Healthy BBQ Bean soup!

Bean Soup
3 c. beans (one kind of bean, or a mixture of several types of beans, peas and lentils.)
7 c. water
1/2-1 c. molasses
1/4-1/2 c. balsamic or apple cider vinegar
1 1/2-2 T. salt
3-4 bell peppers, red, yellow and orange look best
2-3 C green beans sliced

Cook beans, water, molasses, vinegar and salt in a crock pot on high for 6 hours. Add peppers, green beans. Warm thoroughly. Serve. Nice with shredded cheese, sour cream, chips, or bread.

Courtesy of Mom.

Raw Foods

Blog about Whole Raw Foods.

http://wholerawfoodnow.com/

Yay for nutrition!

(Courtesy of Sherie)

Simple 72-Hour Kit and 1 Year Food Supply

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Preparedness is common sense. There are two types of emergency preparedness: 1) Short-term evacuation
with a possible no return (wildfire, chemical spill, flood, weather,) 2) Long-term sustaining of needs 1-2 yrs. (job loss, economic difficulty, strikes, large disasters, famine.)
-------------------------------------
72 hour emergency evacuation plan  (See Red Cross and FEMA web sites)
Important family and legal documents like insurance info, identification, bank acct, immunizations, SS #, cash/
traveler's checks—in waterproof, portable container (take documents you need if you cannot return)
Prescriptions/glasses/infant formula/diapers/feminine supplies/personal hygiene
Maps/family emergency contact phone numbers/books/games/activities
Water 1 gal/person/3-4 days (can bleach/filter, but don’t depend completely on other sources)
Household chlorine bleach (do not use scent/color safe/added cleaners bleach) and medicine dropper 9:1 water: bleach disinfect. 16 drops/gal. purify water or ½ t./5 gal. clear, 1 t./5 g cloudy water. Good water filter.
No cook food 3-4 days/person (and pets) can opener, plate/bowl/cup/ utensils (small camp stove, optional)
Complete change of clothing, sturdy shoes (very warm if in cold areas)
Sleeping bag/person and/or extra bedding (enough to keep warm without heat)
Battery flash light, radio and extra batteries, matches, water proof container/lighter; whistle to signal help
First aid kit for injuries and family health issues, Moist towellettes, TP, garbage bags, plastic ties for sanitation
Duct tape/plastic/dust masks to shelter in place, home or away, opt
Wrenches/pliers to turn off utilities—know how (off in emergencies only: some only utilities co. can turn back on)
*Pre-plan emergency contacts/meeting locations both local and out of area incase family is separated
(work/school/church.) Keep gas ½ tank in car. Plan what you need to self-sustain 3-4 days with no electricity/heat/gas/food/water, and needed documents if unable to return. Every 6 months rotate food and resize children's clothing/diapers. Be prepared to leave in 5-10 minutes notice. Scan or send copies of special mementos/pictures to trusted family/friends in other areas so you don’t need to worry in an emergency. What you take should be easily portable. (Save money by grouping items, buy only needed things you don’t have.)

Minimal 1 year storage plan TOP PRIORITY before ALL other types of long-term food storage get:
Wheat, Beans, Salt, Water because it 1) stores 30+ yrs; 2) is least expensive; 3) contains all nutrients (sprout wheat periodically for certain vitamins), 4) can be eaten just soaked hrs in water if cooking is not available.
Once obtained, feel peace 30+ yrs! Famine insurance only: $254.50/30+yrs = $8.48/yr. Protect your family.

Wheat 300 lbs/person/year minimum, canned at cannery costs
$180/person
$15.00/mo
Beans 60 lbs/person/year minimum, canned at cannery costs
$ 55/person
$ 4.58/mo
Salt 5 lbs/person/year, purchased bulk
$ 2/person
$ .25/mo
Water 14 gal/person (abt $1.25/gal buy containers, or reuse bottles free ) $17.50/person $ 1.46/mo
To acquire a yr supply for 1 person within 1 yr (1/2013 prices):
$254.50/person $21.21/mo
These amounts supply 1-2 cupcake portions/day/person/1 year—alive, but not much food. Once you have the above amounts, double them. Good water filters or bleach (non-fragrant/non-additives) is also recommended.

Don’t go into debt, be systematic, prioritize, make sacrifices, save and buy. Protect your investment: Food
needs insect, rodent, & moisture protection. Store as dry & cool as possible, sealed with an oxygen absorber or dry ice treatment. (Stored properly—wheat, salt, sugar store forever. Beans, white rice store 30+ yrs. Unused basics can be passed to next generation.) Prepare for all utilities to be out--warm clothes, bedding, sleeping bags, fuel, heat sources, etc. Once wheat, beans and salt is stored, one can add/person 60-120 lbs sugar/jam/honey, 37-74 lbs dry milk, 20-40 lbs fats/oil/butter, garden needs, and daily foods like canned or dried fruit, vegetables, meats, spices, candy. (These items should be rotated every 2-10 yrs.) Prepare for hygiene needs: TP, feminine supplies, diapers, soaps, tooth brushes/paste/floss, medicine. Think of what you need to independently manage 1-2 years, with no other food/utilities/supplies/fuel. (One yr supply/person fits under a queen bed, in the space of a washer/dryer, along a wall, or one can even walk on a layer of #10 can food cases, if necessary.) Water: store in barrels with a little siphon pump, and/or portable containers like 5 gal. water coolers or empty canning jars. Make sure storage containers are food grade and designed to last (some plastic is designed to deteriorate—like milk containers), See twoyearpreparednessplan.blogspot.com, or providentliving.org. We have been told that food storage is as essential to our day as getting on the ark in Noah’s day. ..

Set goals. Move forward. Become prepared.


(Courtesy of Mom)

Sherie's Pear Lemon Green Drink--my new favorite!

I have been branching out lately, trying new green drink options since I'm drinking a minimum of a quart of green drinks a day. I stumbled on a recipe at a smoothie shop but didn't love it--the idea sounded good though so I went home, played with it and made some changes. We're moving soon so I pulled out the individual serving coconut water and threw one in. I tossed in chia seeds because they're AMAZING, I used Doterra Essential Lemon instead of fresh lemon juice because of the concentrated power, and I omitted the apple because I don't like the texture in green drinks. Voila, I my new favorite green drink! This one is a great powerhouse greendrink for several reasons:

All raw to keep ph low and bodies happy and healthy

Uses Doterra Lemon essential oil (don't use another brand, Doterra is the only one that can be taken internally) to help strengthen the liver and cleanse it of toxins

Lots of spinach for iron

Chia seeds for Omega3s and LOTS more benefits

Coconut water for electrolyte boost


Sherie's Pear Lemon Green Drink

6 cups lightly packed spinach
1 pear
1 banana
1/4 cup chia seeds (that is an estimate...I just dump)
1-2 dates (remember to take out the seeds)
12 oz coconut water
5-8 drops of Doterra Lemon essential oil

Blend and enjoy!

Note: use a frozen banana/pear and either refrigerate or freeze the coconut water if you want it to be a cool smoothie (during the winter I prefer my green drinks room temperature because I freeze. That's one of the great things about this green drink--it's actually REALLY good at room temperature!! Yey!)