Recipe of the Week: Angie’s Beef and White Bean Soup

Angie kindly sent us her recipe for a hearty beef and white bean soup. This makes good use of your stored dry white beans, or canned beans. Ingredients 2 pounds beef stew meat, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubed pieces 2 cups chopped onion 2 cups sliced or chopped carrot 4 garlic cloves, minced or grated 2 tablespoons Canola oil, divided 2 cups water 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried sage 3 or 4 whole bay leaves 32 ounces beef broth 5 cups of dried white beans, soaked overnight. These should …




Recipe of the Week: Anne’s Oatmeal Cookies

Anne kindly sent us her favorite recipe for delicious oatmeal cookies.  It works well with bulk storage oatmeal. There are variations for cinnamon, chocolate chips, raisins, and walnuts. Ingredients 3 cups rolled oats (Standard, steel cut, but not “quick” oats) 1 cup butter, warmed to room temperature 1 cup brown sugar, tightly packed 1/2 cup white sugar 2 large eggs 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cornstarch 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon salt Optional Ingredients 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1-to-2 cups raisins or chocolate chips, or 1-to-2 cups chocolate chips, or 3/4 cup chopped …




Recipe of the Week: J.J.’s Cornmeal Dry Mix

Reader J.J. kindly sent us this recipe for a multipurpose cornmeal dry baking mix. This was tested as a 9-cup batch  (1 cup equals 5 ounces.) Ingredients 4 cups (18 ounces) finely ground cornmeal 4 cups (18 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour 2/3 cup (4 5/8 ounces) granulated sugar 3 1/2 tablespoons (42 grams) baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons (10 grams) table salt Dry Mix Making Directions Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large container with a tight-fitting lid (15- to 16-cup capacity), until thoroughly mixed. Seal in an airtight container, label and store at room …




Recipe of the Week: Eloise’s Grayling á la Redwall

The following is a Grayling á la Redwall recipe suggested by our #1 Daughter, Eloise. She is a great fan of the Redwall fantasy book series by the late Brian Jacques.  She notes that this recipe can be used for several other type of freshwater fish, and that many other berry wines can be substituted. This serves six adults. Ingredients 4 whole 1-pound graylings–or other freshwater fish–filleted 2 c. butter 4 tbsp. minced garlic 2 lg. white onions 2 bunches fresh rosemary 4 tbsp. thyme 2 c. chopped beechnuts 2 c. honey 4 c. fresh cream 1 bunch mint leaves …




Recipe of the Week: Bob’s Fruity-Oaty Granola Bars

Reader Bob. C. kindly sent us one of his favorite recipes, for Fruity-Oaty Bars. The name was inspired by the fictional wave commercial in the movie Serenity. His recipe starts with a basic granola bar, and then he offers several variations–including his favorite Fruity-Oaty variation. Bob says that his Fruity-Oaty variant “…provides tremendous strength and endurance, for terminal situations. They make a man out of a mouse. These are the best bars in the ‘Verse.” The recipe can be doubled, if you have an extra large mixing bowl, and a deep sauce pan. Ingredients 1 cup flour (whole wheat or …




Rhubarb: Four Book Reviews, by S.A.

When I was a child in elementary school, I always felt cheated when the cafeteria served rhubarb pie masquerading as cherry pie for dessert. Long time gardeners know all about rhubarb, but I’ve encountered a fair number of young people who tell me that they’ve never tasted rhubarb. However, from a survival perspective, rhubarb is a perennial worth considering. You could grow it in a a front yard flowerbed and it’s doubtful the homeowner’s association (HOA) would recognize it. It’s easy to grow, nutritious, stealthy, forgiving (last year I transplanted plants from one bed to another in early Texas summer, …




Recipe of the Week: M.N.’s Oatmeal Pancakes

Reader M.N. sent us this recipe that is a good way to use your stored rolled oats, your stored wheat (or whole wheat flour), your stored powdered eggs, and your stored powdered milk.  Of course, fresh ingredients taste best, but long term storage ingredients are still palatable. This recipe serves four people, or two teenage boys. (About 12 pancakes). Note: Doubling the recipe is too much for the capacity of a blender, so make separate recipes. Ingredients 2 Cups rolled oats (oatmeal) 1 Cup of whole wheat flour (can be hand-ground, but if so, grind it twice) 2 1/2 Cups …




Recipe of the Week: Kathy’s Hurried-Up Curried Chicken

Reader Kathy kindly sent us one of her favorite recipes. She calls it her Hurried-Up Curried Chicken. Serves four adults, or two adults and 3-4 kids. Takes just 25 minutes from start to finish. Note: Use less curry powder ane less mustard seed if you are not accustomed to them. Main Ingredients 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breast (about 7 thighs, or 4 breasts), cut into 1″ or smaller cubes 2 1/2 teaspoons mild curry powder 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil or vegetable oil (plus 2 more teaspoons …




Recipe of the Week: Mary L.’s Buttery Cornbread

Reader Mary L. kindly sent us one of her favorite recipes. This is for a cornbread with a great buttery taste. This recipe works well with storage cornmeal and storage white flour. Note: This recipe does not work quite as well with freshly-ground whole wheat flour. Ingredients 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose white flour (a “spooned and leveled” cup) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted but cooled slightly 1/3 cup (packed) of dark brown sugar 2 Tablespoons of honey 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature 1 large egg, room temperature …




Recipe of the Week: Penny’s Quick-Cooked Wheat Berries

We are always looking for recipes for storage foods.  This one is particularly useful. Reader Penny in Arkansas kindly sent us her directions for cooking wheat berries. There are far more uses for your stored wheat than just grinding flour!  Infogalactic has this description: “A wheat berry, or wheatberry, is a whole wheat kernel (except for the hull/husk), composed of the bran, germ, and endosperm. Botanically, it is a type of fruit called a caryopsis. Wheat berries have a tan to reddish-brown color and are available as either a hard or soft processed grain. They are often added to salads …




Recipe of the Week: Trisha’s Lemon Spring Greens

Reader Trisha H. kindly sent us one of her favorite side dish recipes, for Lemon Spring Greens. This serves four. Ingredients 18 ounces (or 500 g) of spring greens. 1 large lemon without wax. Sea salt, to taste. Freshly ground black pepper, to taste. 2 TBS virgin olive oil. Directions Grate the lemon zest (the outermost part of the peel) finely onto a cutting board, then transfer to a small jar for which you have a lid. Cut the lemon in half. Squeeze half the juice into the jar, over a wire mesh strainer. (Be careful to strain out any …




Recipe of the Week: A.V.’s South African Melktert

Reader A.V. kindly sent us one of her favorite dessert recipes for a delicious South African Melktert (Milk Tart). It makes 8 servings.  This recipe is broken into two sections: one for the filling, and one for the pastry crust.  This recipe requires the use of a set of ceramic pie weights. Melktert Filling: Ingredients 1 quart milk ½ cup sugar 1 Tablespoon butter 2 large eggs (or 3 small eggs) 3 tablespoons cornstarch 3 tablespoons flour 1 teaspoon vanilla extract A pinch of salt 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon Directions for Making the Melktert Filling In a heat proof …




Recipe of the Week: Cornbread Crumble Turkey

Reader Arlene X. kindly sent us one of her favorite recipes: Arlene’s Cornbread Crumble Turkey (Serves Four Adults) Ingredients: 1 C Buttermilk 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard 4 Skinless turkey fillets (about 3 oz each) 4- by 4-inch square of cooked cornbread (about 1 C of cornbbread crumbs) 1 Egg white 1 C Chicken broth 1 Tbsp Cornstarch 1 lb Frozen baby carrots 1 Tbsp Fresh sage, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp of dried sage) 1 Tbsp Butter Directions: Preheat oven to 350 ºF. Combine buttermilk and Dijon mustard. Mix well. Add turkey fillets to buttermilk mixture to marinate …




Recipe of the Week: Alan’s Smothered Steak & Potatoes

Alan’s introductory comments: This is one for my favorite meals. It requires the use of a garlic press and a pressure cooker, preferably with an internal elevated cooking rack. It makes five adult-size servings. Ingredients: 2 lbs. boneless round steak, 1-1/2″ to 2″ thick 2 TBSP Cooking Oil 1/4 cup Flour 1/2 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Pepper 1 Clove of Garlic, pressed 1 Medium Onion, sliced 1 TBSP Fresh (or 1 tsp dry) sage, thyme, basil, or rosemary–depending on your herb(s) preference 10 ounces (1 can or 1.2 cups) of beef broth (fresh or canned broth) 10 ounces of water …




Recipe of the Week: Helen J.’s San Juan Island Salad

Helen J.’s San Juan Island Salad This is a salad recipe from an old family friend who was a practiced gardener. A local on the island butchered pigs each year and cured bacon. Thus, nearly all of the ingredients were local. Note that the ingredients are listed without measurements. The ratio of ingredients is intended to be fine-tuned to suit your family’s taste preferences. Lamb bacon, Turkey bacon, or Tofurkey Bacon can be substituted if you refrain from pork. Ingredients Red table grapes, halved Bacon, cooked and diced Broccoli crown pieces, briefly steamed (firm) Diced Celery Diced Onion Slivered almonds …