No No No November Already? Got Preps?

Wow I cannot believe that it is already November 2011. UNBELIEVABLE how quickly the year has gone buy. It is going to be a mere 3 weeks until Turkey Day. As I did my slide show and recap for the month of October I realized I was so busy I didn't do as much as I usually do. I basically had it in my head that for the months of November and December I was going to kick it into high gear. For the last 11 months I have maintained a minimum of 50lbs of food a week in preps. 50 lbs is a regular week - 100 lbs is a more normal week and 400lbs is a fantastic week.

Some people ask how do I calculate what I need. I have a very basic formula - 1lb of food per person per meal. That is a REALLY high estimate and it assumes waste (there won't be waste) So let's say that it is Mr.Man and Me...for 3 meals that would be 6 lbs. Out of the 6 lbs you have to figure out bread - it takes about 1.5lbs of flour to make 2 good sized loaves and that would be 2 days worth or maybe not in an emergency. So lets say breakfast is oatmeal with nuts with milk and fruit. Morning snack is maybe a half sandwich. Lunch is a bean and veggie salad, and some tacos, afternoon snack is homemade trail mix or crackers and cheese, dinner is some form of stew with bread or rice. Truth be told a lot of these meals extend into secondary meals and I could make 4lbs of food work, but I calculate the 6 because if we start to do a LOT of physical labor we will also be more hungry. It is the easiest formula I could figure out.

Some of the more intensive folks do caloric content, fat content and all that. I'm not into all that because I can do a menu and make something out of whatever we've got. I personally don't think it's fair to tell people to learn yet another thing (caloric intake values) on top of all the other stuff they are trying to learn. I think 1lb per person per meal per day - and just make sure that you have veggies/fruits, protein, grains, cereals, fats. Follow the stupid FDA triangle just change their position. You can't go wrong with the formula. In fact you'll have extra.

So here we go - I had a good head start yesterday for November preps:

3 types of nails - 1/2-3/4 full over 10lbs of nails - only $5 per case. yeah you heard me. Those bostich nails alone are worth well over 50 bucks b/c they sell those about $1 per strip.

I love you Ace Hardware!














8 cases pints $10 each
1 case half pints (straight side) $7.50 ea

sugar at Wally world is still $13.48 a bag.

I went ahead and got a bag it's not getting cheaper that's for dang sure - in fact the price of it seems to be going up everywhere else.




I stopped at target for Halloween Candy and found these notebooks on clearance for 62 cents - I just picked a dozen of the prints I liked - that should keep me in notebooks for a few semesters. yaaay ME.









I found this Mitre box for Mr. Man...I thought 2 bucks sounded good. I don't know much about these things.











I've been wanting egg timers for awhile but they are always so dang expensive - Lucky me I found these last 2 for $3 each. Now I can tell myself onion is for canner, garlic is for oven. I left the bellpepper one. haha.








The staple gun seemed handy mine is just a plastic job. The staples were only $1. Seemed like a good price to me.











I found this at Ace hardware too - I'm just gonna throw it in my backpack...You never know right!











You can see a weird bowl in my photos of eggshells and veggie trimmings - that's my compost stuff from the kitchen lol.

You cannot imagine how happy I was to find this kitchen compost pail for only $7. Supposedly they are upwards of $50. All I know is 7 bucks sounded good to me haha.






I know how gross. i don't care - We like them and they were on sale this week for 99 cents - I had Wally World price match Fresh and Easy - I picked all the ones that expire dec 23 2011 and I'm still gonna freeze them.

I bought 20 pkgs - 10 for my house and 10 for my sisters house. I figure that's enough.




Got some new hair lotion for Mr. Man...2 containers of buttermilk (over $3) not on sale and a 4 pack of the pint jars the fancy ones I like for butter. I don't know why I like the butter in the odd looking containers.

jar lids - 99 cents price match

It was so weird they only had these 4 boxes of lids left in that whole store - super strange.


Pineapple was still 97 cents - so I picked up another 7. That should make at least 15 more pints. That should be good - it will bring our total amount of canned pineapple to 2.5 cases.











Finally I picked up ground lean (93%) for $2.49 a lb that is still expensive to me 5 wks ago ground lean was only $1.69. I also found this Italian Sausage 5for5 but it had an instant $2 off coupon - so 24 oz of Italian sausage for only $3 pretty good. The pork chops are a request from a friend who did us a favor so I'll be making his favorite dish - Pork Adobo!

That's it - that's my kick start - Everyone please go out and do something - do anything. Prices are going up 20-40% every single time I go to the store and I don't care if I do have the money I do not wanna waste it. Vitamins and basic body lotions are horrendously expensive. Please look around and see the silent anger and mortification in peoples faces with only 3-4 things in their cart because they simply cannot afford the things they once ate. Sad.

ps) I have been watching this one dude make excuses why he can't do as many preps as other people because he doesn't have the money and blah blah blah - M****f**** please. I'm just sayin - if you've been doing this for almost 2 years why have your preps decreased? We're on a very tight budget and we make it. Goodness gracious - if you don't have the stomach to be a winner just lay down and take it from the powers that be - HAHA.

September 2011 preps so far...

It's a transitional month for us - Mr. man is transitioning to a new job with a significant raise and I am transitioning BACK into school. I am taking compressed classes and I'm really not in the mood to go. Lately I am very irritated by people and I feel anti social. But I will do what I need to do to move forward with what we are doing. So our budget is exceptionally lean. I have also made some preps purchases that I failed to photograph since I have been doing the video thing.

Costco had these large jars of classico for 6.99. The 3 of the 3 quart bottles for 6.99 BUT we had a 2 dollars off coupon. The additional bonus is that these are atlas mason jars and can be reused with rings and lids that are regular mouth - Awesome right!








snack bags and gallon bags were 99 cents. Tin foil was 74 cents at kmart and Dr. Kens toothpaste was only 80 cents. Mr. Man thinks that we should have 2 years of toothpaste in rotation but we are well above that at this point.









I've never seen this before - I popped by Kmart lookin for jars and they had these for 99 cents. There is no high fructose corn syrup in these just a lot of milk products. I thought I might give it a whirl.









I've started making bread again - 25 lbs of bread flour is only 8 bucks at costco - but 25 lbs of hard white wheat is $15. I just freeze it and put it up in the jars I have. Goodness.










These RAIL planters were only 2.97 at Kmart - they are clearing out their garden dept. We don't really have a need for them but I figure it wouldn't hurt to have them.










Especially since the regular price on them is $12













Cetaphil is our facial and hand moisturizer. These are upwards of $14 a jar. We had 1 left in the cupboard and an almost empty one in the bathroom. However costco had a coupon for 3 dollars off so it was only 8.50 and had the travel size face wash!

Cetaphil is awesome fragrance free and non comodogenic - good for adults and kids. Try some you won't go back




All the produce in this photo was only 99 cents including the organic stuff.












whole wheat pastry flour 69 cents a lb
chocolate chips 2.69 a lb
whole wheat flour 67 cents a lb











Mr. Man popped by the goodwill on the way to pick up the tshirts he had made...he found various jars for 49 cents to 99 cents. Not the best price but it's always good to have jars.










The prize find was this antique ball ideal jar - I love these jars so much! I found someone online who is selling 11 of them for 20 bucks - I am on the fence about it but I may get them because they are both quarts and pints with this clip into the glass lid.








I walked around albertsons while Mr. Man filled the water bottles - we keep 45 gallons in rotation in the kitchen.

I found these giant candles for 2.39
taper candles were 32 cents
votive candles were 37 cents

I could have bought a lot more but I figure a handful is enough because we already have a LOT of candles.



Yeast is very expensive at Albertsons - the jar is 8+ bucks, the 4 packs are 3.99. However they had this packet of wheat for 55 cents. It says especially formulated for wheat bread I will give it a whirl and let you all know how that goes.









grapes were 69 cents a lb
vital gluten was 67 cents a lb (overorder mismark)
more whole wheat flour for 67 cents

This was all bulk @ Sprouts.








Oat Bran was 64 cents a lb
Whey Protein Isolate was $1.87/lb

Whey protein isolate was mismarked - normally it's $8.72/lb. That's whey drink powder - very good to have around the house and to have in your bug out bag. 2 tsps plus 10 oz of water and you have a power drink.

I doubt I'll be doing anymore shopping this week - I feel burnt out and worried lately and the rise in prices is really getting on my nerves.

Canned Meatloaf.

Another recipe.
Last night I asked Mr.Man to pick up 10lbs of ground chuck at Albertson's because it was only $1.88/lb. Well We normally get it at Basha's because the Bashas ground chuck is 90/10, Once I opened the Albertsons bag I figured out it was 80/20. 80/20 is very fatty so I pinched off a couple lbs to make some jalapeno burgers and the rest I decided was better for meatloaf.

Recipe
8 lbs beef makes 11 pints


3 grated carrots
1 chopped onion
4 chopped jalapenos
1 white onion diced
4 green onions sliced










8 lbs beef
3 tbsp oregano
2 tbsp paprika
4 tbsp creole seasoning
2 tbsp lemon pepper
6 tbsp salt
5 tbsp garlic powder







6 eggs
3 cups oatmeal (adds fiber and absorbs fat)
optional
1 cup bbq sauce
1 cup ketchup












Mix it all up. mix it thoroughly. I do the mixing with no hands so I can feel if I missed anything, and I can also make adjustments based on texture. Feel free to adjust the recipe to your own liking, some folks mix salsa in or ketchup or even barbecue sauce. It's up to you - make it so you will enjoy eating it.







Once everything is thoroughly mixes I let it rest on the counter while I prepare the jars and canner











Wash the canner, the jars and the lids.
Add vinegar to the water and set it on the stove on medium heat letting it wait with the filled water jars inside.













I set the jars aside with hot water and let the lids dry.












Set your tools out ensuring everything is clean.
If you have gloves get a few out.












Fill the jars about half way. and push down getting out as much air as possible in the sides. I found the best way is to push down the middle and then...










keep pushing down the middle and sides and then fill the centers until it is right below the one inch mark.











Keep pushing and try to keep it as clean as possible.












Don't overpush or it sucks out and comes out with your hand. LOL












These ones are really grungy feeling - so I wiped off the jars 3 times!












Place lids from the hot water...













Shake off Caps and tighten them on jars finger tight...finger tight is one firm turn of your hand.












Place in hot water so they are not touching. Um, you might want to use the jar lifter, I usually don't use the jar lifter at this stage but I have heat resistant hands lol.










Cover and wait for nipple to Pop. Vent for 7 minutes. Then wait for jiggler (weight to start dancing)

Pints: 1 hr 15 mins 10lbs pressure
Quarts: 1 hr 30 mins 10 lbs pressure

But that is the lbs for our elevation please check the ball canning book for your elevation time.





I had this bit left over...so I sanitized another 8 jars for a second batch. The additional meat only fit 3 jars so I flash defrosted 8 chicken breasts and canned an additional 5 pints of chicken.










So here are the results.
1 late night canning session
11 pints canned meatloaf
5 pints canned chicken breast.

That's it.


We like to take our meatloaf - slice it and then pan fry until crisp and eat as a slider! How do you all like yours? If there is a small bit left I slice it in french fry cuts and dip in tempura batter then fry it again. Not a diet food!

August 2011 Preps, Halfway Through!

I know some of you have seen this and some of you haven't. This is the quick pic of our canning. There was 1 full case to the side that I coudn't include in the photo because I didn't want the table to bow lol.

We've been canning since March 20th and have given away about 20 jars. But we still have 22.5 cases of canned food. It is the best addiction ever and it puts your mind at ease to look at the "food room"

Lemon Juice and Acetone...keep it on the shelves, keep notebooks too folks.












I really try to buy domestically made stuff.













Last week this chicken was only 1.89 a lb. But this last WEEKEND boneless skinless breast was only $1.49, the drumsticks and thighs were only .68 cents a lb. UNBELIEVABLE.









Tonight we also went to purchase more ground chuck (our local store here does 90%lean for chuck) and it was holding at $1.88/lb. All I know is that I have this feeling that prices are going to hike astronomically because our prices here are UNBELIEVABLY cheap.







Canning Chicken is one of my favorite things out there. I like how it looks, how it makes the house smell and how it tastes.










I already reviewed this. Just click on the receipt below so you can feel the amazement.












There's my jardiniere and peaches in the background. I just have to keep it up.












Proof is in the Pudding.

Click on it twice to enlarge the pic.













Walgreen's is getting harder and harder to hustle.

Contact Solution: 8 bucks with instant $8 rebate
BPA free baby spoons: $1.09 clearance
Lindt Choco Truffles: $1.50 each
Aquafresh Whitening: $1.29 clearance
Johnson 500pc Q tips: $1.99





I recently started watching youtube videos on how to make your own laundry soap. Last week while I was out shopping I was just keeping an eye out for Fels Naptha/Octagon soap. I didn't find any here in the West Valley so I stocked the Lirio laundry bars (white for whites and yellow for coloured clothes)

The fels is only $1.39 at Food City in the East Valley and the 400g lirio is only .89 cents


The borax was about 2.60 a box and the washing soda is close to $3 a box. Even just having this much would make at least 110 gallons of laundry soap following the most basic recipe.









We stopped by Wally World to pick up my briquets for my brother. Well Mr.Man and I habitually cruise their clearance. Well I saw this coconut oil but I said it's still pricey. Well as we walked away from it this little Asian lady made eyes at him and said What do you Want Hunny I will mark it down for you! He said I will take these for $2...she said Ohhh only $2.50 is my Max Hunny. He said, "I'll TAKE em"




I was helping my brother organize his pantry, house and garage and I found this 25 compartment organizer thrown in the corner of his 3 car garage. I noticed the corner just needed a bit of duct tape and said Hey Can I take this and he said take it.

I'm going to use it to divvy out my first aid kit a bit. The other week Mr.Man got a pretty deep thumb cut and I had to dig inconveniently.


I had that $8 coupon for walgreens. So I went in there to use it before it expired. I found these baby wipes 3 - 100 packs for only $2.50. I also found Keri Lotion for 5.99 with a $5 rebate. Next to Cetaphil and Jergens, Keri is my next choice. I ended up paying $4.78 and they gave me a $5 instant rebate. LOL.

The white choco nestle chips were only 95 cents each at the local dollar store.



Hydrogen Peroxide was only 99 cents a quart at the 99 cent only store. That is one of the best prices I've seen for 32 ounces. We still have a few cases of hydrogen peroxide so I figured 5 quarts would suffice.








We went to the East Valley to drop off some canned stuff and things I got for the Father In Law while I was in Asia. I was really pushing my luck asking Mr.Man to stop at the Asian store when he barely got off a flight from a 4 day bachelor party. But he's a good sport and he went.

The sake was only $6.47 a bottle but they only had 2 left. I also picked up shredded seaweed, wasabi powder, toasted black sesame and salt, green tea incense and good rice flour.

While contemplating what to can I decided to throw a batch of creamcheese brownies for the boys and girls at Arizona Shootersworld - since they are SO nice to us.









While that baked I went outside to push the cucumbers aka WEEDS around - and don't you know I found a cucumber. A nice big 8 inch one that was happy to see me...









I looked again and saw this 5 inch one...













And sleeping under the other side was one more.

It's not much but at least our ghetto garden finally yielded something. I just wanted to can SOMETHING from our first gardening attempt. Looks like I'm gonna get my chance. Thank you Bees for working and thank you Mr.Man for not giving up!