EVERYDAY FOOD STORAGE » Short Term Food Storage

Tips Making (Delicious!) Bread Machine Bread for Sandwiches

Crystal — Mon, 14 May 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Everyone knows that a bread machine can be THE TICKET to have bread in a hurry, with no mess, and while you are off having fun. However, if you ate bread machine bread growing up, you probably know that it can be dry, hard to cut with a thick crust, and a mess to make. Well it can be that way or it can be the most DELICIOUS bread you’ve ever eaten and take no time at all to do. Making bread is definitely more nutritious and MUCH, MUCH cheaper then buying the equivalent bread at a super market. If you don’t have a bread machine, check your local second hand store. I know mine had at least 4 today when I went. You can always do a Google search for instructions on a particular machine.

SAVE TIME: Make Bread Mixes! This is the same idea behind making a lot of sandwiches at once. If you make your own bread mixes and store them in the fridge, then it is one mess and takes about 1 minute to make a loaf of bread. Nice, right? (To make a bread mix, combine all dry ingredients from your favorite recipe (except for yeast) in a ziploc bag and store in the refrigerator)

This is a whole loaf.

As you can see it is thinly sliced.

In fact it looks so good (and tastes so great with butter & honey) you could serve it at a brunch!

It also makes the most delicious sandwiches!

My tips for making DELICIOUS homemade bread in your bread machine.

1) Use white wheat (it’s taste is more subtle) and always use the wheat setting (whole wheat needs to rise longer than bleached white flour).

2) Add potato flakes to your bread machine recipe to add the soft texture of a store bought bread. I add 1/2 C. to mine. This is extra great since the cannery just started carrying potato flakes! (This trick has been used since the olden days when women would use the water used from cooking potatoes in their bread to make it soft. )

3) Allow bread to cool in a closed Ziploc bag (or towel) to make the crust soft. Somehow, and I’m not sure of the science behind it, the moisture goes back into the bread and makes the crust VERY soft. My bread doesn’t get moldie or dry out as quickly as before. A softer crust makes the bread much easier to cut. CAUTION: I was told me that before store bought bread a crunchy crust was the way to tell the bread was fresh…so I guess if you like the fresh crunch to your bread continue to air cool.

4) Experiment with Gluten. I add 1 T. of gluten to my bread. Gluten makes the bubbles in your bread strong so that your bread doesn’t sink from the bubbles popping too early.

5) High Altitude dwellers should cut down the amount of yeast called for in the recipe because bread rises faster in high altitude areas and since the bread machine is a timed process it doesn’t know to bake when the dough has doubled in size. For reference, I halfed my yeast from what it called for in my recipe.

5) Make the process easy by filling Ziploc bags with all dry ingredients minus the yeast and placing in your fridge. This way you always have fresh homemade bread ready and waiting to begin for you with no mess!

Just as a side note, I’ve tried using other people’s very delicious whole wheat bread machine recipes in my bread maker and they never turn out (because of the high altitude problem) so don’t be discouraged if this happens to you! Just try to make your bread machine’s recipe to how you like it.

Here are a few of my favorite bread machines!

The Cuisinart Programmable Bread Maker-It does EVERYTHING including quick breads…you know like banana bread, pumpkin bread. VERY COOL!

Zojirushi Breach Machine: This is the Cadillac of bread machines! It actually makes the loaf like a store bought loaf of bread and the baking is unparalleled! My mom has a Zojirushi and when I made my EZ Wheat bread in it, it tasted exactly the same as if I had made it myself the old fashioned way. VERY IMPRESSIVE!

HUGE SUN OVEN SALE!

Don’t forget about the HUGE Global Sun Oven sale going on right now! If you don’t have one-this is the time to get it along with all of the accessories for FREE! Get more information HERE.

2 for 1-Breadsticks OR Pizza in under 30 minutes from ONE easy recipe: Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Wed, 09 May 2012 19:13:00 +0000

This is my ABSOLUTE favorite recipe and ever since I got it from my sister-in-law we haven’t bought pizza (contrary to what my husband says on the video . The other great thing about making this as pizza is that you can make the crust in the morning and then top it with your toppings in the evening and have dinner ready in under 10 minutes! I love meals you can make most of earlier in the day when life isn’t so busy. It is so easy, makes NO mess (okay well, just a little mess), and is DELICIOUS. Kids love it (especially when you let them pick the toppings and add them to the pizza)! Everytime I make these breadsticks for company it is a HUGE hit and they always ask for the recipe, so who better to share it with than all of you!!

30 Minute Breadsticks OR No-Fail Deep Dish Pizza Crust

(If it is too thick for your family, you can either half the recipe or put one full recipe onto two cookie sheets)

2 1/2 C. Medium Hot Water
5 tsp. SAF Instant Yeast*
2 Tbsp. Sugar
3 Tbsp. Oil
1 tsp. Salt
6 C. Flour (you can do half all-purpose and half white wheat or 100% whole wheat)
1 to 2 Cubes of Butter

Directions:
1. Pour medium hot water in mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top and allow to dissolve.
2. Add sugar, salt, and oil. Gradually add approximately 6 cups of flour.
3. Melt 1-2 cubes butter on cookie sheet in oven as it is heating to 400 degrees and melt in oven. 4. Place dough on cookie sheet and press to fill pan, make sure butter gets on top of the dough.
5. Allow to double in size (About 10-15 minutes)
6. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until desired browning is accomplished.
7. Cut into strips or top with favorite pizza toppings.

* When using regular yeast change amount to 2 Tbsp.

For more tips and tricks for using food storage in your everyday recipes, please visit www.everydayfoodstorage.NET

USDA Food Storage Guidelines

Crystal — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:32:44 +0000

Another commonly asked food storage question is how long will short term food storage cans last. In fact, my best friend called me just last week to know if some discounted fruit snacks that were close to reaching their best by date were safe to buy and eat. So, what do I mean by short term food storage cans? Well, I’m talking canned items you would purchase at a grocery store like canned corn, canned green beans, etc. If you’ve noticed these items have a “best by” date printed on the can. Is the food still good to eat after the best by date? It is important to understand what the USDA is talking about when they put these definitions on cans so we know how long we can safely keep it in our food storage!

USDA FOOD DEFINITIONS FOR FOOD STORAGE:

A “Sell-By” date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.
A “Best if Used By (or Before)” date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
A “Use-By” date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.
“Closed or coded dates” are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.

So, now that we get that there are DIFFERENT definitions and a best by date is not a “you will die if you eat it after this date” recommendation-what does it really mean? Well, USDA got real specific…”Except for “use-by” dates, product dates don’t always refer to home storage and use after purchase. “Use-by” dates usually refer to best quality and are not safety dates. But even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality if handled properly and kept at 40 °F or below. See the accompanying refrigerator charts for storage times of dated products. If product has a “use-by” date, follow that date. If product has a “sell-by” date or no date, cook or freeze the product by the times on the chart below (click HERE to view the USDA chart).

Foods can develop an off odor, flavor or appearance due to spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such characteristics, you should not use it for quality reasons.”

Obviously, it is still true that if the can is dented or bulging you should THROW IT OUT! Both of those are signs of possible botulism causing agents in the food and are NOT WORTH RISKING!

WHAT ABOUT MANAGER SPECIAL ITEMS IN FOOD STORAGE?

Now, what if you saw some meat in the “Manager Special” section of the meat department reaching it’s “Sell by” date that is a great deal that you’d like to either add to your freezer for some food storage or to can. Is that safe to buy and use in food storage or will it “expire” on the date indicated on the packaging? Well, lucky for you and me the USDA requires the sell by date to be a few days before the product is likely to become rancid and unsafe for consumption. The USDA has already figured that most of us buy meat to use within the next couple of days (assuming proper storage). To check out USDA’s chart of how long product will last in your fridge with proper storage, click HERE.

Blender Impossible Pumpkin Pie: Powdered Milk Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:58:34 +0000

So I can’t figure out why this is called “Impossible Pumpkin Pie” because in fact it is the EASIEST pumpkin pie you’ll ever make. Maybe it’s called impossible because you’d think to yourself “This pie can’t be this easy, it’s impossible” Okay, maybe the real reason is because it is CRUSTLESS. So, for all of you that really don’t like crust or you’re tired of seeing everyone throw away the crust-this is the pumpkin pie for you! It is also perfect if you have a young child that you would like to start involving in Thanksgiving because they could do this pie entirely by themselves (maybe minus putting in and taking out of the oven). You basically put all the ingredients in a blender, press blend, pour into a greased pie plate and bake. You don’t even need to bake at a certain temperature and wait around for 15 minutes to decrease the temperature like most pumpkin pies. So enough talk…here’s the recipe…

Impossible Pumpkin Pie

3/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. Bisquick
2 T. butter
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk (1/2 C. + 1 T. dry non-instant milk powder + 1 1/2 C. water)
2 eggs (2 T. dry egg powder + 1/4 c. water)
1 can (16 oz.) pumpkin
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
2 t. vanilla

Heat oven to 350. Grease 9″ pie plate. Combine ingredients in blender and blend 1 minute (or until blended). Pour into pie plate. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 50-55 minutes.

Don’t forget about the AWESOME GIVEAWAY! Click HERE for more information!

Perfectly Shaped Rolls & Naomi’s Rolls: Whole Wheat Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:01:27 +0000

Well, it’s definitely time to talk Thanksgiving favorites and the best place to start is with rolls! (So what that means is you should check back for more great Thanksgiving recipes and tips!) If you’re anything like me, you can be a little intimidated by yeast breads. I’m going to give you a GREAT roll recipe, the exact roll recipe that my family has served for YEARS at our big Thanksgiving feast. My mom usually has all our family in the area down (40 or so people) over and these are the rolls that are served. My Aunt Naomi introduced this roll recipe to our family and since my mom as TONS of sisters (not exaggerating…okay…well..maybe I am a little…) this recipe I’m sure has spread the country since we all love it so much! I’ve also included a video to teach you how to easily and quickly shape perfect looking rolls. Enjoy!

**GETTING STARTED TIP** One of the greatest things about using powdered milk in recipes is that you don’t have to scald it! So use powdered milk in any recipe calling for scalded milk with out scalding it! See how food storage actually SAVES TIME and MESS! I love it!

Naomi’s Rolls

1/2 C. Sugar
1 Extra-Large Egg (2 T. Dry Egg Powder + 1/4 C. Water)
1 T. Shortening
1 C. Milk (3 T. Dry Powdered Milk + 1 C. Water)
1 t. Salt
4 1/2-5 C. Flour (enough to make a sticky dough) I usually do 1/4 to 1/2 Whole wheat flour
1 pkg yeast (2 1/2 t. yeast), softened in 1/2 C. lukewarm water

Beat sugar and egg. Scald milk; cool. Then add to sugar and egg. Stir in shortening, yeast, salt, flour. Let rise about 2-21/2 hours. Shape, cut, rise again about 1/2-1 hour. bak. (400, about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 16 good sized rolls. You may want to double the recipe, as these rolls disappear fast!

Pumpkin Carving Family Home Evening with Apples and Carmel Dip for Dessert

Crystal — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:00:00 +0000

I got this delicious recipe from the Kraft website. I made it for the Home Teachers tonight and they loved it! It’s a perfect thing to munch on while you’re carving your pumpkin for family home evening. It’s perfect because it calls for 1/4 C. Evaporated milk. This is my favorite time to use powdered milk for evaporated milk because normally if you used canned evaporated milk you would have left over evaporated milk which just gets put in the fridge until it goes bad. So, since we’re going to use powdered milk we’ll make just enough for the recipe.

Caramallow Dip-

4 cups Miniature Marshmallows
25 KRAFT Caramels (about 1/2 of 14-oz. bag)
1/4 cup evaporated milk (or 1-1/2 T. dry powdered milk + 1/4 C. Water)
Make It

MICROWAVE marshmallows, caramels and evaporated milk in large (not kidding…I would put a paper towel underneath the bowl, the mixture can get frothie) microwavable bowl on

HIGH 2 minutes; stir. Microwave 1 minute or until marshmallows are completely melted and mixture is well blended. Cool slightly.

SERVE warm as a dip.

Pumpkin Carving Family Home Evening Lesson

This family home evening idea for pumpkin carving is so cute! I found it at a blog called Inspiration Organization.

Lesson: Because I am His child, I will serve God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.
Scripture:(D&C 4:2). “Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.”

This pumpkin is going to help us remember how we can better serve God.
I can open my mind so I can learn about Heavenly Father and his plan for me to return to him.(Cut the top of the pumpkin)

I can repent when I make a wrong choice.(Clean out the inside)

I can keep my eyes open for opportunities to serve others.(Cut the eyes out in shape of heart)

I can be a good friend to everyone and not turn up my nose to anyone.(Cut a nose)

I can open my ears so I can listen and learn.(Cut the ears)

I can open my mouth so I can share the gospel with the world.(Cut the mouth)

I can follow the Saviors example and let my light shine in all that I say and do.(Place a candle inside and light it)

Activity: It is no trick to treat others with kindness: Have small paper pumpkins cut. Family members can write acts of kindness they will do on each pumpkin.

Isn’t that just too cute! I love it. Have a great time tonight at your Family Home Evening!

Pumpkin Bread Pudding: Whole Wheat Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

I’m not quite sure when bread pudding lost it’s popularity (maybe when instant Jell-o pudding entered the scene…the thought of a bread-y jell-o pudding doesn’t sound appetizing) but I want you to help me bring it back with this recipe! It looks delicious, right? Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts. It’s like french toast meets dessert. It melts in your mouth like cake but has richer flavors in every bite. Do me a favor and try out this recipe. It’s perfect for a cold night during the fall, just pop it in the oven with your dinner and have your entire meal made!

Now, you’ll notice in the recipe that I have a substitution for whole milk. YES! You can substitute powdered milk as whole milk but guess what?! It’s still FAT FREE! YEAH!! You do it the same as evaporated milk (since evaporated milk is simply a whole milk that has been processed for canning). Just put in double the amount of dry powdered milk for the measurement needed, i.e. 3 T. for one cup now becomes 6 T. or 1/3 C. of dry powdered milk). Also, you’ll notice that this recipe calls for Large eggs. Any time your recipe specifically calls for powdered eggs I would use 2 T. dry powdered egg + 1/4 C. water to equal one large egg.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

1 C. whole milk (1/3 C. dry powdered milk + 1 C. water)
1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice
2 large eggs, slightly beaten (4 T. dry powdered egg + 1/2 C. Water)
5 1/2 C.-3/4 inch cubes french or other firm bread (I used whole wheat bread from my bread maker and it was fabulous!)
1/2 C. pecans or raisins
1 1/2 c. pumpkin

Instructions:
1. Heat oven to 350

2. Mix milk, sugar, cinnamon and eggs in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in bread cubes, pecans/raisins, and pumpkin. Pour into ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.

3. Bake uncovered 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted 1 inch from edge of casserole comes out clean.

Maple sauce
1/2 C. butter
2 T. water
1 large egg (2 T. dry powdered egg + 1/4 C. water)
1 C. sugar
1 t. maple extract or 2 T. Pure maple syrup (this is NOT the same as say, Aunt Jemima’s)

Melt butter in 1 quart saucepan over low heat; do not allow to simmer. Remove from heat; Mix water and egg; stir into butter until blended. Stir in sugar. cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved and misture begins to boil; remove from heat. stir in maple. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving. Store covered in refrigerator.

Fall Harvest Alfredo: Magic Mix Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:00:00 +0000

I know you’re wondering…and YES! this has pumpkin in it. It is such a great fall dinner with the pumpkin alfredo sauce, chicken and apples! The alfredo is made from our favorite, magic mix and is easy! (for a video on how to make magic mix click HERE.)This is totally kid friendly (the alfredo is sweet with spices not sugar) and has apples in it. It was so fun and UNIQUE!! I’ve even included a video to show you just how EASY it is to make a white sauce out of your magic mix!

Fall Harvest Alfredo-serves 4

2/3 C. Magic Mix
1 C. Water
1/4 C. Shredded Parmesan Cheese (If you use canned parmesan cheese it will be thicker)
1/2 C. Cooked and Pureed Pumpkin
1/2 t. Cinnamon
Dash of Nutmeg
1/4 C. Sour Cream or Cream Cheese
1 C. chopped Chicken
4 C. favorite pasta
Chopped Apple (to garnish, 1/2 an apple per person)

Instructions

1. Get you noodles boiling and chicken cooking.

2. Make a white sauce from magic mix by combine magic mix and water in sauce pan over medium high heat, stirring constantly until it boils and thickens. Once the sauce is thickened, turn heat to low and add parmesan cheese, pumpkin, spices, and sour cream.

3. Combine noodles, chicken, and sauce and serve immediately.

4. Garnish with chopped apples.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread: Whole Wheat Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:49:00 +0000

Since I posted this last year, I’ve realized that this is also a great candidate for BEANS! Okay, maybe I’m a little obsessed with the beans but every time I try them, the recipe tastes SO MUCH BETTER and I guess I’m still a little in shock! Here is the recipe again…this time with BEANS.

I discovered this recipe last fall off of kraftfoods.com, modified it for food storage and fell in love with it! It’s easy with virtually no mess (just dump everything in the bowl and stir). I’ve served it at family functions and given it as gifts to friends and everyone L-O-V-E-S it!! My favorite way to eat it is to spread cream cheese on it for an easy breakfast on the go. You’ve got to give it a try!

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Bread

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 egg whites (or 2 T. dryPowdered Egg + 1/4 C. Water)
1/2 cup fat-free milk (1-1/2 T. Dry Powdered Milk + 1/2 C. Water)
1/4 cup canola oil (1/4 cup white or pinto bean puree)
2 cups whole wheat flour
2-1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt

PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Grease a nonstick 9×5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Mix pumpkin, 1 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, 3 of the egg whites, milk and oil in large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, pie spice and salt; stir just until moistened.

SPOON the pumpkin batter into prepared pan.

BAKE 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Run knife or thin spatula around edges of pan to loosen bread; cool in pan on wire rack 10 min. Remove bread from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

Low-fat Harvest Pumpkin Brownies-Bean Food Storage Recipes

Crystal — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:48:42 +0000

I got this recipe from a gal in my ward who is a FABULOUS cook. One of those ladies you know if it has their name on it that it will be delicious. Well she made this last year for a “Recipe Swap” and I’ve been waiting for a YEAR to share this with you. When I made it this year, I realized…hey….I could use beans in this AND whole wheat flour (not to mention powdered eggs!). And it was DELICIOUS. It turns it into some sort of food storage super dessert! The original recipe calls for cream cheese frosting but I topped it with a whipped topping with cinnamon and 1 t. vanilla. Yummmm…..the most delicious whipped topping you’ll EVER eat!

Harvest Pumpkin Brownies
1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin
4 eggs (1/4 C. dry egg powder + 1/2 C. water)
3/4 C. vegetable oil (or 3/4 C. white bean puree)
2 t. vanilla
2 C. whole wheat flour
2 C. sugar
1 T. pumpkin pie spice
2 t. ground cinnamon
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

Mix wet ingredients (including the water needed for your powdered eggs but not the dry egg powder…remember you DON’T need to mix these before adding to your recipes) Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients. Pour into 9×13 pan and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool and frost with cream cheese frosting or dollup cinnamon whipped topping.

VIDEO: Pressure cooking your beans and how to freeze smaller portions to use in your every day baking!

Want to learn more about the specifics of an electric pressure cooker? Click HERE.