Use Powdered Milk to make a Wendy's Frosty (copy)

At the Mormon Mommy they have posted a recipe for a chocolate milkshake that they say tastes just like a Wendy' frosty. I haven't tried it yet- but several people commented that it really did meet and pass their family taste test- here is what she said:

If you follow these directions, I kid you not, you will end up with a chocolate milkshake so much like a Wendy’s frosty you will be amazed. I beleive the original credit for the recipe goes to the Prairie Homemaker website, but I’m not 100% on that one.

1 1/2 - 2 cups ICE water- really, really cold.
1 1/2 cups non-fat dry milk powder
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2-3 cups ice cubes
2 Tbsp vegetable oil (yes, really- it’s an emulsifier)

Place ALL the ingredients in the blender, including the oil. Use less water for a thicker milkshake or more for a shake that’s easier on your blender motor. With lid on, process for two minutes. Makes about 4 shakes.

Inspirational Quote

Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone offered some ways to find money to purchase your food storage with:

1. Decide as a family this year that 25 or 50 percent of your Christmas [budget] will be spent on a year’s supply. Many families in the Church spend considerable sums of money for Christmas. Half or part of these Christmas monies will go a long way toward purchasing the basics. I recall the Scotsman who went to the doctor and had an X-ray taken of his chest. Then he had the X-ray gift-wrapped and gave it to his wife for their anniversary. He couldn’t afford a gift, but he wanted her to know his heart was in the right place. Brethren, give your wife a year’s supply of wheat for Christmas, and she’ll know your heart is in the right place.

2. When you desire new clothes, don’t buy them. Repair and mend and make your present wardrobe last a few months longer. Use that money for the food basics....

3. Cut the amount of money you spend on recreation by 50 percent. Do fun things that do not require money outlay but make more lasting impressions on your children.

4. Decide as a family that there will be no vacation or holiday next year unless you have your year’s supply. Many Church members could buy a full year’s supply of the basics from what they would save by not taking a vacation...

5. If you haven’t a year’s supply yet and you do have boats, snowmobiles, campers, or other luxury possessions, sell or trade one or two or more of them and get your year’s supply.

6. Watch advertised specials in the grocery stores and pick up extra supplies of those items that are of exceptional value.

7. Change the mix in your family’s diet. Get your protein from sources less expensive than meat. The grocery bill is one bill that can be cut. Every time you enter the store and feel tempted by effective and honest merchandising to buy cookies, candy, ice cream, non-food items, or magazines—don’t! Think carefully; buy only the essentials. Then figure what you have saved and spend it on powdered milk, sugar, honey, salt, or grain.

Not Food Storage- but a Great Quote

Elder David Bednar shared the following information at a BYU-I Education Week Devotional Speech, June 2002-

Elder George Q. Cannon taught:

“God has reserved spirits for this dispensation who have the courage and determination to face the world and all the powers of the evil one, visible and invisible, to proclaim the Gospel and maintain the truth and establish and build up the Zion of our God fearless of all consequences. He has sent these spirits in this generation to lay the foundation of Zion never more to be overthrown and to raise up a seed that will be righteous and that will honor God and honor Him supremely and be obedient to Him under all circumstances (Journal of Discourses, 11:230 [May 6, 1866], emphasis added”).

Elder Bednar added: Thus, obedience is the principal weapon upon which [these] young warriors must rely in the latter-day battle between good and evil.

Time to Plant Fruit Trees

It is getting close to the time to plant fruit trees in West Texas. Texas A&M has tons of information on what kinds of trees do well in our area. Here is an article about different types of fruits to grow here and what types of soil conditions to work towards.

If you are thinking about ordering your fruit trees online now is the time to do it. They often sell out in October. Two sources I have found, but have not yet tried, are Willis Orchards and Fast Growing Trees Nursery. Let me know if you try these companies and what you think of your new fruit trees.

Emergency Essentials

If you are interested in ordering from Emergency Essentials they are having a sale on their freeze dried food. You can save 25% on all of their #10 cans. The link is here. I would highly recommend that you have your three month supply of foods that you enjoy eating and your year supply of basics before adding these items.

A basic year supply (wheat, oil, honey, etc.) is much cheaper to purchase and will keep you and your family alive in an emergency. From what I have learned so far, these freeze dried items would be considered "luxury" and would add a nice variety- but get your basics first.

Amazing, Informative Food Storage Article

I posted this last February but is is such a great article I thought I'd share it again.


Did you know that during World War II children raised worms to feed their chickens to help provide food for their families?

A fascinating article of how people survived during and after World War II was shared with me by my RS President Alexa Davis. It is an article by Elder Busche called "How Beautiful to Live in These Times and Be Prepared" Ensign June 1982. He lived in Germany during World War II. Take a few moments and read the article (just click on the red title above)!!

Elder Busche was asked, " What were the most valuable items in the days of starvation in Germany?" He answers and explains why- but they were:

1. (Sadly, this was number one)- Tobacco and alcohol, people would give anything for these items

2. Vegetable oil

3. Grains, especially wheat and rye

4. Honey, of course they ate it and he said his family could trade honey and get three times the value of regular sugar

5. Powdered Milk, (BYU Alumni Magazine recently published an article saying that powdered milk, stored properly, maintains its nutrients much longer than previously thought).

The article is really positive. Elder Busche said that the good people banded together. They bartered and shared to help each other. He said nearly everyone raised rabbits to eat, lots raised chickens. His family had a German breed of sheep that gave milk and they used the wool in their bartering. It is a very interesting article. I highly recommend it!

Picture from aspenlundfarm.com

Homemade Cleaner

An LDS mom shares her recipes for cleaning products here.

Apple Butter Recipe

I found this yummy looking recipe on the DomesticCents blog (unrelated, but she also has directions for making cinnamon scented pinecones).

Crock Pot Apple Butter
adapted from All Recipes

5-1/2 pounds apples – peeled, cored and chopped/shredded
4 cups white sugar (use less sugar if you are using a sweet apple)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of salt
Directions – Here’s the thing. I didn’t exactly follow the recipe. I used more than 5 pounds of apples but I’m not sure how many. I just filled my crock pot (it reduces by almost half). I also played with the spices a little to make it how I wanted.

1.Put the apples in your crock pot. Mix all the other ingredients in a bowl them dump them in with the apples and mix it all up. You can add more sugar or spices part way through if you need to. I like mine extra spicy but if you don’t then you might want to lessen the spices.
2.Set it on High for 1 hour then reduce it down to Low for 12+ hours (overnight). You are trying to get it to cook down past the point of applesauce. I read somewhere a great tip on how to tell when it’s done. Scoop out a teaspoonful of it and set it on the counter. If in 5 minutes it hasn’t leaked a ring of water then it’s done. Mine took a VERY long time to get to that point but I’m glad I waited for it. Cook the last two hours with the lid off of the crock pot.
3.When it got to the end I used my hand mixer right in the crock pot to make it even smoother. My mom put hers in the blender which yielded and even smoother butter. It just depends on what you like

Inspirational Quote

In Elder Eyring’s devotional talk at BYU Idaho (September 2001) he mentioned being frugal. I know he was referring to BYU-Idaho operating on a tight budget but he seemed to want us to apply it in our daily lives as well.

He said, “You want to have a beautiful place that you live in someday in your family. You want to have things as nice as you can have them. But I'll tell you something. One of the things that you do is to always look at every nice thing you have as God's and treat it very, very carefully…

In addition, you will not ever, ever ask for more than you need…. Now I testify to you that that blessing is both a practical one and a spiritual one. It's practical because then the Lord will provide when we do need something, and He'll provide generously because He trusts us. But it has another benefit as well. I testify to you that that spirit of sacrifice, that spirit of trying to give just a little bit more and ask a little less brings down the powers of heaven.