The Christian Kitchen
Do you ever get bored with the same food menu every week? Do you want to stretch your budget to make ends meet? From time to time, we'll post some interesting ideas and recipes.
Sometimes we want to store foods in case of an emergency in the pantry in case of an emergency where we cannot leave the house. Scroll down past the "Holiday Foods" videos to learn more.
Sometimes we want to store foods in case of an emergency in the pantry in case of an emergency where we cannot leave the house. Scroll down past the "Holiday Foods" videos to learn more.
Holiday Cooking Treats
Good Morning Breakfast Time!!!
School Lunch Hacks
It's Dinner Time!
Spaghetti Squash
It's Soup Time!
Salads and Dips
Chicken
Chicken Paprikash
It's Meatloaf!!!
Stroganoff Time!!!
Hillbilly Goulash
Oriental Anyone???
Dinner Rolls
Luscious Lemon Cake
It's Salad Time!!!
It's Soup!!!
Italian Food
Funeral Potatoes
Country Cookin'
Soup In A Jar
Minestrone Soup In a Jar Posted on August 12, 2013 by jalapenogal I use to hear Minestrone Soup and think “Oh jeeze, what all goes in that?” Well, unknown to me, the reason all minestrone soup seems to be different is because it is generally a soup that is created out of this and that around the kitchen. Now that I know that….it is much easier to make.
This particular recipe is going to be another pre-made, meal in a jar recipe that you can grab, add water and let cook for dinner. I firmly believe in food storage for multiple reasons and this is another great recipe that can be added to that pantry.
The key to a good Minestrone soup is the tomato base. In any meal in a jar you create, it is a good idea to put the powders in the bottom so you do not clog your food saver.
General tomato base recipe for all minestrone soup in a jar that I create:
(Note: I want to stress that you can make this mix with any vegetables you want to add as long as you have your tomato base recipe in the bottom. You do not have to follow this to a tee, however, you might have to play with your recipe until it fits in your quart jar accordingly. Should you come up with a successful recipe you would like posted, feel free to email it to me at [email protected]. You will receive full credit.)
Directions:
After adding all your ingredients to the jar and pressing down so it will fit. Place Oxygen absorber on top and seal with your vacuum sealer. Voila!! All done and will last years on your shelf.
(Writers note: When vacuum sealing your jars, you do not HAVE to add an Oxygen absorber as the vacuum seal sucks all the air out. I do it just to be safe and for my peace of mind.)
Ready to cook instructions: (Tape these directions to outside of jar with date of creation.)
Pour contents of jar into a large pot with 8 cups of boiling water. Cook for approximately 20 minutes or until noodles and beans are done.
Tips:
Minestrone Soup In a Jar Posted on August 12, 2013 by jalapenogal I use to hear Minestrone Soup and think “Oh jeeze, what all goes in that?” Well, unknown to me, the reason all minestrone soup seems to be different is because it is generally a soup that is created out of this and that around the kitchen. Now that I know that….it is much easier to make.
This particular recipe is going to be another pre-made, meal in a jar recipe that you can grab, add water and let cook for dinner. I firmly believe in food storage for multiple reasons and this is another great recipe that can be added to that pantry.
The key to a good Minestrone soup is the tomato base. In any meal in a jar you create, it is a good idea to put the powders in the bottom so you do not clog your food saver.
General tomato base recipe for all minestrone soup in a jar that I create:
- 2/3 cup tomato powder
- 1/3 cup dehydrated onion flakes
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 1 heaping tablespoon garlic granules
- 1/3 cup FD Instant red or black beans or a combination of both.
- 1/8 cup FD red/green bell peppers (Give or take according to your taste.)
- 2/3 cup FD ground beef or sausage (If you prefer a vegetarian soup then just replace this with you choice of FD vegetables.)
- 1 tablespoon beef bullion
- 1 cup Orzo (Or any tiny pasta will do. If you have kids the ABC pasta is fun.)
- 3/4 cup FD mixed Vegetables
- 1/4 FD Mushrooms
- 1/4 cup split peas
- Salt is optional. I prefer to add it when I cook the soup.
(Note: I want to stress that you can make this mix with any vegetables you want to add as long as you have your tomato base recipe in the bottom. You do not have to follow this to a tee, however, you might have to play with your recipe until it fits in your quart jar accordingly. Should you come up with a successful recipe you would like posted, feel free to email it to me at [email protected]. You will receive full credit.)
Directions:
After adding all your ingredients to the jar and pressing down so it will fit. Place Oxygen absorber on top and seal with your vacuum sealer. Voila!! All done and will last years on your shelf.
(Writers note: When vacuum sealing your jars, you do not HAVE to add an Oxygen absorber as the vacuum seal sucks all the air out. I do it just to be safe and for my peace of mind.)
Ready to cook instructions: (Tape these directions to outside of jar with date of creation.)
Pour contents of jar into a large pot with 8 cups of boiling water. Cook for approximately 20 minutes or until noodles and beans are done.
Tips:
- You can add more pasta, salt or bullion if you so desire.
- If I have a beef, vegetable or chicken broth I will substitute a cup of water with a can of these just for added flavor.
- If I am adding more pasta I will add more broth or water.
Long Term Food Storage
The Six Enemies of Food Storage
by Gaye Levy
February 2012 I recently decided that I should up the ante when it comes to the items in my food storage and holy moly, have you seen the price of beans lately? Last summer I purchased a goodly quantity of beans at Costco and paid $14.95 for each 25 pound sack. And now, $19.95 for the very same quantity. That is an increase of 33%!! With those kinds of prices, you can bet that I am paying close attention to my food storage habits.
When the SHTF it won’t be a surprise when the grocery stores are all cleared out in a day or two and shortly thereafter amenities such as refrigerators and electricity in general for that matter will no longer be available. That’s why having an extensive knowledge of food storage techniques and actual preparation is so important.
For the past year, I have explored many areas of preparedness, but now, with the escalation in food prices, I have taken a keen interest in food and food storage. And whereas I know a little about a lot of things, food and food storage are two areas in which I have learned the most and am able to share the most.
So, with so many new readers here at Backdoor Survival, I am posting some information on the six enemies of food storage. And for those of you that are experienced preppers? Well if you are like me, every time you read the same old stuff, more sinks in so it does not hurt to read up. Consider this a refresher course.
What are the six enemies of food storage?
Temperature
Moisture
Oxygen
Light
Pests
Time
As you will see, each of these factors is interrelated in such a way that there is a domino effect with all of the tiles falling upon each other and ultimately affecting your stored items in a cumulative fashion. Let’s briefly address each one so that this becomes clear.
Temperature: The optimal temperature for food storage is between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. And within that range, the lower the better. To give you an idea of why a cool-ish temperature is best, think about this: the storage life of most food products is cut in half for every increase of 18 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 degrees Celsius).
The second factor when it comes to temperature is consistency. So if you have a location where the temperature is 40 degrees one day and 70 the next, there is going to be some loss in quality and shelf life. Let me put this another way. If you have stored your food in a garage where the temperature fluctuates between summer and winter, the shelf life will be based upon the highest temperature not the lowest.
Moisture: The ideal level of humidity for your stored food is 15% or less. I live in Washington State where the humidity is typically 60% or 70% or more. The way around the humidity and moisture issue is proper packaging. And with packaging, there are lots of choices including Mylar bags, food grade buckets with or without gamma seals, vacuum seal bags (such as the FoodSaver), Mason or canning jars and more.
What you decide to use will dictate how much light your food is exposed to (remember those dominoes?)
Oxygen: The presence of oxygen allows bacteria, microorganisms and pests to thrive and survive in your food. In addition, many nutrients oxidize in an oxygen rich environment. Fortunately, the use of oxygen absorbers can suck out the oxygen in your food containers, leaving only product and nitrogen (which is not harmful).
Light: The easiest way to explain how light affects your stored food is to equate light to energy. When the energy of light zaps your food, it transfers some of that energy to the food itself, degrading its nutritional value, taste and appearance, This is especially true when it comes to the fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D and E.
Pests: Pests are another problem. Moisture and humidity provide a breeding ground for bugs and larvae of all types. In some climates (mine) mice are a problem. It is important to be aware of the pests that are particular to your geographical climate and further, that you set a barrier between your food and the critters. In addition to a physical barrier, the use of oxygen absorbers or diatomaceous earth will eliminate the oxygen (air) that most pests need to survive.
Time: The final enemy is time. And while there are many items that have an extended shelf life of 20 or 30 years, unless they are properly packaged and stored, the optimal shelf life will be considerably less. If you really do desire products with a 30 year shelf life, I suggest you look at some of the commercially packaged alternatives at Emergency Essentials, ReadyMade Resources, The Ready Store and others. These days you can even find products packaged for 30 year storage at Wal-mart and Costco.
That said, once you get the hang of things, it is pretty easy to package up the bulk items yourself and there are plenty of tools and tips for doing so all over the internet and YouTube plus of course, right here at Backdoor Survival.
The Final Word
The intent of this article is to give you a top level overview of the considerations you need to keep in mind as you begin to acquire food products for long term storage. There is so much more of the story to tell and over time, you can expect me to go into far more detail on each of these storage considerations. In the meantime, I have already written quite a few articles providing how-to’s and other information that will assist you in combating these food storage enemies.
Depending on your interest and needs, you might want to check out the following articles posted within the last year here on Backdoor Survival:
Food storage and Beans: Using Mylar bags and a Food Saver
Food Storage Part I – A Primer on Oxygen Absorbers
Food Storage Part II: Unraveling the Mystique of Mylar Bags
Food Storage Part III: Food Grade Buckets, Lids and Gamma Seals
Food Storage Mistakes and Goofs
by Gaye Levy
February 2012 I recently decided that I should up the ante when it comes to the items in my food storage and holy moly, have you seen the price of beans lately? Last summer I purchased a goodly quantity of beans at Costco and paid $14.95 for each 25 pound sack. And now, $19.95 for the very same quantity. That is an increase of 33%!! With those kinds of prices, you can bet that I am paying close attention to my food storage habits.
When the SHTF it won’t be a surprise when the grocery stores are all cleared out in a day or two and shortly thereafter amenities such as refrigerators and electricity in general for that matter will no longer be available. That’s why having an extensive knowledge of food storage techniques and actual preparation is so important.
For the past year, I have explored many areas of preparedness, but now, with the escalation in food prices, I have taken a keen interest in food and food storage. And whereas I know a little about a lot of things, food and food storage are two areas in which I have learned the most and am able to share the most.
So, with so many new readers here at Backdoor Survival, I am posting some information on the six enemies of food storage. And for those of you that are experienced preppers? Well if you are like me, every time you read the same old stuff, more sinks in so it does not hurt to read up. Consider this a refresher course.
What are the six enemies of food storage?
Temperature
Moisture
Oxygen
Light
Pests
Time
As you will see, each of these factors is interrelated in such a way that there is a domino effect with all of the tiles falling upon each other and ultimately affecting your stored items in a cumulative fashion. Let’s briefly address each one so that this becomes clear.
Temperature: The optimal temperature for food storage is between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. And within that range, the lower the better. To give you an idea of why a cool-ish temperature is best, think about this: the storage life of most food products is cut in half for every increase of 18 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 degrees Celsius).
The second factor when it comes to temperature is consistency. So if you have a location where the temperature is 40 degrees one day and 70 the next, there is going to be some loss in quality and shelf life. Let me put this another way. If you have stored your food in a garage where the temperature fluctuates between summer and winter, the shelf life will be based upon the highest temperature not the lowest.
Moisture: The ideal level of humidity for your stored food is 15% or less. I live in Washington State where the humidity is typically 60% or 70% or more. The way around the humidity and moisture issue is proper packaging. And with packaging, there are lots of choices including Mylar bags, food grade buckets with or without gamma seals, vacuum seal bags (such as the FoodSaver), Mason or canning jars and more.
What you decide to use will dictate how much light your food is exposed to (remember those dominoes?)
Oxygen: The presence of oxygen allows bacteria, microorganisms and pests to thrive and survive in your food. In addition, many nutrients oxidize in an oxygen rich environment. Fortunately, the use of oxygen absorbers can suck out the oxygen in your food containers, leaving only product and nitrogen (which is not harmful).
Light: The easiest way to explain how light affects your stored food is to equate light to energy. When the energy of light zaps your food, it transfers some of that energy to the food itself, degrading its nutritional value, taste and appearance, This is especially true when it comes to the fat soluble vitamins such as Vitamins A, D and E.
Pests: Pests are another problem. Moisture and humidity provide a breeding ground for bugs and larvae of all types. In some climates (mine) mice are a problem. It is important to be aware of the pests that are particular to your geographical climate and further, that you set a barrier between your food and the critters. In addition to a physical barrier, the use of oxygen absorbers or diatomaceous earth will eliminate the oxygen (air) that most pests need to survive.
Time: The final enemy is time. And while there are many items that have an extended shelf life of 20 or 30 years, unless they are properly packaged and stored, the optimal shelf life will be considerably less. If you really do desire products with a 30 year shelf life, I suggest you look at some of the commercially packaged alternatives at Emergency Essentials, ReadyMade Resources, The Ready Store and others. These days you can even find products packaged for 30 year storage at Wal-mart and Costco.
That said, once you get the hang of things, it is pretty easy to package up the bulk items yourself and there are plenty of tools and tips for doing so all over the internet and YouTube plus of course, right here at Backdoor Survival.
The Final Word
The intent of this article is to give you a top level overview of the considerations you need to keep in mind as you begin to acquire food products for long term storage. There is so much more of the story to tell and over time, you can expect me to go into far more detail on each of these storage considerations. In the meantime, I have already written quite a few articles providing how-to’s and other information that will assist you in combating these food storage enemies.
Depending on your interest and needs, you might want to check out the following articles posted within the last year here on Backdoor Survival:
Food storage and Beans: Using Mylar bags and a Food Saver
Food Storage Part I – A Primer on Oxygen Absorbers
Food Storage Part II: Unraveling the Mystique of Mylar Bags
Food Storage Part III: Food Grade Buckets, Lids and Gamma Seals
Food Storage Mistakes and Goofs
For recipes and menu ideas go to this link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes-and-cooking/index.html
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101 West Hill Street, Pleasant Hill, Ohio
John A. Weaver, Jr. Pastor
Office: 937-676-5455
Email [email protected]
John A. Weaver, Jr. Pastor
Office: 937-676-5455
Email [email protected]