Kind of funny, but I have been asked non-stop this past month what I’ve asked Santa Claus for Christmas. So, I’m going to tell you.
An Aero-Garden- so that I can grow more goodies inside the home. It’s more convenient for me to handle them indoors and I like having more living plants in my home to provide more wonderful oxygen.- Molasses– I simply can’t seem to get enough of this stuff and there are so many wonderful goodies I can make with it such as ginger snaps and ginger bread. It’s a bit pricey so I don’t buy it for myself much. But I never mind it when Santa splurges on things like that. However, you should try the molasses powder! It is shelf stable, easy to use, and a great addition to your preparedness pantry.
- Cold-pressed coconut oil– This oil will store indefinitely. It simply doesn’t go rancid and it doesn’t flavor the foods that I use it in.
A super “hotel sized” Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker—I have three varied sizes of these pressure cookers now—standard sizes from 5 liters to 7 liters. But if I ever find myself cooking for an army of refugees, I’m certain that I will want a bigger pot. I spotted this “hotel” size years ago. I must admit, my Christmas list has surely changed over the years. It used to be that I expected my husband to give me some kind of a “sparkly” for Christmas every year. Sparkly as in jewelry. But my “sparkly bling” of choice is now that which you get from a large pot or solar oven reflectors. *grin*- More ammo-can a girl ever have enough ammo? Not if she regularly practices, she can’t. Gotta keep up the skills.
- Liquid Soy Lecithin—Ok. I admit, I am not a fan of the stuff when it comes to clean up. It’s so dang sticky. But I have discovered that I can simply use a squirt top lid on the bottle and then only eyeball 4 tablespoons of the stuff in my bread dough instead of using ½ to ¾ cup of vegetable oil. It’s only $8.99 a bottle here. And four bottles will last me a whole year. That’s a lot cheaper and a lot less expensive than vegetable oil. So I’m a newly converted fan.
A marble rolling pin—I’ve discovered so many wonderful things I can do with my bread dough that I’ve coveted my mother-in-law’s marble rolling pin. I think Santa got the hint on this one.- A gift card to Amazon.com—I can never get enough books, especially those on cooking, preparedness, the US Constitution, and homeopathy. I’m really studying up on the use of essential oils lately. That’s my 2010 goal—to master the use of essential oils for health care.
- More Mason Jars—especially the wide mouth size so that I can bake breads and cakes in them and then store them. I also like how I can cut up steak that I get on sale to fit just inside and then have a recognizable shaped steak after I can them. Yum. There’s nothing like canned steak meat that’s essentially marinated for 3 years!
And last but not least, I could always appreciate more grains for my food storage. This is one woman who wouldn’t be upset if her husband gave her some more wheat which is packaged properly in Diatomaceous earth or some more freeze-dried sweet corn. If things keep going the way I fully expect them too with the grain shortage, any one of you could end up being a millionaire in grains if you simply had a years supply in your home right now.
Ultimately this list may sound so very, very boring to most of you. Frankly, if you had told me that I was going to get this kind of stuff for Christmas—let alone ask for it—10 years ago, I would have been so depressed. Really! And my husband probably would have been exiled to the tiniest, most cramped of dog houses back then too. But nowadays, my focus truly is preparedness. I love preparedness. I love creating recipes and easier ways of doing things.
I got so dang excited last night as I got boneless, skinless chicken breasts on sale for only $1.48. I brought them home and had them canned and in the pressure canner in less than 20 minutes! I also was giddy after finding large eggs on sale for only .50 cents a dozen! I bought 24 dozen and brought them home. On Christmas day I’m going to begin a three day weekend by putting the mineral oil on my eggs and replenishing my egg storage downstairs! And I’m actually excited that I get a few days off from writing and teaching so that I can organize my preparedness supplies!
Am I crazy? Nope. I’m just super content with what’s important to me. Preparedness doesn’t mean doom and gloom for me. It means being ready for whatever may come that I have control over. I love knowing that I’m providing comfort and safety for my family. To me that is the ultimate peace. Isn’t that what the Savior does for us? Bring us Peace?
Merry Christmas to all of you this year. May you have a bountiful supply of Peace and Joy!
34 Comments
TNDadx4 · December 25, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Great list. Have a Merry Christmas!!!!
June E. · December 26, 2009 at 1:42 am
Great thinking. I have always planned ahead with loads of can goods, flour, & sugar,and I do some canning, but have never canned meat and never heard of preserving eggs. I am so interested in doing this. Is there a book on the subject that you could recommend? I love your articles and you have certainly impressed on me the need to do much more. Thanks.
Debbie · December 26, 2009 at 2:31 am
I have wanted a foodsaver for a while, so that was the only thing on my list, and yahoo Santa delivered. Merry Christmas Kellene and family.
Kellene · December 26, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Merry Christmas to you too, Debbie!
Melanie · December 26, 2009 at 2:38 am
Where can I find the articles you reference, especially the one about the eggs?
Kellene · December 26, 2009 at 7:44 pm
A simple search on the articles I’ve written on preserving eggs and canning meats will turn them up for ya.
Melanie · December 26, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Thanks. It always helps to know how to word it. I did a simple search on egg storage and it came up with everything but. I was almost about to give up on it.
So, you simply coat the eggs with warm mineral oil and store in a styrofoam egg carton, in a cool dry place, for up to 9 months. Do they need to dry first or anything. Thanks.
Kellene · December 28, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Nope. Just coat them and then put them in the cartons. Store in a cool, dry place.
Karen · December 26, 2009 at 4:55 am
I was eyeing up those aero-garden things at Canadian Tire this week. Are they worth buying at a price of over $100?
Kellene · December 26, 2009 at 7:43 pm
In my mind they are!
Believer · December 26, 2009 at 5:28 am
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I have given food storage items to my family for Christmas for several years. This year I gave each of my adult children the book, “The 5000 Year Leap,” by Cleon Skousen. I’m hoping we can all become more educated about the constitution. I’m afraid we have almost lost it.
Thanks for all of your articles. The more prepared we are, the better off we be during the coming trials.
Kellene · December 26, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Awesome gift, Justine!!
Kristine · December 26, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Kellene,
Thanks for the wonderful list…I love molasses too! I even have powdered molasses from http://www.BulkFoods.com (The have great prices on whey protein also)
Molasses is very high in iron and trace minerals. A tablespoon or more tastes delicious in a mug with hot water and a little milk for a warming drink. A dusting of cinnamon makes it extra special. Great for a cold winters night.
I’m adding ammo, and a pressure canner to my list. I have some in the fridge and will try it on our next batch of bread.
Thanks & Blessings,
Kristine
Kellene · December 28, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Kristine, do you have ammo or a pressure cooking in the fridge? 🙂 I don’t think the ammo is necessary for a good loaf of bread. 🙂
Kris · December 26, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I hope you got most of your list. And thanks for the gifts you give each day. I’ve learned so much from you and am thankful you are sharing your knowledge. I hope you have a wonderful 2010. If you are ever in Houston, you have an open invitation into our home… you’ll never need a hotel room if you’re in my city.
Kellene · December 28, 2009 at 5:32 pm
You’re a peach, as usual, Kris!
Lindy · December 26, 2009 at 10:32 pm
You mention canning bread, baked in Mason jars. Can you publish recipes on how you do this? I have searched and searched and thought it generally considered impossible. I would love to know how you do it. Also, info on how you store eggs. Many thanks and a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!
Kellene · December 28, 2009 at 5:32 pm
All you have to do is make your cakes and breads as normal, just don’t use any eggs in the recipe. Instead use the clear gelatin (Knox, Ultra Maxi-Gel, etc.) That way they won’t go bad. For the info on storing eggs, simply do a search “egg preservation” and you’ll find it.
Kellene · December 28, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Oh, and then seal the jar with a Foodsaver. (pretty important “Oh by the way”. Sorry for omitting that.
jamie · December 30, 2009 at 9:55 am
Is this like dry goods or a finished bake product. I have lots of folks that need a pre-mix on most everything. No eggs or milk in the bread recipe I want to store only perishable would be Margarine.
I do have a foodsaver jar attachment.
kathy · December 26, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I got a copy of Brace For Impact and a Vita-Mix, both at the top of my preparedness list. I gave my kids stogage shelves, food and hurricane lamps.
Elizabeth · December 27, 2009 at 2:27 am
Kellene~
Thought I would weight in with some first-hand information about Aerogardens. I have three and I’ve been growing for over a year. They are fine, mine are full of yellow and red cherry toms right now.
All three of my Aerogardens were bought through Craigslist. These are always available, usually for $35-$40. My first one only cost $10. People usually always throw in any left over seed and nutrient tablets. Never forget to ask for these. The worst thing that will happen is the seller will say “no.” I would never pay the $100 that some buyers ask.
Now the downside:
* Replacement seeds and tablets are expensive, around $20. I use the Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons to buy mine at a discount.
* Hydroponics are never as tasty as toms grown in soil. They look good and cook just fine, but the flavor is missing.
* Grow your herbs on a sunny windowsill in a pot for a better cost. No need to bother with an Aerogarden for herbs. In my area, many of the herbs are perennials and can withstand our infrequent mild freezes and even an occasional severe freeze to the low 20s.
* How much does your electricity cost? Aerogardens run around the clock.
* I had a serious case of white flies last summer inside the house on the Aerogarden toms. All was fine in the garden toms.
* You have to clean and sterilize with bleach after a crop. That is a pain.
Still, all in all, I keep using mine because I like the novelty and I’d rather eat a bland sort of organic hydroponic tomato than one sprayed with poisons.
Good luck!
CL · December 27, 2009 at 4:47 am
Hope you got what you wanted for Christmas. I love your blog. It is so refreshing to see someone balance the prepper role with such faith.
I’ve used essential oils for years . . . they are fabulous. Valerie Ann Worwood (British aromatherapist) has written numerous books on them, and I’ve liked all but one.
Kellene · December 28, 2009 at 5:28 pm
Be sure to tell me the one you didn’t care for so that I don’t get it. Thanks!
Julene · December 27, 2009 at 6:32 am
I think that is the best Christmas list ever! I want all those things too! I am asking for powdered milk for my bday in January. My kids think I am crazy and weird.
Andra · December 27, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Love your list! As a result, I’m going to look into the aero-garden. We now give only preparedness items as gifts for birthday and Christmas. Amazing how appreciative the recipients are. I’m hoping it will help jump-start their efforts; at a minimum inch them forward. Thanks Kellene and wishing you a very blessed Christmas and New Year’s celebration.
Sherry · December 28, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Kellene:
Your list looks fine to me! I asked for and received sturdy storage shelves for my prepper items. I quit wanting ‘sparkly’ items for Christmas years ago. My kids think I’m too practical but, you can’t eat jewelry and can’t barter the cheap stuff! LOL! I have been freezing our extra eggs in yogurt cups for the past few years and using them to cook with or for scrambled eggs in the winter when the hens take a month or two off. All you do is whip them before freezing mixing them well. Being from Texas I may have a hard time finding a ‘cool’ place in the summer to store eggs. Can’t wait to try the cake/bread in the jars. There are several recipes on the web about cakes in mason jars but, all say you can’t store them. Keep up the great work I love the blog!
Happy New Year!
Anji · December 29, 2009 at 7:07 pm
My mom thought I was no fun, asking for a pressure canner and a food saver for Christmas. But I got both (thanks to Amazon.com), and I am as happy as can be! A solar oven is next on my list (too bad Amazon doesn’t sell those!), I can’t wait to try it out!
Anji · December 29, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Never mind, amazon.com does sell solar ovens. I just hadn’t checked.
Elizabeth · December 30, 2009 at 12:23 am
Anji~ Check the internet for plans for a homemade one before you invest. They are not hard to make with throwaway items. My 5th graders made several types 2 years ago. Are they pretty? No. Functional? Absolutely!
Julene · December 30, 2009 at 4:06 am
I forgot to add my 2 cents about the aero garden. I got one 2 years ago and loved it at first. Then the roots got tangled in the motor and I had to get a new motor. They sent it for free and with a new tomato plant as you have to take the plant out to put in the new motor. This happened twice!! It takes a long time to get the tomatoes going and was such a dissapointment to have to ruin the plant to put in the new motor. I switched to herbs and had the same problems. I now have it stored in the garage as it is expensive to get more seeds and the special nutrient pills for the plants. An outside garden is way easier and even though some say it’s great for the winter, it takes a long time to get any kind of produce from it to use in food. There would need to be a lot of planning ahead and several aerogardens to get enough food to sustain my family. (and they are messy, the plants grow everywhere and the lights are SUPER bright) The lights would wake my kids up at 4 am even with doors closed. I was so excited for this product but I wouldn’t reccomend it at all.
jamie · December 30, 2009 at 8:54 am
I’ve been looking at the recycle bins my city provides. I’m paying for them every month so I don’t feel like I’m stealing. I think they would make great planters. Nice and deep, easy to plant almost anything with good soil, can be moved fairly easy indoors and out. Good drainage on the boxes in my city. If I want or need more I just walk in to the city department and grab a couple. I always ask 1st I don’t want to deprive anyone, but so far everyone at the “City Level” is more than happy I take the boxes. I’m paying nearly $6.00 per month for this, “Recycling” I think I could get some more value out of those boxes creating some fairly large mobile container gardens.
Jackie · December 31, 2009 at 4:31 am
I had a bottle of the liquid lecithin and yes it is very sticky…..I now use the lecithin powder…….what do you think of the powder?
Kellene · December 31, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Jackie, the oil can be stored for at least 5-7 years with no problem and I overcome the stickiness via a squeeze top. So now I just eyeball my 4 tablespoons of it that I use for my bread recipe. I found the lecithin granules that I had been using didn’t hold up after a couple of years of storage. I haven’t tried the powder yet.
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