Pantry Secrets

Hey All!

I just wanted to let you all know about a great bread making class I was able to attend. I learned how to make yummy bread in only 1 hour from start to finish! So in 1 hour from start to finish, I can be eating my yummy bread, and have most of the mess cleaned up!

I learned how to make pizza dough, cinammon bread, rolls, soup bowls, italian breads, buns, etc. with the same dough!

It really is so easy! Click on the link to see how it's done! http://www.pantrysecrets.net/

There is one simple product that makes this bread possible. And the best part is that it is cheap, and lasts indefinately!

Please let me know if you'd like to have more information!
Happy Baking!

Crystal
435-764-8694

Ward Assigned Canning Dates for 2011

We have the new stake canning schedule done for the year 2011. This coming year, in hopes of getting more members of our stake at the cannery, we have given each ward an assigned month to go to the cannery. Of course, anyone can go to the cannery other months as needed, but we would like the members to feel like they are given that time to themselves..and hopefully it will not be so intimidating to have the entire stake going at once and they will be with people they know.

Texas East Stake Cannery Assigned Dates For 2011

January: Tuesday 4th, 6-9 Summerwood
February: Tuesday 1st 6-9 Eagle Springs
March: Tuesday 1st 6-9 Pasadena 2
May: Tuesday 3rd 6-9 Liberty
June: Tuesday 7th 6-9 Baytown 1
August: Tuesday 2nd 6-9 Baytown 2
September: Tuesday 6th 6-9 Pine Trails
November: Tuesday 1st 6-9 Fall Creek & Lake Houston (YSA)
December: Tuesday 6th 6-9 Baytown 3 (Spanish branch
Be sure to mark your calenders and make arrangements to attend the canning date for your ward;)

Thanks!!

Crystal

New Cannery Times!

Hello All!

I just received some information about the cannery. They have new hours for buying bulk and pre-packaged items and they will no longer be closed down every other week for the peanut butter shifts.

From now on, the cannery hours are (every week):

Monday - CLOSED
Tuesday through Friday - Open 9 A.M. - 4 P.M.
Saturday - Open 9 A.M.-Noon

If you are wanting to pack a LOT of food and you are not planning to go when the stake has scheduled to go, then just call to make sure going does not conflict with another stake canning day.

Also, I recently was informed that children under the age of 16 ( but not under the age of 12) can come to help IF there is an adult per child to supervise them.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Crystal

Updated Cannery Ordering Process!!

Ordering Process for Ordering Food from Cannery

Cannery order forms are located in the binders each Sunday. You can also go to http://www.providentliving.org/, to the left of the page, click on “Family Home Storage”. Then on the next page look to the right and click on “Home Storage Center order form.” There is also a link to the side of the food storage blog at http://letusbeprepared.blogspot.com/. You can either print the form and fill it out manually, or fill it out online and print it out from there.

After filling out your order form, you will choose from the 2 packing options below and follow instructions from there.

Option 1:
Canning items on Stake Canning night-

We have times scheduled for our stake members to go to the cannery to can, or pouch food. The times we have set for the remaining of the year are as follows:

2010 Houston Tx East Stake Canning Night Dates and Times
May 29th 10:00-3:00 Saturday)
June 9th 6:00-9:00 (Wednesday)
July 17th 10:00-2:00 (Saturday)
August 21st 10:00-2:00 (Saturday)
September 8th 6:00-9:00 (Wednesday)
October 16th 10:00-2:00 (Saturday)
November 13th 10:00-2:00 (Saturday)
December 18th 10:00-2:00 (Saturday)

PLEASE let Alisha Ashton, alisha.ashton@gmail.com (the current food storage specialist) know which night you plan to attend the cannery and what you are planning on packing. She sends all orders to me (Crystal Petersen) a week prior to the canning night so we can make all necessary arrangements and to make sure they have the items of food you are wanting to pack.

You will bring your order form filled out under the can column or the pouch column. Please note you are paying for the food, and the packaging so there is no need to order packing materials.

You will need to be prepared to come on time, work with all others that night to fill everyone’s orders, and then clean up. You’ll never be unassisted, so you don’t need to know anything about the cannery to come and pack food…there is always someone there to help. After everyone is done, you’ll pay for your food just packed.

PLEASE remember a check (blank)!! They do not accept credit cards and if you have to pay with cash, it has to be the EXACT amount, no exceptions.

Option 2:
Buying bulk from the Cannery –

Call the cannery 281-537-1785 to make sure they have what you’d like to pick up and to make sure someone will be there to assist you in checking out.

Drive to the cannery, taking your order form filled out under the bulk column on the order form. Don’t forget to order all the packing materials such as cans, pouches, oxygen absorbers (which go in everything but sugar), and lids, etc. Just like stake canning nights, don’t forget to bring a blank check or exact cash to pay for your food. No credit cards will be accepted.

Then you are responsible for packing it on your own. We do have a sealer in our ward, but we are not able to pass it around, so if you are interested in packing your bulk food in pouches, you can contact Alisha Ashton to discuss bulk-packing options.

Whether you decide to go to the cannery for stake canning night or if you go there to pick up your bulk good, you’ll need the address for the cannery.

Houston Cannery- 16333 Hafer Road, Houston, TX

Preparedness Pictures From Open House!

Here are a few pictures I took from the open house in Eagle Springs. Not everyone had a chance to make it so I thought I'd share the pictures! We had a lot of interest in this area of the open house because of all the things happening around the world that would cause us to be mindful of the way we would be able to take care of our loved ones in rough circumstances.

Thanks Danielle for all your help putting this together:)

Getting Organized with The Can Organizer!

Since you have now seen my food storage...I thought I'd tell you where the can organizers/rotation systems came from!!

I don't know if you noticed them in the pictures of my pantry in my kitchen, but they are awesome! They fit lots of cans of our favorite 'staples' and it leaves my other shelves where my second half of my 3 month supply is, more room for more food:)

They were purchased from The Can Organizer website: http://www.thecanorganizer.com/

They are a steal compared to others that are made, and I also feel as though they are worth the money to just get them all ready to put together (which is super fast) than getting the supplies, and taking the time to do it yourself...aka, having your husband do it himself, lol.

I ordered the cupboard size, which are shorter than the pantry size because my shelves are not very wide, and they fit perfectly.

My Food Storage Pics

It's been awhile since I've posted anything! I am getting use to my new calling as stake home storage specialist, so I don't get on too much now:)

I thought I'd share a few pictures with you! It's kind of embarrassing for me to share my personal pics, but I have A LOT of people ask me to see MY food storage, so I thought I'd share a few pictures. For a couple of reasons:
1..I believe anyone can find somewhere to store their food and supplies
2..It's not as fancy as everyone thinks:)
3..Having a picture in your mind helps you picture your own food supply in your home and it doesn't seem so scary.
Here is my pantry/closet in my kitchen (which is tiny!)

As you can see, I use my containers we had an order for, quite a bit! I use them for some of my cereal, and also for my opened pouches/cans of beans, pancake mix, wheat, rice, apple slices, etc.

Here is the other half of my 3 month supply..

I use the food from my pantry first, then 'shop' on these shelves before going to the long term storage. Every time I use something and take it from my storage, I still put it on my grocery list, so I can try to stay stocked.

Here is my 'long term' supply of food.

I have a wide variety of food, most of what they have available at the cannery, and also, oil, salt, honey, fruits, cheeses, veggies, etc. Also on top of the pouches you will find my food storage binder (which I think is a must) and all of our 72 hour food kits.

Ever since my sister came to live with us, we haven't had a bedroom set because we gave it to her to use, so along our room wall has been the perfect spot for our food:) It may not look like a nice dresser with a sweet looking mirror that I eventually would love to have, but I feel so happy every night and morning when I get to go to sleep and wake up knowing we will be prepared as much as we can, for whatever may come our way.

It really doesn't take up too much room, right?!! I feel ok with keeping it covered because I have a container in the pantry with all the same food items, but I just keep what I am using in the kitchen. Plus, my children like to try to climb the 'mountain' of food, lol, so it's best if covered!

I know I am sorta geeky, but I also, for my use only, have made a layout, if you will, of my long term food items. It helps me know where to find things when I need them and it gives me a good idea of what I need to use up first.

I just numbered the stacks at the top...the rectangles are my stacks of pouches (two rows deep) and the circles are my buckets (two rows deep). I also keep track of when I pack them by putting the date below the product. I also put all the other random stuff I have there in cans and such, on the list of items in the big rectangle. It looks pretty sloppy, but just as I can make sense of the mess, lol.

To help stay organized, I also have a spreadsheet with the following information: Item of food/supply/water, how much/weight, and I have each item split up by how it is packed (# of pouches, buckets, cans, or original container). I tried to post that too, but couldn't:)

Well, that's it! I am still working on my food storage for my family. Right now I'd say I have plenty for how much my family eats right now, but as my children grow, I will need to get more. It's a lot of work, but so worth the effort!! Good luck with your own food storage!

The winds of change...

I know it has been a long time since I've updated. There has been some changes in what I am doing now in church! I no longer have the responsibility of directing ward members with food storage, I now get to direct the stake!

With that said, I would still like to help anyone in need of assistance in any area of food storage you may have questions in, but I will not be holding meetings or classes within the ward as I had planned.

I am still trying to get settled in my new calling as Stake Home Storage Specialist and hopefully I will still be able to help everyone be prepared at a stake wide level.

I am still going to be working on my own food storage and learning new things, so I'm sure there will be opportunities for me to share some fun food supply things with you, that will help in reaching your food supply goals!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve you! I loved it! Thank so much for all your support:) Hopefully I helped someone learn something!

Crystal