Recipe of the Week: Ground Beef & Tomato Pasta

The following simple recipe for Ground Beef & Tomato Pasta is from SurvivalBlog reader J.P.V..

Ingredients
  • 3 cups of uncooked dried pasta of your choice
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (or less, if you are on a low-salt diet)
  • 1/8 teaspoon minced garlic (optional, or less, to taste)
  • 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper (optional, or less, to taste)
  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1-1/2 cups meatless canned or jar spaghetti sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Directions
  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the egg, and mix in salt, garlic, and pepper (to taste)
  3. Add beef and mix well.
  4. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; mix gently.
  5. Crumble beef mixture into a large skillet.
  6. Cook over medium-high heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
  7. Stir in the spaghetti sauce.
  8. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-4 minutes — or until heated through.
  9. Drain pasta; place in a serving bowl.
  10. Add beef mixture; sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
  11. Toss until pasta is well coated and cheese is melted.
SERVING

Serve it hot. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella just before serving, or on each serving.

STORAGE

Stores well overnight, if it is then re-heated.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic: Death By Starvation: A simulation estimates the proportion of the population to die from starvation following nuclear war. (A Times of London/Sunday Times graphic, courtesy of Reddit.)

JWR’s Comment:  This is a simulation that assumes a worst-case full nuclear exchange, an interruption of most commerce, and the death of most livestock. This underscores the importance of having a deep larder!

The thumbnail below is click-expandable.

 

 

 

 

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Please send your graphics or graphics links to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Politicians of both parties told us that free trade with Asia and Latin America would spur economic growth, and maybe it did somewhere else. In our towns, though, factories continue shutting down or moving overseas.” – J. D. Vance

Preparedness Notes for Sunday — March 9, 2025

On March 9, 141 BC, Liu Che, posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Han, assumed the throne of the Han Dynasty in China and ruled for 54 years.

March 9, 1776: Adam Smith published the influential economics book “The Wealth of Nations”.

March 9th was the birthday of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin – the first man to ever travel in space. He was born in 1934 and died in the crash of a MiG-15-UTI fighter on March 27, 1968.

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Today we present the last installment of a guest article from a SurvivalBlog reader that is not part of the writing contest judging.

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We are seeking entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Preparedness in the New Golden Age or Grimy Age – Part 6, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This young man is prayerfully seeking a wife. He is offering an after-marriage gift of up to $50,000 to whoever introduces him to his bride, with $18,000 after their marriage and another $16,000 to the individual who provided the introduction after the first two births of healthy children born to him and his wife, for a total potential gift of $50,000. For further details, see this link to his article posted on February 24th, 2025: My Quest For a Wife.

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(Continued from Part 5. This concludes the article.)

Prepper Fatigue

Do you have prepper fatigue? Have you quit preparing because nothing ever happens? There may be a “cure” and no it does involve a pill to take.

Inanimate objects such as metals can become fatigued and develop stress cracks and so can pilots and preppers.
In a way, prepper fatigue is just as dangerous as metal fatigue from an engineering perspective because the metal becomes brittle and by not prepping you are losing the physical advantage that you had through your preparations.

The first thing you need to evaluate is the reason why you are prepping. Has anything changed? Maybe you were prepping for a hurricane as you previously lived in a coastal area and now you moved to a mountain area and you think you are unlikely to need an emergency life boat. Considering the recent experiences of people who lived in the mountains of the Upper South who experienced extreme flooding who helped rescue others using flotation devices may prove that people need to be considering devoting some dollars to survival equipment that ordinarily would not be used in their area. Based on the even more recent unusual snowfall in the Deep South, preppers living in those areas may want to consider at the least of getting a dedicated snow shovel and becoming familiar with winter survival skills that are well-known in areas with even modest amounts of snow.Continue reading“Preparedness in the New Golden Age or Grimy Age – Part 6, by Single Farmer”

JWR’s Meme Of The Week: 

The latest meme created by JWR:

Meme Text:

Taylor Swift Says:

I’ve Suffered For My Music…

…Now It’s Your Turn

(With a nod to Neil Innes and Eric Idle.)

News Link:

14 Taylor Swift Songs That Reference Depression, According to Mental Health Experts.

Notes From JWR: Do you have a meme idea? Just e-mail me the concept, and I’ll try to assemble it. And if it is posted then I’ll give you credit. Thanks!

Permission to repost memes that I’ve created is granted, provided that credit to SurvivalBlog.com is included.

 

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” – Revelation 3: 5-11 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — March 8, 2025

Today is the birthday of Colin Campbell Cooper, Jr. (March 8, 1856 – November 6, 1937). He was an American impressionist painter of architectural paintings, especially of skyscrapers in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. An avid traveler, he was also known for his paintings of European and Asian landmarks, as well as natural landscapes, portraits, florals, and interiors. In addition to being a painter, he was also a teacher and a writer. His painting “Grand Central” (above) was dated 1909. It was auctioned by the Christies auction house for $85,000, in 2015.

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Today we present a guest article from a SurvivalBlog reader that is not part of the writing contest judging.

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We are seeking entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Preparedness in the New Golden Age or Grimy Age – Part 5, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This young man is prayerfully seeking a wife. He is offering an after-marriage gift of up to $50,000 to whoever introduces him to his bride with $18,000 after their marriage and another $16,000 to the individual who provided the introduction after the first two births of healthy children born to him and his wife, for a total potential gift of $50,000. For further details, see this link to his article posted on February 24th, 2025: My Quest For a Wife.

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(Continued from Part 4.)

Gold: What one ounce can buy in a grimy world

In the event that a “collapse” occurs and there is some sort of barter event in my area, you will likely not see me or any members of our group. It is incredibly doubtful that I or any member of our group would ever show up at a barter event as we already have everything that we need and stock extra in quantity just to avoid such events. An event such as this would likely have many security and OPSEC issues, could lead to the spread of contagious diseases, and likely would involve many desperate individuals. As you win 100 percent of the unnecessary fights that you avoid, this is relatively easy win for well-prepared individuals to achieve.

There are probably some out there who have a nice stack of gold and silver and somehow think there is a gigantic value in a grimy world as things will somehow automatically adjust in value. Maybe someday, but in this scenario, not so much. I do not need your gold and silver, but you probably need the goods that I have put away for such a time as this. How much is a meal worth when you are starving? For Esau, it was his birthright that gave him a right to the first-born blessing and a double portion of the inheritance. (See Genesis 25:29-34). How much is medicine worth to you that doctors have stored away when your child is dying?

Please do not tell me that people are somehow cruel for allowing unprepared individuals to die in such a scenario if on some theoretical level they could maybe possibly could save one person. The truth is that these individuals made a series of unfortunate decisions that got them to that point and prepared people made a series of decisions that got them to this point. Some families get regular bouts of “food poisoning” or gastrointestinal illness, but we do not as we have studied proper techniques of food preparation and sanitation to break cycles of illnesses and disease. I have had people tell me that it does not matter how they prepare or store their food and they are often the ones regularly writhing in pain. I learn very quickly, but some are slow learners.Continue reading“Preparedness in the New Golden Age or Grimy Age – Part 5, by Single Farmer”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make both long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug-out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those — or excerpts thereof — in the Odds ‘n Sods Column or in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

While I’m recovering from my eye surgery, things have been quiet, here at the Rawles Ranch. My recovery has been slow, due to a swollen cornea in my right eye. That is my eye with the new implanted synthetic lens. I’m hoping that the corneal swelling (“Fuchs”) is acute, rather than becoming chronic. I’m still on doctor’s orders to avoid any heavy lifting, but I did help Lily reorganize our barrels of feed grains for our livestock. (I rolled and tilted barrels, rather than lifting them.)

I got most of the March, 2025 SurvivalBlog Old School (S.O.S.) newsletters stuffed in envelopes mailed out, on Monday.  Folks who subscribed can expect to see those soon. This latest issue is six pages long. It includes some very, ahem, “useful” machining diagrams for gunsmithing.

We have reactivated the shopping cart at Elk Creek Company, and we are looking forward to your orders.  We now have our widest-ever selection of pre-1899 guns. (More than 90 guns, and 25+ knives and bayonets.) No FFL is required, to order. Many gun prices are now discounted, so take a close look.

In the coming week, I plan to set up a new sheep-milking stand in our sheep shed.  I also need to walk our fencelines, to see if any trees or large branches have fallen on our fences, over the winter.

Now, Lily’s part of the report, with some baby news…

Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” – Proverbs 12:1-15 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — March 7, 2025

On March 7, 1530 English King Henry VIII‘s divorce request was denied by Pope Clement VII.

 

March 7, 1644: Massachusetts established the first two-chamber legislature in the colonies.

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March 7, 1707 was the birthday of Stephen Hopkins, (Governor of Rhode Island) one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

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March 7, 1944 was the birthday of Townes Van Zandt, a gifted Texan singer/songwriter. (He died in 1997.)

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Today we present a guest article from a SurvivalBlog reader that is not part of the writing contest judging.

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We are seeking entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging. In 2023, we polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Please refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic.

Preparedness in the New Golden Age or Grimy Age – Part 4, by Single Farmer

Editor’s Introductory Note: This young man is prayerfully seeking a wife. He is offering an after-marriage gift of up to $50,000 to whoever introduces him to his bride with $18,000 after their marriage and another $16,000 to the individual who provided the introduction after the first two births of healthy children born to him and his wife, for a total potential gift of $50,000. For further details, see this link to his article posted on February 24th, 2025: My Quest For a Wife.

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(Continued from Part 3.)

Welcome to the Grimy Age

In this future time after the “golden age” (let us call it the grimy age), you are at your retreat and a biker is holding a knife to your young daughter’s throat demanding capitulation of your force to his renegade motorcycle gang (less fuel used, more efficient for raiding): what are you going to do? You have very few good options, but you first need to know that a loved one getting captured and held hostage is often the first act of surrender of a position. Most people are not experts in hostage negotiation tactics, have never even been trained in real fighting, and frankly are not warriors. Few people are as Heraclitus stated: “Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, 80 are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.”

It helps to have someone providing overwatch, but people who get into these situations lack forethought, so I doubt someone is going to alert your group of riders coming in (to get non-combatants to safe positions and get your force ready for action) and enforce Rule 308 from an overhead position as that situation likely would never develop with planning and some accurate marksmanship. You win 100 percent of the battles where you never need to engage as the enemy is expending his resources often getting deeper and deeper into your territory (lessons were taught to the French and Germans in Russia in 1812 and 1941). It is often better to be as inconspicuous as possible as any engagement can be costly.

It is unfortunate that these situations will someday exist as more and more desperate people try to fill their bellies and embrace Machiavellian ethics as the rule of law collapses. Since people desire an answer, I will tell you that most individuals will go for the easiest “solution” like the temporary promise of safety with a hug from your crying child with most likely your throats being slit anyway. Dangerous men are not stupid and to leave witnesses behind is foolhardy at best or worse angry people in your rear position. As the old saying goes, “they can’t hang you twice.” I doubt that this situation would occur to anyone in my retreat group as we trained for it extensively.Continue reading“Preparedness in the New Golden Age or Grimy Age – Part 4, by Single Farmer”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we examine the impact of new tariffs.

Precious Metals:

Central Bank Gold Buying Remained Strong to Kick Off 2025.

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Silver Extends Rally Amid Risk-Off Sentiment.

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Gold’s Price Disruption Eases as Trump Tariff Trade ‘Exhausted’.

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A Jim Willie interview video: SWAP IT ALL, TODAY! My Last Message To Gold and Silver Stackers in Q1 2025.  JWR’s Comments:  I hate to see useful interviews chopped up and disjointed like this. Ignore the distracting interspersed AI-generated images. I concur with Jim Willie that a formal revaluation of gold is likely during Trump’s second term.

Economy & Finance:

New US Tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico Take Effect. Here is a pericope:

“Reciprocal Tariffs Plan – On 13th February, the administration published the ‘Fair and Reciprocal Plan’ in which the President mandates the creation of a comprehensive plan for ‘restoring fairness in U.S. trade relationships and countering non-reciprocal trading arrangements. within 180 days or by mid-August’ In the associated briefings, the administration made clear that this plan would look not just at direct tariffs but indirect discrimination like value added, and sales taxes imposed on U.S. goods.

Port Entry Charge – The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has published a draft proposal to implement a new charge of up to $1.5 million per landing every time a company using a Chinese-built vessel enters a U.S. port. This is a move seen to counter the dramatic shift in global shipbuilding away from the U.S. to China but will have a direct impact on shipping costs of imported goods.”

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From the left-leaning AP: Trump’s trade war draws swift retaliation as Mexico, Canada and China impose tariffs on the US.

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A Daily Signal piece linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Made in America: Trump Racks Up $3 Trillion of Investments in US Economy.

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At Zero Hedge: Citi Does It Again, Mistakenly Credits Client Account With $81 Trillion Instead Of $280.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”