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To: Kartographer; JRandomFreeper; greeneyes; All
Here's what I did:
The plan is to eat stored grocery store food first. When that is gone, go to Walton Feed long term dehydrated food. I first bought the long term food, good for 20-25 years and powdered milk good for 10 years at least. That pdf file is wrong about the shelf life of dehydrated food. She says good for 10 years and that isn't true - it's according to what you buy as dairy has a shorter shelf life, like 10+ years, but the rest is 20-25 years. After I got the dehydrated food, then I stored grocery store food.

I got dehydrated food from Walton Feed. Dehydrated food is cheaper than freeze dried so I got dehydrated which allowed me to have more food. Before I bought I made menus for two weeks to have different foods every day. Then I added up the amount of each food it would take to store for the term I wanted.

Then, I ordered “some”. I didn't want a truck in front of my house unloading ALL of the food at one time. That would attract attention, so I bought it in groups and waited a few days between each order so it was delivered at least a week apart.

If you ask me what I have, I can't tell you because I don't remember. However, I have a hard copy I made as I went along - listing each food and how much there is and I have a hard copy of the menus.

If you buy powdered eggs you can't eat scrambled eggs with that - those are for recipes. “Egg mix” however, makes scrambled eggs. Any form of eggs is expensive, so for recipes I use “Egg Replacer”. An egg is in a recipe to hold ingredients together. Egg Replacer does just that. There are 113 “eggs” in a pound box.

This product is made by Ener-G Foods in Seattle. You can put “Egg Replacer” in search and find this product. A box is not expensive but I don't remember how much a box was. I zipped each box in a gallon freezer bag to keep out moisture.

I didn't buy powdered cheese as that is for recipes and too expensive. Instead, I have Molly McButter cheese sprinkles to sprinkle over veggies, whatever. It has a good strong cheese flavor. I can make cheese to hold in your hand and eat, by using a simple recipe in “Eating Off The Grid”.

I didn't buy butter powder as that is only for recipes and too expensive. I didn't get canned butter because it is too expensive. I use Crisco butter flavor for recipes that require butter and I have Molly McButter sprinkles for putting that on top of various foods when served.

Milk: There is instant milk and powdered milk and they are not the same. Instant milk is in grocery stores. Walton and other companies have that plus milk powder. Milk powder is cheaper. Instant milk dissolves quickly in water. Milk powder has to be stirred a bit to dissolve. For long term storage, I got powder since it is cheaper, from Walton for long term storage AND instant milk to start with from the grocery store.

Instant milk from the grocery has Vitamins D and A added. Long term milk, either instant or powdered from Walton or company like Walton, does NOT have these vitamins added. If you have children and are using milk powder or instant from a long term storage company, stick them in the sun for 15 minutes a day to get vitamin D. In a long term emergency with no power, the kids and you will be outside more than you are now. Kids won't have TV or computer games then.

12 posted on 12/18/2012 9:16:25 AM PST by Marcella (Prepping can save your life today. Galt is freedom.)
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To: Marcella
If you buy powdered eggs you can't eat scrambled eggs with that - those are for recipes. “Egg mix” however, makes scrambled eggs. Any form of eggs is expensive, so for recipes I use “Egg Replacer”. An egg is in a recipe to hold ingredients together. Egg Replacer does just that. There are 113 “eggs” in a pound box.

This product is made by Ener-G Foods in Seattle. You can put “Egg Replacer” in search and find this product. A box is not expensive but I don't remember how much a box was. I zipped each box in a gallon freezer bag to keep out moisture.


I didn't know that (that powdered eggs won't make scrambled eggs). Darn. Oh well, when I use 'em up in recipes, I'll get some egg replacer.

I didn't get canned butter because it is too expensive.

It is. I"m thinking about canning some and see how it goes. Although some things are not approved for canning by the canning gods, I've had luck with canning bacon. And will try some butter and cheese next.
13 posted on 12/18/2012 11:44:08 AM PST by yorkiemom
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To: Marcella
All good stuff to know. I just got that book “Eating off the Grid”, and am enjoying reading it. I was making yogurt and a simple cheese (labneh) last year using the crock pot, so I will be getting back to that this winter.

I just got back from the store, and picked up some of that no knead bread mix you recommended to try. They only had the white and the multigrain, but I am looking forward to trying it this weekend.

15 posted on 12/18/2012 11:16:14 PM PST by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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