Cheap Thanksgiving and Christmas gifts!

It is so hot here, I can not stop thinking about cold weather!! ....Now when I say cold, I don't really mean cold- just not 120 degrees.
Preparedness and food storage take money, and we all know it is nice to save it when you can.
I found some cool ideas and new blogs that I wanted to share with you.
Good thing my dad does not read my blog- because this is what he will be getting for Christmas. Go here for a do it your self spiced mixed nuts recipe.


One new blog I really like for crafts is notmarth.org She has some really cool do it your self projects. If you click on the link that says tutorials and projects you will her cute ideas.
One idea I am going to do, and I do not think I can wait till Christmas.... I might do this tonight is cobbler baked in jars.

 Here is the link for them- they look delish, and so cute as a gift.
Something else from notmartha are these cute magnets.


 Here is the link for the magnets, the only thing I would do differently is use modge-podge, and not a craft glue.
This one fits my fancy in so many ways. It is a Secret Hollow book and here is the link. You could hide so many great things in there!!! My mind is spinning with things to hide. 

storing perishables

I love finding ways to store perishables. I like using my vacuum sealer's jar lid attachment. You just plug this little guy into the portal on the front of a vacuum sealer. (Not all sealers have the portal- so if you are going to buy one for this purpose, keep that in mind)
Once it is plugged in, the jar attachment goes on top of the canning jar and when you turn the vacuum sealer on it sucks all the air out of the jar! It is so awesome. I love that you may use old canning lids for this- so save your old lids. Keep in mind too if you are buying a wide mouth, regular mouth, or universal attachment. I only have a regular mouth attachment, so I can't use wide mouth jars for this.

Here are some chocolates I got on major sale last year after Easter. I have stored chocolate, whole nuts, and raisins this way, but have not ventured into items like chips, crackers, and even peanut M&M's because of the oils in them. I thought they would not last.
BUT- I was wrong. (this is the first time that has happened)
At the preparedness fair I went to there was a lady who has sealed peanut butter crackers, and they had been sealed a year. She popped the jar open and I had one. It was fresh- I would have thought it came directly out of the package.
When times get tough be it a job loss, illness, economic crash..... I want some freakin' chocolate in my storage! I want all those normal foods that my family will actually eat and be comforted by, and I am sure you do too.

Word of caution...... just make sure you actually seal the jar. If you leave it on the shelf and have the intention of sealing it YOUR FAMILY WILL EAT IT!

cooking with wheat berries.

Enter wheat berries!
I hope you are all storing wheat. It is such a smart buy. Not only will it store FOREVER, and the Lord called it the staff of life. Do you want to be able to make bread, pancakes, cookies.... well hell, anything that needs flour- you need wheat. We of course grind the wheat berries to make flour, or we can sprout them. Or cook with them- I learned something really cool at a  preparedness fair this weekend, and one of the neatest booths I saw was a gentleman who had cooked with wheat berries.  He had a sloppy joe mix and a taco/burrito filling. The burrito filling was really good, and I plan on making it soon.
I have sprouted wheat berries and eaten just a hand full, put them in salads, or on a sandwich. The berries are sweet and really tasty. But I have never cooked with berries like the guy did, and I was impressed with how hearty the filling is. The berries could easily take the place of meat- and this is coming from a carnivore.
If there was a night you wanted to skip the meat or if you were in times of trouble and did not have meat- this would be perfect.
(I really liked the taste of the burrito filling, but you could make your favorite recipe and then just add the berries in place of meat.) I think I will make my sloppy joes and add the berries.

You will cook the berries 1st and then add them to the dish
Here are the recipes:

taco/ burrito filling:
one medium onion
three cups wheat berries ( i might do more)
one 14oz can green or red enchilada sauce ( i think he used green)
one 4oz can green chilies- optional
two cups water
two cups dried refried beans
saute onion clear. add wheat berries, enchilada sauce and water. when mixture begins to boil, add dries refried beans. cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

sloppy joe mix:
one medium onion
one grated carrot
three cups wheat berries
one bottle bbq sauce

saute onion and carrot till tender, add wheat berries and bbq sauce. cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

You will prepare the wheat berries in advance, and here are two methods on how to do it:
stove top method:
To prepare wheat berries, bring to boil 2 cups of water, add 1 cup wheat. Keep the pan covered and when it begins to boil turn the stove to simmer for 30 minutes. For quinoa the ratio is the same as wheat. For barley the ratio is 1 cup barley to 4 cups water.
Crock pot method:
Place 2 cups water and 1 cup wheat in crock pot. Cook on high for 1 hour. Ratio for quinoa is the same, and for barley the ratio is 1 cup to four cups water.