Emergency Preparedness Guide - Great Grains

We’ve taken some time to discuss wheat and beans, but we certainly couldn’t continue our preparedness journey without discussing some other great grains for our food storage pantry.

Did you know that cereal grains provide more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop? They can add texture and variety and in their whole form, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein.

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In a Hurry Chicken Curry

Do you have a preparedness or food storage experience, tip, recipe, product review, etc.? Become a guest blogger on Preparedness Pantry and earn a $20 Emergency Essentials gift card! Click here for details.

In a Hurry Chicken Curry (submitted by Crystal from Utah)

Do you have a borderline obsession with cooking in your crock pot? Me too. We eat literally about five meals a week prepared at 10:00 am when half my monsters (I love them oh so much) are taking a nap. When cranky time (5:00 pm) comes around I can attend to their every need instead of slaving over a hot stove.

While searching for things to make that did not resemble soup or stew in any way, I came up with this dish. My "In a Hurry Chicken Curry" is fast, simple, and it will spice up eating out of the storage pantry... promise.

Ingredients:

6 cups Provident Pantry freeze-dried white chicken
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup Provident Pantry freeze-dried diced pineapple
2 tablespoons- 1/4 cup yellow curry powder
Chopped green onions or bamboo shoots optional

Directions:

Throw all the ingredients in your crock pot, give it a good stir and set it on low for 4-6 hours.

Serve it over white rice while you imagine you are in Ko Samui. Funny enough I actually went to Ko Samui once, and didn't eat curry my entire week stay. What WAS I thinking???? Enjoy!

--Crystal, UTAH

Water Contamination and Safety

When I think about events that prevent us from having clean and safe water in an emergency, the scenarios that generally cross my mind are floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Recently I came across a story about a city in Utah that experienced a water emergency. Interestingly enough, it wasn't related to one of the natural disasters listed above. The drinking water in the northern half of the city mysteriously became contaminated with campylobacter bacteria. Campylobacter causes unpleasant flu-like symptoms.

In response to this contamination, the city asked residents to boil all water for a minimum of 1 minute or use bottled water. They eventually chlorinated the water supply and lifted the boil order (they are still investigating the cause). The entire northern half of the city was involved, including businesses and two schools.

It struck me that there are many situations that could cause a water emergency besides natural disasters. Are you prepared for such a possibility? Do you have water stored? Do you have means to clean and purify your water?

We have a short quiz on water storage, filtration and purification on our website. You can find out how much you know about water storage and how prepared you are. Just click on the button below to take this fun and informative quiz. Remember that "Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy" (Max Mayfield, former Director National Hurricane Center).

Click on button to take the quiz!

Free Gift Card Giveaways!

We would like to highlight 2 giveaways that are currently running on our blog. You have the opportunity to receive one Emergency Essentials® gift card for $10 and one (or more) $20 gift card(s) by "entering" each giveaway. See below for details.

Add Our Button to Your Blog or Website and Win!

If you haven't already done so, simply add one of our Preparedness Pantry blog buttons to your blog or website and "win" a free $10 Emergency Essentials® gift card! Please note that only one entry can be accepted per household over the lifetime of your blog or website. Click here for giveaway details.

Guest Blog Post Giveaway

Do you have a preparedness or food storage experience, tip, recipe, product review, etc.? Become a guest blogger on Preparedness Pantry and earn a $20 Emergency Essentials® gift card! You can earn a gift card for each post that we publish, so enter as many times as you want. Click here for giveaway details.

We would like to thank everyone who has already entered these giveaways. Remember that you can enter the Guest Blog Post Giveaway as many times as you want, so keep those guest blog posts coming. You never know when we will choose one for publication!

Spelt Blueberry Muffins

Spelt is a species of wheat, a grain with a deep nutlike flavor that is very similar to hard red wheat. It is planted in the fall and harvested in the summer. The seed resembles hard red wheat, although it is a bit longer and more pointed. Spelt, just like wheat, is a good source of protein, iron, potassium and B vitamins.

Left: Spelt Berries, Right: Spelt Flour

Cooking with spelt is very similar to wheat. You can crack, grind or cook the spelt berry. You can make bread, waffles, pancakes, hot cereal, cake, muffins, cookies, crackers, pasta and more. There are some variations in the recipes because spelt doesn't require as much water and doesn't need to rise as high as wheat. Enjoy!

Spelt Blueberry Muffins

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp butter powder
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup orange drink mix or juice
1/3 cup dehydrated applesauce (rehydrated)
3 Tbsp whole egg powder
2 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup water
2 1/2 cups spelt flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups freeze-dried blueberries (rehydrated)

Ready for baking

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375° F
2. Combine butter powder, sugar, orange drink mix, applesauce, whole egg powder, vanilla and water in a bowl. Mix well.
3. Combine spelt flour, baking powder and salt in a different bowl.
4. Add dry ingredients to liquid ingredients and mix gently.
5. Add blueberries (rehydrated) to batter and mix gently.
6. Bake in lightly greased muffin pans for about 25-30 minutes.
7. Makes about 12 medium sized muffins.

Just out of the oven...

Tornadoes in the News

According to the Associated Press (updated May 11, 2010), "Violent storms that tore through the southern Plains killed five people and injured dozens more, leaving behind flattened homes, toppled semitrailers and downed power lines. Several tornadoes were reported in Oklahoma and Kansas on Monday as the storms moved through the area, dumping hail as big as baseballs and leaving tens of thousands of people without power."

It is always good to review your supplies and ask yourself: Am I prepared if a tornado hits my region? How about a flood, hurricane or other natural disaster? We recently published a post about Tornado Preparedness. Click here to find out how you can prepare yourself and loved ones for this type of natural disaster.

Here is an eye opening comment that was recently shared about tornadoes: "If you think a tornado won't hit your area, think again! About 10 years ago, while living in New Haven, Connecticut (not a place you'd expect to get a tornado), a severe thunderstorm came up. It got progressively worse. At one point the thunder sounded like a freight train. It was then that I remember someone telling me that this is the sound you hear as a tornado approaches. Sure enough, I looked out the window and you could see it. The tornado ran a path of about a mile long only 1/2 mile from where I was. It completely destroyed about a dozen houses and hundreds of trees."

These tragic experiences are valuable learning tools to help us prepare for the future by learning from the past.

Freeze-Dried Mozzarella Cheese

Have you ever tried our shredded Freeze-Dried Mozzarella Cheese? It really does melt after it has been rehydrated! Having some on hand allows you to make dozens of your favorite meals straight from storage.

A few recent customers have left the following comments about this cheese:

"I was skeptical about this product so I ordered one can. I just can't do without cheese so I was very hopeful. I was amazed at how well the cheese rehydrated. It really does melt when heated! As long as you make sure you drain all the water out of it after rehydrating, it performs just like regular cheese. I liked it so much I bought three more cans!!!" --Carrie, Virginia

"I am completely amazed at this cheese! I rehydrated it and put it on my homemade pizza and was thrilled to see it melt just as if it was freshly grated. Supper yummy too!" --Brooki, California

"Just a quick note to tell you how much I love your Mozzarella Cheese. It melts, it browns, it's delicious. I've made several pizzas with the mozzarella cheese and LOVE IT!" --Christine, Idaho

Emergency Preparedness Guide - Spillin' the Beans

If you don't know beans about beans, read on for some great information and new ideas!

Beans belong to a group of foods referred to as "legumes." This food group includes peas, lentils, and peanuts in addition to the beans with which most of us are familiar. Next to cereal grains, the legume family contributes the most substantially towards feeding the people of the world.

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Flood Preparedness

The recent flooding in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky caused me to wonder if we are all prepared for this type of natural disaster. So far, 22 people have lost their lives. According to FEMA, "Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states...Every state is at risk from this hazard."

What Should I Do Before A Flood?

How to Plan

Nobody can stop a flood. But if you are faced with one, there are actions you can take to protect your family and keep your property losses to a minimum. The most important thing is to make sure your family is safe.

Before a Flood

• Keep a battery-powered radio tuned to a local station, and follow emergency instructions.
• If the waters start to rise inside your house before you have evacuated, retreat to the second floor, the attic, and if necessary, the roof. Take dry clothing, a flashlight and a portable radio with you. Then, wait for help. Don't try to swim to safety; wait for rescuers to come to you.

Kaito Voyager

Buy Flood Insurance

• One of the most important things that you can do to financially protect your home and family before a flood is to purchase a flood insurance policy.
• You can obtain one through your insurance company or agent. Flood insurance is guaranteed through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Your homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage.
• Don't wait until a flood is coming to purchase your policy. It normally takes 30 days after purchase for a flood insurance policy to go into effect.

If time permits, here are other steps that you can take before the flood waters come

• Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if evacuation appears necessary.
• Move valuables such as photos, papers, anything irreplaceable, and needed clothing to upper floors or higher elevations.
• Fill bathtubs, sinks and plastic soda bottles with clean water. If time permits, sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach. Rinse and then fill with clean water.
• If time permits, bring outdoor possessions such as lawn furniture, grills and trash cans inside, or tie them down securely.

What Should I Do During a Flood?

Once The Flood Arrives

• Do not drive through a flooded area. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. More people drown in their cars than anywhere else.
• Do not walk through flooded areas. As little as six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet.
• Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution is another major source of deaths in floods. Electric current passes easily through water.
• Look out for animals - especially snakes. Animals lose their homes in floods, too. They may seek shelter in yours.

What Should I Do After A Flood?

After The Flood

• If your home, apartment or business has suffered damage, call the insurance company or agent who handles your flood insurance policy right away to file a claim.
• Before entering a building, check for structural damage. Don't go in if there is any chance of the building collapsing.
• Upon entering the building, do not use matches, cigarette lighters or any other open flames, since gas may be trapped inside. Instead, use a flashlight or a lightstick to light your way.
• Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
• Flood waters can pick up sewage and chemicals from roads, farms and factories.

8-12 Hour Lightsticks

If your home has been flooded, protect your family's health by cleaning up your house right away. Throw out foods and medicines that may have come into contact with flood water.

• Until local authorities proclaim your water supply to be safe, boil water for drinking and food preparation vigorously for five minutes before using.
• Be careful walking around. After a flood, steps and floors are often slippery with mud and covered with debris, including nails and broken glass.
• Take steps to reduce your risk of future floods. Make sure to follow local building codes and ordinances when rebuilding, and use flood-resistant materials and techniques to protect yourself and your property from future flood damage.

Floods and flash floods occur within all 50 states and can be extremely dangerous. They are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters next to fire, so knowledge and preparation is extremely important and will help keep losses to a minimum.

Powdered Eggs Tip

Here is a recent tip to help you when mixing your Powdered Eggs:

"...these eggs require a lot of mixing to get rid of the lumps. Easy fix - put the powder and water in a screw-top plastic container and shake them. No lumps! And the shaking process traps some little air bubbles which makes the eggs even lighter. Bonus!"

Tim, Washington

Our Whole Egg Powder and Scrambled Egg Mix are on sale during the month of May. Click on the images below for more information: