Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: December 11 ~ 17, 2016

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ReneeT

Veteran Member
WAY behind getting the thread started this week - so sorry!

It has been busy around here; work schedule is wonky due to everyone having kids or grandkids in Christmas programs (#2 out of 3 is Thursday; one more to go next week lol!), then spent two of my days off dragging out and hauling Christmas decorations to daughter's home, and another day supplying foo-foo coffee and helping decorate for the house walk she got conned in to (:lol: It was for a good cause, but man was it a LOT of work for her!)

I was able to escape for the weekend, thanks to having to go to work; but yesterday was another busy day - aqua aerobics with the neighbor ladies, home long enough to throw a load of laundry in the washer, then off to daughter's town for a chiropractor appointment - I'd never been to one before. Stopped by daughter's to pick up a couple of things and discovered that I left granddaughter's birthday card and gifts at home on the table so I grumbled at myself most of the way home over that. Got home, threw the laundry in the dryer, then helped Hubby get the old pole light down - and managed to convince him that we needed new, heavier duty wire before we put the new one up - hoping that I convinced him that we need a different type of pole light as well...

Just as well that I forgot grandaughter's gifts - my co-worker Buddy stopped by with a gift card and bag of foo-foo popcorn for her (and one for Grandma, too; bless his heart!). After he left, I ran into town to the cemetary to put the wreath on my parent's grave (daughter used it during the House Walk; Mama would have approved of that!); drove by my Aunt and Uncle's graves on the way out of the cemetary and as they had no Christmas decorations and I had a decorated table top tree in the van, I stopped and put it by their stone.

Then it was back to town to pick up granddaughter's bouquet, and drop it and her other gifts off at daughter's - she was very pleased with all of them - especially the Taco Bell gift cards; thanks again, Prudentwatcher, for tipping me off on that deal!!

Back home, supper fixed, a few household chores done and I was yawning and ready for bed by 7pm - which explains getting up at 3am... It's one of Hubby's nights off, so I can't do anything noisy until closer to 6 am - so I am slurping coffee and enjoying getting caught up on some reading before I have to start getting ready for work - Life is good!

I'm going to try to get off work on time tonight so that I can stop by Aldi on the way home to pick up a few items; if I don't, it's not a big deal as my neighbor lady has conned me into going to the mall on Wednesday morning to walk since it's supposed to snow today, then get down into the teens tonight; I told her I that I had a perfectly good treadmill down in the basement so I didn't think I'd be interested in walking outside - darned if she didn't talk me into mall walking instead! (I'm wondering if I'm going to be interested in going out to aqua aerobics on Thursday when it's supposed to be in single digits!) It's a fairly safe outing - we'll be going early before the stores open, so my pocketbook is safe from impulse buying - and most likely from the unsavory element as well, since I doubt they'll be out and about between the early hour, the outside temperature, and the lack of public transportation at that time of day.

I did a little pantry cleaning the other day - sat a few things out on the kitchen island that needed to be used soon, and discovered a few more things that I needed to restock ASAP! I'll probably take care of that on Thursday as I'll be going to town for granddaughter's Christmas band concert.

Hmmm - somehow my coffee cup has gotten empty while I've been typing this! Guess that means it's probably time to get myself up and moving to get ready for work - only 12 hours; I can do this!

Take care out there folks; stay safe and warm...
 
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moldy

Veteran Member
Did some Christmas baking this week, while DH worked on the farm truck and played with his Christmas present -- a new puppy. It's a border collie/red heeler cross and I think will be a good addition to the farm. He's doing really well so far - 2 days and only one mess in his crate and none in the house. Now if we can just stop the crying/howling/yipping at night when it's time for bed!

Working tomorrow, then off Thursday, and back to work for Friday and the weekend. Our church is not having a Christmas Eve service, just one on Christmas Day (which I work); so I may look around and visit another church for it.
 
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prudentwatcher

Veteran Member
A grocery in a small town near us had some fabulous meat sales, so I stopped by yesterday. Strip steak for $4.99 a lb and london broil for $2.99 a lb. I stocked up. I also bought a bunch of 8 oz blocks of cheese at $1.69 each and stuck them in the freezer as well. Trying not to go to the grocery store again until AFTER Christmas as they will be packed from here on out.

Picked up more overtime for this week which will come in handy as my computer died. Got a good deal at Office Depot and used part of my Christmas money and incoming overtime to pick up a new one. At least I'm back up and running again.
 
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moldy

Veteran Member
DD#2 wants a dehydrator for Christmas, so she can 'make up dried meals and stuff like you do.' So I made up some meals in jars for her (cheeseburger mac, penne with sausage and mushrooms, pot roast gravy with garlic mashed potatoes, and creamed corn with sausage), and I"m going to give her one of my older dehyrators (after I clean it up some).

Made a bunch of meals for us as well - DH wanted me to make up pints (serves 2) instead of quarts (serves 4). I really took a long time to decide to make these up. Honeyville prices (even o n sale) are not cheap, and I didn't want to make something that we would then have to eat if we hated it. Well, they're delicious - so now I"m making up a bunch. Great for late nights, or for keeping up at the pasture (where we have water and a microwave, but that's about it).
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Went to town today to run errands and stopped by Walmart, everyone was in the parking lot, bomb scare. So I went to the Dollar Tree instead. I found some pizza sauce with only a small amount of sugar, so I bought all they had at $1 each. Also got baked beans, green peas (79cents ea) chicken noodle soup and beef noodle soup (DH likes their brand) and picked up a few other things. Then on to good will, found a few long sleeve blouses, I'm always in need of those. Didn't spend nearly as much as I would have at walmart. I'm beginning to thing I'm a compulsive prepper.

Judy
 
Hermantribe

Hermantribe

Veteran Member
moldy said:
DD#2 wants a dehydrator for Christmas, so she can 'make up dried meals and stuff like you do.' So I made up some meals in jars for her (cheeseburger mac, penne with sausage and mushrooms, pot roast gravy with garlic mashed potatoes, and creamed corn with sausage), and I"m going to give her one of my older dehyrators (after I clean it up some).

Made a bunch of meals for us as well - DH wanted me to make up pints (serves 2) instead of quarts (serves 4). I really took a long time to decide to make these up. Honeyville prices (even o n sale) are not cheap, and I didn't want to make something that we would then have to eat if we hated it. Well, they're delicious - so now I"m making up a bunch. Great for late nights, or for keeping up at the pasture (where we have water and a microwave, but that's about it).
Click to expand...

Do you have any recipes for these? Are the meals kept in jars? TIA
 
BinWa

BinWa

Veteran Member
Today I picked up 5 cans of corn and 5 cans of green beans to add to my storage for the week. Also added $5.00 to the emergency home envelope. Would have added more to the storage and envelope but bought a lot of extra baking items for the holidays, so kept the additions small for this week.
 
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moldy

Veteran Member
I"ll try to post one tomorrow. The meals in jars I make are add water only - not like mixes in jars (if that makes sense). Mine make main dishes, not sides.
 
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ReneeT

Veteran Member
Sounds great, Moldy; I'll be looking forward to the recipes!

Yesterday was a total wash - down sick; enough so that it was an effort to move from couch to bath or shower when I got chilled enough that one or the other was the only way to warm up. I'm blaming the new RN on the unit - she brought in new and unfamiliar germs :lol: Some better today but I'm going to watch for bargains on cold meds to bump the stash back up where it should be.

There was mutual agreement with the neighbor ladies to skip aqua aerobics today - I didn't want to share my cold as I was still coughing then, and the other two flat out said "No Way!" to going out in 2*F with a windchill of -6*F to hop in a pool, even if it is indoors! Granddaughter's band concert is this evening; the temperature is up 14*F and supposed to keep rising through the night, and I'm not coughing or sneezing so I will go ahead and attend. I plan to leave for town a bit early so that I can pick up a few things; one thing I need to restock is tuna; inventory sheet shows 22 packs, but pantry has NONE. Not sure where it's all gone - I, myself, make maybe one batch of tuna salad a year; the same of tuna cassarole, so I'm pretty sure I didn't use it! I do have a suspect in mind, however - especially since Hubby jotted down 'Miracle Whip' (which I also don't use!) on my grocery list. I hate to pay full price for anything, but am not comfortable with it being that low. I also need to pick up some packets of Land o'Lakes hazelnut cocoa mix for a gift box - if I can't find it, I'll pick up some powdered Hazelnut coffee creamer and make up a batch instead.

Back to work tomorrow; then off for the weekend with no plans so far...

(I don't know WHY I tempt fate like that...:P )

Take care all, stay safe and warm!
 
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moldy

Veteran Member
Double Cheeseburger Meal

1/2 cup non-fat instant milk powder
1/2 cup freeze dried ground beef
3 tblsp ultra gel (modified corn starch)
2 cups macaroni
1/4 cup dried onions (I use my own)
1/2 cup freeze dried shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp beef bouillon
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/4 cup powdered cheese sauce

Layer ingredients in a quart size mason jar, shaking to get the dry ingredients in (I put macaroni and beef in first to make it easier). Top with an oxygen absorber, place flat lid and ring on top. The oxygen absorber should make the jar seal (pull down the button in the middle, so it doesn't flex). Can be stored for 5-10 years.

To make, remove oxygen absorber and combine contents of jar with 7 cups hot water. Bring to boil, cover, and let simmer 12-15 minutes until noodles are tender.

Serves 4.

You can substitute cornstarch for the ultra gel, but the mixture must be brought to a boil for it to thicken. This really will feed 4 (it feeds DH, me, and DD (basically another adult), with about a half serving left over. Honeyville is where I got most of the supplies (glensbulkfoods.com for the ultra gel). I really put off trying this, because of the expense. This costs $8.05 per jar to make - yes, it's expensive, but it works well for storage foods in an out of the way place (like up at the pasture).

Love, love, love these. Honeyville sells a cookbook with a lot of these recipes "The Meals in a Jar Handbook" by Stephanie Petersen.

I want to make more of these, but I need to 'make' some quick cook dried beans - I think I just need to dry some of my canned beans.
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
With adding 4 shelf units to our back room, I've been able to clean out the cabinet next to the sink where DH is going to put in a used dishwasher that I bought a couple of weeks ago. I've cleaned out all the plastic ware (like tupperware) that I rarely or never use and I've put them in a couple of totes that I'm storing outside the house. After a year or so of not using them I'm going to give them away. There is another dark and crappy cabinet next to the stove that I'm cleaning out and I unearthed my popcorn popper that I never remember to use. Just made us a popcorn snack. I'm a happy camper.

Moldy your food in a jar sounds good.

I cut a row and a half of green onion tops yesterday, cut them up and put them in the dehydrator, they came out great.

Judy
 
nomifyle

nomifyle

TB Fanatic
Will be helping DH out in our woods scavanging (sp) for fire wood. Lots of downed stuff to take advantage of.

Judy
 
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ReneeT

Veteran Member
That sounds yummy, Moldy; thanks!! (Don't suppose you have one for beef stroganoff... :whistle: )

Got off late from work last night and had the pleasure :p of driving home in freezing rain - an hour late getting off work, plus an hour and 20 minutes to drive home left me sliding in the door (porch was a leetle slick :lol:) around 10pm; just in time to meet Hubby coming out the door to thaw his truck out so he could head to work. And then the adrenaline dump from the drive home kept me awake until 2 am...

Hubby made it home with minimal trouble this morning - other than sliding past the turn into our road - and was able to head to bed at a reasonable hour, but it sounds as though he's restless up there, so I'm trying to be as quiet as possible. We didn't have internet until about 11am or so, so I actually managed to get a few things accomplished this morning! Too bad none of it was things I had jotted down on the to-do list.... Maybe I'd better go write them in so I can mark them off - you think??

While I was in town Thursday for granddaughter's band concert, I decided I wasn't up to WM (after I saw the parking lot) so popped into the chain grocery store instead to pick up Hubby's Miracle Whip - snagged a sale ad as mine hadn't come in the mail per usual, and found not only the Miracle Whip on sale 2/$5 - $1 coupon that I happened to have in my little coupon file, but also store brand tuna on sale for 69 cents/can. I prefer the mylar paks as their use by date is usually a year or two past the cans, but the cans were acceptable to restock the pantry fast so I snagged a dozen. Sugar for $1.19/4# limit 2, Smoky-Links and store brand Ritz style crackers free with a mailed coupon from the store, $1 for 16 oz Oscar Meyer bacon ditto. Cream cheese 69 cents x 2, shredded cheese 8oz $1.19 x 3, frozen veggies for 79 cents/16 oz x 5. I'm going to use some of the bacon, cream cheese, and shredded cheese as part of the ingredients to make a cheese ball to be served with the a tube of the free crackers to take to an event I'm going to next Thursday :)

Well, I've probably lollygagged on the computer long enough, and would like to knock a few things off that to-do list, so I'd best get up and get at it.

Wishing all you folks a safe and happy weekend....
 
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