Daily Preparedness

While living in Europe, we fell in love with the crusty, rustic breads available in French bakeries. Their rough textures, soft interiors and crusty exteriors are a delight that transforms any meal into a feast. Who cares what the main course is when there is a loaf of perfect bread on the table? And now, we can produce the same types of bread at home, utilizing the basics found in every provident pantry. Better still, the bread is SO simple to prepare that any six-year-old could make it. Okay, the child shouldn’t monkey with the oven, but every other step is truly easy and nearly mess free.

If the ease and final results weren’t enough, consider that the bread is fat-free, low sodium, super cheap and requires you to purchase only one item you may not own–a silicone baking sheet. (Check Wal-mart for a Wilton silicone sheet priced at about $5) You can also opt to use parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

How to begin? Find a food grade plastic container that holds about 5 quarts. It should have a lid, but the lid does NOT need to be air tight. You do NOT want to clamp the lid down, just cover the dough. A ‘cake saver’ type container will work as will an icing container from your local bakery. You will mix and store your dough in this container.

Basic Recipe: (Makes four 1-lb loaves)

3 cups lukewarm water (should just feel warm to you)

1 1/2 tablespoons granulated yeast (this is about 1.5 packets)

1 1/2 tablespoons Kosher or other coarse salt (if you use table salt, reduce to 1 tablespoon)

6 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour

Cornmeal for baking surface

Pour water into your container. Add yeast and salt, stirring to at least partially dissolve the yeast. Don’t worry if the yeast isn’t perfectly dissolved.

Measure your flour by gently scooping the measuring cup into your flour and then scraping the top of the cup with a knife. Add flour to liquid mixture and stir with a heavy spoon. You can opt to use a mixer or large capacity food processor with a dough hook, but I have found that a sturdy spoon does just fine and you don’t have another thing to clean up.

As you mix in flour, scrape down the sides of the container frequently and work all of the flour mixture into the liquid. This will take only a few minutes. You may need to ‘poke’ the center of your dough blob as you mix in order to get the liquid completely distributed. You will not be kneading the dough!

You are finished mixing when everything is uniform and you can’t see any dry spots. The dough will be wet and sticky looking.

Cover the dough with the lid–remember it should not be air tight! Let the dough sit for at least 2 hours at room temperature. If you need to leave it longer, don’t worry. I’ve let it sit on the counter as long as 4 or 5 hours and the bread was just fine!

If you want to bake bread at this point, you can. Or, you can simply put the container in the refrigerator and store for up to two weeks. Refrigerated dough is easier to handle than room temperature dough, but either temperature works fine. If you want to add a sour dough flavor & texture, simply use the same container repeatedly without washing between bread batches. The dough does ‘age’ as stored, producing a better, stronger flavor and slightly different texture.

Dough can also be frozen in 1 loaf sizes. Place dough in a plastic bag and freeze. To thaw, leave in refrigerator overnight and then continue on with instructions.

When you are ready to bake, cover a cookie sheet with the parchment paper or the silicone baking mat. Liberally cover the baking surface needed for the loaf of bread with corn meal. Use a serrated knife and hack off a piece of dough about the size of a large grapefruit. Again, this is not a precise science.

Gently form your glob of dough into a round mound. This should take about 30 to 60 seconds. You are NOT kneading the bread, simply rounding it. The top side of the dough will look fairly smooth while the bottom is likely to look ‘ragged’. This is just fine!

Place the dough on the prepared baking surface and allow to rise about 40 minutes. The loaf will not completely rise in this time. The rising will continue while it is baking. Again, I’ve left it sitting on the counter for over 90 minutes and the bread was fine. A bit fluffier than the shorter rising time, but still great. You do not need to cover the bread while it is rising.

Begin preheating your oven to 450F about 20 minutes before you are ready to bake. Place a broiler pan, cake pan or several loaf pans filled with water on a lower shelf of the oven.

After the 20 minute preheat, liberally coat the top side of your loaf with flour. Using a serrated knife and quick slashing motions, cut a 1/4 inch deep gash across the top of your loaf. You can get creative here and create stars, tic-tac-toe, or cross designs.

Place the prepared dough in the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until it is golden brown.

The hardest part? The bread really is best when allowed to cool completely on a wire rack.

I have purposefully messed up several steps of the recipe to see what would happen. For the most part, you really can’t mess this up! I’ve over-baked, under-baked (that is worse than over-baking), left lumps in the dough and badly shaped loaves. I’ve cut it hot–sometimes you just can’t resist it–and stored it in the open overnight. Overall, this is truly the simplest, best, cheapest bread you will ever produce.

The final product is better than any bread I have purchased in the U.S. and the price can’t be beat!

Once you master the basic recipe, you can start adding herbs, roasted garlic, cheese or a wide variety of other ingredients. You can experiment with shapes, double the recipe, reduce the recipe size and substitute part of the unbleached flour for wholewheat, oats, rye, etc.

Happy Baking!

P.S. One final note. Before beginning this bread experiment, I had never used a silicone baking mat. Now, I think every kitchen needs one. Your cookies will be perfect and the clean up is a breeze with these wonderful inventions. You really can’t burn anything on them that won’t come clean. Someone else cooked dinner at my house and literally caught the oven on fire with a volcanic strength over-run of marinade and sauce. There were flames in the oven and the smoke damage is still being cleaned up. The cookie sheet under the meat and the rack the meat was on went in the trash. The oven has been cleaned three or four times and yet ‘blobs’ still re-appear. The silicone baking mat? With a little bit of hot water and dish soap–good as new! Absolutely miraculous.

New Year’s Resolutions–easily made, quickly forgotten and fodder for guilt! Instead of feeling bad about yourself when April arrives and your resolutions are all but forgotten, set goals that will allow you to slowly but surely attain a more provident lifestyle. The changes need not be drastic or accomplished all at one time. Provident living is not a one-time event, but rather a mindset, a lifestyle, a commitment to viewing today in context of the years that lie ahead. No matter where you are on the Provident Living Spectrum, making consistent changes will brighten your tomorrows.

As you evaluate where you are, consider these dozen ideas:

1. Debt: If you are out of debt, stay out! If you are in debt, resolve to acquire NO further consumer debt and pay down your debt as quickly as possible. Tell yourself ‘No’ frequently until your debt balance is at zero. Buy used and apply the savings to your debt load. Put away the credit cards and pay cash. Do whatever you have to do to get out from under the slavery of debt.

2. Savings: Pay yourself each payday. Save whatever you can, wherever you can. Keep your savings in a secure, insured account. Teach your children to save and to be wise consumers.

3. Employment: Be certain that your resume is prepared and up-to-date. Improve your skills and be on the look-out for employment opportunities. If you are threatened with unemployment, begin your job search before you are laid off. Let everyone know that you are looking for employment!

4. Education: Be certain that your children understand the value of obtaining the best education possible. Teach them from middle school on that what they do in the six years after elementary school will affect their ability to be admitted to college and win scholarships. Help your teens find every scholarship opportunity possible. Teach your teens about the dangers of acquiring unnecessary student and credit card debt. If you need to return to school, seek grants, scholarships or employer-funded opportunities. Continually learn new skills that will help you live providently: gardening, canning, home repairs, computer skills, sewing, baking, cooking, etc. Be certain that every member of your family has the necessary life skills to enter the world prepared to be self-reliant.

5. Be a wise steward: Take care of what you own so that it will last and serve you well. The greatest ‘green’ thing you can do is to make what you have last as long as possible.

6. Prepare for ‘everyday’ emergencies: The largest percentage of ‘emergencies’ that we will face are the ‘everyday’ sorts–unexpected illness, injury, a flooded basement, etc. An orderly life and home makes it easier to deal with these types of events. Train your family to keep the home running smoothly. Have extras at home–extra cash, extra food, extra cleaning supplies. Know where your important papers and phone numbers are. Evaluate the most likely larger emergencies you might face and prepare with evacuation kits (72-hour kits or Bug Out Bags), emergency supplies such as first-aid kits, extra lighting, cooking, etc. ‘Prepare every needful thing…’

7. Store food and essential supplies: Even if you purchase and set aside a few canned goods each shopping trip, build a supply of food that you can rely on. Begin by purchasing ‘everyday’ foods until you have a 3-month supply. Store some water, extra hygience products, laundry soaps, etc. When you have accomplished your 3-month supply, slowly acquire long-term staples such as grains, sugar, salt and powdered milk.

8. Develop emotional resiliency: Learn to take the upheavals of life in stride emotionally (which is easier when you are living providently). Learn to appropriately deal with stress, anxiety, disappointment and develop a support structure that will assist you. Develop a greater faith and testimony of the eternal nature of your life so that the daily ups and downs are seen in the proper perspective. Learn to laugh. If you need professional help, seek it from a trained professional that shares your core values.

9. Build your spiritual muscles: Like physical muscles, spiritual muscle must be built over time. Do not wait until the tempest is raging to learn to seek Divine Guidance and Strength. Serve others and forget yourself as you lift another.

10. Practice Prevention: Prevent accidents whenever possible. Make your home and your car as safe as possible. Teach your children to behave appropriately and how to react to danger. Seek preventative medical care from competent professionals. Think before acting and research before leaping!

11. Plan ahead: Live today fully, but look towards the future. Plan economically, physically and mentally for events that you know will occur. Whether it is a birthday, Christmas or retirement, many of life’s events can be accurately predicted and planned for. Continually living in a state of ‘last-minutitis’ increases stress and nearly always results in frayed nerves, greater expenditures and wasted effort.

12. Practice happiness: Happy people are more likely to successfully navigate the world without relying on impulse buying, addictive substances or other self-destructive behaviors. Find joy in the simple things of life and make your home a haven from the cares of the world. If your home is a simple cave, make it the brightest, happiest, most laughter-filled cave imaginable.

Provident Living is not a drudgery or ‘doomsday’ way of looking at life. Rather, it is the best guarantee that you and those you love will be safe, secure, strong and happy no matter what life throws your way. Make 2010 a year in which you embrace and find joy in being not only self-reliant but able to reach out to others. In that, you will find the greatest of joy!

The costumes are put away, the jack-o-lanterns wilting and Thanksgiving is around the corner. It is time, once again, to consider the impending holiday season. This year the great majority of folks are wondering if reality is going to cause us all to turn into Scrooge! There is no need to fear being haunted by the ghosts of Christmas, no matter what your economic situation, if you but plan ahead, use a dose of creativity, think clearly and start NOW to wish those you care about a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate.

The first step is to BEGIN NOW–if you haven’t already. (You really smart people took our advice last year and may have a running head start on your holiday planning. Wahoo for you!!) For those of you that were a bit slower on the uptake, go back and read last year’s holiday missive first:

Warning: Holidays Ahead!!

NOW, we are ready to move forward to Post-Graduate Holiday Planning. Never willing to rest on our laurels, we are forging ahead to find even more creative way to be kindly, loving, generous and thoughtful — while maintaining our economic equilibrium– for the happy days ahead. Follow these easy tricks and earn your Masters of Generous Frugality:

1. WHAT YOU HAVE: First and foremost, do a solid inventory of what you have on hand. What supplies do you have that could be turned into gifts? Old jeans? Google how to make a tote bag or re-usable shopping bag utilizing these ’scraps’. Plain candles? Can you decorate them? Containers? Fill them up with a treat you make or buy for next to nothing. Plain paper or note cards? Turn them into Christmas cards. Write a Christmas letter and forget the card!

Need supplies to complete your project?  Michael’s and JoAnn’s will email you coupons nearly every week that give you 40 to 50% percent off your purchase.

2. COUPONING: Even those who do not regularly use coupons might want to reconsider for the holiday season. Expecting a lower than average holiday surge of shopping, companies right and left are offering up some fantastic savings on toys, games and gift ware. This week, games can be purchased for $1. Sit ‘n spin for $6.14. Many of these coupons are available online and several enterprising websites offer you not only the opportunity to print the coupons, but team the coupons up with store specific sales. These sites save you time and money! A few to check out are:

http://www.dealseekingmom.com/  This intrepid coupon and bargain shopper does a great job of keeping you up-to-date on current coupons and deals. If you browse the site a bit, you can learn how to get items for FREE and even get money back. Read up on how to play the Drugstore Game–she’s amazing (and that is a compliment coming from this veteran bargain shopper). Sign up for her email alerts and she will send you regular updates. I’ve tried her approach and it does work.

http://attentiontargetshoppers.blogspot.com/ Another great site that combines coupons with sales. I learned that you can ’stack’ coupons! You can use a Target coupon and a manufacturing coupon to often score free or nearly free items. Offers that combine coupons with purchases rewarded with a Target gift card are also highlighted. One listing today is for a free portrait sitting and 8×10 (or 2 5×7’s, wallets, etc) at a Target photo studio. Have a little child and grandparents? You have a great gift for free!! Ginger also points out other offers.

Follow some of the other couponing links on these sites and be amazed at the time and money these sites can save you!

3. FREEBIES: Using the sites listed above (and similar ones) you may be surprised at what you can get for free. Don’t forget other introductory offers, samples and ‘gift with purchase’ items. For instance, the Kodakgallery.com is giving away a MILLION $15 gift certificates. It is easy and they actually have gifts for $15. Shipping charges are super low.

Look for offers everywhere you shop. Today, I ordered 5 blouses and 3 pairs of pants on clearance (total of $35 with shipping) AND received a $30 gift with purchase–an item I had planned to buy for a family member.

Walmart.com provides regularly changing links to sign up to receive a variety of free samples, many of which are suitable for stocking stuffers or to fill that gift with purchase cosmetic bag. Give the filled bag to a traveling friend, relative or the college bound student. ‘Tween girls would also love such a gift!

Join freecycle.org and trade useful items with your community. Need jars to fill? Ask on freecycle. A glue gun? Ask on freecyle. Daily postings are emailed to you and the items offered are absolutely amazing.

3. GOT CHILDREN? If you have a young child and extended family that thinks your child is absolutely amazing (and of course they are right), you have low cost or free gifts at your fingertips. Print out low-cost or free (see Kodak Gallery listing above) photos of your child. Turn them into simple ornaments (get supplies for free or 50% off using coupons), frame them in repurposed frames or simply mail the photo with a loving letter of all you learned about parenting from the family member. Adhere photos to magnet strips to create instant refrigerator art: Keep all of those advertising magnets you get, apply double stick tape or permanent adhesive spray, attach the photo and trim around the child’s face.  What Grandparent wouldn’t love that? If your child is older, enlist them in designing and making frames or other gifts such as ‘raggedy reverse applique’ items. Old blue jeans can be turned into charming frames. Simply browse the internet for loads of free ideas and instructions.

4. FOOD STORAGE: Ever thought of food storage as a source for gift giving? Your storage can work holiday magic in multiple ways. First, cut your grocery bill this season by utilizing food you already have stored. If you have the basics stored, you should be able to produce baked goods to give as gifts. When I had four children in school and lived on a single income in a high cost area, I began baking a super simple French bread recipe for my children’s teachers and school staff. The hot bread was wrapped in simple brown kraft paper that I had on hand and tied up with raffia (that I had on hand).  A small gift card signed by the appropriate child was attached. The hot loaves were delivered over a two day period at the end of the school day and were very well received. Out of pocket expense? Zip! If you don’t want to bake, save some empty jars (or score free canning jars on freecycle) and fill with food storage ingredients for bake-it-yourself cookies, soups, granola or other mixes. Grab some powdered milk, cocoa, sugar and make hot chocolate mix. Package it up and place in a mug with a cute tag. Again, recipes are free online. (Note: Do NOT follow instructions for ‘canning’ cakes in jars. It is a recipe for botulism which is NOT a nice gift)

Have wheat or rice? Sew up a small fabric bag (recycle old clothing, sheets, etc. if you don’t have yards of fabric) and fill with wheat or rice. These bags are then heated in the microwave and provide soothing relief for sore muscles. The first batch I made disappeared when a bunch of house guests fell in love with them. (No, they didn’t steal them, but I couldn’t say no to their requests to take their new found best friend home.) A deluxe version would include a small case for the bag.

5. POST HALLOWEEN & ‘AUTUMN’ CLEARANCE: Scoop up clearance rack candy that isn’t wrapped in Halloween wrappers, solid color candles, baskets and simple wreath forms after the 31st. Also check for totes in Autumn colors, gold colored napkins, plates, containers & mugs as well as baking mixes. Many will be 90% the week after Halloween. Put some candy in a jar, container, mug, basket or even ziploc bags to share with co-workers, doctor offices, neighbors or anyone else you need a gift for. Don’t forget to save some for stockings. Take a plain candle and glue gun candy canes or twigs around the edge–you have a lovely ‘designer’ look for pennies. For a more elaborate gift, place candle in a basket with some cloth napkins, napkin rings or other hostess items. Children have too much Trick or Treat candy? Save some for gingerbread houses and other holiday decorating. Don’t forget to check your grocery and drug stores for clearance items!

6. GROCERY STORES. Always check their clearance racks for specialty gifts. I recently found cedar wraps, a perfect gift for my gourmet brother, marked down 90%. I’m still hunting the library book sale for a great cookbook to go with it. Next to the wraps were gorgeous napkin rings (see above) at 90% off!

7. MAKE IT A GAME. Is everyone on a tight budget? Admit it and make gift giving more about the thought than the expense. One of my brilliant daughter-in-laws came up with a game we participated in for several years. At Thanksgiving, we all drew names of other family members. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we had to find a gift for the person we drew that did not exceed $1 in cost. The gift had to be purchased at a dollar store, thrift store, used book store or yard sale. I was not allowed to purchase items on clearance racks–the family decided that was an unfair advantage.  ;( We exchanged the gifts on Christmas Eve and it was GREAT fun! Some of those $1 gifts required much, much more thought than simply running to the nearest store and buying whatever we thought the person wanted. One son found three books his person really wanted at a used book shop. Another son and daughter-in-law announced an upcoming grandchild utilizing a dollar store frame. The key is imagination and thoughtfulness.

8. EBATES, REBATES AND REWARDS. As you shop, get the most benefit from every dollar you spend. Sign up for sites such as ebates.com, that rebate a portion of purchases you make at participating merchants. Extra discounts are also available from many of these sites. If you utilize a credit card (which you pay off every month) that offers a cashback or other incentive, you have furthered your spending power. To top it all off, look for manufacturer’s rebates. Savvy shoppers can recoup a sizable portion of everything they spend. On the purchase noted in #3 above, I will receive a 4% rebate from ebates.com in addition to 4% from my credit card. 8% isn’t much on a $35 purchase, but those rebates do add up.

9. DIY. A handmade gift shows not only generosity but true thought as you give of yourself, your time and your talents. One of the most beautiful art bowls I have ever seen was a thank you gift given to a neighbor. The neighbor had cared for the children of a very cash-strapped friend. As a thank you gift, the dollar-poor but grateful woman cut strips of wool from several old, worn pieces of clothing and wove the richly colored strips of fabric into a beautiful bowl. The out-of-pocket expense was zero and yet a wonderful piece of art was created. No matter what your talents, sharing them with love is a gift of great worth. Teaching our children to cherish a handmade gift blesses them with a greater appreciation of the true meaning of gift-giving.

10. MAKE THE SIMPLE MEANINGFUL. Turning a simple, inexpensive item into something meaningful elevates the gift to a true expression of love. One Christmas, a friend of mine cut out simple wooden heart ornaments, stained them, added a ribbon and a small poem about following the star of Bethlehem. Though the ornament alone was lovely, the poem added great meaning to the gift. I have also seen inexpensive cookie cutters in significant shapes turned into an ornament with a piece of ribbon. Add a poem or quote and you have a thoughtful gift!

11. START A TRADITION. Traditions can build family unity, bring meaning to holidays and bind us through the generations. Begin a traditional gift that you give each year. As grandchildren appeared in my extended family, one sister began the tradition of giving each child a yearly Christmas ornament. Each year’s ornament was inexpensive, unique, labeled with the child’s name, the year and embellished in some way by my sister. The children entered adulthood with their own collection of ornaments. Another aunt I know gives each niece and nephew a book. Another sews simple pillowcases. Such a tradition allows you to plan ahead, keep spending under control and still remember family members and friends in a meaningful way.

12. FAMILY HEIRLOOMS AND HISTORY. If you are the keeper of family heirlooms, consider giving some as gifts to recipients that will appreciate them. My Mother has begun doing this recently, gifting beautiful items from our family history to grandchildren that will appreciate them. She is cautious that the recipient will treasure the item and keep it to be passed on to the next generation. If you have valuable family history, genealogy records or a compilation of family stories, consider copying these papers, placing in a binder and passing them on as gifts. If you are a grandparent or great-grandparent, your own life story would be a wonderful thing to write, copy and give as gifts. Gather family recipes and copy them for family members. Add small stories about the origin of the recipe or the person who submitted it.

13. THINK VINTAGE. ‘Vintage’ items are quite the rage in fashion and home decorating. Find interesting items in consignment shops, thrift stores, yard sales or your own belongings. Grandma’s mid-century costume jewelry may be just the thing for the fashion forward college student. Make sure the item is clean and suited to the recipient (which every thoughtful gift should be).

14. USED STUFF WITH MEANING. Thrift stores, consignment sales, freecycle and yard sales can yield more than a slightly stained shirt. Look for interesting mugs, plates that could hold cookies, tea cups that could be turned into a pin cushion, lovely old spoons for that hot chocolate mix, interesting old frames for those free photos you are going to print, scrapbooking papers for interesting wrapping, rubber stamps to decorate plain paper, vintage photos to be cut up and used to decorate a plain box, small pieces of unusual jewelry, out of print cookbooks, old kitchen utensils, bowls to go with soup mix from your food storage or baskets for holding a loaf of bread. Don’t be afraid to haggle over prices and look beyond the obvious use for an item.

15. SHARE A HOBBY. Do you have excess craft or hobby supplies? Enough to share? Consider putting together a small kit to share your hobby with a child, teen or another adult. Offer free lessons to go with the kit or find a book with simple instructions.

16. GROUP GIFTS PART ONE. The first type of group gift is when multiple people share the cost of one great item. My brother and I have done this on multiple occasions in order to give my Mother a gift we know she really wants, but is a bit out of our singular price range. Even if the price tag is low, a gift that requires a great deal of time could be shared between multiple family members. Family history, anthologies of creative writing, photo albums, remembrances and other such gifts can be given by a group of people and hold great meaning for the recipient. Perhaps each child and grandchild in a family could write an article or personal letter about a favorite grandparent. One family member can assemble the offerings into a notebook. This type of well-thought out and loving gift would certainly brighten the holidays of an elderly family member.

17. GROUP GIFTS PART TWO. Consider ‘family’ gifts instead of individual gifts. A game that the entire family can play, a movie or other item that all can share (and would want to enjoy) is a way to give a nice gift at a lower cost. Packaging can make the gift more interesting, such as a movie, a ‘theater sized’ box of candy and some microwave popcorn packaged in a popcorn box shows more thought than simply wrapping up a DVD.

18. SHIP EARLY, SHIP SMART. As you choose meaningful, budget-appropriate gifts, keep in mind any shipping needs. Keep items light weight and not over-sized. If the family gathers from far and wide for Thanksgiving at Mom’s house, have everyone’s Christmas gifts ready for them to transport home. Ship everything early and compare rates. FedEx often beats the post office and if you open an account at fedex.com, you receive a discount.

Whatever tactic you use to keep your holiday meaningful and budget-conscious, plan ahead, give sincere thought to the recipient and remember that the most meaningful gifts are those given from true, sincere love.

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Self-reliance can be accomplished by small steps taken on a regular basis. This week’s 10×100 Challenge Goals:

43. Add a first aid kit to your car pack.

44. Stick a set of fuses in your car pack.

45. Put a flashlight in your car pack. Package the batteries outside of the flashlight.

46. Add a flare to your car pack.

47. Add a can of Fix-a-flat to your car pack.

48. Check your spare tire & tire iron.

Note: I read an article by an infectious disease specialist who recommended that in addition to routine hand washing, have all members of your family wash their hands and gargle with either warm salt water or antiseptic mouth wash whenever they return home. Nasal passages can be cleaned with a neti pot or saline spray. These measures help to remove the viral agents from areas of our bodies where they grow. Gargling and saline spray can also be done mid-day while at work. The recommendations are logical and inexpensive!

Note: President Obama today (October 24) declared the H1N1 a ‘National Emergency’. It is too early to know how this declaration will affect our daily lives, but it would be wise to be fully prepared to be self-sufficient within your home and watch for news updates.

Epidemic, pandemic…the news throws the words around so often now that we may become immune to the reality of what these words mean and how they may affect us. What do we really need to know and what can we do to prepare ourselves?

First, we need to understand what the words mean.

An epidemic is the occurrence of more than expected number of cases of a disease within a community or population, within a given amount of time.

A pandemic is an epidemic spread out over a larger geographic area such as a state, country, nation or the world.

Not all epidemics or pandemics are deadly, but they can disrupt not only the lives of the ill, but society as a whole.

Epidemics are often, hopefully, prevented by administering vaccines. These vaccines are often developed to protect the population rather than just the individual. If a large enough portion of the population is vaccinated against a specific disease, the illness will not spread as quickly or virulently.

Some vaccines are given not for the benefit of the person receiving them, but for others around them. An example of this is the Rubella vaccine. Rubella is a highly contagious, non-serious disease common among children. However, if a pregnant woman contracts Rubella in the early stages of pregnancy, the fetus is likely to have severe and life-threatening defects. Thus, children are vaccinated not to protect them, but to protect unborn fetus’.  By doing so, epidemics of Rubella, which result in large numbers of babies born with serious birth defects, are prevented through mass vaccination.

Epidemics are a ‘fact of life’ in human history. Prior to the advent of international air travel, world-wide pandemics were less common but have occurred. The risks of a pandemic today are much higher, mainly due to the ease with which people travel around the world quickly. Where our predecessors took weeks to cross the ocean (during which time illness became apparent and ill individuals were refused entry), we now span the same distance in hours, with little or no screening for infectious diseases. A symptom-free, but contagious individual could easily board a flight in Europe, infect a large number of people on the airplane and hours later be in the U.S. The fellow passengers on the flight are most likely to disperse to any number of final destinations, carting their luggage and pathogens with them. The seeds of a pandemic are now sown.

Let’s imagine the reality of being caught in an epidemic or pandemic. What could we expect and how can we prepare? (Having lived through a several months-long epidemic, I will draw on my own experience and the research I have since done.)

Depending on the seriousness of the disease, an epidemic in its infancy may not be sufficiently reported. It may take time for cases to be reported to health authorities and the medical community may be slow to ‘connect the dots’. Let us examine several scenarios– a small scale epidemic, a regional epidemic and a true pandemic. How do you recognize each, how would your life be impacted and what can you do to prepare?

A SMALL SCALE EPIDEMIC

Scenario: Among a group that you belong to, a school, church, workplace, organization, etc., members become ill in fairly rapid succession. It may begin with one or two, but spreads among the membership. Each member goes to a different doctor, so no single doctor knows that others are infected with the same illness. Remember, an epidemic is an unusual number of cases of the same disease. In this scenario, we will assume that the illness is serious enough to require medical attention and some hospitalizations occur. You hear reports of a death from the illness.

What can you do as an organization?

1. Track outbreaks and should there seem to be an epidemic occurring, act quickly.

2. Survey members of your group to see how many are ill and what their symptoms are. If the symptoms are gastrointestinal and all occurred within a short period of time, check the calendar to see if a meal was shared. If so, you likely have an outbreak of food poisoning. In that case, let membership know and have them seek appropriate treatment. If the illness is NOT food related, continue on:

3. Cancel group meetings if you suspect an outbreak within your membership.

4. Notify all members of your group of the outbreak of the illness, including the symptoms and where to seek help.

5. Stop the delivery of meals, contact, etc. among the members within your organization.

6. Sanitize the structure you meet in. Utilize antiseptic cleaners, spray disinfectants, etc.

7. Reinstate meetings, etc. only after you are certain that the outbreak has stopped. Membership should be free from new cases for several days past the suspected incubation period of the disease.

8. When meetings are begun again, utilize appropriate infection control, such as emphasis on hand washing, no handshaking, asking anyone feeling ill to stay home, hand sanitizers available and an emphasis on cleanliness, especially with any form of food preparation.

9. Watch for signs of re-occurrence once meetings are reinstated. Reinstate meetings slowly, with groups of young children being the last to re-establish.

During the epidemic I lived through, the infection (encephalitis) was not confirmed by local health authorities until 8 deaths occurred. Our church, later confirmed to be a ‘cluster’ of infection, acted quicker than the local health authorities. The church leadership followed the above outlined steps and was credited with helping to stop the epidemic and save lives.

How would this scenario impact you and how can you prepare?

1. If the outbreak was within a school or daycare, you would need to have other plans for your children.

2. You would need to be self-sufficient if you rely on this organization for support in the case of an emergency.

3. If it were the workplace, you may find that you must work from home, take vacation time or do without a pay check for some period of time.

4. Think through the organizations you belong to and how they impact your life. If those organizations were removed today, what would you need to be prepared to do for yourself?

The Epidemic Spreads To The Community

Scenario: The illness that you believed was isolated to your organization, appears to be spreading among the community you live in. You hear that more and more people are becoming infected, deaths are reported and hospitals are overwhelmed with cases. Health officials recognize that this illness is highly contagious, serious and the cases are multiplying. Emergency rooms are over-crowded, health care workers are becoming infected, pharmacies are understaffed and overwhelmed, grocery store shelves are emptying, first responders are calling in sick, and community-based services (ie garbage, transportation, etc) are cut back.

How would this affect you?

1. Schools, libraries, gyms, churches and other gathering places may be closed.

2. Medical facilities will be stretched very thin. None life-threatening emergencies may be shuttled out of the emergency room.

3. Your daily routine significantly altered. Grocery store supplies may dwindle, pharmacies run short of meds, businesses closed due to high number of illnesses.

4. Picture what is open on Christmas Day and extend that out for weeks at a time.

5. Health departments may quarantine people. A quarantine order gives government authorities the right to restrict your movement. You may be quarantined to your home—you cannot leave and no one other than emergency personnel may enter.

What can you do?

1. Be prepared!

2. Take an inventory of what you have on hand. Can you remain self-sufficient in your home for weeks to months?

3. Keep prescription medications filled and try to accumulate extras.

4. Avoid large gatherings, tight quarters and anyone that is ill.

Scenario: A pandemic has occurred that has out-stripped medical facilities and other services in a very large geographic area. This is the ‘worst case’ scenario from a large-scale perspective. A localized epidemic can be assisted by bringing in supplies and personnel from an outlying area. In a true pandemic of serious illness, those secondary lines of defense may not be available. The consequences of a real pandemic of serious illness would be much like the aftermath of a large scale natural disaster.

1. Marshall law may be declared so that looting, etc. can be contained and local law enforcement can receive assistance from military units. Under marshall law, many daily civil liberties are suspended. Curfews may be enforced.

2. All government, civil, medical, banking, education and businesses will be affected and curtailed. The ATM may be out of cash. The gas station out of gas.

3. If the illness is deadly, even the ability to bury people will be overrun.

It is difficult to realistically project the reality of this type of pandemic without going into lengthy and morbid detail. If you want to gain some perspective, read about the realities of the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic or the aftermath of disasters such as Katrina or the Tsunamis.

What can you do?

1. Again, PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE!

Provident Living is truly a lifestyle that if lived fully will prepare you for any number of man-made, natural or germ-rendered life events. Being able to be self-sufficient within the walls of your own home is your best preparation. Taken one step at a time, this goal is not only reachable but will lead you to a greater degree of financial and emotional security.

Now is the time to evaluate where you stand in your progress toward self-sufficiency.

In recognition of National Preparedness Month here in the U.S. (the rest of the world is welcome to join), it is time for a challenge! You can do it! With just over 100 days left in 2009, it is time to buckle down, dedicate yourself and set aside just 10 minutes or less per day. Yes, in less than 10 minutes a day and nearly no money at all, you can improve your preparedness status by leaps and bounds.

The extra days in 2009 can be set aside for holidays, vacations or, even better, utilized to do a more-than-ten-minute job. However you use the days, use them well!

Ready? Set? Go! Here it is, the first installment of 100 things you can do in 10 minutes or less:

1. Program your cell phone phone book with the word ICE (stands for In Case of Emergency). Under that listing, include the name & phone numbers for the person you want to have contacted first in case of an emergency. First Responders and ER personnel know to check your cell phone for this listing.

2. Check your car’s glove compartment and be certain that you have a current registration, inspection receipt, insurance card and insurance contact information.

3. Write down all of your family’s prescription drugs, their RX number, refill date, name of medicine, instructions and the pharmacy phone number. Make a copy for your 72-hour kit.

4. Write out a card for each child’s car restraint seat. Include child’s name, your contact info, another relative’s contact information, child’s pediatrician and important medical history. Attach to the bottom or back right rear of the seat.

5. Schedule your yearly health maintenance check-ups such as mammograms, pap smears, physical exams and immunization review.

6. Place water leak alarms near washing machine, hot water heater and any other area likely to suffer a leak.

7. Wash the dryer lint trap under hot water until water runs freely.

8. Check the tire pressure and tread depth on your tires.

9. Clean out your medicine cabinet and dispose of out-dated medications.

10. Test your smoke detectors & change batteries as needed.

11. Set up a spot for your perpetual grocery list. Let your family know where it is!

12. Photocopy your credit cards & ID. Place copy in your “What If?” Notebook.

13. Check the outside dryer vent. Be certain that vent flaps open freely. Remove any visible lint.

14. Clean the inside of your car windshield. “Stuff” gathers on the inside of the windshield and can cause complete ‘white out’ when you are driving towards the sun.

15. Clean one pantry shelf. Move older food to the front.

16. Write down neighbor’s phone number, doctor’s phone numbers, family contact numbers and place inside a cabinet near the phone.

17. Add at least one long-term storage food to your grocery list. Consider rice, dry beans, sugar, oatmeal.

18. Check outside lights. Replace burned out bulbs.

19. Check your supply of flashlights. Do they work? Do you have batteries for them? One for each room of your house?

20. Clean the trash out of your car.

21. Cook a double entree and freeze the extra one.

22. Make a list of everyone you plan to purchase Christmas gifts for.

23. Pick up Christmas Cards at a discounter or dollar store before the inexpensive ones are sold out.

24. Replace filters in your HVAC system. Write the date you replaced it on the filter. Mark your calendar for the next change date.

25. See what Christmas gifts you may already have on hand. Plan which ones you are going to make.

26. Do a quick comparison of current prices for internet providers. Do you need to change?

27. Clean out one kitchen drawer.

28. Have little ones at home or due to visit? Check childproofing & poison control.

29. Check 401K & pension plan balances. Do you need to save more for retirement?

30. Purchase at least one item for long-term storage.

31. Treat sink & tub drains with baking soda and vinegar.

32. Check children’s toys. Throw out broken ones.

33. Set budget for holiday gift giving. Do you need to save some money?

34. Check nightlights. Do they illuminate areas that need light? Do they work?

35. Find a backpack, tote or other container that can store items in your car.

36. Add jumper cables to your car pack

37. Put some bottled water in your car pack.

38. Put some long-term food such as granola bars in your car pack.

39. Put several ’space’ blankets or wool blankets in your car pack.

40. Add some matches and a candle to your car pack. Pack candle in an empty vegetable can and cover top with aluminum foil.

41. Add an all-in-one screwdriver to your car pack.

42. Add an ‘emergency’ flag to your car pack. This can simply be a piece of bright orange or red fabric.

43. Add a first aid kit to your car pack.

44. Stick a set of fuses in your car pack.

45. Put a flashlight in your car pack. Package the batteries outside of the flashlight.

46. Add a flare to your car pack.

47. Add a can of Fix-a-flat to your car pack.

48. Check your spare tire & tire iron.

49. Check the fluid levels in your car.

50. Put some paper and a pen in your glove compartment.

51. Check your gutters to see if they are running well.

52. Look at your roof from across the street. Does it look solid?

53. Add your doctor’s voice & fax numbers to your cell phone directory.

54. Add a worthwhile item to your 72-hour kit.

55. Grab some 3×5 cards. Write out personal information for each person & add to 72-hour kit. Include out of state contacts, medical information, etc.

56. Check the caulk around the doors and windows of your home. Note which ones need repair.

57. Add some cash and quarters to your glove compartment. An empty prescription bottle or tube from mini-M&M’s work well.

58. Check outdoor walkways. Are they clear? Free from tripping hazards? Cracks?

59. Add one item to your food storage.

60. Gather up your candles and see if you have enough to provide some light for 7-days. Store some matches (more than you think you need) with the candles.

61. Refill BBQ propane tanks if you have them.

62. Clean one pantry shelf. Move older food to the front.

63. Clean out your refrigerator. Discard old food and mark food that needs to be eaten up.

64. Do you need to have your chimney cleaned?

65. Read about one way to cook food without power. Order or gather supplies you would need.

66. Program your pharmacy’s phone number into your cell phone.

67. Check your computer’s firewall and anti-virus strength.

68. Do a quick comparison of auto insurance rates and coverage.

69. Set aside ingredients for a ‘no time to cook’ dinner.

70. Add one item to your two week supply of food that you could eat without cooking.

71. Store some water.

72. Plan holiday meals. Watch for ingredients to go on sale. Don’t forget potluck dinners, treats for neighbors, etc.

73. Do you need to have your furnace checked?

74. Check appliances for frayed cords.

75. Do you have de-icer in your windshield washer fluid?

76. Ice scrapers in each car….unless you live where it never gets cold!

77. Clean out one pantry shelf. Discard out of date food. Move older food to the front.

78. Try a new recipe that utilizes at least two items from your long-term storage.

79. Check supply of over-the-counter medicines such as antihistamines, antidiarrheal, pain killers & anti-inflammatories.

80. Check the caulk around tubs, showers and toilets. Repair or replace as needed.

81. Check your credit cards? Current? Do you have too many?

82. Check your credit report for errors.

83. Be certain your are shredding documents with personal information such as insurance numbers, birthdates, account numbers, social security numbers.

84. Google your name to make sure someone is using it online or writing about you in an unfavorable way.

85. Buy or obtain a free (try freecycle) transistor am/fm radio.

86. Clean out one closet.

87. Add one item to your food storage.

88. Check your doors and windows for air leaks.

89. Make certain that shrubbery around your house does not obscure windows. (burglars love it when they can hide behind a bush while they break your window)

90. Make a place for end of year tax information.

91. Try a recipe utilizing one or two items from your long-term storage.

92. Check your cell phone contract. If out of contract, compare rates.

93. Add a small flashlight to your glove compartment.

94. Check cash supply at home. Be certain you have bills in $20 or less denominations

95. Mail holiday gifts early to avoid paying express shipping charges.

96. Do you need de-icer for walk ways and driveway?

97. Collect loose change and establish place to store it.

98. Add one item to your 2 week supply of foods you could eat without cooking.

99. Add one item to your 72-hour kit.

100. Cook a double entree and freeze the extra!

See, you can do this!!! It is inexpensive, fast and all things YOU can do with little time and money.

Don’t worry, we’ll remind you periodically. Now, get to it! And good luck.

Wahoo–you did it! You are back home with your car loaded with groceries that you have saved at least 20% (hoping closer to 30%) and it is time to store everything so that you maximize the potential waiting in those bags. Let’s get started.

Put the cold things away immediately. This includes meat that you are going to put in the freezer or cook up. Be certain that the raw meat does not contaminate surrounding food. Keep it in plastic grocery bags and on a low shelf of your frig.

If you have purchased dairy or meat products that are close to their expiration date, grab a sharpie and write the expiration date on the packaging in very LARGE letters. This will be a visual reminder to help you use the product before it is too late.

For non-cold items, put the newest purchases to the back of the shelves. Pull the older items to the front. This is the same system that grocery stores use.

Need to store small items such as chewing gum, muffin mixes, etc that can tend to get lost? Categorize them and store in inexpensive plastic shoe boxes. Empty plastic tubes from ‘Crystal Light’ type drinks also are wonderful for storing things like cough drops, small amounts of pasta or mints. Write on the tube what is inside and your pantry will be easy to use as well as save you money.

Store your re-usable bags and dispose of plastic bags that have held raw meat products. It is safer to pitch these than to risk cross-contamination. One exception might be to use them when walking the dog, IF you can keep them separate from bags you might utilize elsewhere. For plastic bags that haven’t held raw meat, use them to line small trash cans, as a waste receptacle on your counter when you are cleaning vegetables, sort laundry….there are literally 100’s of uses for these bags. If you want to organize them, check out the plastic bag holder sold by IKEA that mounts on the wall. It is inexpensive, holds a ton of bags, holds up well and you can get the bags back out easily.

Wash down the counter that you placed the grocery bags on with a disinfectant cleaner. The bottoms of those bags are germ factories! Finally, wash your hands thoroughly and sit down to catch your breath. While sitting, congratulate yourself on a job well down.

After your little rest, recheck your menu plan for the coming week. Do you need to adjust it due to finding an ingredient you hadn’t planned on buying? For instance, you purchased near-its-expiration-date chicken and should use it up quickly. Or the produce man was clearing out bananas. Make necessary changes and repost your menus.

If you purchased near-its-expiration-date meat, consider cooking it now and freezing for later use. It will make great last minute meals and you’ll not risk further spoilage. This is also a great way to quickly process those club packs of meat. Make one mess and have multiple meals nearly ready to serve! Be certain to handle the meat carefully, package well, label with contents & date, cool appropriately in the refrigerator or a bowl of ice and then pop into your deep freeze.

If you are going to break down club packs without cooking, prepare your work area by assembling everything you will need. Scrub your hands and then divide the meat into appropriate smaller containers. Label and freeze. Sanitize your work area when you are done and give yourself another round of applause!

Still not satisfied with your savings? Be certain to utilize the internet for websites that match coupons to sales, notices of freebies, email alerts for your local grocery store flyers, inexpensive meals such as www.5dollardinners.com or www.hillbillyhousewife.com. Work your long-term storage foods such as whole grains and dried beans into your menus, double check your portion sizes, be certain that you are using every bit of food possible–never, ever waste left-overs! Scrutinize carefully what sorts of foods you are purchasing. Be certain to comparison shop periodically.

LEARN TO COOK SIMPLE, QUICK, INEXPENSIVE AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS AT HOME ! ! !

Like any great athlete, becoming an X-treme Grocery Shopper requires patience, practice, coaching and fine tuning of your game. You won’t be saving 30 to 50% overnight, but you will get there if you persevere!

Do you have great tips for saving money while feeding your family? Please, email them in and we’ll share your ideas. Further ideas are also listed under frugalmania above.

Sorry for the delay in completing our field trip–we have had one medical crisis after another!

It is off to the store; list, coupons, re-usable bags, thermal bag for frozen foods and our frugal wits about us! With your super-organized list you are going to come out a winner at the end of this race.

As you enter the store, check your list to see if you have prescriptions to drop off or pick up. Consider making the pharmacy your first stop, especially if you are dropping off a prescription. If you are picking one up, check to make sure it is ready. If it is ready, place the medications securely in your purse or return to your car to lock them in the trunk (unless they are heat sensitive!).

With your well organized shopping list, you are ready to fill that cart with bargains. When you are standing in front of the well organized shelves, keep in mind several tricks of those whose lives are dedicated to removing the maximum amount of cash from your budget.

Mark off items as you purchase them. If you are going to utilize a coupon, remove it from your coupon pile and place it in an envelope, a separate part of your clipboard or on top of your re-usable bags. One savvy shopper keeps a clip on her re-usable bags. As she picks up a coupon item, she attaches that coupon to the bag with the clip.

Generally, the most expensive, highly publicized brand will be at eye level. The cheaper brands, including house brands, tend to be lower or higher on the shelves. Remember to look up and down before deciding which to buy.

Scrutinize the small portion of the shelf price sticker that allows you to compare the cost of product per measurement. If your store doesn’t offer this option, go to a different store! Double check your coupons to be certain that you are truly saving money as compared to a different brand. Be extra cautious with laundry detergent as you need to compare the estimated number of loads a particular brand will do. Do NOT assume that the larger size is necessarily cheaper!

Wherever possible, purchase store brands. Remember the golden rule–the less prepared the item, the more you are likely to save.

Need items due to a special diet? Check the ingredients in the ‘regular’ aisles before heading to the speciality aisles. For instance, I needed dairy-free chocolate chips. In the ‘natural section’, the chips labeled in large print “Dairy-Free” were $10.50 a pound. GAG! Taking a few seconds to read the ingredients of the store brand dark chocolate chips in the ‘regular aisle’ revealed they were ‘dairy-free’ and less than $4 a pound.

Avoid money pits!

• Pre-packaged side dishes & entree mixes (5 to 10 times more $$$ than a dish you assemble yourself, plus more calories, fat & sodium), spaghetti sauce (2 to 6 times as much as homemade),
• Spice packets (10 to 30 times the cost of mixing your own)
• Single package snacks & treats (2 to 3 times more than bagging your own).
• Junk food in general, including fruit ‘roll-ups’ and ‘fruit snacks’ (which are really just well-named candy full of sugars and bad for little one’s teeth)!
• Power Bars, energy drinks and expensive trail mixes. Make your own trail mix from cereal, a few nuts, chocolate chips, dried fruits & miniature marshmallows for a fraction of the cost.
• Nearly anything packaged for children. Avoid paying extra to subsidize the marketing campaigns of this week’s favorite TV or movie kiddie-hero!

Check end caps for sale or special items. Likewise, check the area where the store places their ’scratch and dent’ items.

Stockpile items that you use frequently when they are deeply discounted. Remember, after holiday sales occur in grocery stores. The kids won’t really care if they are eating pink and red M&M’s in May!

Purchase all of your ‘dry goods’ first. This includes paper products, canned goods, packaged items–anything that does not require refrigeration.

Tempted by a ‘luxury food’ not on your list? Place it in a separate section of the cart so that you can review your decision before checking out.

Produce:

• Check your produce carefully to make certain it isn’t bruised, overly ripe or over-priced.
• Eat seasonally. Do you really need raspberries in the dead of winter?
• Remember cost per portion. If you purchase large apples and you don’t cut them in half for the little ones, they will probably waste a good portion of the apple.
• Consider the true cost of a few minutes of time. Those bags of salad? At least THREE times the cost of a few raw ingredients. Pre-cut stew vegetables? Probably more expensive than the meat you will purchase. Pre-cut celery, carrots, etc? Again, you are paying up to $40 an hour for someone to whack up a few vegetables. AND most are treated to keep them fresh.
• Whole vegetables will store longer, are less treated and more versatile.
• Treat your produce gently in your shopping cart!

Dairy department.

• Avoid the budget killers–little portions, ‘kiddie’ foods and high prices. Want Junior to eat yogurt? Great! Buy a larger container without the cutesy wrapping and save up to half!
• Look for unadvertised specials, seasonal close-outs and short-shelf-date sales. Know what type of sticker your store uses to highlight these items.
• Group your cold items together, beginning with dairy. During warm weather, put cold & frozen items in your thermal bag.

Meat department:

• Check first for mark downs! If you find an unexpected bargain, think of what you might need to serve with it. Add those items to your list & purchase them as you head to frozen foods.
• Place your meat in a thermal bag separate from the dairy & frozen foods.
• All meat should be placed in the lowest part of the cart away from fresh foods. Packages should ideally be handled with paper towels and placed in plastic bags.
• Compare the cost per pound for ‘family packs’ vs. smaller portions. You can save big by breaking down a family pack into meal-sized portions.
• Don’t buy a more expensive cut of meat than you need! If you are marinating a steak, you can purchase a less expensive cut.
• Consider replacing chicken breasts with thighs.
• Be certain that you aren’t paying for water or ‘flavor enhancers’ instead of meat. In many stores, chicken meat is infused with15% or more fluid. That fluid may be water or ‘flavorings’ (and who knows that means? Chemicals, most likely)
• REMEMBER, cost per serving!
• Meat department budget busters include pre-formed hamburger patties, gourmet cuts of meat, pre-marinated meats, ‘oven ready’ entrees and pre-cooked items.

Freezer department:

• Avoid Wallet Drains: Frozen entrees, ‘lean meals’ (translation: ‘You pay more, we give you less’), kiddie food, breakfast items (I once compared the cost of toaster waffles to the real thing–25 times the cost of a fresh waffle!), individual ice cream treats and gourmet ice creams are certain to sink your solvency ship.
• Protect your purchases. Add frozen foods to your cold items in the thermal bag.
• Maximize the smart choices, which can include plain vegetables (those microwave bags & veggies with sauce–RIP OFF!), plain fruits, juices (not juice blends which are primarily sweeteners), some pie crusts, some frozen doughs, some french fries and frozen pizzas for nights that you are caught without dinner.

Before getting in line:

• Review your list to be certain that everything is crossed off.
• Did you buy a cut of meat at a discount? Do you have everything you need to cook it?
• Have you picked up that prescription you dropped off?
• Look with a critical eye at any impulse items you added to the cart. Did you buy them because of an ad you saw? Were you just tempted due to fatigue or hunger? Do you really need it? Can you afford it? If in doubt, hand it back to the cashier.
• Keep your eye on the prize. All of those candy bars, little goodies, gadgets and magazines are placed there to tempt you out of your money! Focus on the task at hand and get out of that store with your budget intact.

Check Out Carefully:

• Hand the cashier your re-usable bags and coupons. The coupons should be left out where you can see them–they are the same as cash and you don’t want the cashier completing your purchase before deducting them.
• If the store has a loyality program that gives you sale prices, utilize it. If you don’t want a record of your purchases (though it can be useful for returns and recalls), simply use a different name.
• As you place items on the belt, keep raw meat away from other foods. Keep cold and frozen foods together. Have these items bagged into your thermal containers.
• Watch the prices as they are scanned–especially clearance & deeply discounted items. The percentage of errors in some stores is criminal. If in doubt of a price being rung up, ask. Many stores will give you the item for free if it rings up incorrectly. If you have a large number of deeply discounted items, keep them towards the end of your order so that you will be sure to have finished unloading your cart when they are rung up. Never hesitate to ask the cashier to price check an item.
• If you pay off your balances every month, consider using a credit card that offers cash back based on your purchases. With many of these cards (which you should NEVER pay an annual fee for), the rate of return is higher on groceries than other items.

You did it–all you have to do is pay, pat yourself on the back for the money you saved and load the car to drive home.

Oops…load the car carefully.

• Keep those frozen and cold things together.
• Keep heavy items down low. You don’t want a can of beans whacking you in the back of your head.
• Don’t obstruct the view. You need to be able to see out of your car.
• Drive cautiously, especially in the parking lot which is a haven for accidents.

• Don’t make other stops on your way home unless the outside temperature is below freezing and your cold items will stay cold!

Congratulations! You may have just saved 30% or more off of your grocery bill. If you followed all of the rules, avoided those money pits, shopped from a list and chose wisely, your savings will exceed 60% over the foolish shopper.

Next time: X-Treme Grocery Shopping puts the groceries away!

Are you ready to rumble? For those of you who are SERIOUS about saving yourselves time, money, energy (your’s, renewable, fossil fuel–whatever type you worry about), frustration and stress –come on and join the team! It is time to sign up for the X-Games Of Grocery Shopping!

The first step, of course, like any great sport, is training. You don’t just grab a golf club and immediately become Tiger Woods. Oh no, it takes thought, practice, patience and a bit of know how–in other words training. Unlike Tiger though, you don’t need to be born with a great talent to rid yourself of the waste most of us experience when dealing with the never-ending need to feed ourselves and our family.

This week, we will concentrate on visualization. No, not really–just getting ready to grocery shop. Getting ready? Don’t you just grab your wallet and go? Uh, not if you want to do it well. You must learn the fundamentals of the ‘game’ and then apply them to ensure success on the course/field/court/whatever.

The recipe for successful grocery planning includes these ingredients (go gather them):

Paper

Pencil

Perpetual Grocery List (if that is Greek to you, A PGL is a list you put on the ‘frig & everyone marks down when they need something or use up the last of something)

Your calendar, Blackberry, iPhone or whatever you use to organize your time (if you don’t have one, you really should get one right now!)

Grocery store ads

Your budget–do you know how much you can spend?

Prescriptions that need to be filled (if you use the grocery pharmacy and why wouldn’t you?)

A clipboard or something to put your list on so that it doesn’t end up at the bottom of the grocery cart

A quick peak in the ‘frig & pantry to notice things that are missing, old, growing fungus or nearly empty–add those to your PGL. Don’t forget basic non-food items such as toilet paper, facial tissue, plastic bags, etc. Throw out anything that has gone past its prime. This will allow you to start fresh when you come home from the grocery store. Salvage anything you can and add it to your menu before it goes bad!

Once you have gathered together the Preparation Recipe, you are ready to tear into making The List. True champions have advanced the PGL to a standardized list of commonly purchased items, preferably divided by appropriate sections of your favorite grocery store or at least by categories. This Gold Medal Level PGL is the ultimate in organization! If you frequent the same grocery store for most of your shopping, ask the service desk for a store map. Use this to prepare your customized PGL.

Another benefit of maintaining a PGL is that you can have someone else pick up items for you! This is especially helpful if you purchase specialty items from different stores. For instance, you might purchase organic peanut butter at just one store. If you know you need it, you can pick it up when you drive by that store. Or better yet–get someone else to do it on their way home! (Delegation is a very fine art)

Grab your calendar. Do you have any commitments coming up that will require the purchase of special items? Remember things like Johnny’s turn to bring snacks to soccer, Bertha’s Baby shower for which you said you’d make your famous spinach dip, that church potluck or a field trip requiring a packed lunch. Look two weeks in advance–further if you are REALLY organized!

With those commitments in mind, begin to look over the grocery store ads to see if anything is on sale that might fulfill those requirements. For instance, Johnny’s soccer snacks–ah ha ABC market has oranges on sale. And double ah ha–they also have graham crackers on sale! And you have a coupon for those. Mark both items on your list and put a small ‘c’ next to the graham crackers to remind you that you have a coupon. We’ll discuss how to protect those advanced purchases later–but keep a sharpie on hand in case you speed ahead of our tutorial. (Hint: You’ll want to mark those special purchases so they don’t get eaten too early)

As you peruse the sale ads, think through menu ideas. You do think about menus ahead of time, don’t you?? If chicken breasts are on sale, plan dinners around chicken breasts. What do you need to make your family’s favorite chicken cacciatore? Add whatever ingredients you are lacking to your list and put the menu idea on your calendar! You are now one step closer to being Super Organized!

Next, think about basic storage items that might be on sale. Which can you stock up on? Where will you put them? For instance, you don’t want to buy more frozen food than you have room for, so make certain you have the space for it! And the budget to cover it! Buying on sale can really rack up savings if you plan accordingly as well as extend your food storage plan.

Consult your calendar again for holidays coming up. What special foods do you need? Why not buy your Easter candy when it first comes out and then hide it from the little ones? If the tykes can’t read, just write on your calendar where you put it.

Ask family members if there is anything they need or activities they have failed to tell you about. With a bit of training, they will learn that if something they need doesn’t make it on the list in time, they will exercise their patience muscles or figure out how to get to the store themselves.

Once your list is fairly well finalized, check for coupons and attach those to the clipboard with your list. Be sure to add the small ‘c’ next to items that you have a coupon for. This will help you remember to check for a specific brand or size.

Attach any prescriptions that need to be filled. If you need to call in refills, do it far enough in advance that they’ll be ready for you.

Before going any further, be certain that your list coincides with your budget. It is pointless to spend more than you can afford as debt never saved anyone money.

Place the clipboard with your reusable grocery bags if you use them. If you are preparing a day in advance, put everything in the car or near the door where you won’t walk off without it. What would happen if Lance Armstrong forgot his bike? Tour de Oops??

You are now ready, primed, trained and set to enter the contest. Next week, we’ll ramp up your training a notch and GO TO THE GROCERY STORE well armed, toned, fit and ready to SAVE!

As I wrote previously, we have recently learned first hand the importance of storing and learning to use a variety of food in our storage plan. A loyal reader, Linda, has a wealth of experience on this topic as she has had to live wheat free for the past 25 years. In addition to her own wheat-related issues, her family members share a veritable smorgasbord of allergies and dietary needs! Linda generous knowledge-share opens the door to a variety of grains with differing properties and nutritional value. All of the grains listed can be ground in a wheat grinder (check with your manufacturer to be certain).

• Millet. Millet is usually a great grain for allergies and sick people because it is the only alkaline grain. Millet can be ground into flour or prepared as one would rice. It is also good in pilafs or for breakfast.
  
• Sorghum Flour. Linda orders her online, but you might want to try a grocery store that specializes in Indian foods, where it may be called Jowar or Juwar. Sorghum is bland in taste which can make it easier to use than other alternative flours. It is gluten free!
• Montina flour (Indian Rice Grass). Indian Rice Grass is a grass long used by Native Americans, especially when the corn crops failed. It is the ’state grass’ of Nevada & Utah. Ground into flour, it is reported to resemble wheat flour. Linda gets her’s from Amazing Grains in Montana.
• Teff. Teff is a staple grain for Ethiopia and is a source of dietary fiber, iron, protein, minerals, nutrients and calcium. The iron in Teff is easily absorbed by the body. It is small, similar to millet, but slightly sour tasting. Teff can be found in some health food stores or ordered online.
• Quinoa. Originally grown in South America Quinoa (pronounced Keen-wah) is unique in the grain world as it is a nearly complete protein. You can find Quinoa that is white or red. It can be boiled like rice or ground into flour as a substitute for wheat flour in baking. Linda uses it in salads and says it is delicious. Quinoa can also be sprouted quickly. 2 to 4 hours in a shallow dish will sprout Quinoa as opposed to at least 12 hours for wheat.
• Rice. Brown, white or wild, rices can all be cooked as one would expect or ground into flour! Rice flour is a very fine flour that can work in conjunction with others for baked goods or used as a coating for meat or vegetables.
• Corn. Cornmeal is simply dry kernel corn (referred to as field corn) that has been ground. You can also grind popcorn if necessary to produce corn. Corn is naturally high in sugar and is coarse when ground. There are multitudes of corn varieties, which together are referred to as maize. Corn contains a lipid transfer protein that cannot be digested by humans and has been found to cause severe allergies in some individuals. The allergy may manifest itself as a skin rash, asthma, neurological impairment (sometimes mimicing autism), arthritis, mucous membrane irritation, diarrhea, vomiting and a host of other health issues. Corn today is processed into a wide variety of products include corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, paper products, cleaning supplies–nearly everything we use in our daily lives.
• Oats. Oats when carefully stored have an extended shelf life. We commonly see oats as either rolled, steal cut or ‘quick’ oats. Oats can be cooked as a cereal or ground into a flour. Most household blenders will grind oats into a fine flour.
• Rye. Rye is a ‘cousin’ to wheat and usually ground into a flour. The wholegrain can also be rolled and prepared as you would oats. Rye does contain gluten, though less than wheat. Rye is also susceptible to a fungal infection (ergot) that causes ergotism in humans. Ergotism causes, among other things, hallucinations and is believed to have played a role in the Salem Witch Trials.
  
• Triticale. Triticale is a hybrid of rye and wheat. It utilizes the best of the two grains, but should not be eaten by anyone who cannot eat wheat or rye.
• Barley. Barley is grown primarily as an animal crop, but is used for humans as a health food, to create barley malt flavoring and in the making of alcoholic drinks. Boiled, it is added to soups and stews, especially in Eastern Europe. Barley is considered a frequent cousin to wheat-intolerances. Barley can be used as flour, as grits, processed for use in stews & soups, or rolled as a cereal.
• Amaranth. Amarinth is another grain that has nearly a complete protein, usable to humans. It is high in dietary fiber, provides a variety of healthful minerals, including iron and magnesium. Amaranth can also be popped, similar to popped corn. It can also be made into a confection.
  
• Spelt. Spelt is another variety or subspecies of wheat. Some people with wheat allergies can tolerate spelt, but it is NOT suitable for those with celiac disease. Like wheat, spelt is relatively high in protein and rich in dietary fiber.
  
• Buckwheat. Though it sounds like it should be, buckwheat is NOT a variety of wheat. Buckwheat can be rolled into groats and cooked like porridge, ground into flour or boiled like rice. Buckwheat pancakes are a hearty dish that utilizes yeast. Nutritionally, buckwheat is high in fiber and a good source of protein. Buckwheat noodles are common in Japan, Korea and northern Italy. Buckwheat does not contain gluten. It does contain rutin, a medicinal chemical that has been found to help those with high blood pressure and venous insufficiency.
  
• Kamut. Kamut is a variety of wheat! Recent food recalls included products containing kamut that were not labeled as containing wheat.

Tapioca, corn starch, dry beans and potato starch are also used as alternatives to wheat flour. For families with allergies, it might be wise to add at least a small amount to your food storage plan. The greatest baking success usually comes from mixing a variety of the ‘alternative flours’, adding xanthum gum to help them form a cohesive dough.

Linda suggests mixing all of the grains you have on hand to produce a delicious, slow cooked cereal. She prepares her’s overnight in the oven. She also utilizes the grains in a vegetable soup, with or without beef. Additionally, she cooks a single or mixed grains in her rice cooker.

Explore the great wide world of grains available us today as you enrich your family’s diet, broaden your culinary horizons and provide great variety to your food storage!

Many thanks, Linda!

When contemplating your food storage plan, remember to provide a wide variety of foods. This point was driven home for our family this past week when we discovered that our daughter can no longer eat any food that contains eggs, dairy in any form from any mammal, wheat, barley, rye, spelt, pork, game meat, packaged foods and only a little bit of beef. It is almost easier to list what she can eat! Her dietary restrictions could send us into even more of a tail spin if we had not stored a wide variety of grains, such as rice, oats and quinoa.

In addition to the dietary restrictions, we suddenly find ourselves having to learn to cook all sorts of new items and rely solely on home-prepared foods. If I had previously relied on packaged foods and had not acquired a variety of skills, a strong knowledge base and research skills this speed bump would have turned into a complete nightmare.  She would be eating Rice Chex 24-hours a day!

Regardless of dietary restrictions, everyone should store a variety of grains. Some which can keep for at least 30 years, are relatively affordable and available include hard wheat, white rice (brown rice has more oil, so will not keep as long), oats, barley, rye, spelt, triticale (a hybrid of wheat and rye), and quinoa. If you store a variety of grains, you will be able to accommodate not only a variety of dietary needs, but prevent developing an intolerance to one grain. Variety also allows you greater flexibility in meal planning and the ability to ‘hide’ more whole grains in everyday foods.

In addition to grains, store some sugars in the form of white sugar, brown sugar, honey, agave, powdered sugar and maple sugar.

Variety is also important when choosing dehydrated or freeze-dried foods. Whether you purchase them dehydrated or dehydrate themselves, balance your storage items so that you have greater flexibility in meal planning. Balance yellow (carrots, wax beans) and green vegetables (green beans, cabbage, broccoli). Have a variety of fruits as well.

Even the lowly dried bean offers a smorgasbord of choices. Just as they vary in color and size, beans vary in nutritional value. Choose from pintos, black beans, garbanzos, navy beans, Great Northern beans, kidney beans and red beans. Each variety lends itself to different applications–mix together they can be wonderful!

One of the most important aspects of variety in food storage is in your storage of spices and flavorings. If you are forced to really rely on your food storage, a good dose of flavor will add palate appeal and variety to the most basic of ingredients. Don’t forget the basics of salt, pepper, garlic, onions, chili powder, ginger, cumin, Italian seasonings, bay leaves, curry and dry mustard. Consider stocking up on bullion cubes or powders. For flavorings, think about a choice of extracts such as vanilla, maple, lemon, mint and orange.

Of course, you also have to know how to cook with these things, so begin NOW to learn! If you know how to cook, experiment with new flavors and ingredients.

Variety is truly the spice of life, but it also can prevent the development of food intolerances and make your food storage truly usable. As you incorporate new flavors, textures and grains into your diet, your nutritional status will improve and you will be better prepared to meet any speed bump you encounter on your culinary travels!