Something fun for little ones getting ready for General Conference

This is a really fun video that helps little one's not only learn the names of the Quorum of the 12, but also the First Presidency and a few facts about them.  It's clever...and many of you should recognize the melody.

"Break-the-fast-dinner".....

Yes, that is my Kindle among these food storage staples.  I am in love, it is a great little item and it is easy to search and find wonderful things using it.  What am I making you may ask?  Stay tuned.....

Some of you know that my husband and I are serving in a Young Single Adult ward.  The opportunities and experiences we are having are not only amazing, but are very memorable.  Well, our ward had a "Break-the-fast-dinner".  What this means is that essentially is some folks brought main dishes, others desserts, etc.  It's a big, big potluck dinner to break the fast following church on Fast Sunday.  I wasn't assigned to bring anything, but I just couldn't show up empty handed. 

I then thought about all the food storage staples I have in my home...and now that one or more children come and go, we don't necessarily need it all.  So, I decided to make something from my Food Storage.  I decided upon pies.  I put the first 3 ingredients in my food processor.

After putting in the cold water, I had a wonderful dough to use.

I rolled it out and trimmed off the rough edges.

Then, I rolled it on to my rolling pin and place the dough into the pie plate.

I put in the Cherry Pie filling that I canned using Ultra Gel.

Roll out the top crust and place it on.

Choose the fluted edges you wish.

Cut vents.

This suggestion come courtesy of my sister, Teri. Cut leaves and the shape of the fruit inside.

Using eggwash or water, attach them to the top crust.

Cover the edges with foil while baking. Remove the foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking. The foil protects the edges from burning. 

The pies turned out well, but I don't have a photo of the finished product....because I was running out the door with my pies in order to make it to church.

I made this totally with food storage supplies....and there was not any left after the meal.  I made cherry and apple, and it was actually simple. I have decided that I will be making dishes from my food storage for future dinners.  It's great practice for me, it helps rotate my supplies, and it feeds the masses.  

If you are wondering what this amazing recipe is....see it below. It comes from KSL TV.

Perfect Pie Crust

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup cold lard
• 6-8 tablespoons cold water

Method:

1 double crust 9-inch pie or 2 single crust 9-inch pie shells.

Stir together flour and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 knives cut cold lard into flour until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle water, 1 tablespoon at a time, over flour mixture tossing gently with a fork; continue to add water until pastry is moist enough to press into a ball. Do not over mix pastry. Divide dough in half and roll each half out on a lightly floured surface, or between two sheets wax paper until it is the size of pie plate. Follow directions for favorite pie.

Something Cool That I Ordered....

I ordered 2 sets of these recently after being introduced to them via an email I received from a gentleman who focuses on emergency preparedness and self sufficiency.   These are Jar Boxes  designed to hold canning jars.  I took this photo by my banister to give you a frame of reference.  You may ask what they are or what they are for.....read on.

I placed Quart Jars in the tray, but you could use pints as well.

Looking at the tray from the bottom, you can see these 'rings'. These rings allow you to either stack more trays on tip of jars, or enclose the jars with 2 trays and stack more trays on top of each other. I did try this, and it did work.

Here you can see how the trays can be stacked.  Please note the holes. If you choose to enclose your jars between two trays, you can secure them together by tethering them.

Why would you need these?

• First and foremost, they can protect your home canned foods.  I live in an earthquake zone.  I either put my jars in a box (which does not allow me to see how many jars I have in it), or I put them on a shelf with bungee cords strung across it in an attempt to keep the jars from falling and becoming a hazard.
• After a while, my boxes become weak and need to be discarded.  If a cardboard box were to get wet, it would disintegrate.  Picture several wet boxes full of heavy canned goods.....it would be a mess.  In contrast, these trays are made from sturdy plastic and in my estimation they will last for a long time. 
• If you do not enclose the bottles, you could see what you had and how many jars you had in each tray (see photo above).  This is definitely a big positive over the boxes.

What do they cost and where do you get them?

These were obtained in a group order.  They can be purchased from the following:

LDS AVOW

The cost is $15.95 for one tray or $24.99 for two.

Are they worth the cost?

For me, they will be for certain canned items.  I do not plan to replace all of my boxes with these at one time, but may purchase more of them over time.

So, another interesting item to consider in your quest to prepare.....check it out!

In Utah, Religious Leaders promote attending your upcoming Caucus.

Image courtesy of marionvermazen.blogs.com

In Utah, we have a blessed and unique Caucus system that truly encourages and actually allows true grass-root involvement of you and your neighbors. I love this system because it is very difficult to use money to influence the election of the several delegates per Caucus in Utah's approximately 2000 precincts who then represent their precinct/area and elect the candidates.  These delegates, your own neighbors who you elect, essentially vet the candidates running for office.  They are invited to listen to all of the candidates in a variety of settings, learn their views, & help made a decision that is in keeping with your local area.  These delegates can, and should, take your input into consideration and also share what they are learning with you.  In my precinct, we have a blog and a facebook page to help with disseminating information and our constituents state that they really appreciate being kept in the loop.  

This process is under attack by many special interest groups who appear to have either deep pockets or wish to promote their own ideals and candidates over the choice or choices you might make.  Many of these individuals have complained that the ordinary citizen is not informed enough to make decisions about who should run and that essentially a select group of individuals are better prepared and more knowledgeable to to make this choice for you.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Who better can know your area than a delegate who resides in your area?  In my view, the events of our last election cycle with Senator Bennett point to the effectiveness of this system.  The thousands of delegates, vetted and voted to represent their own areas and constituents.  No amount of money could have influenced all of these people to vote as they did.  In the end, the incumbent was not elected to be the candidate, and a primary was necessitated between now Senator Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater.  In that Primary, you voted for the candidate that best represented you after all of the candidates had been vetted by your delegates.  

How important is this system? Well, don't just take my word for it, see what many of our leading religious leaders are saying to their congregations. They too seem to recognize and encourage the exercising of your individual rights.  See their comments below (Courtesy of Bill Barnes from Intermountain Healthcare):

Faith communities urge participation in precinct caucus meetings

Intermountain Healthcare is encouraging all employees to attend and participate in their precinct caucuses.  The Democratic Party will hold their caucuses on Tuesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m., and the Republican Party will hold their caucuses at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday March 15.  So called "third parties" will also conduct caucuses - check their web sites for information. It is interesting to me that the leaders of several of Utah's faith communities have also issued statements encouraging their followers to attend their neighborhood political caucuses. I am sure I have not seen all the statements that have been made, but I have gone through my files and found several statements from the past few years.  Here are three of them. From a few years ago: To members of the Jewish community, Our tradition teaches: "Do not withdraw from the community" (Ethics of Our Ancestors, 2:5). We have been blessed as full participants in political life of this country, and we have a responsibility to work toward a just and equitable society. As the Torah teaches, "Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive..." (Deuteronomy 16:20) In Utah, the election process begins at party caucus meetings . . . Locations will be listed in the newspapers or you may contact the political party of your choice for the neighborhood locations. Those who attend caucuses play a critical role in nominating candidates and set the stage for important party and public policy decisions. We encourage your participation in a caucus for the party of your choice. Rabbi Tracee Rosen, Congregation Kol Ami _________________________________________________ From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this year: Dear Brothers and Sisters: PRECINCT CAUCUS MEETINGS On Tuesday, March 13, and Thursday, March 15, 2012, political parties in Utah will hold precinct caucus meetings.   Precinct caucuses are the most fundamental grassroots level of political involvement.  They are best served by a broad representation of Utah citizens.  Those who attend play a critical role in selecting candidates for public office. We are concerned with the decreasing attendance at these caucus meetings in Utah in recent years.  We therefore ask that local leaders not schedule meetings on these Tuesday and Thursday evenings so that members may attend a caucus meeting of their choice.  The locations of these meetings can be found on the websites of the respective political parties. Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in the platforms of the various political parties.  We encourage members to attend their precinct caucus meetings. Sincerely yours, the First Presidency.  _________________________________________ And, from the Catholic Diocese (again, from a couple of years ago): There are some 2,000 voting precincts in the State of Utah and each will hold one caucus for each political party. . . They usually last approximately an hour. Locations will be . . . posted on the web sites of the political parties. The main purpose of the caucuses is to elect delegates to the conventions and precinct officers (who serve on the county party Central Committees). Delegates, meeting in convention, then select which candidates will be the nominees for each respective party at every level of government. Precinct caucuses are the most fundamental grassroots level of civic involvement in Utah and participants not only play a critical role in nominating candidates, but guide important party policy and public policy. They are truly your chance to be heard. In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. (See "The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" at www.faithfulcitizenship.org) Participate in public policy will enable you to read, listen, and watch the news knowing that you have done your part to make Utah a better place! ___________________________________________ It is obvious that these caucus meetings are an important part of the political process here in Utah. We would encourage you to make the time, attend your caucus meeting, and be a part of the process. If you really want to exercise significant impact - run to be a delegate! It is easy. Take a few friends and go for it. It's fun!! Call your County Clerk (number in the blue pages of your phone book) to find out your precinct number, then go to the web site of the party of your choice to locate your precinct location.

Not only are religious leaders teaching and encouraging their congregations to become involved, but employers are as well.  Who better to represent the interests of local religious beliefs as well as those who are employed in our state, than you!  

Please make the date of your local Caucus a priority and attend!   You have much to protect and promote.

Doomsday Preppers....you really have watched those commercials...haven't you?

Okay, admit it.  You really have peeked at those commercials on the National Geographic Channel about the Doomsday Preppers.  It really did pique your interest...didn't it? Well, I was intrigued when I caught a good portion of one of the shows featuring a local gal, Kellene Bishop.  I have read her blog for years and have even been a participant in an online course.  Even though I don't follow all her suggestions (for personal reasons), I agree with a great majority of them.  She is a force to be reckoned with.

Here are 10 steps to preparedness that she shared on the shows website. I think there is wisdom in her choice and hierarchy.  It seems that many of us just get overwhelmed with the thought of being prepared.  However, you will have a sense of peace when you are preparing and when you do have enough resources on hand.  What is the cost of peace?  Just know your stress level greatly reduces when you do get your 'stuff together'.  Here are her suggestions:

Attempting to be more self-reliant in any one area of our lives can feel a bit overwhelming. Even more frustrating can be the litany of advertisers who scare the bejeebies out of us in hopes to get us to buy their new and improved disaster prevention thingamajig. But if you stick to two key fundamentals of preparedness, you’ll be able to avoid the countless pitfalls.

Prepare for today, be ready for tomorrow. Avoid looking toward a single specific event for which you’re going to prepare. Self-reliance applies very personally to each person’s life. If you can prepare for the everyday, then you’ll find yourself prepared for future events as well. Instead of dwelling on the myriad of horrible possibilities, take it one step at a time. As you go through your daily routine, challenge yourself with questions that make you think differently about the access and freedoms you presently enjoy that make your daily routine possible. For example, as you’re driving ask yourself what you would do if your ability to drive that particular route was compromised. “What if” scenarios are much more powerful than simple child games, they give our brain the resources to use in the future when we are suddenly faced with a challenge, allowing us the chance to better function when faced with stressful situations. Also, allowing yourself to think of the “what if “scenarios, will naturally help you to take measures to be ready with countermeasures when you’re thrown a curveball.

Prioritize. There’s a natural progression of events that unfold in the face of a trial. Understanding this natural progression is key to properly preparing and will ensure that you don’t ignore a key principle or overemphasize another. History provides us with an abundance of these examples. For example, while most people think about stocking up on food, when it comes to “preppers” such a principle is no where near as critical as access to proper medical care. No one gets into a car accident and immediately dials for pizza delivery, right? So strengthen your self-reliance efforts by focusing on the natural way that vulnerabilities will unfold in times of distress and take actions according to the level of importance to such priorities.

Here’s a list of 10 Principles of Preparedness in the order of their prioritization. Try as you may, you’ll be hard pressed to switch their order of influence in your life. Ensuring that you address all of them with the proper level of prioritization, will give you a balanced self-reliance result:

1: Spiritual Preparedness: Your core values and belief system will be the first point of strength in the face of any challenge and will no doubt determine how you respond to those challenges.

2: Mental Preparedness: Your level of knowledge, skills, and fortitude to endure a challenge will be closely linked with the first Principle of Preparedness. All of the tools and supplies and protections in the world won’t help a person without the mental ability to exercise the use thereof.

3: Physical Preparedness: Your level of physical mobility, fitness, and how you’ve prepared to address your physical vulnerabilities is crucial. A fitness guru can be just as compromised as a person who’s seriously overweight if they lack the muscle memory, dexterity, and physical skills needed to travel or defend themselves in the face of a challenge.

4: Medical Preparedness: Something as simple as a hang-nail, minor scrape, or running out of critical medication has killed a person more than once. Preparing for such instances in the form of first-aid knowledge, alternative methods of care, battle field triage skills, and stocking up on essential first aid supplies can eliminate a host of unpleasant possibilities.

5: Clothing/Shelter Preparedness: Personal and structural soundness, safety, and protection. You may think of water as more important than most anything, but you can perish from heat exhaustion or freezing to death much sooner than you will thirst. How will you control your environment if you lack the luxury of electricity or gas?

6: Fuel Preparedness: Light, heat, travel, cooking, sanitizing, and environmental control all require some form or another of fuel—whether it be your own physical energy or that provided by a resource such as propane, batteries, or wood.  Do you have alternative resources along with the equipment to use such resources?

7: Water Preparedness: While it’s not accurate that 72 hours without water will kill a person, itis accurate that 72 hours without water will begin to damage vital organs in the body. Be sure you have reliable water sources in your shelter, easily accessed, as well as plans for filtering and treating other resources of water.

8: Food Preparedness: Be sure that you also have the knowledge and resources to prepare and serve food with absorbable nutrition. Simply storing food is only the first step. True self-reliance only comes in this area when you’re able to produce food as well. Also, don’t underestimate the need for familiar foods for your family, as well as comfort food.

9: Financial Preparedness: Ridding yourself of debt and having the ability to purchase what you need under a wide set of circumstances is critical, as is having 6 months reserve of your monthly income and setting aside items with which to barter.

10: Communication Preparedness: When trouble strikes, the first thing you want to know is that your friends and loved ones are well, however, there are many circumstances in which your traditions communication methods are compromised, so prepare for alternatives. Coordinating efforts, commerce, and safety are also compromised without sufficient low-tech communication alternatives.

Kellene Bishop, The Preparedness Pro, has been educating on panic-free, practical preparedness information for over 12 years. You can find more information atwww.preparednesspro.com or Kellene’s Facebook and Twitter pages.