pace and not for the better.

My grocery delivery guy calls to let me know if canning jars and lids are available. This past week he brought me one case of quart jars. He said that was the ONLY item on the canning supply shelf. The store manager said the store had none in reserve and had no idea when or if they would get more.

Shortages seem to have made it into my area of Minnesota. My delivery guy tells me that paper products are in short supply, there are a couple of bare shelves and many are looking skimpy. He says there are few choices any more as far as package sizes and brand names go, at least at the major grocery store where the service shops.

I don't know if more people are waking up to the truth that we as a nation are in trouble or if many of the goods needed are sitting at anchor on container ships outside our ports. I would hope that more are learning the value of stocking up.

I canned 7 quarts of chicken legs. Although I followed the same procedure I have done for years, 5 of the jars didn't seal. I am finding I have more seal failures when using the newest metal lids, which makes me wonder what has changed in their manufacture. I know the part of the lids that adheres to the rim of the jars is thinner now than it was on the older lids. I find I am reluctant to can anything else just now. With prices headed upward at an alarming speed, I am not so sure that I want to risk having jars of food lose their seals.

A friend sent me a couple of articles outlining the problems facing aluminum manufacturers. The supply of magnesium is drying up and it is needed for the production of everything from aluminum car parts to soda cans. I have to wonder what we will run out of next week. This 'Build Back Better' thing just doesn't seem to be working out too well.

On a brighter note, there is some venison in my near future. Minnesota has an early 'Youth Hunting Season,' for those 13 years and older, accompanied by an adult. My grandson took the required classes and his Dad took him out earlier this week. Sitting still, being quiet and patience are not terms usually associated with my grandson. However he watched for at least ten minutes, waiting for just the right moment to take the shot. I am proud of him. He has provided meat for his family's freezer as well as for mine. And he is learning a skill that could become necessary in bad times.

Me...I just keep stacking it higher and praying more often. I think I will add buckling up to my routine. The ride just gets more and more bumpy.

It Is Time...

(Stolen from "Gorge's Grouse.)
 

It has been my habit...

to get myself well caffeinated first thing in the morning before heading into whatever the day brings. While sloshing down coffee I will fire up the computer, check emails and move on to some of my favorite YouTube creators. This is what I found this morning:

Note:  This video wants to start towards the end and I can't fix that.  Just click on the red line at the beginning to see the entire video.

Prepping - Do Not Enter...unless... - YouTube

If you aren't taking preparedness seriously, you might want to start. We know that often what happens over there will show up here.

I have no doubt that some left leaning genius will think it is a grand idea to forbid those who will not comply with the jab from entering grocery stores. Why not. They have already caused untold numbers to lose their jobs because people object to being forced to take a medication they do not want. And then they whine about a shortage of workers.

Yesterday I spent some time getting my grocery order ready for this weeks delivery. The store the service uses has chicken legs and thighs on sale at 99 cents per pound and 16 oz. packages of frozen vegetables for $1 each, both excellent prices for my area. I ordered lots of each.

This morning I woke up wondering if I really needed that much chicken and veggies. After viewing the video and doing some of my own research, I decided that yes, I do need that much. And I made some additions to my order for more pasta, rice, beans and the ingredients to can a large batch of coleslaw.

This whole business of bullying people into taking a medication they do not want is beyond deplorable. To rob people of their livelihood or dictate who can enter a public venue and who can not is wrong on so many levels.

We were told that a two week lockdown would flatten the curve. Then we were told we had to mask up and stay away from our loved ones. After that we were told the jab would save humanity. If it works so well, why in the name of good common sense are they so worried about those of us who don't want it.

I'll be damned if I am going to allow some sleazy bureaucrat or politician dictate what my life should look like. I fully intend to live the rest of it on my own terms according to God's plan.

The rest of them can just go pound sand.

Onward and Upward

So Sunday I was knee deep in chicken. 24 lbs. of frozen chicken breast was thawed, cut into small pieces, packed into jars and canned. I now have 8 more pints and 32 more half pints of chicken in jars. I have no idea where to stack them. I don't care. With less food on store shelves and prices racing skyward, every bit of food we can stash now gives us that much more time to ride out whatever horror the current regime comes up with next.

Yesterday was spent cleaning up the mess I made on Sunday. My kitchen now looks more like a kitchen and less like a place where a tornado went through.

I was able to get a good price on butternut squash, so six large ones are waiting to be processed. Tomorrow they will be baked and the pulp frozen in meal size amounts. I would have liked to can them but my supply of empty jars is dwindling. However, my Prince of a grocery delivery guy promised to call me next week when he is filling my grocery order, and let me know what canning supplies are available. He will bring whatever I need, bless him!

Today is being spent doing things that make me happy. Working on my Grandson's afghan. Reading a good murder mystery. Snacking on the smoked whitefish my son brought me yesterday. And there is the possibility of a pan of brownies in my near future. :)

We spend great amounts of time and energy in preparing for whatever comes our way. Sometimes we may forget that we also have a life to live outside of all that we do to prepare. Doing the things we love is just as important. Sometimes we just need a break to avoid burn out.

So continue to prepare but also take time to smell the roses – or in my case, smell the coffee!

Those in charge seem to be working hard at sucking the joy out of our lives. Sometimes the best revenge is to be happy anyway. :)

Several years ago...

I started this silly little blog as a way to pass the time upon retirement and as a source of amusement for my kids and grands. As I became more involved in preparing and had the time to take a long, hard look at the world around us, the blog changed some. I'm still not sure if that was a good thing, but there it is.

To my utter amazement, people actually began reading what I had to say and to my surprise, began commenting on it.

If we take at face value all the ugliness and nastiness of the world as it stands now, especially after the past couple of years with all the insults to humanity, we can easily believe the world is full of horrible people.

But I know better.

I have never met any of you personally. Chances are pretty good I never will. But on several occasions I have asked for prayer and you have stepped up to the plate.

I don't know Gorges personally. I enjoy his blog and I have emailed a time or two. He almost always will leave a comment here. And as I do with all of you, I consider him a friend.

I have heard no more about how he is doing. I hope we will hear soon that he is on the road to recovery.

You, my friends – each and every one of you – with your willingness to pray for someone you don't know, have gone a long way to restore my faith in the human race.

May God bless you – each and every one.

A Friend in Need of Prayer

 Our friend Gorges over at Gorges' Grouse has had a rough go of it.  He recently lost both his sister and his wife.  Gorges is now hospitalized.  His step-son says, to quote Gorges, "It is not fatal.  Just old age."  He has requested prayers for Gorges' recovery.

Gorges gives us so much pleasure with his stories and memes and old time photos.  There is a link to his blog in the side bar.  If you are of a mind to, please pray that our friend is back with us soon.