Food Storage - How on earth?

The strength of the church welfare program lies in every family following the inspired direction of the church leaders to be self-sustaining through adequate preparation. God intends for his Saints to so prepare themselves "that the church [as the Lord has said] may stand independent above all other creatures beneath the celestial world." (D&C 78:14.) Ezra Taft Benson, "Prepare Ye," Ensign, Jan 1974, 68

A prophet commands it. So, how do we get started? You may not know it, but the new guidelines list a three-month supply (as well as a water supply and financial reserve) rather than the year-supply that my mother has, but always seems incredibly daunting to me. Leslie Probert on Mormon Times has some good ideas:

Plan 2 weeks of recipes, then double it (and you have a month). Then, come up with two more weeks, and double that. Finally, one more set of two weeks, and you have your final month--or any other grouping of meal plans.

It doesn't have to be all ramen, spam, and yellow death. With all the food available to us these days, you may be able to eat gourmet (though canned) food for three months. It is all about figuring out substitutions to your favorite recipes--but also recipes that can be done when you may or may not have electricity.

The problem with a lot of the old food storage guidelines was how to cook with 30 lbs. worth of wheat and no wheat grinder. You can only eat so much wheat chili (shudder--sorry, Mom). My favorite of her ideas is building a food storage cookbook--listing favorite recipes, and substituting in canned goods or food storage goods for it--And then having a booklet of 90 different days of recipes. This seems a little daunting, but I think we, as a foodie group could totally pull it off.

Is this something you may be interested in? Let me know in the comments, and I'll go to work gathering recipes from everyone.

It Starts. . .

Well, my lovelies, here we are starting out our new adventures in nummy eating. . . Please feel free to comment, post, or recommend restaurants around the area, recipes that have worked for you that you think others would like, and your personal feelings on experiences we will have together.

Enrichment is about enriching the lives of those around us as well as ourselves. We may as well share our love and knowledge with others seeking out good things.

Acts 14: 17 reads, "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." Let us nourish ourselves with the good word of God, surround ourselves with the company of good friends, and fill "our hearts with food and gladness!"

Did you know when you blog, you are following the counsel of the Lord? Elder Ballard, an Apostle, has spoken about the need to blog. Mostly he talks about testifying of the Restoration, but why can't the joys of food and sisterhood allow others to see us in a different light--it is true, Mormons are normal!

Check out the list of links on the right for recipe hints, restaurant guides, and much more. Also, if you would like to contribute and aren't already listed as an author, please email me.