Bail out-What are you stocking up on III--support group

[JTA Mom]

Ok, I'm doing this again, lol. The other thread is at 15 pages AGAIN. Geez, we do like to talk!

Second Old thread here

Here's the one that started it all


Also, I'd like to make this incarnation of the thread into a SUPPORT GROUP thread. If people want to debate the usefullness/less of stockpiling, why not to stockpile,etc, there are other threads for that, Like this one. I find that debates about stockpiling clutter up the sharing of knowldege aspect of a thread like this one.

So, now that we have a nice new thread, I'll repost my two questions.

Anyone have any yummy bean soup recipes. The hillbilly housewife recipe was just 'eh'. Two mammas responded and told me to add spices at the end. Is this the trick to making yummy bean soup? I've always followed recipes that told me to put in all my flavorings (nothing acid though) at the beginning of boiling the beans. Is that where I went wrong?

And the second question was how to make ghee. Anyone care to share? Also, is it solid when refrigerated or does it stay liquid? I'm used to using liquid fats, and dh LOVES butter & complains (well, not really, more like wonders) why I don't cook with it often. Using ghee might change that.

Thanks!

Ami

[MadameXCupcake]

I dont know how to make bean soup but refried beans are always yummy. :
We had some tonight.

I'll be watching for those soup recipes.. I doubt I could get my husband to eat them though.

Whats ghee? >.>

[Satori]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

So, now that we have a nice new thread, I'll repost my two questions.

Anyone have any yummy bean soup recipes. The hillbilly housewife recipe was just 'eh'. Two mammas responded and told me to add spices at the end. Is this the trick to making yummy bean soup? I've always followed recipes that told me to put in all my flavorings (nothing acid though) at the beginning of boiling the beans. Is that where I went wrong?

And the second question was how to make ghee. Anyone care to share? Also, is it solid when refrigerated or does it stay liquid? I'm used to using liquid fats, and dh LOVES butter & complains (well, not really, more like wonders) why I don't cook with it often. Using ghee might change that.

Thanks!

Ami

Depends on the spices but generally I throw them in either at the end of cooking or the last hour or so but it depends on the flavor and if it needs to be fully cooked to release its flavor.

[shelbell]

Originally Posted by JTA Mom

And the second question was how to make ghee. Anyone care to share? Also, is it solid when refrigerated or does it stay liquid? I'm used to using liquid fats, and dh LOVES butter & complains (well, not really, more like wonders) why I don't cook with it often. Using ghee might change that.

I've never made it at home, but it looks very easy. I had like 8 lbs of unsalted, organic butter that I purchased near-date for $1/lb. All of it was in my freezer, and I kept meaning to make ghee with some of it, but never got around to it. Now it's all gone after Ike. Oh well - at least I have an excuse to keep bargain hunting for more!

Check out this recipe - great pictures to follow.

[Ianthe]

Hello again.... subbing for now

[moondiapers]

I follow the recipe on the back of the bag of 15 bean soup mix (It's just a bag of 15 types of beans, no seasonging packet or anything).

[moondiapers]

So how open are you guys with your neighbors about stocking up? My family knows and my best friend, that's it!!!! I've only told ppl IRL that I'm willing to take in if necessary. If TSHTF I'd probably pack up my year's supply and move in with my best friend's family anyway (they can't afford to stock up right now, but have a wood burning cook stove etc. and a spare bedroom, they also are set up to have chickens so we could take our chickens with us and be a mutual benefit to eachother).

[MamaWindmill]

Again - what does the current economic crisis have to do with stockpiling? Is it a) in the event that the money-earning member(s) of the household loses their job(s), b) in the belief that there is an imminent (meaning: next six months) food shortage on the horizon, or c) because of a coming social and cultural collapse? Or another reason?

I can understand A. I can't understand how B or C seems realistic.

[MamaWindmill]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

So how open are you guys with your neighbors about stocking up? My family knows and my best friend, that's it!!!! I've only told ppl IRL that I'm willing to take in if necessary. If TSHTF I'd probably pack up my year's supply and move in with my best friend's family anyway (they can't afford to stock up right now, but have a wood burning cook stove etc. and a spare bedroom, they also are set up to have chickens so we could take our chickens with us and be a mutual benefit to eachother).

So if there was some dire food shortage, you would turn your neighbors away?

And exactly what is meant by "if the shit hits the fan" - what shit, and what fan? What possibility are you considering?

[Jenivere]

I'd have to say A is my main concern really with the combination of rising food prices. I'm not worried about a food shortage or a cultural collapse, just my ability to afford food. Except the huge amount of wheat my parents left behind I have maybe three months worth of food. I don't think that is extreme and is about what we normally keep. It's been enough to get us through tough times in the past. It got depleted this year due to lack of work and I'm trying to build it back up quickly because I am concerned about prices.

[Ianthe]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

So how open are you guys with your neighbors about stocking up?

Our family, and you guys!

If we have to move in with MIL we'll be sharing resources. She does not have any food storage, except what we brought over to her house. We'll share our spring water with the neighbors there.. but honestly, we live in LDS country, so I doubt we'd really have a problem with looters in her small LDS-majority town.

[MamaWindmill]

Originally Posted by Jenivere

I'd have to say A is my main concern really with the combination of rising food prices. I'm not worried about a food shortage or a cultural collapse, just my ability to afford food. Except the huge amount of wheat my parents left behind I have maybe three months worth of food. I don't think that is extreme and is about what we normally keep. It's been enough to get us through tough times in the past. It got depleted this year due to lack of work and I'm trying to build it back up quickly because I am concerned about prices.

I'm definitely worried about that, too. There were several times in the last year where we simply didn't have money to go to the grocery store, but managed to use our Aldi reserves of pancake mix, etc to feed the kids.

[Jenivere]

My thought on IFTSHTF is hyperinflation and many more job losses due to a stock market crash and a crash is looking pretty likely the way the DOW is going.

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by MamaWindmill

Again - what does the current economic crisis have to do with stockpiling? Is it a) in the event that the money-earning member(s) of the household loses their job(s), b) in the belief that there is an imminent (meaning: next six months) food shortage on the horizon, or c) because of a coming social and cultural collapse? Or another reason?

I can understand A. I can't understand how B or C seems realistic.

Well I'm a daycare provider. If my daycare parents loose their jobs our income will be cut in half. DH is in law enforcement with 12 years seniority, so his job is probably safe. Recently I went 3 months without pay because California didn't have a state budget and most of my daycare kids are state subsidized. I don't know if there will be a food shortage. I'm more worried about the unemployment rate. If I hadn't always been a stockpiler my family would have starved and I would have had to shut my daycare down....making my financial situation even worse that it allready was. Being able to keep my daycare open, I did eventually start getting paid again once the budget was signed. I even got back pay for the time there wasn't a budget. Those 85 or so days without a state budget caused many daycares in my community to go out of business. I certainly was an economic crisis for those families involved (providers and daycare parents).

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by MamaWindmill

So if there was some dire food shortage, you would turn your neighbors away?

And exactly what is meant by "if the shit hits the fan" - what shit, and what fan? What possibility are you considering?

If you're asking if I would let my own children go hungry to feed the neighbors? What do you think? My neighbors don't know I store food, and YES my first priority is my own family. I also don't vaccinate my children. I could care less about herd immunity, my first priority is my own children (the oldest is vaccine damaged). I can't risk the health of my own family to help others, sorry. I WOULD certainly help neighbors plant gardens, set up for chickens etc. If we got a community garden going I might even share what we have while waiting for the harvest, but NOT to the detriment of my own children.

[Contrariety]

Originally Posted by LizzyQ

Our family, and you guys!

If we have to move in with MIL we'll be sharing resources. She does not have any food storage, except what we brought over to her house. We'll share our spring water with the neighbors there.. but honestly, we live in LDS country, so I doubt we'd really have a problem with looters in her small LDS-majority town.

I certainly hope that's the case, Lizzy... but I'm also not betting on it. *No one* I know that none of my friends have well stocked pantries, they think I'm a weirdo. I was perusing some of my dad's religious propaganda material and it was pretty inspirational for independent living. The ideal is there, but I'm not sure how many people actually attempt to follow it.

My grandma, who raised my dad and sibs on a farm, has one rockin' full cellar. The woman is amazing and a total inspiration.

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by MamaWindmill

Again - what does the current economic crisis have to do with stockpiling? Is it a) in the event that the money-earning member(s) of the household loses their job(s), b) in the belief that there is an imminent (meaning: next six months) food shortage on the horizon, or c) because of a coming social and cultural collapse? Or another reason?

I can understand A. I can't understand how B or C seems realistic.

Isn't "A" enough of a reason? Does there need to be more than one reason?????

[MamaWindmill]

I can totally relate to all of that. So my question, then, is why do these conversations turn into talk of living off the land and foraging in the wilderness? Surely it would make more sense to talk about the kind of techniques our grandparents used to get through the depression and, in Europe, strict WWII rationing? Wouldn't it make more sense to talk about how to stretch food, how to make and repair clothing, how to fix things we already have? I guess where I disconnect from this conversation is when the talk turns to worldwide collapses and having to physically defend your food supply from gangs of looting neighbors. The stuff about the dollar becoming useless, electricity being shut off...I just think it makes an otherwise VERY useful discussion silly. KWIM?

[Jenivere]

My husband was without work for about three months this year despite many resumes sent out and contacts made. I know he is not alone in that. Thankfully about two weeks ago he found a nice full time job here in our tiny little town that pays the bills and buys food without requiring a big commute. I took on a babysitting job and it's that money I am using for replenishing our supply. I have added in household supplies I've seen on sale like an extra pack of soap and an extra bottle of shampoo. I will be buying extra quilts etc to try and keep our heat bill down. I also bought a nice dutch oven in case of lack of power so I can still cook food plus I've always wanted one to take camping. So while I am doing this all more quickly than normal it's not stuff I don't normally do, I just like to be prepared for possible emergencies like power outage, higher food prices and job loss.

[Contrariety]

So I was reading Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth over the weekend... and that has me scared of marauding robbers in case of famine. I really don't think people are remotely prepared for the possibility of famine, not to mention the actuality of it! :

I keep mostly quiet. I have two close neighbors who know I've been stockin' up, and my family knows, too. My fam has a contingency plan. Assuming it's no the dead of winter, we're packing up our food storage and high tailing it to the family cabin, safely away from the starving masses (hopefully).

I *so* need to take a survival/foraging course.