Back To School

Summer break is over where I live and will be soon everywhere else.  Students are going back to school and family members are headed in all different directions during the day.  Emergencies can happen at any time, so it's a good idea to make sure you and your family have an emergency plan just in case it happens when you are separated.  Your plan should include:

• How to contact one another.  Often times the area affected by the emergency is all tied up when it comes to communication.  Experts suggest having an out of state contact person you can all contact to relay info about everyone's whereabouts and safety in case local lines are tied up.  Make sure all family members know one another's phone numbers as well as this out of state contact person.  Social media is also extremely useful in these situations.
• Where to meet/ where to go.  Together decide where you want each person to go depending on where they are in an emergency and/or an ultimate meeting place that you can all try to get to.  Some good places are schools, churches, and friends' homes.  
• If you have young children, make sure they know their whole name as well as their parents' names and can say them clearly.  It is also extremely useful for them to know their address and phone numbers and how to call 911.  Practice these things often so they won't forget.  It is a good idea to talk to kids about who they should go to for help.  Teachers and law enforcement are the obvious choices, but I also teach my kids to look for a mommy/daddy with kids to ask for help in case an authority figure isn't around.  
• Make sure every family member has an emergency kit with them.  Adults can keep these in a car or under a work desk and kids can keep small kits in their backpacks.  These should include:
•  medications that are needed daily (if allowed--you will need to talk to school authorities about this for children)
• water
• food
• small flashlight
• a jacket in cold weather
• small first aid kit
• a wetnap or two
• tissue
• emergency blanket
• a whistle
• other supplies that you may find useful and can fit easily into backpack, purse, briefcase, etc.

Don't forget to make sure that college students or other children living away from home have a 72 hour kit.  When I was a newlywed my parents gave us 72 hour kits for Christmas and it was greatly appreciated because we didn't have much of a budget to buy one ourselves, and probably wouldn't have even thought about it anyway.  Shelf Reliance has a School One Person 72 Hour Kit.  There is also a wonderful 2 person 72 hour kit on sale right now for only a little bit more money and you get much more stuff in it.  Here it is:  

2 Person Survival Pack

Retail price:  $160.00

Sale price: $79.10

Kit Includes:

Essentials

• 1 Heavy Duty Backpack (1 main compartment, 2 small top compartments, 1 medium compartment, and 2 zipping side pockets).
• 1 Multi-function Knife (includes scissors, screwdriver, and nail file)
• 2 (two) 3M®, N95 Deluxe Dust Masks
• 1 Pair of Industrial Leather Work Gloves
• 2 (two) 10-hour, Disposable Heat Packs
• 10 Yards of 2” Duct Tape
• 2 Bright Sticks (provides up to 24 hours of light, 12 hours each)
• 2 name brand OB Tampons
• 1 (one) 50-foot Rope

Shelter and Bedding

• 1 Tube Tent with Rope
• 2 Emergency Sleeping Bags – 84”x36” (windproof and waterproof)
• 2 Ponchos with Attached Hood (one size fits all)

Communication

• 2 Whistles
• 1 Hand Crank Flashlight/Radio/Siren (no battery or electricity needed)
• Universal DC Adapter for Portable Electronics (will charge cell phones, portable DVD Players, and any electronics with a DC plug in! Simply plug your DC device into the adapter, and plug the adapter into your hand crank flashlight. No batteries or electricity needed).
• 1 Notepad and Pencil

First Aid

• 1 First Aid Booklet
• 1 Deluxe First Aid Kit Including:
  • 1 Pair of Scissors
  • 1 Ace Bandage
  • 1 Small Roll of Athletic Tape
  • 2 Iodine Pads
  • 2 Large Band-aids (4” x1.75”)
  • 20 Standard Size Band-aids
  • 4 Extra Strength Tylenol Caplets
  • 4 Pepto-Bismol Caplets
  • 2 Blistex Chapstick Pouches (.5g each)
  • 2 Antibiotic Ointment Pouches (.5g each)
  • 2 Sterile Alcohol Prep Pads
  • 1 Ammonia Inhalant Respiratory Stimulant
  • 2 (two) 3” x 2.25” Gauze Pads (2 ply)
  • 2 (two) 2”x2” Gauze Pads (12 ply)
  • 2 (two) 4”x4” Gauze Pads (12 ply)
  • 1 Pair of Tweezers (plastic)
  • 1 Pair of Disposable Vinyl Gloves

Food and Water

• 12 - 8.45 fl. oz. Coast Guard Approved Emergency Water Servings
• 2 Coast Guard Approved 3600 Calorie Food Bars
• 1 Plastic, 8 Liter Emergency Water Bag (not pre-filled)
• 8 Water Purification Tablets (1 liter per tablet)

Sanitation

• 1 (one) 2-ply Toilet Paper Roll
• 4 Tissue Packs (10 tissues in each pack)
• 2 Toothbrushes
• 1 Fluoride Gel Toothpaste (.6 oz)
• 1 Hand Sanitizer(.5 oz)
• 4 Wet Naps
• 2 Cloth Wash Towels
• 2 Re-sealable Storage Bags
• 1 36” x 36” Heavy Duty Garbage Bag

The Milk Difference

By: Tiffany

Why I love THRIVE Instant Milk-

For the taste, you just can't beat it.  Each can comes with approximately 5 gallons of milk making the price about $3.76 per gallon. If buying it in a case, don't forget that you get it an additional 5% cheaper bringing it to $3.57.  I know that we have cheaper milk here, but for places like CA and NY... that is tons cheaper.  But wait... what if you were to host a party and earn half off credit?  That would bring the cost of one #10 can to $1.88 per gallon or a case to $1.79.  And finally, you can't forget free credit.  Whoever said you can't get milk for free?

The freedom to never having to go to the store just to buy milk and ending up with a cart full of regrets...priceless! Email me at TiffsTreasures@gmail.com if you'd like to learn more about hosting an online or home party.

Powdered Milk

Powdered Milk is sort of the unsung hero of all of the food storage we need.  Most people know that it is a priority in food storage, and yet it is usually the last thing people buy.  There are several reasons for this.  One being that powdered milk is much pricier than all of the other basics we need, another being that most people remember a time when they had to drink it when they were little and immediately get a sour taste in their mouth.   Thirdly, some people don’t feel like they could rotate through it fast enough, so they feel it is a waste of money.  Let me tell you that powdered milk has come a LONG way and there are so many varieties that most people can find something that they can tolerate.  Even if you are not ready for dry milk to become a part of your everyday drink of choice, there are still plenty of ways you can use this great ingredient to beef up some of your old recipes or to fabricate other canned foods you used to buy at the store for a much cheaper and healthier alternative.  Also, if you are using a little dry milk in everyday cooking, you should be able to rotate through it fast enough.  Powdered milk is still good even past the expiration, it just tends to develop an off taste.  If this is the case, save it just for cooking and it will continue to add great texture and flavor to your cooking without being noticeable.

First, let’s talk about the different varieties on the market.

Regular non-fat dry milk is the type most people are familiar with.  This milk must be added to warm water in order to dissolve well and for best flavor should be refrigerated overnight.  Most would agree that it taste’s more like milk when doctored with a couple teaspoons of sugar and a couple drops of vanilla.

Instant milk is the regular dry milk that taste’s closer to the milk we buy from the grocery store.  It usually looks more like clumps and is able to dissolve in hot or cold water.  It is generally more expensive than the non-fat varieties, but is better suited for times when you would need to bring milk with you on the go.  Due to its texture, it generally takes about double the amount of powder to equal the equivalent amount of milk.

Moo’s Milk is not actually milk, but is a whey-based protein with other ingredients used to taste like milk.  It is a great option for people who are lactose intolerant who still need a milk replacement for food storage.  I have heard it referred to as the “Tang” of milks because although it has calcium and some vitamins, it is less complete nutritionally then other powdered milks.

The great thing about powdered milk is that it provides a large variety of things we have in our regular diets which we would have a difficult time doing with out including buttermilk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, whipped cream… you get the picture.  So, if you like one or more of the proceeding items, you might want to consider getting some milk in your “Home Store”.

Powdered milk will become more than just a comfort food if we ever had to solely rely on food storage as you think about all of the calcium it provides for strong healthy bones in growing children and adults as well as a much more flavorful option than water in recipes.

Basic powdered milk conversions:

To Make:   You need	Water	Instant Milk	Non-Instant
¼ cup	¼ cup	1-½ T	¾ T
½ cup	½ cup	3 T	1 ½ T
1 cup	1 cup	1/3 c	3T
1 quart	1 quart	1-1/3 c	1/3 c
1 pint	1 pint	2-2/3 c	1-1/3 c
1 gallon	1 gallon	5-1/3 c	2-2/3 c

To Make:   You need	Water	THRIVE Instant Milk
¼ cup	¼ cup	1/2 T
½ cup	½ cup	1 T
1 cup	1 cup	2 T
1 quart	1 quart	1/2 C- 3/4C
1 pint	1 pint	1 C - 1.5 C
1 gallon	1 gallon	2 C - 2.5 C

In most cases (like for baking bread) double the amount of powder for instant milk. NOTE: If using THRIVE milk, go by the directions on the can. What does this mean?  THRIVE gives you more in a #10 can of instant milk than most would!!!  I left variance in it because I know that some people like it stronger, but it is great with the lower amount.

When I taught a powdered milk class, hands down the THRIVE won 1st place.  I get people who drink it at my house all of the time who didn't realize it was "fake milk" or whatever haters like to call it ;)  We also sell a milk alternative we call powdered milk as well as a chocolate drink mix!

Now for the recipes!

Buttermilk aka Sour Milk

In recipes that call for buttermilk you simply need to put a teaspoon of either lemon juice or vinegar in the bowl, then add water and powdered milk.  Let it stand for 5 minutes as the acid creates the chemical reaction, then use as needed.

Evaporated Milk

1-1/2  C Water
1/2  C + 1 T non fat dry powdered milk

Blend very well in a blender. 

Evaporated Milk was created back in the 1920′s and 30's as a way to replace expensive cream and whole milk in recipes. It is whole milk with more than half the water removed before it is homogenized. Alot of women in this early time period fed this to thier babies instead of breast milk.  (Do not do this, just giving you a little tid bit if history;) ) DO NOT USE IT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK. However, you can use it to substitute for half and half. Isn’t that great?! I know I don’t keep half and half stocked in my fridge. Use Evaporated Milk, made from your food storage, in any recipe by doubling the amount of the dry powdered milk and leaving the water the same. As a good rule of thumb to go by, for normal milk made from your powdered milk it is 3 T. dry powdered milk per 1 C. water and don’t forget there are 16 T. in a cup.

Sweetened Condensed Milk

½ c hot water              2T melted margarine or butter

1 c sugar                       1 c non fat dry powdered milk

Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor. If lacking electricity you can boil the water beforehand and mix quickly with a whisk but it will not be as smooth.  Mix on high for one full minute. The mixture will be kind of thin, but will thicken up after standing for about an hour. This recipe makes about 1 ½ cups, or the equivalent of one can of condensed milk. This mixture stores in the fridge for a week, or for longer storage, freeze it for a few months, and then just thaw before using. The cans of SCM cost about $1.50 in the store so this is a great deal with very little effort involved in the process! Sweetened condensed milk was actually started back in Civil War times as a way for soldiers to have milk that wouldn’t go bad.

Your Health: BPA

By: Rena

You have likely seen 'BPA Free' stickers popping up on hard plastic bottles all over the place! Just what is this BPA? Why is it so dangerous?

What Is BPA?

Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, along with other applications.

Known to be estrogenic since the mid 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products were regularly reported in the news media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, prompting some retailers to remove products containing it from their shelves. A 2010 report from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raised further concerns regarding exposure of fetuses, infants and young children. In September 2010, Canada became the first country to declare BPA as a toxic substance.In the European Union and Canada, BPA use is banned in baby bottles.^(Wikipedia)

Is BPA Toxic?

This is a subject of much debate. Since the FDA completed its original analysis in August, additional data on the potential health effects of BPA have emerged, linking high levels of BPA exposure to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes and even a decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy in cancer patients. The compound is also linked to developmental and brain effects in infants; BPA is known to mimic the hormone estrogen in the body, which can cause changes in developing fetuses and infants. "There is enough evidence today for the FDA to take the precaution and to certainly get BPA out of infant products," says Urvashi Rangan, senior scientist and policy analyst at Consumers Union. "Even more, consumers should not be ingesting this substance while the science is being figured out."(Time Magazine)

A 2008 draft report by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) concluded that “there is some concern for neural and behavioral effects in fetuses, infants, and children at current human exposures,” and that there is “some concern for bisphenol A exposure in these populations based on effects in the prostate gland, mammary gland, and an earlier age for puberty in females.”

Dr Oz suggest the BPA may be making us fat.

BPA has been linked to many health problems.

BPA is also known to have a negative effect on the environment.

In general, studies have shown that BPA can affect growth, reproduction and development in aquatic organisms. Among freshwater organisms, fish appear to be the most sensitive species. Evidence of endocrine-related effects in fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles has been reported at environmentally relevant exposure levels lower than those required for acute toxicity. There is a widespread variation in reported values for endocrine-related effects, but many fall in the range of 1μg/L to 1 mg/L.^(Wikipedia)

^{In Conclusion, The jury may still be officially 'out' on BPA, but it is something we should all be mindful of.}

Where do we find BPA?

BPA is hiding everywhere. It is in water bottles, milk jugs, ling of cans of baby formula, lining of many cans and many other places. Heat causes BPA to leach at up to 50% more quickly. This means, do NOT heat or reheat your foods in plastic containers. Do NOT leave water bottles in the sun. When in doubt do not reuse plastics or cans.

One easy way to identify BPA is by the recycle code on the bottom of most plastics.

In general, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 are very unlikely to contain BPA. Some, but not all, plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA.

Thrive & BPA

You can feel safe feeding your family foods from Thrive and Shelf Reliance. All Thrive cans and pouches are BPA FREE!! Our specially lined cans are durable, safe, and add to Thrive foods long shelf life. Best of all, with Thrive foods, you don't have to worry about dangerous, toxic substances such as BPA leaching into your families food.

Many baby food containers contain BPA. With Thrive foods you can quickly make healthy baby food in minutes! Just rehydrate your chosen foods and puree! No need to boil or steam! You can then freeze your homemade baby food eliminating your baby's exposure to BPA.

Vacationing with Thrive Food

One reason I love Thrive foods is that it makes it easy to eat healthy on the go. As you can tell from the lack of activity on my blog, I've been out of town all summer. I love vacationing and visiting with family, but my pet peeve is that we never seem to eat healthy and wind up getting sick as a result. We've actually done pretty well though, and that is partially thanks to our Thrive foods. Here is a quick list of how they can be used on the road:

• Pack snack bags with your kids' favorite FD fruits and veggies rather than sugary gummy fruit snacks or crackers for a healthy treat in the car.





• Assemble bags of ingredients for your favorite freeze dried meals and quickly have a healthy meal on the go. This is especially helpful if you are camping, but you can also heat up water in your hotel room coffee pot and enjoy the meal there too! (Stone soup would be a great coffe pot meal!)





• Buy some healthy cereal to bring on your adventure as well as a baggie of instant milk and your favorite freeze dried fruits or yogurt bites. Then when it's time for breakfast you can quickly mix up your milk, pour it over a bowl of cereal, and top it off with the freeze dried fruit or yogurt for a tasty and healthy breakfast that you and your kids will love.





• If you are going on a hike, add some freeze dried fruit or yogurt bites to your trail mix for extra nutrition and energy without the added sugar.





• As a reward for your kids' good behavior on long airplane or car rides, bring along some freeze dried ice cream. They could enjoy their snack in the plane or the car without making a big mess and still enjoy the delicious ice cream experience kids love. (Feel free to treat yourself too!)





• Flying with kids is always a bit nerve racking. You could make it an adventure though by pretending to be astronauts and then giving them some space food (aka freeze dried food) in flight just like the astronauts eat.





• If you have a baby traveling with you, leave the bulky baby food at home and instead rehydrate some FD fruits/veggies and mash it for baby. Babies also love to snack on yogurt bites and you get more of them for your money through Shelf Reliance than if you buy the little bags of them in the baby aisle.
  

I'm sure there are many more ways to use Thrive foods on the go. Please share if you have any good ideas that I didn't think about!

Repurposing Your Empty Cans

By Rena

  Looking for something to do with all those #10 and Pantry Size cans!  Here are a few ideas.

Kaboose.com has a great recipe for

Coffee Can Ice Cream

photo from http://affectionfordetail.blogspot.com

From rd.com
from Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things


Separate hamburgers Before you put those hamburger patties in the freezer, stack them with a coffee-can lid between each and put them in a plastic bag. Now, when the patties are frozen you’ll be able to easily peel off as many as you need.


Hold kitchen scraps Line a coffee can with a small plastic bag and keep it near the sink to hold kitchen scraps and peelings. Instead of walking back and forth to the garbage can, you’ll make one trip to dump all the scraps at the same time.


Make a bank To make a bank for the kids or a collection can for a favorite charity, use a utility knife to cut a 1/8-inch (3-millimeter) slit in the center of the plastic lid of a coffee can. Tape decorative paper or adhesive plastic to the sides of the kids’ bank; for a collection can, use the sides of the can to highlight the charity you are helping.


Keep the laundry room neat Have an empty coffee can nearby as you’re going through the kids’ pockets before putting up a load of wash. Use it to deposit gum and candy wrappers, paper scraps, and other assorted items that kids like to stuff into their pockets. Keep another can handy for coins and bills.


Make a dehumidifier If your basement is too damp, try this easy-to-make dehumidifier. Fill an empty coffee can with salt and leave it in a corner where it will be undisturbed. Replace the salt at monthly intervals or as needed.


Keep carpets dry Place plastic coffee-can lids under houseplants as saucers. They will protect carpets or wood floors and catch any excess water.


Keep toilet paper dry when camping Bring a few empty coffee cans with you on your next camping trip. Use them to keep toilet paper dry in rainy weather or when you’re carrying supplies in a canoe or boat.


Gauge rainfall or sprinkler coverage Find out if your garden is getting enough water from the rain. Next time it starts to rain, place empty coffee cans in several places around the garden. When the rain stops, measure the depth of the water in the cans. If they measure at least an inch, there’s no need for additional watering. This is also a good way to test if your sprinkler is getting sufficient water to the areas it is supposed to cover.


Make a spot lawn seeder When it’s time to reseed bare spots on your lawn, don’t use a regular spreader. It wastes seed by throwing it everywhere. For precision seeding, fashion a spot seeder from an empty coffee can and a pair of plastic lids. Drill small holes in the bottom of the can, just big enough to let grass seeds pass through. Put one lid over the bottom of the can, fill the can with seeds, and cap it with the other lid. When you’re ready to spread the seeds, take off the bottom lid. When you’re finished, replace it to seal in any unused seed for safe storage.


Eliminate workshop clutter You want small items like screws, nuts, and nails to be handy, but you don’t want them to take up workbench space. Here’s a way to get the small stuff up out of the way. Drill a hole near the top of empty coffee cans so you can hang them on nails in your workshop wall. Label the cans with masking tape so you will know what’s inside.


Soak a paintbrush An empty coffee can is perfect for briefly soaking a paintbrush in thinner before continuing a job the next day. Cut an X into the lid and insert the brush handles so the bristles clear the bottom of the can by about 1/2 inch (12 millimeters). If the can has no lid, attach a stick to the brush handle with a rubber band to keep the bristles off the bottom of the can.


Catch paint drips Turn the plastic lids from old coffee cans into drip catchers under paint cans and under furniture legs when you’re painting. Protect cupboard shelves by putting them under jars of cooking oil and syrup too.

Gift Wrap
Cover the outside of a coffee can with wrapping paper or a bright coat of spray paint. Then, drop your gift inside; pop the lid on; and you're done. It's a great option for both edible and non-edible gifts.

A Toad House
Tired of finding bugs munching on your plants? Toads are great pest control. Invite one to your yard by creating a toad house out of an old coffee can. 

Lanterns
Collect a bunch of coffee cans, and use them to make lanterns for your backyard. They're great for parties, but sturdy enough to hold up to daily use.

 E-How.com has several great ideas!  These ideas use the plastic coffee cans, but could be done with the #10.

Pencil Holder  Look at this from SpottedCanary.com.  I have a ton of scrapbook stuff I could use for this!  

.

These are actually paint cans, but could be easily adapted for the #10 cans!  Use different scrapbook papers to make a can for your dog treats, or use some festive paper and use it as a gift can!  The possibilities are endless!

Stone Soup

My son attends Joy School and one day they all worked together to make "Stone Soup".  He came home raving about it and begging me to make it for dinner that night.  So, I called the teacher to get the recipe only to find I only had one of the ingredients (potatoes).  I was about to break the bad news to my son when I realized I actually did have all of the ingredients in my food storage, so I quickly threw it together and it was a big hit!  Here is the recipe I used, although I admit I didn't exactly measure the ingredients.  This is one of those things that you can easily throw together according to your own tastes without getting it wrong. 


STONE SOUP

Stone (optional ;)
4-5 Cups water
3-4 tsp beef bouillon
1/2 cup FD corn
1/2 cup FD peas
1/2 cup FD green beans
1/4 cup FD celery
1/4 cup FD onion
1 potato, diced (or potato dices)
1/3 cup carrot dices
1 1/2 cups FD ground beef
1 cup instant rice

1 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste

Clean the stone and place it in your pot (optional of course).  Add water and bouillon and bring to a boil.  Add all other ingredients and simmer about 10 minutes or until all ingredients are heated and rehydrated.  Enjoy with cheese sprinkled on top.

In thinking about how much my son loved this book and accompanying meal, I realized that this could be a great food storage meal in an emergency.  Keep the book Stone Soup with your food storage and in an emergency you can read the book together and then have kids help assemble their own stone soup and have a great time eating their creation.  It would be a great diversion from whatever crisis is at hand and also help get the kids to eat their veggies!