Preparedness Quotes

Having a hard time getting motivated to work on becoming self reliant and prepared in the event of an emergency?  Perhaps these quotes by our latter-day prophets will help inspire you:

"Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food . . . and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free." Thomas S. Monson

"The best place to have some food set aside is within our homes. . . . "We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months. . . . I fear that so many feel that a long-term food supply is so far beyond their reach that they make no effort at all.” President Gordon B. Hinckley

“The Lord will not translate one’s good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself. Acquire and store a reserve of food and supplies that will sustain life. Obtain clothing and build a savings account on a sensible, well-planned basis that can serve well in times of emergency. As long as I can remember, we have been taught to prepare for the future and to obtain a year’s supply of necessities. I would guess that the years of plenty have almost universally caused us to set aside this counsel. I believe the time to disregard this counsel is over. With events in the world today, it must be considered with all seriousness. Remember these words from Paul: "If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." President Spencer W. Kimball

"The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah." President Gordon B. Hinckley

Stake Goal - All members have a 72-hour kit by 1-31-12

The Buffalo Stake leadership has asked all members and families in the Stake to prepare a 72-hour kit by January 31, 2012. Following is some information that may be helpful as you prepare your 72-hour kit. Click on the links (in blue) for additional information. More information about self reliance and emergency preparedness is available at www.providentliving.org (see link in the far right column).

Build a Kit

After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location. Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.

Your basic emergency kit should include:

• Water – one gallon per person per day
• Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First Aid kit & instructions
• A copy of important documents & phone numbers
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
• Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special-needs items for children,seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.

A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly. Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

• Flashlight
• Radio – battery operated
• Batteries
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Pocket knife
• Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
• Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
• Local map
• Some water and food
• Permanent marker, paper and tape
• Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
• List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
• List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
• Copy of health insurance and identification cards
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
• Prescription medications and first aid supplies
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Extra keys to your house and vehicle
• Any special-needs items for children,seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie + Never Fail Pie Crust

This recipe was served at our Christmas social in December. Thanks to Dana Dwyer for the recipes. And thanks to everyone else who made the delicious dinner!

Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie

2 cups chicken or 2 cans of chicken

1 TB chicken bouillon

2/3 cup flour

6 cups water

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/2 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup onion

1/2 tsp pepper

Pie crust pastry (recipe follows)

Line casserole dish with pie pastry. Cut chicken into small pieces. Combine chicken, bouillon, flour, carrots, peas, onions, and pepper in a large saucepan. Add water. Cook over medium heat until it forms a smooth, thick gravy. (If the filling seems too soupy, thicken it with 1/3 cup cornstarch mixed with enough water to liquefy it. Pour cornstarch mixture into the filling and stir until thick.) Pour filling into pie crust lined casserole dish. Cover with remaining pie crust pastry. Bake at 400 degrees F for 35-45 minutes until browned.

**Variation** Instead of using pie crust, pour chicken combination into casserole dish and top with biscuits.

Never Fail Pie Crust

3 cups flour

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp salt

1 1/4 cups lard or shortening (Crisco)

1 egg

5 TB cold water

Mix flour and shortening together. Add salt. Beat egg, vinegar, and water together. Add to flour and mix well. Section into 4 parts - roll between sheets of waxed paper or on a lightly floured surface.

Recipe makes 4 pie crusts or 2 double crust pie crusts. For a casserole dish, divide the dough in half and use part for the bottom crust and the other half for the top. **Note from Dana: I usually roll out what I can, place it in the bottom of the casserole dish, and then press it into the casserole dish and up the sides. I then roll out the top as best I can between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Peel off one side of the waxed paper, place the crust on the top of the casserole dish, and then peel off the remaining piece of waxed paper.

Homemade Granola

Homemade granola is easy, delicious, and inexpensive (especially compared to store bought alternatives). Recipe courtesy of Lori D'Alba, who adapted it from Feast by Nigella Lawson.

5 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups sliced almonds or chopped pecans

2 cups shredded coconut

1 cup oat bran

1 cup toasted wheat germ

1 cup whole wheat flour (freshly ground)

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2/3 cup untoasted sesame seeds

1/2 cup golden flax seeds

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 325 F.

1. Put rolled oats in a large baking pan and bake for 20 minutes while assembling the other ingredients.

2. In a large bowl, combine nuts, coconut, oat bran, wheat germ, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, sesame seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and kosher salt.

3. In a small saucepan, heat the applesauce, syrup, honey, and vegetable oil until warm.

4. Add oats to other dry ingredients and mix well.

5. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until thoroughly dispersed. The mixture should clump a bit. It if seems too dry, add warm water 1 tablespoon at a time (shouldn't need to add more than 2 tablespoons), and mix well.

6. Spray 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray, then divide mixture evenly between the two pans. Spread out the mixture to an even layer.

7. Bake the granola for 45-60 minutes, stirring and rotating pans every 10 minutes, until the granola is a deep golden brown.

8. Remove from oven and cool in pans. The granola gets crunchy as it cools. Store granola in a large, airtight container. Add raisins, dates, dried apples, dried cherries, or dried cranberries when you serve the granola. Enjoy!

Egg Rice Soup

This recipe was served at an evening Relief Society meeting and utilizes many food storage items. Recipe courtesy of Dana Dwyer.

3 cups chicken broth

1 can evaporated milk

2 egg yolks

1 cup cooked white or brown rice

1/2 tsp salt

pepper to taste

Heat the chicken broth in a saucepan. Beat egg yolks and milk together. Pour 1/2 cup broth into the egg mixture, then pour the mixture in a thin stream back into the remaining broth in the saucepan. Heat gently until soup thickens slightly, stirring frequently. Add rice and season with salt and pepper. Serve warm with pretzel sticks or whole wheat croutons.

Homemade Laundry Soap

We made this laundry detergent last year, and I've been using it ever since. The cost is roughly estimated at $1.00 for enough detergent for 64 loads of laundry - or about 1 1/2 cents per load. When doing whites or items that are really dirty, I add about 1 TB Oxyclean to the load.

1/2 bar Fels Naptha Soap

2/3 cup Borax (for a stronger soap, double this amount)

1/3 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda

4 quarts of water

Grate Fels Naptha soap. Add it to 2 quarts of water in a large pot. Let it heat until soap has completely dissolved, stirring occasionally. Add 2 more quarts of water, the borax and washing soda. Heat until all ingredients have totally dissolved. Allow mixture to cool. Separate the mixture into 2 1-gallon jugs. Fill close to the top with tap water and shake vigorously. Let sit for 24 hours. Shake well again before use. It will have gelled clumps that break up easily and dissolve readily in your wash. This will not produce suds, and no added smells. This will yield 2 gallons of detergent for about $1.00. Each jug makes approximately 32 loads - using about 1/2 cup per load. This laundry soap works well in high efficiency machines and front loaders because there are no suds.

Italian Wedding Soup

This soup was served at our Relief Society meeting on Tuesday, January 10.  Thanks to Hillary Georgia for sharing with us!

12 ounces Italian sausage
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 TB breadcrumbs
2 TB milk
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried basil
8 chicken bouillon cubes
2 beef bouillon cubes
10 cups water
1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach
1 onion, diced
1 carrot, grated
garlic, salt, and pepper to taste
1 cup uncooked rice or orzo

1. In a medium bowl, combine sausage, parmesan, breadcrumbs, and 2 TB milk.  Form into 3/4-inch meatballs.
2. In a pan brown meatballs and drain grease.
3. In a stockpot or crockpot combine remaining ingredients including browned meatballs (exclude rice) and bring to a simmer.
4. While soup is cooking, prepare rice (1 cup rice + 2 cups water).
5. When rice is cooked, add to soup.
6. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
7. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese when serving.