Unique and Useful Christmas Gift Ideas

The Christmas season is nearly upon us and everyone is starting to think about gift giving.  We all want to give unique gifts that will be useful and pleasing to our friends and loved ones.  The only trouble is that many times it is difficult to think of something new and useful.  If you are tired of giving sweaters, ties, candy, perfume, jewelry, etc., here is a list of items that would make wonderful, useful gifts. 

1. First Aid Kit
2. Emergency Kit
3. Battery Power Radio
4. Solar Radio w/ Cell Phone Charger
5. Stove In A Can
6. Volcano Cooking Kit
7. Butane Stove
8. Solar Oven
9. Solar Crank Lantern
10. Flashlight
11. Water Purification Pens or Filters
12. Emergency tools – Pocket Knife, Ax, Shovel
13. MREs
14. Food Storage Items – Freeze-Dried or Dehydrated Foods

As you will notice all of these items are centered on the theme of emergency preparedness.  In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, wouldn’t we all be better off to be prepared.  Shelf Reliance carries high quality famous maker gear and supplies along with their very own Shelf Reliance Thrive Foods.  You can find all of the above items along with a wide selection of others at my Shelf Reliance website. I invite you to visit to find the perfect Christmas gifts for those on your list.  Just click the link below.

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Food Storage As Convenience Food



How do you think of your food storage? 

Over time, the way I have thought of my food storage has evolved.  In the beginning, when I was building my food storage, it never entered my mind that I should rotate it.  In my mind it was an insurance policy for the future and not to be used until the time of need actually came.  I remember purchasing 100 lbs. of powdered milk and sealing it up in 5 gallon plastic buckets feeling very comfortable that it would provide for me and my family if we needed it.  Fortunately, no major time of need came.  However, at the end of the 20 years I realized that the milk along with many of the other items I had stored for so long had lost their nutritive value and in essence had been wasted.  This filled me with guilt.

I began to realize that if I was going to have food storage it needed to be rotated and managed.  At that point, I began to learn how to use my food storage in the everyday meals that I made for my family.  At that point, I learned to purchase only the items I would actually use.  I also learned how to manage the items so that they would be used before they reached their expiration date.  I wasn’t always successful, but I greatly decreased the food that was wasted.

When freeze-dried foods became available, I found that they were not only good for long term food storage, but that they were also great for convenience foods.  Freeze-dried foods with their vivid taste and aroma are very desirable.  They can easily be substituted in your own recipes without loss of taste, aroma, nutrition, texture or color.  The fact that they are fast and easy to rehydrate and require no slicing or chopping speeds up the cooking process.  They make the task of rotating all of my food storage easier and more convenient.  I find that they are great time savers, giving me more time to spend with my family.   I stock my pantry with the following items to use as convenience food:

1. Freeze-dried meats
2.      Freeze-dried cheese
3.      Freeze-dried onions
4.      Freeze-dried celery
5.      Freeze-dried mushrooms
6.      Freeze-dried spinach
7.      Freeze-dried strawberries

 A large variety of freeze-dried foods are available, making it easy to find the items you use most often.

Why I find using freeze-dried foods convenient.

1. Fast and easy to use.
2. Easy to use in my own recipes
3. Always available, even when the fresh item is out of season
4. Have vivid delicious tastes and aromas
5. Allow me to use only the amount I need (no waste)
6. They are always in my pantry ready to be used even if I haven’t had time to shop for fresh items
7. Long shelf life
8. They make great healthy snacks for children just as they are
9. My family loves them  

I enjoy cooking meals from scratch.  I find that freeze-dried foods used in combination with my regular food storage items make it possible to make a large variety of very desirable meals that my family loves.  This makes it easy to continually rotate my food storage and prevent waste.  If you don’t enjoy cooking or don’t have the time to cook from scratch, freeze-dried foods can be a great convenience food for you.  You will be surprised at the amount of time you can save by using them.  They can make it possible for you to actually keep and rotate a viable food storage for your family. 

If you are interested in more information about freeze-dried foods or would like to purchase freeze-dried foods, please click the link below to go to my Shelf Reliance website.

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Nikuman (Steamed Buns) Made Quick and Easy From Food Storage Ingredients

I love to visit Japan.  When I am there, everything is an adventure.  Communicating, navigating an unfamiliar environment, experiencing a new culture and especially tasting new and delicious foods are great fun for me.  The first time I visited Japan, my mother-in-law worried about what Japanese food I would enjoy eating.  She went to the store and brought back a little box filled with nikuman.  You may have seen them if you have ever visited a dim sum restaurant.  They are steamed buns usually filled with meat, sweet beans or custard.  Variations of them are found all over Asia.  Needless to say, I fell in love with the taste of the little buns and they are a treat I search out on all of my visits to Japan.

Nikuman are a little hard to find in the U.S.  Therefore, over the years I have always been keeping an eye out for a place to purchase them.  Many years ago, I experimented with recipes to make nikuman.  However, making them seemed to take more time than I had to spend in the kitchen.  Since I have been associated with Shelf Reliance Thrive Foods, I have been experimenting and have found a delicious and time saving method to make them out of my food storage ingredients.  They are versatile and can be filled with sweet or savory fillings. They are great for lunch or a quick snack.  Try packing them in a lunchbox.  Make up a batch and freeze the leftovers for use in the future.   The following recipes using food storage ingredients make it possible to cut the preparation time by a significant amount without taking away from the taste.

First, I will give the recipe for the bread part of the Nikuman.  I adapted this recipe from one given for Nikuman (Baozi) taken from http://norecipes.com.  All of the ingredients with the exception of cake flour are normally found in most pantries.  All-purpose flour can be used but the result is a little bit heavier bread.

Nikuman or Steamed Buns

Ingredients

18 oz. cake flour  (all purpose is ok but finished product is heavier, also use a little less)

3.5 oz sugar

2 tsp. yeast

1.5 tsp. baking powder

2 T. vegetable oil

1 C. water, luke warm

Instructions

1. Mix sugar, yeast, oil and luke warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes until the mixture becomes bubbly or frothy.  Add cake flour and baking powder, then turn on stand mixer. Mix for at least 5 minutes.  Dough should pull away from the bowl and form a ball.

2. Place ball of dough into a greased bowl and cover.  Place in a warm place and let rise for 1 hour.

3. Punch down the dough and roll it into a log.  Cut the log into 16 even pieces and form each piece into a ball.  Cover with a damp towel to keep them from drying out.  Let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

4. Roll out each piece of dough until it is thin and round.  Spoon about 2 T. filling onto the center of the dough.  Pleat the edges together, bringing them together to close the opening.  Squeeze the dough together closing the hole in the bun.  Place bun on 3” x 3” piece of parchment or waxed paper.

5. Steam in steamer for 10 minutes.  Let cool slightly and serve.

Now for the fillings, the first is savory and the second for your sweet tooth.

Chicken Filling for Steamed Buns

Note:  This Filling also makes wonderful lettuce wraps.

Ingredients

1 T. oil

1 ½ C. freeze-dried chopped chicken

2/3 C freeze-dried mushrooms, rehydrated and minced

3 T. freeze-dried onion, rehydrated

1 tsp. minced garlic
1 C. water chestnuts, minced

4 T. soy sauce

4 T. brown sugar

1 tsp. rice wine vinegar

3 tsp. water

1 tsp. cornstarch

Instructions

1. Rehydrate chicken, mushrooms and onions in water for 10 minutes and drain well.

2. Add oil to frying pan and stir-fry chicken, mushrooms, onions and garlic until warmed through.

3. Mix soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, water and cornstarch toge3ther and add to chicken mixture in the frying pan.  Heat until sauce thickens.

Pastry Cream From Food Storage

This may not be quite as rich as regular pastry cream, but it is delicious, quick and easy. 

4 T. instant milk powder

2 C. water

¼ C. white sugar

2 T. whole egg powder

4 T. water

¼ C. cornstarch

1/3 C. sugar

2 T. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1. In a heavy saucepan, stir together the instant milk powder, C. water and ¼ C. sugar.  Bring to a boil over medium heat.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together whole egg powder, remaining 1/3 C. sugar and cornstarch.  Wisk in 4 T. water until all are mixed well. 

3. When the milk mixture comes to a boil, slowly drizzle small spoonfuls into the egg mixture while whisking.  Be sure to whisk constantly to prevent the egg from curdling and be careful not to scorch the milk mixture.  Do this until about half of the milk mixture has been whisked into the egg mixture. 

4. Then, while whisking, return all of the egg and milk mixture back into the saucepan and slowly bring back to a boil.  Mixture will thicken.  Remove from the heat and stir in butter and vanilla.  Mix well.  Pour mixture into a heatproof container and cover with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming on the to p of the mixture.  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Give these recipes a try.  I am sure your family will enjoy them.  You may already have all of the ingredients in you food storage pantry.  If not, these ingredients are great to have on hand.  They are convenient, versatile and make preparation fast and easy.  They also have a long shelf life.  All of these ingredients and many more can be purchased through my Shelf Reliance website.  Just click the link below to go directly to my website where you can purchase a wide variety of Shelf Reliance Products that will be shipped directly to you.

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Tomato Basil Rice Italian from Food Storage Ingredients

This summer, I have had a craving for Italian Food.  I love the flavors of tomatoes, basil, sea salt and parmesan cheese together.  After a little experimentation, I came up with this quick, easy and delicious recipe.  It is quick and easy because of the freeze-dried and dehydrated ingredients.  They are already cleaned, chopped and ready to rehydrate.  If you want it to be even quicker, pre-cook and refrigerate the rice.  You can even use leftover refrigerated white or brown rice (no pre-seasoning).  What a great tasting way to use up leftover rice.  

Give it a try.  If you like the taste of Italian cuisine, you will love it.

Tomato Basil Rice Italian from Food Storage Ingredients

2 C. Cooked White or Brown Rice

2 T. Olive Oil

3 Cloves Garlic, minced

½ C. Dehydrated or Freeze-dried Onion

5 Lg. Sprigs of Basil (Fresh), chopped

1 C. Freeze-dried Tomato Chunks

½ to ¾ C. Freeze-dried Green or Red Peppers or a mixture of both

½ C. Freeze-dried Chopped Chicken

1 tsp. Sea Salt, more if desired

1/8 to ¼ tsp. Cayenne Pepper, depending on how spicy you like it.

Parmesan Cheese for topping

Rehydrate onion, tomato, peppers and chicken in separate bowls by adding just enough water to each bowl to cover each ingredient.  Let set for 10 to 15 minutes.  Drain off water and press each a little to get rid of any excess water.  Set aside. 

Place olive oil into frying pan over medium heat.  Add rice and stir fry until rice is hot and coated with olive oil.  Add garlic and onion to the pan and stir fry until garlic is cooked.  It will only take a few minutes.  Be careful not to burn the garlic.  Add the rest of the ingredients except cheese and continue stir frying for a few minutes until all ingredients are warm and thoroughly incorporated.  Taste to adjust seasoning. 

Serve on individual plates.  Top with a little grated parmesan cheese.

All of the food storage items I used in this recipe are from Shelf Reliance Thrive.  They are high quality products that are convenient to use now, yet they have a long shelf live.  If you would like to purchase any of these ingredients to have on hand, please go to my Shelf Reliance website.  Just click the link below and click on the shop tab.  You will be able to purchase a wide variety of freeze-dried and dehydrated foods, along with other food storage staples. 

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Prepare Now to Avoid Increasing Grocery Costs

Likely you have heard the news stories telling of crop failure due to high temperatures and drought conditions in the mid-west.  Corn is the main crop being affected.  This could mean higher prices at the grocery store for products containing corn; everything from cereal to soft drinks.  Not only that, but corn is a main source of livestock feed.  When the price of corn gets too high, cattle go to slaughter because farmers can’t afford to feed them.  That actually means that there will be ample meat available at good prices now and in the near future, but within six months time, meat and dairy products may not be available at normal quantities, thus making the price of meat rise as well.  If you would like more detailed information on this subject, please click the link below:

www.usatoday.com/money/economy/story/2012-07-11/corn-prices-drought/56156336/1

What can you do to prepare for these grocery cost increases?

• Add to your current food storage
• If you don’t have any food storage get some

Purchasing and storing food now can help offset the cost of items that you will have to purchase at a higher price later.

• Make a food storage budget

Few people have enough money to go out and purchase everything that they will need at one time.  Therefore, it is a good idea to set a food storage budget and add that much to your storage each month.

• Be faithful in adding to your food storage each month.

Little by little, it will add up and you will have the equivalent of a home store to use, as you need it.

• Be wise in what you store

Only store the things that you eat on a regular basis. 

• Rotate what you store so that it will not get old or spoil

It is not easy to stick with a food storage plan.  It is easy to get distracted and spend your food storage money on something that may seem more tempting.  I have found that the Shelf Reliance Thrive Q has helped me to build my food storage on a consistent basis.  The Shelf Reliance Thrive Q is a program that helps you to consistently build a food storage plan over a designated time.  First, you choose a monthly food storage budget and enter it into the program.  Then you are asked how many people are in your family and the time period you would like your food storage to last.  You then go through an outline of foods available and eliminate any that you do not wish to store.  After you have completed the initial questions your program is set up.  Each month, the Shelf Reliance Thrive program will offer you certain products from your chosen list that will meet but not go over your budget.  At that point you will be given the choice to accept those choices or request different items that you want at that point.  They will then be shipped to you.  This program is an easy and consistent way to build food storage.  Not only that, but the products are high quality and very desirable.  The freeze-dried products have a shelf life of 25 years in most cases. 

I have been on this program for 7 months now and during that time, I have really seen my food storage grow.  I love the food and the best part is that I have a feeling of peace that comes from being actively involved in controlling my food budget.

If you are interested in joining the Shelf Reliance Thrive Q, or in purchasing food storage items from Shelf Reliance, please click the link below to my Shelf Reliance website.

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Cooking Outdoors, The Best Part of Camping!

My sons and their families are going camping this weekend.  I am not a dyed-in-the-wool camper, but I must admit that I am jealous.  My favorite part of camping is cooking outdoors over the coals of a campfire or in a Dutch oven.  There is just something special about the taste of food cooked in the great outdoors. 

Camp meals can require a lot of pre-planning and preparation.  Shelf Reliance Thrive foods make cooking for your group of campers fast, easy and delicious.  Check the list below to see ways Thrive foods can make your camping experience more easy and enjoyable.

• Many are freeze-dried making them very light, compact and easy to carry
• Can easily be substituted into the recipes your family enjoys
• Refrigeration is not necessary, less food to keep in a cooler
• Easily rehydrated in a small amount of water
• Can be measured out at home according to your recipe, stored in a zip lock bag and cooked at the campsite. 
• Cut back on prep time because they are already chopped and ready to use
• Come in a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, meats, cheeses, beans, dairy products, eggs, and grain products.
• They are great as snacks, no rehydration necessary
• Thrive Express Meals are available for those who prefer pre-made meals.
• Thrive foods have vibrant, fresh tastes and delicious aromas

Imagine cooking a delicious Spanish omelet made from Thrive ingredients such as:

• scrambled egg mix (It is new and it tastes just like the real thing)
• freeze-dried sausage, freeze-dried cheddar cheese, freeze-dried tomato chunks, freeze-dried onions and freeze-dried peppers

It would taste great, be light and easy to pack.  The best part is that you wouldn’t have to struggle to keep the ingredients cold. 

Thrive foods can be used in millions of different recipes.  Sometimes it is a little difficult to imagine how to use freeze-dried ingredients if they are new to you.  If this is the case for you, please visit my Shelf Reliance website to see many recipes that can be adapted to your camping needs.  You can also purchase directly through this site.  Just click the link below and follow the directions below:

 susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

1.   At the bottom of the page you will see three boxes.  The first one says, “Shop for Products”.  Click the words “Shop Now”

2.   Hover over the tab that says “Tools, Making It Easy For You

3.   A blue drop down menu will appear.  Click “THRIVE Recipes”

4.   On this page you can find recipes from all categories from breakfasts to desserts.

Freeze-Dried Foods, How Do I Use Them?

The first time I was introduced to Thrive Freeze-Dried Foods, I was extremely surprised by their delicious flavor and aroma.  So much so, that I became an independent consultant for Shelf Reliance.  When I hold a tasting party and talk to people about Freeze-Dried Foods they are usually pleasantly surprised as well.  Comments that I often hear are:

·     Wow! I was not expecting that to taste so good.

·     It smells just like fresh pineapple.

·     This chicken tastes just like fresh cooked chicken.

·     This food really has possibilities!

However, I also hear comments like:

·     It tastes wonderful, but how would I use it?

To be very honest, freeze-dried foods offer a myriad of possibilities for use.  Here are just a few:

1.   They are delicious eaten right out of the can

2.   They can be reconstituted, seasoned and eaten

3.   They can be substituted into any recipe calling for the fresh cooked ingredient.

The things that make freeze-dried foods so convenient are:

1. They have a shelf live unopened of 25 years
2. They can be used immediately as a convenience food
3. They are already chopped or sliced
4. They are already clean
5. They rehydrate into their natural form rapidly
6. They retain their nutritive value

The 25-year shelf life makes freeze-dried foods wonderful for long-term storage.  Yet on the other hand, you can use them immediately.  Let’s say that you want to make strawberry shortcake and it is the middle of the winter.  Yes, you could probably find fresh strawberries somewhere, but why not use the Thrive freeze-dried sliced strawberries that are already in your pantry.  You won’t have to spend time going out to the store or worry about where to find the strawberries.  Also, you will be able to finish cooking much faster because the strawberries are already cleaned and sliced and they rehydrate in a flash.

If you are still concerned about how you would use freeze-dried foods, my advise to you would be, just try substituting them for ingredients called for in your own favorite recipes.  If you would like, you can use some of the recipes I have posted on my blog.  Once you start, you will be able to see just how versatile freeze-dried foods are.

These are a few of my favorite ways to use freeze-dried foods:

·     In fruit sauces

·     In casseroles

·     In muffins

·     With pasta

·     In granola

·     As snacks

·     With eggs

I am often asked which Thrive freeze-dried foods to try first.  I recommend the following because they are commonly used in everyday cooking:

• Onions
• Celery
• Mushrooms
• Spinach
• Chicken
• Sausage
• Strawberries
• Cheddar cheese
• Tomato powder

This is just a starting point.  You will soon find that you want to try other products in our line.  Before you know it, you will be creating your own recipes and enjoying the convenience.  You will also feel confident that if you couldn’t go to the market, you would still be able to prepare healthy, nutritious meals for your family.

I would love to hear how you use your freeze-dried foods.  Please leave a comment and let me know.

Just click the link below to purchase Thrive Foods.  You won’t be sorry!

www.susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Mother's Banana Bread with a Twist, Freeze-Dried Bananas

My mother made the most delicious Banana Bread.  There was only one thing better than the aroma of those freshly baked loaves coming out of the oven, the taste.  It was sweet and buttery with the delicious taste of bananas and my mother could hardly prevent us from devouring it before it had cooled.  I have loved that recipe all of my life as does my own family. 

I decided to experiment to see if I could actually make this recipe from food storage ingredients.  I usually always have flour, sugar and soda on hand.  Now I also have Thrive Freeze-Dried Bananas and Thrive Whole Egg Powder.  Basically, the only fresh ingredient I used was butter.  The process of making the batter was fast and easy and the finished product was amazing.  To my surprise, I received even more compliments than when I made the original recipe. The texture was very even and fine, but the flavor was the most remarkable part.  The freeze-dried bananas make the banana flavor incredibly vivid.  This is the first thing that those who taste the bread notice.

This is the recipe and the process I used to make the banana bread from food storage ingredients.

Ingredients:

½ C. Butter                                                      
1 C. Sugar
2 C. Thrive Freeze-Dried Bananas                    

1 tsp. Soda

2 C. Flour

2 T. Thrive Whole Egg Powder                                                         
4 T. Water

Process:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease or spray an aluminum bread pan. 

1.  Cream butter and sugar together until smooth and fluffy.  

2.  Place the freeze-dried bananas into a blender or food processor and process until bananas are powdered.  

3.  In another bowl, add banana powder, flour, soda and whole egg powder and mix well.  Add the mixed dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture.  

4.  Add the water and stir well until all of the ingredients are incorporated into a smooth slightly thick batter.  

5.  Spoon this batter into the greased loaf pan.  

6.  Bake for 1 hour.  

7.  Check for doneness with a toothpick.  When toothpick comes out clean, the bread is done.  Cool on a cooling rack and watch out for those who are looking to snitch a piece.

If you like nuts, it tastes great with about 1/1/4 C. chopped walnuts added to the batter.  Also, if you are looking for a special treat, frost the banana bread with cream cheese frosting.

Now, why use freeze-dried bananas and whole egg powder?  First, although they cost a little more initially, if I use freeze-dried bananas, I don’t have to make a trip to the store specially to get bananas.  This usually saves money, because not only do you save gas and time, but also you prevent yourself from impulse buying in the store when you only went there for bananas.  Not only that, but it is common for us to waste bananas because they get too ripe before we get them used.  Then, no one wants to eat them.  I end up throwing them away and wasting the money I spent on them.  As for the eggs, they are handy, handy, handy.  They come in powdered form and last for at least 6 months after you open the can.  They can be used in anything that you bake or cook that calls for an egg.  Exceptions are that you cannot make a boiled or sunny-side-up egg.  However, you can make scrambled eggs.  Both of these ingredients are handy, convenient and result in a superior quality, great tasting product.  They prevent waste and are fast and easy to use.  I highly recommend using these and other Thrive Freeze-Dried fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses along with their other food storage foods.  For more information or to purchase Thrive products, please visit my website at:

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

   

Why Freeze-Dried Foods Should Be Part of Your Food Storage Plan

Today there are many options open to people starting or building their food storage plan.  I believe that it is wise not to put all of your food storage dollars into one basket.  That being said, I believe that freeze-dried foods should definitely be a part of everyone’s plan. 

Why I like freeze-dried foods for food storage:

1.    When sealed, they can be stored for up to 25 years at room temperature.  Note: Extreme heat reduces shelf life.

2.    Their reduced water content inhibits the growth of microorganisms, and spoilage.

3.    The freeze-drying process preserves the nutritional content of the food.

4.    They maintain their natural shape, size, color, aroma and taste

5.    They speed up the process of food preparation because they are already sliced or chopped and they rehydrated quickly.

6.    They are delicious right out of the can if circumstances required you to eat them that way.

7.    They fit well into a food rotation plan. 

8.    They are easy to use in everyday cooking.

9.    They provide good nutrition, variety and convenience.

When I was first introduced to Shelf Reliance Thrive foods, I could see the possibilities.  I already had food storage, but I always wondered how we could survive without getting food fatigue (tired of eating wheat, rice and beans).  With Thrive Foods, we can eat just about what we always eat even if I can’t go to the store.

I have found that as I rotate my food storage in my everyday meals, Thrive Foods make cooking fast, easy and fun.  I don’t have to worry about unexpectedly running out of eggs.  My can of Thrive Whole Egg Powder is in my pantry and ready to use.  I waste less because I can use the exact amount of Thrive foods like celery or mushrooms without worrying how I might use the remaining fresh ones.

What is the process used to freeze-dry Shelf Reliance Thrive foods?

1.    Fresh quality foods are chosen at the peak of perfection.

2.    Meats are cooked, some vegetables are blanched and all foods are cut into small pieces.

3.    The foods are flash frozen at -50 Degrees F.

4.    The foods are immediately placed into a vacuum chamber and 98% of the moisture is removed through sublimation (changing liquid into gas).

5.    The food is sealed in moisture and oxygen proof cans.

It makes sense to make Shelf Reliance Thrive freeze-dried foods part of your food storage plan.  If you would like to shop for Shelf Reliance Thrive foods, just visit my Shelf Reliance website at:

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

Food Storage - How Can I Afford It?

Food Storage – How can I afford it?

This is a question that many people struggle with.  A lot has to do with the manner in which you think of food storage.  Often, when people think of the extra money they would have to spend in order to get food storage, they weigh the cost against the likelihood of an emergency situation happening.  If you think of food storage in those terms, you are likely to never be able to accumulate much food storage.  On the other hand, I think of food storage as insurance.  Yes, insurance is very expensive and in most cases, you never have the occasion to collect a benefit. However, in those cases where something does happen, you are very glad that you had the insurance.  In the case of food storage, I have never been confronted with a catastrophe where I needed to survive on my food storage.  On the other hand, our family has gone through several periods of unemployment in which the food storage has come in very handy.

Think of your food storage as a Home Store.

1.   Store only the things your family eats on a regular basis.

2.   Rotate your storage by using and replenishing it on a regular basis

3.   Replenish your storage by purchasing food when it is on sale whenever possible

Build your home store on a budget not an emotion:

1. Decide on a budget you can spend each week or month to build and replenish your home store
2. Never let fear be your motivation for purchasing your food storage
3. Watch the ads for the best prices and use your budget to purchase in larger quantities
4. Join a plan such as the Shelf Reliance Q to gradually build your home store on a steady yet gradual basis.  Shelf Reliance has monthly specials that can be put into the Q, which will save you money  (To Learn more about the Shelf Reliance Q, please click the tab above)

Be Wise with your Home Store purchases:

1. Store what you eat, eat what you store
2. Label each item with the date of purchase
3. Organize your storage so that the oldest item gets used first
4. Store item properly to avoid spoilage – Cool, dark, dry space in proper containers
5. Keep the storage area clean to prevent pest infestation
6. Periodically re-evaluate your Home Store.  Make sure it is meeting the needs of your family and your lifestyle

Be determined:

1. Set a goal, stick with it, make it a way of life

My lifestyle today has changed significantly from that of my parents.  My mother, for the most part, processed her own food storage by freezing, bottling and drying her own garden produce.  She used basic staples to cook with.  Today, life is much faster passed.  It requires most mothers to work outside the home.  Prepared foods, boxed mixes and frozen meals have become a way of life.  Under these conditions, building and maintaining a useable food storage program is challenging.  My solution to this challenge is freeze-dried food.  It is nutritious, appealing, delicious, convenient and easy to prepare.  It is wonderful for food storage because it has a very long shelf life.  I purchase them through the Shelf Reliance Q.  Please click the tab above to learn more about the Q.  If you would like to set up your own Shelf Reliance Q, please visit my website at:

Emergency Food Storage for Short and Long Term Needs

Building and maintaining a viable food storage program requires knowledge and determination.  When I first started working on my food storage plan, I had no idea of where to begin.  In order to be successful, you need to educate yourself in:

1.   The nutritional needs of your family. 

2.   Storage properties of various types of foods

3.   Equipment and preparation methods that can be used in emergency situations

4.   Recipes that are adaptable to emergency situations.

How much food do I need to store

• At least a 2 weeks supply is recommended by FEMA
• Other organizations recommend up to 1 year’s supply of food

What kind of foods is best to store

1. Foods that are high in calories and nutrition
2. Require no refrigeration
3. Require no special preparation
4. Special consideration needs to be made for babies, elderly, nursing mothers and those who require special dietary needs

When I first began building my food storage, it was popular to simply follow one of the plans put out by various organizations.  These plans usually calculated a persons needs by age and sex length of time.  The plan would give you the number of pounds of grains, legumes, cooking oil, powdered milk, salt, sugar or honey and water a person needed for the given time.  The exactness of this type of plan gave people security in that nothing was left to your imagination.  However, when people got to thinking about surviving on that type of plan, it was obvious that surviving would not be pleasant.  Most people in today’s society are not used to eating in the manner that those types of foods alone would provide.  As time passes, it has become a more acceptable philosophy to store what you eat on a regular basis.  This makes food storage more palatable and desirable.

Sources of knowledge that will help you with your food storage plan:

1.  Food Guide Pyramid – Gives average daily guidelines for a healthy diet

2.  Food Storage Calculator (many can be found on line) – gives quantities needed by age, sex and sometimes activity level

Where do I begin?  Make a Plan.

1. Access the needs of your family – How many adults, how many children, any special needs, time period for which you want your storage to last
2. Create a list of food storage menus.  These should be menus that your family enjoys and is used to eating.  The menus should contain ingredients that are easy to store.  For example, a Chef Salad is not adaptable for food storage because you cannot store fresh lettuce.  On the other hand, menu items such as beef stew have ingredients that can readily be stored.  Menus containing commonly used ingredients are best suited to food storage programs.
3. From your list of menus, make a list of ingredients.  These are the ingredients you will need for your food storage.
4. Calculate approximate amounts of the ingredients that you will need for the length of time you food storage will last.  Compare this to the amounts suggested on a food storage calculator.
5. Consider all of the types of food available for storage and there costs and storage shelf life

Start Building Your Food Storage

1.     Make a weekly or monthly budget for food storage

2.     Start with the basics and consistently add to you food storage weekly or monthly

3.     Buy a variety of food storage items along rather than buying a large quantity of one item.

4.     Make sure you are storing all of the items you need. Don’t forget the oil, yeast, soda, baking powder, powdered milk, salt, spices, etc.

5.     It is wise to store vitamins and other medications you use

6.     Don’t forget to store stress relieving foods such as sweets or candy

7.     Be determined – if you stop for a period of time, it is easy to get off track

8.     Find a good place in your home to store your food storage

9.     After you have some food storage on hand, established a plan to rotate your storage.  The best way is to store what you eat and to eat what you store.

10.  Evaluate your storage plan as you rotate it.  Don’t be afraid to add new items and discontinue those you are not using up.

11.  Variety is important to avoid food fatigue

I highly recommend visiting http://EzineArticles.com/1308085 to see how adding a few items to your storage can improve the variety of what you can make from it.

I don’t recommend that you put all your eggs in one food storage basket.  It is best to have packaged, canned, bottled and freeze-dried foods in your storage plan.  Each has its benefits.  My favorite is freeze-dried food.  Although it is a little more expensive, it offers the benefits of high quality nutrition, rich taste and smell, beautiful color and an extended shelf life.  Not only this but it is very convenient to use.

Please visit my Shelf Reliance website at:

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com

to find out more about the benefits of Thrive freeze-dried products or to purchase them.

Emergency Food Storage - What Do I Store for Short Term Emergencies When I Must Leave Home

For the beginner, starting a food storage program can be rather daunting.  Most people do not know which foods are best to sustain their families in an emergency situation, the quantities of food necessary or how to overcome the cost factor involved.  Often people believe that they should have food storage but when it gets right down to purchasing it, they are so frustrated that they put it off until another day.

The most important factor in building food storage is determination.  You must:

1. Believe that it is an important thing to do
2. Investigate what foods are best to store for your family’s needs and the quantities you will need  
3. Check your budget to see how much money you can put toward food storage each week or month
4. Make a plan of what you will buy and the schedule you will follow to accomplish your goal
5. Proceed to build your storage on a regular basis
6. Evaluate your progress
7. Be determined

 There are two types of emergency situations you must consider:

• Emergencies where you must leave your home (prepare for  72 hours to 2 weeks)
• Emergencies where you can remain in your home (prepare for 2 weeks to 2 years)

 For Emergencies where you must leave home:

• Food must be light-weight and easy to carry
• Food must be of the type that require little or no preparation
• Food and supplies should be packed up and ready to go.  You may not have time to gather it together at the time of the emergency.  Make sure that all necessary items for preparation are packed together
• Choose food that your family enjoys to reduce stress
• Purchase food in packages that contain all ingredients or that only need to have water added.

Examples of suitable food for this type of situation:

• Canned Meats
• Beef Stew
• Chili
• Soups
• Energy Bars
• Canned pasta dishes
• Applesauce or fruit cups
• Dried fruits
• Nuts
• Trail Mix
• Crackers
• Small packages of Cereal
• Juice Boxes
• Bottled Water
• Hard Candy
• Granola Bars
• Freeze-dried prepared meals or MREs (light and easy to carry)

Shelf Reliance carries a variety of freeze-dried foods that come in convenient pouches.  These freeze-dried foods would make a highly desirable addition to your 72 to 2 week emergency food storage.  They have also recently come out with a line of Express Meals that only require the addition of boiling water.  These meals are delicious to use at home but could also be used in this type of emergency situation.  For more information or to purchase any of these products, please visit my website at:

susansakurai.shelfreliance.com