Something New!

Hello all -- we've decided to postpone meetings for a few months.  We're anxious to see what we can accomplish using the blog regularly.  If we can get you into the habit of checking in here for updates, tips and hints, we can get so much more information to you.  If you will post comments and questions, we can all be more efficient and care share and learn sitting at our own computers in the comfort of our own homes!

We want to collect ideas from you for our classes starting in January and gear up for those.  Plus we all have busy months just around the corner and will be able to use those 2nd Tuesdays to stay on top of things.

Let us know what you think --- we're anxious to hear from you.

Organization -- It just feels good

How organized is your pantry?  How organized do you want your pantry to be?  Check out the link provided in the side bar titled Peek into Other People's Pantries.  Wow!  It's fun, inspiring and motivating.  I organized my hall pantry and am in the middle of organizing my kitchen cupboard/pantry.  I'm hunting for the perfect storage containers and baskets. The search is on!
When I'm all done, I'll take pictures and then see if I can figure out how to post them here.  How about you?

Next Project:  Tackle the freezer!

So Organized!  So cute!

Take a look and be inspired.  Scroll down to Digiscrapital / My stock pictures:

http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114033&highlight=food+storage+pictures

We're BACK!

Summer has been keeping all of us busy, but now we're back and ready to inspire and be inspired. If you haven't taken the time to check out the sidebars (over on the right of this entry), please do so -- there is a wealth of information on these sites. You may find answers to questions you have right now. If you're like me, you find answers to questions you didn't have, but are glad to find out!

We've had a lot of requests for a hands-on canning demonstration. If you're interested and want to participate, post a response here and let me know. Please add any specifics you want to know about or do --- do you want to can fruit? can vegetables? meat? what about freezing any of those? We'll get it scheduled and we'll can something together. Also, if you have experience in these areas and are willing to help with the demonstration, please post here too. We want to share our knowledge with each other. We're finding that we all have something to share that benefits someone else in our group and that's exciting.

Don't forget tonight's meeting: Desi's home at 6:30pm.

Group Deal: Siphon and hose for 55 gallon water barrels (Thanks Stacy!)

Remember: If you have something you want to give away, bring it to the meeting -- great way to weed out and share with someone who may be looking for that particular item.

Also: If you know of a deal to be had -- share it with us, we'll post it here and send out an email.

THANKS EVERYONE!

Solar Cooking Seminar

Solar Cooking Essentials Seminar

When: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Time: 6:30-8:00PM
Where: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Monica Building - Cultural Hall - 851 Monica Street

Bring your spouses and friends!
No childcare available.
Samples will be provided.


Special Guest Speaker Paul Munsen of Sun Ovens International.

An increasing number of families have solar ovens on hand in the event of an emergency and have been pleasantly surprised by the improved taste of sun cooked foods and lifestyle advantages of cooking with the sun. We will learn how to harness the power of the sun to bake, boil, and steam foods. He will show how practical and easy it is to cook in a solar oven and discuss the many economic, health, and environmental benefits of cooking with the sun.

Learn how to never have to worry about burning dinner again. Discover how to use a solar oven to naturally dehydrate fruits & vegetables and enhance winter sprouting. Find out how to reduce your utility bills and the amount of fuel you need to store for emergency preparedness.

For more information please contact:
Sheri Van Patten 363-0760 olostdelight@yahoo.com

Did you know this??? ... YOU CAN FREEZE EGGS!!!

I just read this on a favorite recipe blog I read, Our best bites, and was so excited to tell you guys about this. I know that a lot of us have an extra freezer and this would be fantastic for your food storage! To read the whole post on eggs ... go here ... but I just copied the freezing part for you here.

Freezing Eggs
Once you've separated eggs you often only use either the whites or the yolks. Instead of tossing the unused portion, you can freeze them.
Egg whites freeze really well. Use an ice cube try and place one egg white in each portion. After they're frozen transfer to a plastic bag or other container and you can grab one white at at time for easy measuring. Or, you can freeze them all together in a container. Just be sure to mark the container with the number of egg whites that are contained in it.
Egg Yolks can get lumpy when frozen. To avoid this problem, add either 1/8 tsp salt or 1 1/2 tsp sugar (depending on whether you're going to make something sweet or something savory with them) to every 4 yolks. Stir gently and then freeze.
For both egg whites and egg yolks, if you freeze in bulk, just remember that about 1 T = one egg white or one egg yolk.

What do you want?

I have been trying to keep the blog updated in order to keep everyone informed and motivated about emergency preparedness, but
I am curious...

What do you guys want to learn more about?
Are there any tutorials you would be interested in?
Are you stuck on one particular part of your 72 hour kit?
Want more coupon/sales updates?
Anything?
Bueller?

Let me know and I will blog about it!

Until then I will leave you with this talk by Elder Robert D. Hales.

I especially love the quote:
"Is this benefit temporary or will it have eternal value and significance?"