Recipe of the Week: Hearty Queso Cheese Dip, by Mrs. Latimer

This one hits the spot for family gatherings or even gathering around to watch movies or sports events on television. It’s a little heartier and tastier than the basic recipe. Another variation we sometimes make is to substitute a can of meat/beef chili for the sausage and salsa/milk. However, we prefer this version best. Ingredients 8 oz cooked turkey sausage crumbles 1 lb Velveeta cheese or Velveeta cheese substitute 1 can Rotel tomatoes and chile, undrained 3 Tbsp salsa or 2 Tbsp milk, depending on heat preference


Recipe of the Week: Energy Granola Bars, by Mrs. Latimer

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Ingredients 2 cups rolled oats 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds, unsalted 3/4 cup raw sliced almonds 1/3 cup raw wheat germ 3/4 cup honey 4 tablespoons dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup chopped, dried fruit or fruit/small nut combination (cherries, blueberries, cranberries, apricots) Directions Preheat oven to 350 F. Place oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Place honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and kosher salt in a medium sauce pan and put over medium …


Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 4, by Sarah Latimer

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Order and Unity In TEOTWAWKI, we will need all the order and unity we can muster. Why not work to build that unity and cohesion now? Why not try to build a peaceful, loving home now, while learning skills and developing respect for one another as man and woman? Find out who you are as a woman and ask the LORD to help you find contentment in who you are, where you live, your circumstances, et cetera. You can work to improve upon these, but contentment is beautiful! Women are nurturers and certainly can be fighters, too. It’s just fine …


Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 2, by Sarah Latimer

Reviewing Where We Left Off In this series of articles, we’re looking at the lessons to be learned from the Genesis creation story, particularly from the actions of Eve. The choices she made are similar to the ones that are drastically affecting our world today. They are even affecting the survival community and you also, whether you. It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female or whether you recognize it or not at this point. Eve Knew the Instruction & Vision God Gave Adam God’s plan for Adam was to care for all that which was within this paradise garden. Eve was …


Lessons From the First TEOTWAWKI- Part 1, by Sarah Latimer

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Basics of the First “TEOTWAWKI” The first “end of the world as we know it” event that mankind experienced was initiated by a woman, and while there are plenty of reasons to finger-point at men in our world today over the problems it faces I want to focus primarily on the women in this article and their responsibility for some of the problems we face and discuss how we can correct these to create a better world, if only in our own homes and communities. I am talking to my “gender sisters” in this article. Yes, I know there are …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 10, by Sarah Latimer

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We’re continuing this section of the series on household basics, and I’m sharing my research on oil. I didn’t expect it would be a three-part section, but I did spend a lot of time researching and testing it, so you are joining me on this journey and getting the plan. I’ve shared that we have a Piteba seed/bean/nut oil expeller press that we plan to use as our primary means for oil. I’ve ruled out GMO grains and also lard, though I might use some beef tallow but want to keep it to a minimum for health reasons. Tallow is …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 9, by Sarah Latimer

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Last week, I began this part of the series on the subject of oil in TEOTWAWKI. I rejected the GMO oils, namely corn and canola oil, for health reasons. I spoke about my favorite oils– coconut and olive, for their many uses and health benefits, and I explained my inevitable problem with their inaccessibility or short supply. I also shared that we own a Piteba nut and seed oil expeller, which is designed to produce consumable oils from many types of seed, nut, and bean sources. Health and Storage Issues With Lard Now that you are caught up, let me …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 8, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the pantry basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want to have available in the event of TEOTWAWKI. We’ve covered other pantry essentials, including baking soda, yeast, vinegar, salt and pepper (and other spices and herbs), coffee, and sugar/sweeteners to determine how we will provide them for our families in a TEOTWAWKI scenario. Some of these we will have to have stock piled, barter for, or find alternatives for, until they are manufactured again. Yet, other items are those we can make or produce for ourselves. This …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 7, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the pantry basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want to have available in the event of TEOTWAWKI. While I am working on a couple of major projects that are proving more difficult than expected, I will write on something this week that is ever so sweet and appealing. We’ve covered other pantry essentials, including baking soda, yeast, vinegar, salt and pepper (and other spices and herbs), and coffee to determine how we will provide them for our families in a TEOTWAWKI scenario. Some of these we …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 6, by Sarah Latimer

Well, this series on pantry basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) is getting long. Yet, I still have several more items on my list to explore and share. These items even go beyond the normal bulk items we think of and beyond spices and herbs, though last week I covered salt and pepper and encouraged readers to use the improved SurvivalBlog search capabilities to go back and read some of the great articles our SurvivalBlog community has previous provided on the subject of “growing herbs” and spices. We have a wealth of information within our community not …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 5, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the pantry basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want to have available in the event of TEOTWAWKI. I am resolved that I will ideally be able to make or grow these items myself, but in researching them I know I may find it necessary to either store them indefinitely in large quantity and have some alternatives available, and/or have a local/regional source for obtaining in barter. Quite honestly, this journey has caused me to dig deeper in some areas than I’d expected to go. Additionally, I …


Recipe of the Week: Biga and Pugliese Bread, from Sarah Latimer

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Biga For Bread This is a bread starter that is used for artisan type breads, including Pugliese bread. This makes enough for two loaves. It must be made well in advance (at least 12 hours and preferably 24 hours) of making bread for best results, and it makes a big difference in the texture and the crust of bread, generating the nice soft and spongy inside with a crusty outside and excellent flavor. When using homemade yeast water instead of the combination of water and dry active yeast, it becomes a wonderful pre-ferment dough. Yeast water from raisins are most …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 4, by Sarah Latimer

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The Physical Properties and Application I’m concerned about having yeast readily available in TEOTWAWKI. I like having dry yeast readily available by the measurable spoonful, and so I buy it in one pound bricks and then store it in a sealed quart Mason jars – one in my refrigerator door and one in my freezer– so that the yeast keeps for well over a year (if I haven’t used it up in that amount of time). It is no problem to use cold yeast directly in your recipes. It wakes up in the warm water just as if it had …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 3, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the pantry basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want to have available in the event of TEOTWAWKI. I am resolved that I will ideally be able to make these items myself but in researching them I know I may find it necessary to either store them indefinitely in large quantity and have some alternatives available, and/or have a local/regional source for obtaining in barter. So far, I’ve dug deep into the use, science, history, manufacturing, and storage of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and discovered that I …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 2, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want in my pantry in the event of TEOTWAWKI. Sure, if it is a matter of life and death, we will take what we have and make the most of it. However, like many others who have contributed to the wealth of information on SurvivalBlog, I am pursuing the idea of thriving rather than just surviving, and I know that knowledge and tools are far more valuable in a long-term crisis situation than having a finite supply of end …