Canning Beef Stew and Chili

You Can Can has posted two new yummy recipes for canning in your pressure cooker. You just bottle these and you'll have a delicious dinner that you can pull off of the pantry shelf! Their chili and beef stew recipes look especially good.

Now Is the Time for FALL Gardening

Planting a garden, even a small one, allows for a greater degree of self-reliance.- lds.org, provident living, gardening

It's time to get your Fall garden ready. For more information on West Texas Fall Gardening contact Debbie Frost, county extension agent, 432-498-4071 She is really helpful.

Dry Pack Cans in Midland

My husband and I have half a pallet of #10 cans available to anyone who would like to use them. We have lids and oxygen packets as well. So, if you have something to can give us a call. We will sell them to you for the same price as the LDS cannery (and save you a trip to El Paso). Then take everything over to Sister Cathy Nelson's home and get things canned on the working canner!

Our phone: Bro. and Sis. Noall 432-686-0012

Water Barrel Sale

The Emergency Essentials store has their water barrels on sale. Check it out here.

Food Storage Items at Costco

If you happen to know someone with a Costco Card you could have them pick up some food storage items for you. The Costco in Mesa AZ is carrying the following items, they come in white five gallon storage buckets:

Lehi Roller Mills hard white wheat 45 lbs. in a 5 gallon white bucket for $18.99

Morning Moos dry milk substitute makes 52 gallons in 5 gallon bucket for $57.99

Food for Health International Emergency Food Supply
200 adult size servings, varieties of foods,
freeze dried in five gallon bucket, 20 year shelf life for $69.99

Finding Extra Storage Space

Sometimes finding a place to store your food storage can be a challenge. One place you might want to check is under your bed. You can use bed lifters or cinderblocks work pretty well, too. You only have to stub your toe once to remember they are there! A long bed skirt will hide everything. It's amazing how much you can stash in that space!!

Directions for Using the Canner

Cathy Nelson put this information together for her ward- it's great info for anyone wanting to use the canner. The canner should be ready to go by mid July:

Canning Information

Please call me for an appointment at 638-2779. I will give you directions to my house at that time.

Please, park out front and go to the left (East) side of the house and walk around to the back. There is no gate. If you have a lot to unload/load, you may drive around to the garage, but will then need to park in the front. Please, do not park in the alley. If you are the only one working, you are welcome to park in the driveway.

You may NOT bring children under the age of 14, and then ONLY if they are helping you. These machines are very dangerous and I do not want your children to be injured. If you bring children, I will ask you to leave.

 Items to bring with you: scissors, box knife, cloths to wipe tops of cans or pouches.
 Sealing your year’s supply is not an exact science, so there is usually a bit left over, I encourage you to bring zipper-top bags to take it home.
 Since this is an outdoor activity, you will need to bring drinking water, or you are welcome to use the hose in the backyard.
 It is also nice to bring a washcloth or something to wipe your forehead and neck (it’s really hot).

If you are putting your food into cans, it will take you about 1 minute per can. Pouching takes a little less time. So you can plan on about 45-60 minutes to put up 40 – 60 pounds of food.

I will spend time training you how to use the machines. It is your responsibility to do the actual work. Fortunately, it’s easy, so I’m positive you can do it. If you don’t think that you can do it all alone, bring a friend to help you.

Checklist:

 Food items to be stored.
 Cans and lids, or pouches.
 Zipper-top bags.
 Water.
 Arrangements made for childcare.
 Directions.

Cathy Nelson
638-2779