Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: January 15 ~ 21, 2017

[ReneeT]

Good Morning, All!! Hope this finds everyone having a good day

Well, our much warned about ice storm was mostly a non-event; few slick spots, etc... That worries me a bit because there were early school closings, trucks out spreading ice melt, etc... I'm afraid that the next time people will just shrug and go about their business - and then it will actually be a bad one...

One thing that made me smile during all the hoopla was a Facebook post by the Chief of Police in a small nearby town - it started out:
1. If you have to travel - don't.
2. If you have to travel and disregarded #1....
It continued on reminding folks to clear their windows, have a full tank of fuel, have emergency supplies in the vehicle, etc... but then post turned increasingly serious as it ended up several numbers down, reminding folks that if they chose to go out on the roads, they could end up hurting not only themselves, but also others who were out on the roads, plus law enforcement, paramedics/EMTs, tow drivers, etc... who would be required to respond in the event they had trouble. Good Facebook post

Today we are supposed to have another period of freezing rain during the morning hours, but it should be melted off around noon - I'm hoping it doesn't decide to wander through late as daughter is having a late birthday party for older grandson at the tumbling gym today and I would like to go.

No major plans for today other than the aforementioned party. I'll likely work a bit more on the puzzle, finish my book, do a bit of laundry, and I've got some cooked ground beef (leftover from the ground beef I bought to make the meatballs) that I need to use today; I'm thinking I'll put together a couple of small pans of enchiladas, bake one for supper and freeze the other one. I'm having major cravings for chicken biscuit stew, however, so it may be that both pans of enchiladas go in the freezer

Hubby is standing at the end of the kitchen counter with a hang dog expression on his face - I'm thinking it means he wants to use this computer before he heads upstairs to nap, so I reckon I'd better close and let him do so.

Take care all - have a wonderful week!

 

[ReneeT]

Another weather fizzle - no freezing rain, so I was able to go to grandson's party. Came home with leftover cake I popped into CVS while I was in town and the Boost deal is still on - spend $25; get $10 ECB; limit 3 this week - AND anything over $25 that you spend in one transaction carries over! I picked up 4 - 6 pks @ $7.99 each = $31.96
Used:
4 - $3/1 coupons
1 - $10 ECB from last week's Boost deal
1 - $1 ECB from buying milk last week
1 - $2/2 Boost coupons that printed out when I scanned my card
1 - $6/$30 scanner coupon ditto
Total: $31
Paid $1.19 including tax; got back a $10 ECB - AND have $6.96 toward the deal plus 4 more $3 coupons from my dear friend if I decide I want to do the deal again... What I've purchased in the past two weeks should get Hubby through 14 weeks - now to go hide it so he will drink the stuff that is in the pantry first

 

[BinWa]

Picked up some bags of Organic soil & extra trays to start planting my seeds.
Put my weekly $5.00 into the envelope.
Will be shopping and adding to the food stockpile later in the week.

 

[prudentwatcher]

I managed to get all the financial stuff finished last week. The brokerage account is set up and the first stocks were bought. The IRA transfer has been initiated and all paperwork taken care of. Feels good to get that done.

Not much on sale that was or is exciting. Trying to clear some older stuff out of the freezer and cook stuff up in the crockpot. Did but 4 multipacks of toilet paper last week.

Have a busy work and personal week ahead, so probably not a lot of prepping will get done.

 

[nomifyle]

This week on my declutter program is the pantry. The plan says to trim way down on pantry items, it would certainly be easier to manage my pantry if I did that. But I'm a prepper and I will always keep a full pantry as long as I have my right mind and control of my life.

My kitchen is looking great and I'm keeping it up.

Judy

 

[BinWa]

I managed to get all the financial stuff finished last week.

That is my plan for February. Everything financial.. tax appt., moving a 401k, setting up a will. Prepping goes beyond the pantry and bug-out-bag. January I hope to have all the inside prepping, planning & cleaning done (w/the exception of weekly prep additions) so I can focus on the financial in February.

 

[sssarawolf]

You all are doing so good. All we have been doing is shoveling snow, snow and more snow, plus taking care f grandgirl. We are off the rest of the week from that as school started back up. Supposed to be an ice storm in today.

We did manage to buy doubles of a few things last shopping time.

 

[moldy]

Worked the weekend and Monday; today I signed annual papers with FSA (farm stuff), got my glasses fixed (my new ones that DH accidentally grabbed while he stumbled and twisted the frames), and picked up a few things at DG and Safeway. Walmart was closed due to a power outage. When I pulled in the parking lot, I figured the very few cars were too good to be true!

Worked more on the retirement place - little bits at a time are making a huge difference. DD has her wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow (dental care is a really important prep), so I"ll stay home, but plan on doing some baking and organizing. Dad is not doing very well in rehab, and may end up in a nursing home. I've tried to push Mom to looking into ones here (they're 8 hours from us), but I don't want to push too hard.

 

[moldy]

Got my glasses fixed today (free), hit DG and Safeway for a few things. The manager at DG was begging me to load up on 25c Christmas items (including big cans of pumpkin). i bought some of the plastic canes with sixlets in them (will use in cookies, etc) and some candy canes, but that was it. She was even telling me "See, they have these cute things for canning jars!" She knows my weakness!!

DD has her wisdom teeth pulled tomorrow, so I"ll be staying home (and doing some baking and organizing). Dental care is a huge prep.

 

[kua]

Our ice started late Sunday night and all things cancelled on Monday and low and behold, they were cancelled today as well. DGD did go to town with some friends (let kids have a day off school because of bad weather and they want to head to the mall) but was home by 6. Tomorrow school busses on hard top roads only. DGD drives so it will be easy for us unless she hits some soft spots on the gravel roads and they are developing. If the semis going to the hog confinement a couple of miles north of us would use some other roads that would make us very happy.

I, too, go to the dentist tomorrow but for a crown. Then home to can up some pulled barbecue pork and to shorten two new pairs of pants for hubby. Worked in the pantry today to get some things jarred up. It was a good day.

 

[Old Gray Mare]

I have found a good sale of cane sugar by the bale. Can someone tell me if I seal it in Mylar bags with an O2 absorber will it harden into a brick in a few years?

 

[tech]

I have found a good sale of cane sugar by the bale. Can someone tell me if I seal it in Mylar bags with an O2 absorber will it harden into a brick in a few years?

I've seen posts where O2 absorbers are the one thing you don't use on sugar...chemical taste and will turn it into a brick...I've never done it, so I can't really say. We just keep it dark and dry and no issues - it may get hard, but not too bad.

I've seen sugar cane by the bale, but not cane sugar...must be a bunch!

 

[summerthyme]

I wouldn't use O2 absorbers with sugar. Just pack it into *good* mylar bags on a dry day, ant it should stay fine forever.

Summerthyme

 

[Illini Warrior]

I have found a good sale of cane sugar by the bale. Can someone tell me if I seal it in Mylar bags with an O2 absorber will it harden into a brick in a few years?

no need for mylar - air won't hurt pure sugar - don't waste your $$$$ .... just store into FOOD GRADE buckets (no recycled or paint buckets from Home Depot) - make sure to use locking lids ...

unless you have a really bad humidity problem in the intended storage area - no moisture desiccant should be necessary ....

just be aware - a fully loaded 5 gallon bucket is around 55 lbs ....

 

[moldy]

Well, neither the baking or organizing got done! DD is doing great, and went to a job interview this morning.

DH and I worked on the retirement place (little bits at a time are starting to show a lot!), and after painting I felt as high as a kite. NOT GOOD! Didn't enjoy that when i was younger, and certainly not now! Got out in the fresh air, came home, and loaded up calves to take to the sale barn. There are quite a few there - could mean good prices or really poor ones. Farming - it's almost like Vegas without the bright lights and naked people!

 

[ReneeT]

LOL!! How much paint did you sniff, Moldy....

 

[summerthyme]

no need for mylar - air won't hurt pure sugar - don't waste your $$$$ .... just store into FOOD GRADE buckets (no recycled or paint buckets from Home Depot) - make sure to use locking lids ...

unless you have a really bad humidity problem in the intended storage area - no moisture desiccant should be necessary ....

just be aware - a fully loaded 5 gallon bucket is around 55 lbs ....

I dunno... our cellar is *slightly * damp during times of heavy rains, but relative humidity generally runs @40-50%. I finally used up that last of 60# or so of rock hard sugar that was stored in thin 1 gallon mylar bags inside of #10 cans with plastic lids. Fortunately, it was fairly simple ( although messy and time-consuming) to "re-granulate" it but breaking it into chunks and rubbing it through a mesh sieve. But if it had been in 5 gallon pails, it would have been a bugger of a job.

Sugar and salt are hygroscopic... they attract and absorb moisture easily. It is their only drawback, as they otherwise store forever.

Also, I can fit exactly 25# of granulated white sugar in a 5 gallon pail.

Summerthyme

 

[Illini Warrior]

I dunno... our cellar is *slightly * damp during times of heavy rains, but relative humidity generally runs @40-50%. I finally used up that last of 60# or so of rock hard sugar that was stored in thin 1 gallon mylar bags inside of #10 cans with plastic lids. Fortunately, it was fairly simple ( although messy and time-consuming) to "re-granulate" it but breaking it into chunks and rubbing it through a mesh sieve. But if it had been in 5 gallon pails, it would have been a bugger of a job.

Sugar and salt are hygroscopic... they attract and absorb moisture easily. It is their only drawback, as they otherwise store forever.

Also, I can fit exactly 25# of granulated white sugar in a 5 gallon pail.

Summerthyme

I wouldn't store the sugar in the 4lb bags or salt in the paper bags either - they absorb & retain moisture - could eazily be source of contaminants ....

with your occasional moisture upsurge you should be adding desiccants packs - wouldn't hurt to have one top & bottom ....

 

[moldy]

Been a rough couple last days. DD got her wisdom teeth pulled and is doing fine, we sold calves and did OK for this market (horrible year, and we've had many suicides in the community), and I've had a lot of conversations about Dad. Essentially, he cannot go home because Mom cannot take care of him (he has dementia, poor balance and judgement due to strokes, and requires moderate to maximum assist for most daily activities from some one who is much younger than Mom). After talking to his caseworker (he is currently in rehab), my siblings, and mom, she decided that putting him in a skilled nursing facility (nursing home) is what's best. I offered to have them come and live with me, but Mom said no. She is of sound mind, we have always gotten along well (even when I was a teenager), so I will support and respect her decision. And most likely feel guilty, even though it's not my decision.

Anyhow..... today was awesome. DH and I went to the big city to go to habitat for humanity's restore for some items for the retirement place. First we hit a thrift store: $4 New Balance shoes for him, and $3 pair of jeans for me, along with several Farm Journal cookbooks. The first HFH was closed, but when we hit the second one.... whoo, doggies!! We spent $58 for a vanity cabinet and a one piece sink top with faucets, 3 step ladders, 7 buckets, some hay anchors, a milk crate, a book, some pewter, 2 3ring notebooks, some industrial style flooring (a small amount, but enough for the bathroom), a box of metal yard stakes/staples (I go thru a bunch of these putting down landscaping fabric, and they're not cheap), a couple collars, chew balls for the dog, and a brand new Pella skylight with the tags still on it. Score! Then off to the discount grocery, where I bought 22 lbs of mushrooms at $1/lb (they dehydrate great!), 10 pineapples for $1/each, and some other groceries.

We have friends coming over tomorrow, and they're bringing dinner. So excited for the break. And the savings!

 

[Old Gray Mare]

no need for mylar - air won't hurt pure sugar - don't waste your $$$$ .... just store into FOOD GRADE buckets (no recycled or paint buckets from Home Depot) - make sure to use locking lids ...

unless you have a really bad humidity problem in the intended storage area - no moisture desiccant should be necessary ....

just be aware - a fully loaded 5 gallon bucket is around 55 lbs ....

I tried something like that and now I have a solid brick of sugar in a glass jar. Will an apple half or slice of fresh bread cause it to soften like brown sugar?

 

[ReneeT]

Those were some great deals, Moldy!!

OGM, do you do any canning or freezing of fruits in syrup? If so, your best bet for your jar of sugar may be to guesstimate how much is in the jar, then slowly turn it to syrup by adding a measured amount of hot water to the jar slowly, dumping out the resulting syrup as it forms - figure 4 cups hot water to a quart jar; 8 if you want 2:1 syrup.

 

[Illini Warrior]

I tried something like that and now I have a solid brick of sugar in a glass jar. Will an apple half or slice of fresh bread cause it to soften like brown sugar?

tried what? clumping & hardening is from moisture - a desiccant wasn't the cause .... if moisture is getting into the container nothing will help - losing battle

 

[summerthyme]

No, you can't "soften" white sugar like you do with brown. Brown sugar hardens due to drying out... white sugar hardens because of absorbing moisture.

IW.... re-read what I posted. I *never * store anything in the paper bags. I dumped the sugar into lightweight (too light, obviously) mylar bags, and stored them inside #10 cans, with the plastic lids. Believe me, unless you live in a *very arid * climate, you are going to end up with a solid brick of either sugar or salt if you try to store them in plastic buckets alone.

Summerthyme

 

[Old Gray Mare]

Those were some great deals, Moldy!!

OGM, do you do any canning or freezing of fruits in syrup? If so, your best bet for your jar of sugar may be to guesstimate how much is in the jar, then slowly turn it to syrup by adding a measured amount of hot water to the jar slowly, dumping out the resulting syrup as it forms - figure 4 cups hot water to a quart jar; 8 if you want 2:1 syrup.

That might work. Jelly and jam making season is only a few months away.

 

[summerthyme]

OGM... if you only have one or two jars, it may end up being more trouble than it's worth. I've tried this with other 'caked in" rocks of material in solid form in jars, and it takes days and days... and many gallons of water... to finally get the jar empty.

Summerthyme

 

[Old Gray Mare]

OGM... if you only have one or two jars, it may end up being more trouble than it's worth. I've tried this with other 'caked in" rocks of material in solid form in jars, and it takes days and days... and many gallons of water... to finally get the jar empty.

Summerthyme

They are gallon jars. I hate to waste that much sugar. If they fit in the oven I may try putting the bottom of the jar in a water bath in the oven. Someone online suggested that for softening hardened white sugar. If they are not use able than so be it.