Don’t forget to share what you were able to do this past week to have a deep pantry/food storage. Let’s encourage each other. And if you have a question feel free to ask or if you have the answer to a question feel free to answer. If you have a tip or idea you can share that also. As I said let’s make this a place where we can share and encourage others to get that deep pantry.
If you are having a hard time trying to afford filling a deep pantry, read my post on having a Deep Pantry on a tight budget.
Remember having a deep pantry isn’t just about having extra food on hand. It is also about having the means to survive in an emergency situation, having all the extra food isn’t going to do you much good if you can’t cook it when the power is out.
20 Cans of Soup / 20 Pounds Rice
20 cans of soup, get what your family will eat.( there is no point in having something that no one likes) Wal-Mart has soup for 1.00 to 1.68 a can depending on what you get. You can also can your own.
20 Pounds of Rice. Wal-Mart has 20 pounds of rice for 8.13. You can store in Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers in buckets. Or in buckets, I put a couple bay leaves in my buckets of rice to help keep out unwanted critters. I am able to store a lot of things in just buckets because they are stored where they stay frozen all winter, if you don’t get a good freeze then it is best to store things in mylar bags inside buckets.
How is the cooking from scratch coming along? Always be on the lookout for older cookbooks, they have a lot of really good from scratch recipes.
Are you finding any alternative lighting? Remember our ancestors went to bed when the sun went down and got up when the sun came up. If you are doing this you won’t have to use as much extra lighting. If you are putting back oil lamps be sure and have extra lamp oil or kerosene. You can also make candles from tallow, lard and vegetable oils, with all cotton mop strings for wicks.
Put back some more water. Store bought or containers that you fill yourself.
Add more money to your money stash. Even if a small amount it all adds up.
What did I get done this week?
I got the turkey cooked, and made broth from the carcass. I canned 20 pints of broth with a little turkey to use for rice, and soups. I got 3 quarts and 1 pint of plain broth canned, I had room for 3 more jars so I canned some water. Bought 20 pounds of rice, Bought carrots and green beans to use when I can dog food. 7 quarts pinto beans canned, 4 cheesecakes and 4 cream pies made and put in the freezer. I think that is about it for this week.
What were you able to get done this week?
Hope you have a great week.
I was able to put up 8 jars of strawberry jam and 6 jars cherry jam. Froze 2 cups of cherries for little hand pies sometime in the future. Cut/picked lemon thyme, regular thyme, lavender, anise hyssop, chamomile and winter savory for drying.
Made a few jars of mustard and canned them up.
Pulled some turnips for eating and in the next couple weeks plan on canning up chopped turnips and turnip greens in pints. Hubby loves them as a side to beans.
Eggs are coming in fast and furious so I’m freezing them. I package them according to what I use them for, like 9 eggs for egg casserole, etc. Makes it simpler for me when I go to the freezer in the Winter.
Was a lazy week, more rain – AGAIN!!!
Nina,
Sounds like you have been busy as usual :). I will be glad when it warms up here and I can start getting a few herbs and things. How do you make your mustard? I have made some in the past but it is always pretty spicy, which I like but Andy doesn’t care for very spicy. We had snow last week which was crazy, now we have tons of wind I really want it to get a little nicer out so I can get some work done.
Have a great day and Thank you for always commenting 🙂
Connie
Hi! I really like your blog! I’m learning so much and working on building a pantry that will be really useful in case of an emergency. In this post read a reference to “when you can dog food” and I was wondering if you could do a post on that. I worry more about having food for our dogs than I do for us because I want them to be taken care of should something happen. I’m reluctant to give them commercial canned food but would like to consider some I could make. Many thanks!
Jan,
Thanks, I will do a post on canning the dog food. I am hoping to get it canned this next week and as soon as I do I will do a post on it.
Having a deep pantry is a great thing to have, but we need to remember our animals. I think sometimes people overlook that.
Have a great day
Connie
Hi first time poster long time reader…love all your canning adventures ! I too am an avid cannier and i was wondering about cat food do you have a recipe for them as well? Illook forward to all your posts …have a wonderful week!
Gaila,
I haven’t canned cat food yet, but I do have a recipe. When I post the dog food recipe I will also post the cat food one.
Thanks for reading and have a great day,
Connie
Good Morning! I just followed a link to you from Jess’ Strangers & Pilgrims Monday Art of Home-making and I am enjoying my visit with you. :~)
I have home cooked dog food for my girls for years, but I have never canned it. What a great idea! I will look forward to your post on the subject.
Thank you from a new subscriber…
Kathryn
Kathryn,
Thanks for stopping by and for subscribing. Hope to be getting that post out soon.
Have a great day
Connie
Hi, canned water! Never thought about that. Does one do like all other canning? The peaches are ripening in my area and I’ve been canning everyday…first cling peaches, and now the yellow peaches and next will be the doughnut peaches (white). I love peaches. One does not know whether there will be a good next year so I do as much as I can afford. Today, I realized that I could get onions and carrots and make a broth or vegetables to put in soups and etc. DUH!
Joani,
You are so right about not knowing from year to year, I always try to can extra when I have it. I have seen some years where we don’t get hardly anything, and I am so glad I canned extra the previous year. On the canning water, I just throw in a jar or so when I have extra room ( water bath or pressure) all you are really doing is sealing the jars, I will even use used jar lids if they are not bent ( it isn’t a huge issue if they don’t seal you can always redo them since it is just water), I figure since I have to store my empty jars I might as well have something usable in them and you can never have to much water. Then when you need the jar you can use the water when you empty the jar:).
Have a great day
Connie