Egg Substitutions

For all you food storage people who are concerned about egg storage.....I found some substitutes that can be used in a pinch, or at anytime in case someone in your family has an allergy to eggs.



This was found at: http://allergies.about.com/cs/eggs/a/aa062899.htm (I have since not be able to locate it there, so here it is):



"Often times, you can skip the eggs in a recipe if it only calls for one or two. All you need to do is add a couple extra tablespoons of liquid to balance the moisture content of the product. There are several ways in which to substitute eggs in a recipe. For each egg, substitute one of the following:



As Binders

1/2 large mashed banana

1/4 cup apple sauce or pureed prunes

1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water

1 1/2 tablespoons water, 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, and 1 teaspoon baking powder

Combine one packet of unflavored gelatin with one cup boiling water - 3 tablespoons of this mixture equals one egg.

1 tablespoon apricot puree

1/4 cup of soft tofu

1/4 cup soy milk



As Leavening

2 tablespoons carbonated water and 2 teaspoons baking flour

1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 tablespoon vinegar (add vinegar separately at the end for rising)

Dissolve 1 teaspoon yeast in 1/4 cup warm water

1 heaping tablespoon of soy flour and one tablespoon water

1 tablespoon bean flour and 1 tablespoon oil

1 tablespoon arrowroot powder mixed with 3 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water

2 tablespoons gluten flour or unbleached white flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons corn oil, 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 2 tablespoons water



For Whipping

1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum with about 1/4 cup of water. Let stand. It thickens, and can be whipped like an egg white. "



I will share an experience of mine, and hopefully you won't make the same mistake. I was once concerned about having eggs to cook with in case of an emergency. Unless you have a coop of chickens out back, this isn't going to happen. (Eventually we got a coop of chickens out back, and occasionally share them with the local skunks, weasels, and badgers.) So I bought a #10 can of powdered eggs. I thought that perhaps I should practice using them, so I would know how when an emergency happened. So I opened the can and used a small amount. Truthfully, I cannot remember the outcome of the cooking. Primarily in my memory is the rest of the story. I carefully snapped on a plastic lid (like comes on coffee cans) and put the can on the bottom shelf in the back of my fridge, so it wouldn't spoil. I then proceeded to forget completely about this can. When I finally got around to remembering it, I opened it up, and, boy, did it smell bad!! So in the garbage it went. The lesson I learned was that it is better to use common things that you are familiar with for egg substitutes, and save the expense.

Until next time....

Beginning a 3-Month Food Storage

You want to begin storing food? Congratulations! Here's how to begin....

According to providentliving.org: build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet. One way to do this is to purchase a few extra items each week to build a one-week supply of food. Then you can gradually increase your supply until it is sufficient for three months. These items should be rotated regularly to avoid spoilage. Store some water that is safe to drink, and save some money, if only a few coins each week. Then over time, expand these initial efforts—as individual circumstances allow and where permitted—by storing a longer-term supply of basics such as grains, beans, and other staples.

I recently saw some videos on youtube by Wendy Dewitt, showing how to start a food storage program, deciding what to store, keeping an inventory, pressure canning meat, solar oven cooking, and vacuum sealing food in jars. Click here to see part 1. You can continue watching the other 8 segments from a list on the side menu. She is quite a motivational speaker. I really enjoyed it, and I hope you do also.

You will enjoy a peace that comes from being prepared when you have food storage. Remember when Nephi broke his bow? His brothers were angry with him for they did not have any food. And besides Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael murmuring exceedingly because of their sufferings and afflictions, Nephi says, "...and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God..." Lehi was a prophet of God. He had had visions and dreams and had seen angels, but when he got hungry, he murmured against God....a good example of how people can do uncharacteristic things when they are hungry.

Remember the counsel to not go into debt for food storage. I know if you have a budget and work to eliminate all the non-essential spending, you will be able to obtain your food storage.

Until later.....

How Do I Start A Garden?

In today’s blog I would like to talk about the importance of raising a garden. Planting a garden, even a small one, boosts our self-reliance. Considering the price of tomatoes and other produce in the stores, I’m all for saving a few bucks growing my own produce. Are you a college student or apartment dweller? Use containers for your garden. I remember my parents growing a garden when I was young. I decided I was never going to have a garden. :) My husband was also from a gardening family, much more so than mine. We started out our marriage in a small trailer in a trailer court with a tiny garden at the end of the trailer and some pumpkins that grew in front of the trailer, eventually trailing out onto the driveway. Each garden has been a learning experience. One valuable lesson I've learned is to make a yearly plan for the garden to rotate crops. I keep the plans and notes in a file that I refer to the next spring before I draw up the next plan.

I saw a great news story on CBS news about a family in Pasadena who turned their whole yard into a garden. See this link to see their amazing garden and video:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/09/eveningnews/main4932649.shtml

In my opinion, the very best site is “Growing a Garden” at providentliving.org:
http://www.providentliving.org/channel/0,11677,6637-1,00.html

I have spent a few hours researching websites, and the provident living site has the best information and best links. Please be sure to check out all the menu items. There are some links that will show plant hardiness (frost tolerance) and best planting times, square foot gardening, container gardening for those with limited garden space. Click on the “Links to Gardening Web Sites”. You will be amazed at the information there. Info is also available at your local extension office.

I promise that you’ll learn something new each year that you garden. If there’s ever a time we have to live on what we raise ourselves, wouldn’t you like to have some prior experience?

Until next time…..

Consider the Ant....

Hi, welcome to my blogspot.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Proverbs 6:6-9...
"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?"

Not that we are sluggards, but many of us are uninformed of things to do to help our families make it financially. In these times, we need to save where we can, raise what we can, cook from scratch what we can, learn how and commit to obtaining food storage, and in general be more prepared for what's to come.

I've been thinking about doing an e-mail newsletter to those interested, but...hey....instead you can come here and see what's new. I would love for you to send me your "frugal" ideas to share on this blog. ~ Heather