FOOD-4-LESS
“YOOOOU, USE YOUR FOOD STORAGE?”
Yes, I really use my food storage and it saves me money EVERY SINGLE WEEK! For example, last week I picked up a Costco roasted chicken ($5.99?) and served it with…something…and something else. I don’t remember. (Dang…where was I headed with this?)
Oh yea! The next day I put the whole leftover chicken, bones and all, in my crock-pot, covered it with water, and set the temperature on high heat. After 3 or 4 hours of gentle boiling, I drained all the broth, returned it to the crock-pot, and separated the juicy chicken pieces from the muck and bones. Then I added about 2 cups of diced carrots and 2 cups of diced celery to the broth and set the heat on low. A couple hours later, when the vegetables were just starting to get tender, I threw in about one and a half cups of dry macaroni from my long-term storage, a few shakes of dried parsley flakes, and a little salt and pepper. As soon as the macaroni was cooked I stirred in 1 cup of dry powdered milk so that the soup would be extra creamy and fresh tasting.
Because the soup took so little effort and time to prepare, aaaaand I happen to have way too much white flour on hand, I experimented with a new bread recipe and was able to serve a simple supper of hot chicken soup and freshly baked bread. http://www.mormonchic.com/recipe/recipebox/pages/bread_yeast.asp
All in all, there was no cost to this meal that easily served my family three times. The chicken was leftover from the night before and the fresh vegetables were leftover from who knows when. The ingredients that came from my food storage were the white flour, oil, honey, salt, you know–for the bread, and the macaroni, powdered milk, and spices for the soup. That seems free because I didn’t have to spend fresh money.
So, eating food storage doesn’t have to be weird! In fact, nothing could be more normal than homemade chicken soup and fresh bread. And I like knowing that I can prepare a satisfying meal from the supplies in my home. Even if I didn’t have the leftover roasted chicken and fresh vegetables I could have made a similar soup using my dehydrated carrots, onions, and canned chicken chunks. No, it wouldn’t be exactly the same, but it would be familiar and something I know my family could enjoy, especially if there wasn’t another option.
Using my food storage right now means I’m also getting a tiny bit better at the whole homemaking gig. I’m still not a fantastic cook but I know how to use the food we’ve got stored and I’m really enjoying the financial advantages that always come from provident living. If you haven’t tried this, just set a goal to cook one dish that uses either wheat, rice, beans, pasta, or potatoes in combination with normal, everyday, ingredients from the grocery store. If you need a little help with finding a recipe you can check out the recipe page on this website for ideas that will get you rolling. I think you’ll discover that using your food storage really isn’t so scary after all! Like I always say, if I can do this, anyone can do it. Just ask my friends.
Tags: eating our food storage, learning to use what we have on hand, provident living, simple servings that save
March 13th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I for one LOVE the meals and such that you make with your food storage. We very much enjoyed the sloppy joe dinner that you served to our family a few nights ago and YES YOU ARE a wonderful cook and even more so that you can put together a very nice dinner using your food storage! Personally, I think even a better cook than most because you CAN put something together so nice from your food storage and not have to make a special trip to the store to “impress” your guests with some “tarp and total silence” meal. Keep on cook’n!
March 13th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
That’s funny. You make me laugh. Or maybe you just want more sloppy joes. I tried to share that very recipe with EVERYONE at the Orem Costco today. I hope they’ll try it!!! Thanks Kris
March 14th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Awesome! The more I read here, the less weird I feel.
I’m actually surprised sometimes by how many people are put off by a pantry. I grew up semi-rural and we always canned/froze/dried food that we grew, so it seems likea no-brainer to me.
I really love your blog!
March 14th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Very cool Laura. I wasn’t raised semi-rural but my mom had the brains to set a good example in the “canned/froze/dried” way. I wish I would have learned much more from her. She knew about the life sustaining skills and we were blessed because of her good efforts. Wait and see, with your experience and talents you’ll probably be the new rock star.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Ta-da!! I made WHITE bread last night and it was very wonderful. Leon checked my forhead to see if I had a fever or was sick or something because I NEVER make white bread. I make white rolls and french bread but never just white bread. The recipe was easy and it took only as long as my whole wheat, that’s why I tried it. Even my kids were in shock but we sat and ate an entire loaf fresh from the oven. Now it’s time to share a loaf with someone in the neighborhood.
March 21st, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Your soup looks delicious. I’m craving some home-made chicken soup now. I have to share….I just moved to Maryland, and moved from a house in UT with a basement and garage, to a townhouse, with NO storage. I am unpacking my millions of boxes… and I am now trying to cram a basement’s worth of food into a kitchen. I must say I am proud to have my buckets of flour, rice and wheat on display on a plastic put-it together yourself shelving in my kitchen.
I also filled precious kitchen cabinet space with LOTS of glass mason jars in anticipation of continuing to bottle this year. I think I took my storage space in my tiny house for granted! But…I’m hoping I have my priorities straight.