Blueberry Syrup: Freeze Dried Berry Food Storage Recipes
So why just stop at raspberry syrup? Freeze dried berries also come in blueberries (full of anti-oxidants) and strawberries (check out the recipe for strawberry syrup on Wednesday’s post!)! Not to mention that real blueberry or strawberry syrup (not that Hershey’s strawberry FLAVORED syrup) is extremely expensive and in some areas hard to find. Now you can make it from your food storage for cheaper and have it taste FRESH. (Have I mentioned that I love the freeze dried berries because they taste FRESH?! 
Blueberry Syrup
1 1/2 c. freeze dried blueberries
2 c. water
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. lemon juice
Mix ingredients together in blender until smooth. Serve over pancakes, cheesecake, ice cream, angel food cake etc.
Emergency Cooking with Shelf Stable Items:Food Storage Recipes
You know me, I like to EASE my way into things and I think the best way to start emergency cooking is to see what you ALREADY have that can be made with shelf stable items in case of emergency. (Keep in mind that I only see this as a FIRST step, we’ll be covering other things like dutch ovens and solar ovens….but let’s just EASE into this! Now, please keep in mind that the first few days of a natural disaster you will be busily cooking and using the food in your fridge and freezer before it goes bad. But, of course, after your fresh and frozen food as been used up you’ll want to have shelf stable food (meaning the food that doesn’t need to be refrigerated) to eat. As I was thinking about this I realized that a lot of people spend a lot of money on food like this, but if you don’t have the money you can buy shelf stable meals at any grocery store (and when it’s on sale some times it’s as cheap as 88 cents!). Chicken helper is one of the easiest to make from shelf stable items because it even says on the box that you can substitute a can of chicken in place of the fresh chicken. (Which also, if you think about it is a good idea because you’d use less fuel cooking the meal if you don’t need to first cook the chicken.) Obviously, the milk you can use powdered milk but you may be perplexed about what to do about the margarine. This may not be the best thing to try putting beans in. However, I did discover that olive oil (or any oil) works just as well and that you don’t have to use as much oil as it calls for margarine. So not only are these meals great to keep on hand for an “everyday emergency” or when a baby-sitter or husband who doesn’t like to cook needs to cook but also for a natural disaster. I love it!
Here is what I did to make it work:
The recipe originally calls for:
1 lb. uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts
3 T. margarine or butter
1/2 c. hot water
2 c. milk
Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces. Melt margarine in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until outsides turn white.
Stir in hot water, milk, Sauce Mix and uncooked pasta. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Remove from heat and uncover (sauce will thicken as it stands)
Here is what I did:
1 12.5 oz. can cooked chicken, undrained (undrained there will be about a 1/2 c. of broth)
1 1/2 t. olive oil
1/2 c. of broth (from the can-why throw it out? It just adds more flavor)
2 c. milk (2 c. water + 1/3 c. powdered milk)
Combine chicken, broth, oil, water, dry milk powder, and sauce mix in skillet (you’ll need to use a whisk to combine everything). Add in uncooked pasta and stir. Heat until boiling, stirring occasionally.
Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Remove from heat and uncover (sauce will thicken as it stands).
*You could also use a can of peas for some color or add in other spices (garlic, lemon pepper, etc.) to flavor it differently.
Neighborhood Gift Idea Index: Food Storage Recipes…in the gift form ;)
It’s so hard to be creative sometimes when it comes to neighborhood gifts. The buzz of the holidays can make us all go crazy! I’ve tried to make, at least this aspect of the holidays, as easy as possible. Below is a list of GREAT ideas, all that will also give the gift of food storage. (Remember, the best way to keep neighbors from knocking on your door in an emergency is to make sure they, themselves, have food storage! And Christmas is a great way to spread the good word about food storage!) These posts have everything you need: great ideas/recipes, printable labels so you don’t have any of the hard work, and a lot of them have how-to videos so you can see EXACTLY how to do it. You know me…I like to make things as easy for you as possible. So help spread the good news about food storage with awesome neighborhood gifts and tell your friends to do check out the list as well and to do the same…just not the ones you’ll be giving gifts too.
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #1: Loaves of Bread-includes recipe, printable labels and how-to video
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #2: Slices of Bread (it goes further…meaning less work for you -includes recipe, printable labels and how-to video
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #3: Blender Wheat Pancake Mix in a Tin Can! -includes recipe, printable labels and how-to video
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #4: Cookie Tins with Easy Gourmet Flare! -includes recipe and how-to video
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #5: Mexican Wedding Cookies -includes recipe
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #6: Magic Santa Cookies- includes recipe and printable labels
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #7: Magic Fudge Sauce (like Magic Shell)- includes recipe and printable labels
Christmas Neighborhood Gift Idea #8: Minute Chocolate Mug Cake (perfect as a Visiting Teacher gift!)- includes recipe and how-to video
Southern California Book Signings
BLACK FRIDAY ISN’T SO BLACK ANYMORE! Come visit the San Diego Deseret Book or the Ensign Books in Temecula THIS FRIDAY (November 27) and meet me! I’ll be there signing books, answering questions, and handing out samples of some of my FAVORITE food storage recipes. If you’re in the area, you won’t want to miss it!
San Diego Deseret Book 11:30-1:00
8657 VILLA LA JOLLA DR STE 121B
LA JOLLA, CA 92037-8308
(In the shopping center across the freeway from the LDS Temple)
Temecula Ensign Book 2:00-4:00 p.m.
28910 Rancho California Rd
Temecula, CA 92590-1868
