Yeah. I know...

 I managed to disappear for a while.  I'm sorry.  No excuses - my bad.

I have been adding to my stores.  My son did a Sam's club run for me.  I canned 10 lbs. of boneless chicken thighs and froze 10 lbs. of apples.  My grocery order arrives tomorrow and there should be some canned goods included for my food storage.

Some of you are of retirement age.  I think whoever coined the phrase "Golden Years" must have been in their 20's and never had to deal with all the fun - and often painful - stuff that comes with old age.

I mention this only because I completely understand the frustration that goes along some of the 'delights' of old age.  My arthritis flare-up doesn't seem to be going away this time.  I tell you this not to whine or feel sorry for myself, but to illustrate the fact that sometimes we need to adjust how we do things.

I am pretty much done canning unless there is an emergency reason for doing so.  Lifting a heavy pressure canner isn't working for me.  But I have other options.  I can freeze or dehydrate most fresh foods.  And so far, the stores in my area don't have much for bare shelves, even if their prices have reached ridiculous heights.  So I am buying more canned goods.

For some products that have outrageous prices, making my own is an option.  I like to have boxed scalloped potatoes on hand for an easy meal.  But not at the price they want now.

Scalloped Potato Mix

Sauce:  1/3 C. +  2 Tbsp. dry milk - 2 Tbsp. each flour and cornstarch -  1 Tbsp. crushed dry onions - 1/4 tsp. pepper.  This equals one batch.

The dehydrated potatoes are thicker than the ones in store bought mixes, so cooking works better in a crock pot.

3 C. dehydrated potato slices - 3 Tbsp. butter - 3 C. hot water - one batch sauce mix.

I just let it cook on 'medium' all day and about an hour before supper I might toss in a cup of either diced ham or cooked and crumbled bacon.  With a vegetable or a salad, this makes an easy meal.

Here's the thing.  Don't give up.  There are some who are in far worse shape than me and yet are able to carry on.  Nobody said life would be easy.  We just do what we can, which is more important than ever these days.

Pray and prepare, my friends. Pray and prepare.

  

    

Busy Time of Year

 This past week I made up a dozen batches of my dry soup mix, using vegetables that I had canned some years back and now have dehydrated them.  If someone wants to use dehydrated foods they already have in stock, here is the recipe.

Soup Mix

1/3 Cup each of dehydrated corn, green beans, carrots and diced potatoes

3 bouillon cubes  (may add more dry bouillon to taste)

1 tsp. garlic powder and 2 tsp. dry parsley

1/4 Cup dry onions

I added a couple of Tablespoons of dry, shredded cabbage just because I like it.

This soup can be made in a crock pot.  Add 2 quarts of water - a little more depending on how much broth you like in your soup or if you add additional dry veggies.  I just let it simmer all day.  An hour before serving, I add a pint of canned meat - usualy beef or chicken.  The meat may be eliminitated if just a good veggie soup is desired.

My grocery order arrives tomorrow.  My bill is outrageous for the amount of food I am getting.  I am incredibly thankful that I started stocking up years ago when prices were at a more reasonable rate.

As a result of prices at the grocery store rising nearly to the completely unaffordable rates, I am going through the recipes I have collected over the years, looking for home made substitutes for some of the products I normally buy.  I have stocked ingredients.  I can make a variety of mixes to replace some of the convenience foods I have been using. 

I am not hurting financially - yet.  But I probably will be if I don't change the way I do some things.  I am also looking through my mother's recipe box.  She cooked before convenience foods or microwaves.  I really need to remember how she stretched meals.

I doubt this inflation will end any time soon.  We can either pretend everything is alright or we can adjust the way we do things accordingly - in the real world.  Nobody - at least nobody connected with the government - is coming to save us.

As always - pray and prepare.

Follow Up

 Having received an email from our friend, CW, I want to let all the Prayer Warriors know what she said.

CW has a cancerous tumor that will require about 6 months of treatment along with surgery.  

Cancer in any form is difficult at best.  I can hardly imagine what she must be going through with everything else she has on her plate.  I know her to be one who is strong in her faith and believes in the power of prayer as we do.

We will not forget about her and I know that she is thankful for your concern and prayers.

I am amazed and humbled by the response to the call for prayer for one of our own.  It renews my faith in the basic goodness of people.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Prayer Warrior Alert For One Of Our Own

 Over the years I have come to regard you who come here regularly as family.  One of our own is in need of prayer.

I have been in touch with "CW from Iowa" via email for quite some time.  Her husband was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer a while back.  His struggle is nearly over.  

Tomorrow CW goes for tests to determine to what stage her colon cancer has developed and what treatment she will need to undergo.

These fine people have an adult son who is devoted to his parents and is doing everything he can to make life easier for them.  He, too, has a lot on his plate and could use prayers for strength and courage.

I strongly believe in the power of prayer and I am asking those of you who are of a mind to do it, to pray for this family.  When CW's email arrived this afternoon, she asked if perhaps I could call upon our Prayer Warriors.  And I have no doubt that you will heed the call.

Thank you.

Vicki