Canning While You've Got It!

Last Friday I started canning the ground beef and petite sirloin steaks I was able to get at a decent price. A decent price - not a great price. But beef prices are climbing at a level I don't like. Chicken prices should have risen after those floods a few months ago - but chicken only takes 3 months or so to get to kill level beef takes a lot longer.

But I'm doing what I can. har har.




We really love beef and salmon. I really got very lucky last week when I accidentally found 15.4 oz salmon at 99 cents with an expiration of 06/2016. That is just unheard of.

Between the cost of the Beef and the cost of the Canning Jars - I don't know which is worse. Goodwill, Craigslist and garage sales are all dry sources for jars now - and even the lid prices are going up.


15 pints of beef is better than none.

I tested the atlas mason jars that the tomato sauce came in - they worked our really well. I have to admit that I've been steadily using pint jars because I think a quart of anything is almost too much...lifting a loaded quart feels heavy.









4 quarts potatoes
5 pints potatoes
4 pints carrots

so a total of 32 pints of canned goods, a few loaves of bread, 2 pans lasagna, breakfast lunch and snacks - all in 30 hours. What a maniac I am - but I just wanted to get it out of the way.

So on Sunday I could just study and make caramel popcorn.



Last night I did can some fresh pineapple. I tested a recipe I made to see if it was good - I like the results. So the next time pineapple is on sale I will do it again. I basically took the insides of the pineapple that you usually toss and boiled it into the simple syrup to get a better flavor.

3 small pineapples will make you 7 pints. Actually they ate one already so that's under 40 cents a pint for a well stuffed jar.

If anyone hadn't noticed the pineapple is over 1.59 for the small can of generic - Dole is even more because they use a pineapple that is harvested closer to ripe for better scent and taste. So I am happy to make this.

I dunno about you guys but I like pineapple upside down cupcakes.

September Sprint...end of the month haul and hustle

I am really exhausted lately.

School only started on Monday. That is 2 days ago . I'll go into that in another blog. I have been running for preps after class then coming home and making dinner and studying or studying and writing after dinner.

The cooking videos are pretty much going to be at a standstill during the week and then I will continue making videos during the weekend. There is just a lot going on in this house and on top of that is Afroprepper starting a new job - can you say raise and a promotion - WHEW.

We have even more changes coming at the end of the year...just wait. Today I went and got some preps. Only 2 more days left in the month so seriously this is it.

Pineapples were only $1 each. They should be ripe enough in the next 3-4 days - at which point I will can 3 pints of fruit and 3 pints of juice










Carrots 3lbs/$1 Cucumber 3 for $1 Potatoes were only 88 cents for 5 lbs. But I didn't need any we still have 10 lbs











Petite Sirloin Steaks - buy 1 get 2 free. That came out to about 2.25 a lb or something. It's not the best price - but I am really irritated that the price of beef is just rising and rising and rising. ANNOYING - and this is the caned prep that gets the most action in our pantry besides butter. Jeez.






Yellow Onions were only 5lbs/$1 Gallon of vinegar was $2.77 that went up about 50 cents in the last 2 months.











I popped by big lots to see if they had some celery seed, they didn't but they sure did have these cedar raised garden beds. The garden stuff is on clearance because "they are making room for the Christmas stuff" What?
Regular price - $30 My price $7.50 each.
I really don't know if we are going to put up this many beds but at that price - it's cheaper than the cost of wood.




My Aunt is on an extended stay in Japan for business - she asked me to mail her some Chili Tepin and while there I found some herbs I was lacking in my own preps. nutmeg - 59cents









Mustard Seed 79 cents













Chili Tepin 1.29

It may look small but it's powerful and good.










Coriander 79 cents













Anise - 99 cents















All spice - 99 cents











Oops while at big lots I also found these things... trigger snap swivel things and the d rings that flex they were only a little above a buck - so I picked up the few they had









I also found this Red cross nasal aspirator and baby med dispenser. it was more than half off and I figured it might be good to have this in the first aid toolbox. $2 no problem.









I was looking for the 500 pack of vinyl gloves they usually have but instead I found this: infectigard spray "pens" 2 for 50 cents. That's it - that's the whole bag of beans. I really wanted to get some bacon, beef and butter canned in jars but you know the market price is simply KICKING
MY ASS.

Stay Preppin! Stay Positive

Find Room in your Budget

School started today. Last semester I would go preps shopping Monday, Wednesday and Friday because my Math class was from 7am to 830am. So I would always hit the stores right after class because I would be one of the first customers and would often have my pick of produce and stuff. Today I had a class at 11 - 1, and out of habit I headed towards the store.

I managed to find a few things and pinched 60 bucks out of my budget to purchase some preps. Truth be told I was really out at my local discount places just looking for some fleishmans yeast because I am down to about 9 packets. Sometimes I do get super lucky and I'm able to find 4 packets for a dollar at a the local dollar stores. But no such luck today - I will have to look again later in the week. I really thought that I would not be buying any preps this month as I stated in the previous blog our budget isn't even thin anymore it's just straight anorexic.

But when you see things that are an absolute steal you make room for them in the budget. That is another thing about prepping - sometimes you see something and you are tempted to add it into your stores because it looks handy or seems like a deal or looks interesting...but no matter what - I pick and choose what I buy - because I always keep 60-100 sitting there in case something really good comes up.

As seen in the photos. Pink Beauty Pink Salmon in a 15.4 oz can. Since there was no activated yeast in the store I stopped to look for lemon juice and celery seed - no such luck. Right as I started to head towards the register I saw these 4 shelves fully stocked. 99 cents a piece Expiration? 06/2016. WOW

You've got to understand that this size salmon on sale is $1.99. Regular price ranges from $3.99 to $5.99 depending on which store you go to. Pillar Rock is my favorite, Pink Beauty is a close second but only because it is not Red Sockeye Salmon. After trying the Pillar rock and Pink Beauty I don't even want to eat the Chicken of the Sea brand. But it's in the preps and if you mix it with shrimp and cracker meal - it makes passable croquettes.

At 99cents a can with a long expiration I had no choice but to go back. I originally purchased 40 cans - and then I went back and got the last 20 cans on the shelf.

The last time I found Salmon at this price in this size was in June...I even put in a special order to the home office for 200 cans of the pillar rock but they said it's rarely in stock.

We are flush for canned salmon now - over 100 cans of this size in rotation!


The large Kraft Ricotta was also only 99 cents expires November and ditto for the Sour Cream. I checked the ingredients and it's like milk, milk curds, milk fat, salt - in that order. Nothing new about it but the packaging LOL. Since we were lucky enough to find Ricotta I will make a lasagna this week and the sour cream will be used to make some sour cream amaretto almond cupcakes.

That is pretty much how it works around here I cook what is here and what's on sale, tha'ts how we save money :)

Organic romaine was still 99 cents for 3 heads.













30 tab ginkgo and 8 sausage packs and 12 sausage paacks were all 99 cents each. I usually get beef sausage but I haven't seen that in over 6 weeks. Beef is getting very hard to come by at a cheap price around here.









It's almost time to make my own version of Mrs. Dash no salt blend. I have no desire to pay 3.79 a small packet so I am going to make one for me and one for Momma in Law.










Cauliflower and 5 lbs of potatoes are all 99 cents. I was really short on potatoes this week and I don't like coming up short.











Finally, I stopped at dollar tree because they are the only ones who carry the gossner whole milk and borden half and half. Both of them are shelf stable and good until February and May of next year. If the expiration date comes up I'll just use them for a small batch of white cheese. Truth be told I think the flavor on both is above average for something that comes out of a tetra pack. I've had similar milk in Asia from New Zealand - this has a smoother mouthfeel and no aftertaste. The half and half is fantastic in coffee whether it is hot or cold way better than powdered creamer.

I also threw in another bottle of lemon pepper and ground cloves. It never really ends. Things are improving for us financially, but it's going to take a watchful eye over our lifestyle and keeping our spending in check. We still have projects that need to be started, projects that need completion and we would like to go solar and on top of that I am still in school. It would be very easy right now for me to say "I'm too busy or too frazzled to prep..." I could say "It's just not in the budget...we need to live our regular lifestyle and take a week off and blow out of town..." I could say a ton of stuff but I won't - staying prepared is just a part of our lifestyle now and when you are strong and aware you don't get off the hook that easily. You just have to rise to it.

Stay Preppin'...Stay Positive.

Truth be told - I like having all of this stuff stored - because when we want something and it's not on sale I can just reach on the cupboard for it - I like slathering butter on my cinnamon rolls and not worry if there is any left. I like having chicken and beef at our disposal even if it hasn't been at a good sale price in over a month. It truly saves you money in the end because you aren't running to the store for 1 thing and come home with 10 - haha. It's nice to look on your shelf and see 7 dollar hair conditioner that you purchased for 99 cents and know that you don't need any for another year.

My lit professor heard me telling people they should get stuff like TP and toothpaste on sale and just leave it in the linen closet so they aren't constantly running to the store for 1 or 2 things and overspending. Don't you know - that high fructose sucking, junk food eating, intellectually slothful mess of a professor asked me,"do you live in a bunker?" I laughed and said,"is your house paid off?" She said,"no..." I said,"Mwahahahaha...ours is, that's what we live in" I'm surprised that cow didn't fail me - I got my A.

People who have fear and are addicted to fear will often try to shit on you. They want you to live in that same vat of shit that they live in. People who have fear are rarely loved, rarely peaceful, often distrustful and live sad lonely existences - that is WHY they try to suck you into their petty bullshit and fears. I rarely nibble in those cases. I am really working on reacting in a clever exemplified way. We don't prepare because we are scared we prepare because we want to thrive when the world changes. This isn't the end of the world - this is a growing pain - a changing pain. You just gotta work through it yanno?

Panties...

Ha ha!

Hello Everyone...Please make sure that you include underwear in your preps. Personally, I am not skilled enough to make my own underwear or they would look like that nylon job in the photo.

If you have little ones prep their underwear, socks and shoes in increasing sizes. The same also applies to bras and tank tops.

Just a thought.

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.

Rocket Stove Cooking: Teriyaki Chicken & Rice

CastIronWatchman threw down a challenge---preppers throwdown - LOL. It's all good.

Click here for our adventures in "outdoor cooking" I'm so glad that Afroprepper was there.

Small rocket stoves are real hard to maintain - we really want to make a bigger one that's for sure.

But I am very glad for the experience of cooking outside with the very little wood that we have. That is definitely something we need to have more of in the backyard. We do have hundreds of acres across the way of both trees and brush that we could glean to get wood and we will be doing that, because just in making 2 dishes it took a lot of branches.

We will soon be testing our QB stove that we picked up in the Philippines - It is a charcoal stove that resembles a cooktop LOL. Stylin! Seriously though - at least I am confident that we have sacks of charcoal put up and could actually make some if we had to. I am glad we have 3 alternate ways to cook our food - 4 actually. But we are lucky to live in a sunny place without the challenge of relentless rain or snow.

Beef Barley Soup & How to Can It

A few nights ago I made Beijing Beef - the cut of beef I purchased was 5 lbs. I took one pound off for the beijing beef, two pounds off for a roast for our sandwhiches and salads, used about a half pound of trim for beef stock which left a little over a lb. I went to Sprouts Market and pearl barley was on sale for 74 cents a lb so I decided it was time to make some beef barley soup.

Click here for soup video


Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 - 2 lbs beef cut into small cubes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cups pearl barley
4 green onions
1 medium yellow onion
3 small tomatoes
3 pcs celery
1 medium carrot
1 tbsp red chili flakes
1 tbsp parsley
black pepper to taste
1 tbsp iodized salt

3 quarts beef beef stock
PLUS 7-10 cups water

The soup is very straightforward and when that barley blooms there is an incredible amount of it - so 1.5 cups of uncooked barley is just right for a 5 quart batch - so that's 5 good sized bowls for adults. However if you like yours on the thicker side feel free to add more.

I only held back a small bit for Afro to eat - and I canned the rest of it. Because the nature of a beef barley soup is to thicken and reduce the water I added back water and vegetables prior to canning. That's just me because I like my soup more loose. Feel free to keep it thick if you want to...but that concerns me with canned soups because I'm always afraid it won't process.

Click here for canning beef barley video.

It only made 5 quarts which is enough for me I have a lot of the staples canned up these days so I don't mind adding 5 quarts instead of 8 pints just to add some variety in there. But this soup is definitely handy. Mr. Man actually likes adding extra slices of roast beef in his prior to eating.

Happy Cooking and keep yourselves well. I am very perturbed that they have reduced the quality of the food in this country and at the same time reduced the dosage on the over the counter vitamins. Please eat and store a variety of food and vitamins and take not of the true suggested dosages. Also understand that Vitamin D actually serves you better than Vitamin C in fortifying your immune system...do your homework and you will see that far too many people have a Vitamin D deficiency which leaves you open to illness. Do what you can to keep yourself in the best shape possible - I myself have fallen out of shape since being on fertility meds and it's reallly messing with my head - but as of next week I have decided to take my bike to school and continue with the kick boxing. You must really look at yourself and ask if you are doing all you can or just being a spoiled American and simply "trying" your best. Those who "try" watch from the side - those who "DO" are in the game. It is what it is - just pick where you want to be.