Category: Recipe of the Week

The following recipe for Easy Cheeses is from SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska. Soft cheeses can be easy. Below is a beginner’s recipe that requires only milk, salt, and vinegar (or lemon juice).  Without additional herbs, the result will be very bland, like Indian paneer, or Italian ricotta, or Mexican cojillo. But once you have made this easy cheese, you may feel emboldened to branch out. One gallon of milk (or dried milk plus water to equal one gallon)  (I have done this with non fat milk and it works, but is blander). 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice (or some …

The following recipe for Fruit Shrub is from SurvivalBlog reader Mr. Alaska.  She writes: “A ‘shrub’ is an old-fashioned drink that made great sense before water was reliably potable. This was safer and refreshing because it incorporated vinegar.  You might find the idea odd — drink vinegar? But in the right proportions, with fruit and sweetener, the vinegar adds the kind of tang that people like from quinine or tonic water – without the bitterness, and with some salubrious gastrointestinal tract benefits, too. You can drink this straight or add a bit to water or a clear alcohol or wine, …

The following recipe for Cheesy Broccoli Soup was kindly sent in by longtime SurvivalBlog reader “Sis”. INGREDIENTS and Directions Sauté: 1/4 cup butter & 1/2 medium onion (diced). Stir in: 1/4 cup flour. Whisk in: 2 cups of half n half & 2 cups of chicken broth. Add: 1 cup of diced carrots, 3 cups of chopped broccoli. Cook until carrots are tender. Add 1/4tsp. of nutmeg (important) Add salt and pepper to taste. Lastly, stir in 8 oz. (1 cup) of sharp cheddar cheese. Some Options and Ideas: Fresh broccoli is best but you could easily use frozen, dehydrated, …

The following recipe for Beef, Turkey, or Chicken Meatballs with Zuchinni is from SurvivalBlog reader B.P.. He says: “This recipe is my variation on one that was passed around a couple of years ago. It is one way our family uses part of our summer bounty of Zucchini.” Ingredients For the Meatballs: 2 pounds of your choice of ground beef, turkey, or chicken 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 cloves of garlic, minced 2 large eggs 3 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning Salt and ground black pepper, to taste 2 cups zucchini, finely grated and twice squeeze-drained 1 small red onion, grated …

The following recipe for Skillet-Roast Chicken is from SurvivalBlog reader H.C.. She says: “This is a variation of a recipe that I found online. I make in the late spring or summertime, when dandelion greens are available.” Ingredients 8 small bone-in chicken thighs (leave the skin on them) 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt and ground black pepper 2 bunches of washed dandelion greens. 2 bunches of small carrots 1 tablespoon of lemon juice Directions Pre-heat your oven to 450°F. Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, to suit your taste. …

The following cold-mix recipe for Do-It-Yourself Trail Snack Bars is from SurvivalBlog reader Jen B. She says:  “This recipe requires no heat. It sure beats paying for expensive Lara Bars or Clif Bars, and I have the comfort of knowing exactly what is in them. This recipe can be doubled.” Ingredients 1 cup pitted dates 1 cup quick-cooking oats 1¼ cups crisp rice cereal ¼ cup coarsely chopped peanuts 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) ground cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon of salt (Use less or none if you are on a low-salt diet.) ½ cup creamy-style peanut butter ⅓ …

The following recipe for Classic Oatmeal Cookies is from SurvivalBlog reader O.H.. These are yummy! Ingredients 1 large egg 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), very soft 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats (don’t use instant or quick oats) 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (or substitute raisins or walnuts) Directions Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray; set aside. To …

The following recipe for Spanikopita is from SurvivalBlog reader Mrs. Alaska. She writes:  This recipe is adapted from one in the wonderful book, The Boreal Forest, by Beverly Gray. While traditional spanakopita is made with spinach, feta cheese, and phyllo pastry, the fact is that the filling can be made with ANY cookable leafy green (wild or domesticated) and any cheese. The phyllo, too, can be replaced with pie crust (so it would then be a quiche) or topped with biscuits, or spread over puff pastry. For the spanakopita: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix together 2 cups of feta …

The following recipe for Sweet Cinnamon Rice is from SurvivalBlog reader D.B..  She notes: “This is a great way to use some of your stored rice. I use Basmati Rice, but other white rice varieties work quite well.  I have not tried this with brown rice.” Ingredients 2 cups rice 4 cups water Pinch of salt. Cinnamon (Just enough to suit your taste.) 1/2 cup Brown Sugar. (You may use more or less, to suit your taste) Directions On a hot stovetop, bring water with a pinch of salt to a boil in a pot for which you have a …

The following recipe for Muffin Pan Chicken Pot Pies is from SurvivalBlog reader G.S..  This makes miniature pot pies for individual servings, rather than one big pie. One advantage is that this method takes less cooking time than baking a big pot pie. Notes:  You can use any leftover cooked vegetables in this recipe. You can also substitute other types of cheese. Ingredients 1 cup cooked chicken chopped 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional) 1 cup mixed vegetables frozen 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can of biscuit dough (or an equivalent quantity of mixed Bisquick or similar biscuit …

The following recipe for Italian-Style Lentil Patties with Cheese is from Reader Susan in Oregon. These are topped with either mozzarella or provolone cheese. Susan says:  “I got this recipe from a friend who is on a vegan diet that cooks these at last once a week.” Ingredients 3 cups dried lentils (brown, red, or green) 3 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon dried minced onion 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 cups uncooked instant oatmeal 2 tablespoons canola oil 10 slices mozzarella cheese or provolone …

The following recipe for Super Simple Peanut Butter Cookies is from reader Cathy D.  She notes: “The egg helps hold the dough together. Don’t skip it, or you’ll have crumbly mess.” This recipe makes one dozen cookies. Ingredients 1 cup peanut butter. Typical commercial peanut butter brands (like Skippy or Jif) work better than the “natural/organic” brands. 1 cup of white sugar. 1 egg Directions Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix peanut butter, white sugar, and egg in a medium bowl until smooth. Roll mixture into 1-inch dough balls and place 1.5 inches …

The following Pasta Va Zul recipe is from reader Nurse Michele. She writes: “This is a simple pasta dish that has been around for centuries. I learned it from my Naples-born grandmother. She never wrote it down, or measured any ingredients. And, for years, neither did I. But at the request of friends some years ago, I paid attention as I made a pot of it and wrote the amounts and specific steps as I went, so that I could pass it along. And, Ecola! (Italian equivalent to Voila!)… a tasty, filling, nutritious and affordable recipe.” Ingredients 2 (15 oz) …

The following recipe for Grain & Dried Fruit Salad is from SurvivalBlog reader D.J.: Ingredients 3 cups water 1/2 cup medium pearl barley 1/2 cup uncooked wild rice 2/3 cup uncooked basmati rice 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1/2 cup sunflower seed kernels 1/2 cup salted pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup each of three of your favorite dried fruits (such as raisins, golden raisins, chopped prunes, chopped dried apricots, or dried cranberries) 1/3 cup minced fresh parsley 4 teaspoons grated orange zest Directions In a large saucepan, bring the 3 cups of water to a boil. Add barley and wild rice. Reduce …

The following Winter Hearty Stew recipe is from SurvivalBlog reader Richard T. Equipment Instant Pot or pressure cooker stock pot and strainer for noodles skillet for sauteing onions Ingredients 1 smoked pork hock (Easter ham trimmings, bacon, salt pork are good alternatives) 27 oz can of Southern Style mustard greens (or any fresh greens, but they must be chopped) 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes 1 medium sized yellow onion 1 – 8 oz can of mushroom pieces and stems 2 cups of dried black-eye peas (or canned black-eye peas) egg noodles Frank’s hot sauce (optional) salt & black peppercorns …