This month I have come across something that might interest the more adventurous person and especially those who are looking to save some money. It is a homemade laundry soap recipe. . . . One of my co-workers mentioned she had tried this and I had her send me the recipe. However, please note: I am putting a disclaimer out before I print the recipe, “I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS OUT!” So here goes. . . .
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP
1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer)
1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
5 gallon bucket
Grate the bar of Fels Naptha. Place grated Fels Naptha in a saucepan and cover with water (approx. 6-8 cups). Heat on low until dissolved. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup Borax and mix well. Pour mixture into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill the bucket with warm water, stop when you get within 3 inches to the top. Stir well. As it cools, it will thicken. Use ½ -1 cup per load. Safe for use in H.E. Washers. Yields approx. 75-100 cups.
The Washing Soda is available at Macey’s. The Fels Naptha soap can be found in most stores.
Continue Reading »
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
From Jim Dodds
Preparing for an emergency can be a hassle and sometimes cause headaches. The main reasons that food storage cause these headaches are: 1) Rotating your food and sometimes having to throw stuff away, 2) It takes too long to prepare, 3) You want it to taste good of course, 4) A whole year supply takes up too much room, and 5) The price.
These five things don't have to be a headache. Whether you have none, a little, or a lot of food storage it is worth it to look into the freeze dried method as the food takes care of all these problems and you won't have to worry about them for another 25 years because that's how long they will last on your shelf.
For a free consultation and free taste of the product give Scott a call and you can set up a time to meet.
Scott
(801)836-2857
Continue Reading »
These five things don't have to be a headache. Whether you have none, a little, or a lot of food storage it is worth it to look into the freeze dried method as the food takes care of all these problems and you won't have to worry about them for another 25 years because that's how long they will last on your shelf.
For a free consultation and free taste of the product give Scott a call and you can set up a time to meet.
Scott
(801)836-2857
Continue Reading »
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
From Carolyn Mackay
It has been a few years since the Provo Canyon Ward had a summer party with Dutch Oven cooking. I was thinking about that this summer and remembered many of the good food we enjoyed eating. Since we are right in the middle of summer, if you or your family have not enjoyed a Dutch Oven meal I thought I would encourage you to do so. It is a great family activity, ---all can be involved in the preparation and cooking of the meal. Not only is it good cooking, but also good practice for times when you may not have that electric or gas stove/oven to cook on.
Some Dutch oven tips: (Thanks to the booklet: 3 Steps to Family and Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness.)
1. New Dutch Ovens must be seasoned for the first time. This helps keep them from rusting and food sticking. Usually information comes with your new Dutch oven to do this, but just in case, here is a reminder. Wash in mild soapy water and scrub well to get factory residue off. Dry off, and then grease it using a thin coating of solid vegetable shortening (Crisco) or vegetable oil. Cover both the inside and outside of the Dutch oven. (A paper towel works great for this.) Then put in your home oven upside down and bake at 300-350 degrees for 1 hour. When the hour is up, turn off heat and let the Dutch oven cool on the oven rack. When cool, remove and wipe out excess oil.
2. Avoid cooking foods with a heavy water content or high in acid content, such as tomato based foods, the first few times. Whenever you cook a cobbler line your oven with aluminum foil.
3. Cleanup after cooking is simply wiping out the oven and washing with water. If soap is use, re-seasoning will be needed. Some people recommend reapplying a thin coating of shortening or oil before you store it.
5. Store in a dry place with the lid ajar and it is recommended you put a piece of wadded up newspaper inside to absorb any moisture.
Temperature in cooking is regulated by the number charcoal briquets you use for the size of the Dutch oven. The size of your Dutch oven is usually stamped on the lid. Although most recipes tell you how many to use a general rule of thumb is: Size number x 2. (12” Dutch oven x 2 = 24 briquets) The Briquets are placed underneath the oven and on top depending on what you are cooking.
Size of Dutch oven + 4 briquets on the top lid
Size of Dutch oven – 4 briquets underneath the oven.
Temperature chart:
325 Degrees = Size number x 2
350 degrees = Size number x 2 + 2 briquets
375 degrees = Size number x 2 + 4 briquets
400 degrees = Size number x 2 + 6 briquets.
Briquets need to be started and burning hot before you begin cooking.
Now some famous Provo Canyon Ward Dutch Oven Cookout Recipes!
Pot Roast and Stuff
3-4 pounds Pot roast or Round steak 5 carrots
Flour, salt, pepper 2 Onions
2 Tbsp Oil 1 pkg Lipton Onion soup mix
10 lbs potatoes 2 cups beef broth or Beef boullion
Flour, salt and pepper the meat. Put in a heated 12 inch Dutch Oven that has 12 coals on the bottom, add oil and brown the meat in the oil. Add the potatoes, carrots, onions on top of the meat. Sprinkle with the Onion Soup mix. Pour 2 cups of broth over the top and bake for 1 ½ to 2 hours with 12 coals on top.
Dutch Oven Chicken
2 chicken fryers, skinned, washed, and cut up Shortening, when melted makes ½ “ in bottom
Flour, salt and pepper mixture Warm water, to make ¼ “ in bottom
Coat the chicken pieces in the mixture. Melt the shortening in the bottom of a 12 “ Dutch Oven with 10 coals on the bottom. Completely brown the chicken and then remove excess grease. Add water and cover with lid and 10 coals on the top. Steam for 1 hours until tender.
Cherry Cobbler
3 large cans (30 oz. each) of Cherry Pie filling 1 Cube butter
1 tsp Almond Extract 1 Cup chopped Nuts
1 yellow or white cake mix 1 can 7-Up or Sprite
Line 12 “ Dutch Oven with foil. Pour pie filling into Dutch oven and carefully stir in Almond extract. IN a gallon zip-lock bag or a bowl combine cake mix and butter until well mixed in. Add nuts and mix together. Sprinkle contents of bag or bowl evenly over pie filling. Then pour the can of soda pop over this. DO NOT STIR!!! Bake in Dutch Oven for 30-45 minutes with 8 coals on the bottom and 18 coals on the top. IF stacking ovens, do 13 on top and 13 on bottom. Check often.
Continue Reading »
Some Dutch oven tips: (Thanks to the booklet: 3 Steps to Family and Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness.)
1. New Dutch Ovens must be seasoned for the first time. This helps keep them from rusting and food sticking. Usually information comes with your new Dutch oven to do this, but just in case, here is a reminder. Wash in mild soapy water and scrub well to get factory residue off. Dry off, and then grease it using a thin coating of solid vegetable shortening (Crisco) or vegetable oil. Cover both the inside and outside of the Dutch oven. (A paper towel works great for this.) Then put in your home oven upside down and bake at 300-350 degrees for 1 hour. When the hour is up, turn off heat and let the Dutch oven cool on the oven rack. When cool, remove and wipe out excess oil.
2. Avoid cooking foods with a heavy water content or high in acid content, such as tomato based foods, the first few times. Whenever you cook a cobbler line your oven with aluminum foil.
3. Cleanup after cooking is simply wiping out the oven and washing with water. If soap is use, re-seasoning will be needed. Some people recommend reapplying a thin coating of shortening or oil before you store it.
5. Store in a dry place with the lid ajar and it is recommended you put a piece of wadded up newspaper inside to absorb any moisture.
Temperature in cooking is regulated by the number charcoal briquets you use for the size of the Dutch oven. The size of your Dutch oven is usually stamped on the lid. Although most recipes tell you how many to use a general rule of thumb is: Size number x 2. (12” Dutch oven x 2 = 24 briquets) The Briquets are placed underneath the oven and on top depending on what you are cooking.
Size of Dutch oven + 4 briquets on the top lid
Size of Dutch oven – 4 briquets underneath the oven.
Temperature chart:
325 Degrees = Size number x 2
350 degrees = Size number x 2 + 2 briquets
375 degrees = Size number x 2 + 4 briquets
400 degrees = Size number x 2 + 6 briquets.
Briquets need to be started and burning hot before you begin cooking.
Now some famous Provo Canyon Ward Dutch Oven Cookout Recipes!
Pot Roast and Stuff
3-4 pounds Pot roast or Round steak 5 carrots
Flour, salt, pepper 2 Onions
2 Tbsp Oil 1 pkg Lipton Onion soup mix
10 lbs potatoes 2 cups beef broth or Beef boullion
Flour, salt and pepper the meat. Put in a heated 12 inch Dutch Oven that has 12 coals on the bottom, add oil and brown the meat in the oil. Add the potatoes, carrots, onions on top of the meat. Sprinkle with the Onion Soup mix. Pour 2 cups of broth over the top and bake for 1 ½ to 2 hours with 12 coals on top.
Dutch Oven Chicken
2 chicken fryers, skinned, washed, and cut up Shortening, when melted makes ½ “ in bottom
Flour, salt and pepper mixture Warm water, to make ¼ “ in bottom
Coat the chicken pieces in the mixture. Melt the shortening in the bottom of a 12 “ Dutch Oven with 10 coals on the bottom. Completely brown the chicken and then remove excess grease. Add water and cover with lid and 10 coals on the top. Steam for 1 hours until tender.
Cherry Cobbler
3 large cans (30 oz. each) of Cherry Pie filling 1 Cube butter
1 tsp Almond Extract 1 Cup chopped Nuts
1 yellow or white cake mix 1 can 7-Up or Sprite
Line 12 “ Dutch Oven with foil. Pour pie filling into Dutch oven and carefully stir in Almond extract. IN a gallon zip-lock bag or a bowl combine cake mix and butter until well mixed in. Add nuts and mix together. Sprinkle contents of bag or bowl evenly over pie filling. Then pour the can of soda pop over this. DO NOT STIR!!! Bake in Dutch Oven for 30-45 minutes with 8 coals on the bottom and 18 coals on the top. IF stacking ovens, do 13 on top and 13 on bottom. Check often.
Continue Reading »
Thursday, June 11, 2009
From Wayne Glasgow
Hello Ward Gardeners,
This past weeks have been great for the gardeners with the rain and the sunshine. It has been tough on our "viney veggies" they really like it to be above 50' at night and the hotter the better in the day time. So just be patient with them they will burst out when the weather warms up. The photo is of my 110 pound Bix Max pumpkin and some gourds from last year.
For those of you who did not get a garden in the ground yet call me or check the web blog for container gardens. They are quick, take very little space, and are portable. I will be in the hospital on June 16 & 17 for treatments, but any other time I am available. Thank you all for your prayers and support during my cancer canoe ride down the river of life. You can call Brother Glasgow on my cell 801-885-5979 or on the net sparky1947@gmail.com or on our ward blog site http://
Continue Reading »
Monday, June 1, 2009
From Carolyn Mackay
Anyone would have had to been living in the far reaches of the Amazon if they have not been aware of the Novel H1N1 influenza (Swine flu) outbreak that we have been experiencing lately. Most everyone probably knows or has heard of someone who has had it. Individual reactions have varied widely. Back in May, I even found myself taking a wide detour in the grocery store when a young man down the aisle from me was coughing and sounded sick. So I thought it might be helpful to provide some education and practical information about the H1N1 flu, and also relate my personal experience with it.
So what is it? Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly is seen among pigs. The virus, like most viruses, changes and adapts itself constantly. It mixes and blends with other viruses to emerge in different forms. H1N1 is just one subtype that has been isolated. In the past, there have been times where the swine flu infected humans, but they have been very few. Suddenly this year we saw a change, and illnesses in humans that began to be reported in Mexico suddenly began to spread until cases were reported throughout the world. Because of this, World Health Organization leaders finally classified it as a pandemic.
A vaccine is not currently available for Swine flu, like vaccines for seasonal flu strains. But there are anti-viral medications that can be given to lessen the effects of the flu and help people recover faster. Unfortunately some deaths have also occurred from the H1N1 flu virus. This can be expected with any flu virus.
So what can you do? First educate yourself and your family about the flu. Then know what to do if you do get sick. Recognize the symptoms, know how to best care of yourself, and when to seek medical treatment, know how to prevent it from spreading to others, and plan ahead.
Symptoms are just like most flu: body or muscle aches, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache.
How is it spread? It is an airborne virus. A cough or a sneeze of a sick person carries the virus in droplets through the air to whatever it lands on. A healthy person then touches the door knob, the countertop, the handrail, etc. and it enters the body through their mouth or nose. So, the smart person knows that you need to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, but not with your hands. Cough or sneeze into your elbow, a shirt sleeve etc. Hands that are not washed can spread the virus easily. Avoid touching your face or nose, so you don’t assist this transfer to you.
How do you take care of yourself if you are exposed to someone with the Swine flu? First, realize you may not get this flu or become really sick. But you can do things to protect yourself.
• For high risk people--- older people, very young children, individuals with chronic medical conditions, or compromised immune systems,--- that get flu symptoms, you should see the doctor and get on medication as soon as you can. Most others can treat themselves at home unless your symptoms become worse after 3 days.
• If you develop difficulty breathing, have chest pain, or loss of consciousness get medical help immediately.
• Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer. Always wash hands before and after meal preparation, snacks and meals, and after bathroom use. This helps prevent others from getting the flu, and also keeps you healthier.
• As mention above, cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• If you do get sick, the symptoms will come on very fast and be more severe than a common cold.
• DON’T GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL OR CHURCH! You are contagious as long as you are symptomatic. Most doctors recommend at least 7 days at home.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprophen (Advil, Motrin) for body aches and fever. Do not take more than recommended dosages.
• Aspirin should not be given to anyone under age 20. (Can trigger a serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome.)
• Rest, drink fluids as much as you can.
• Treat stuffy nose with over the counter products (decongestants) that work for you.
• Sometimes a cool water vaporizer can help with coughs.
Right now, if you get sick and your doctor does a quick lab test to see if you have the flu, it may give a false positive or a false negative test. In other words, the testing is not reliable. If you are symptomatic, you probably have Swine flu. Treat it as such.
Don’t become upset if the doctor does not put you on medication. Right now it is only being used for individuals in hospitals with confirmed cases, or those people at higher risk for complications. Most normal healthy people, although very sick with flu, will be okay without it.
If you are caring for someone with flu, keep them isolated from others in the family. Have them wear a mask, if they have to leave their room. You wear a mask if you go into their room. Wash your hands when you leave the room. Try to keep food dishes and eating utinsels separate. Use a Clorox type spray cleaner to wipe down shared areas like the bathrooms or doorknobs often. Clorox will kill the virus and you can even make your own solution and put it in a spray bottle in a 1:10 solution (1 part Clorox to 10 parts water). Spray and leave it for at least 2-3 minutes before wiping it off, or let it air dry.
Lastly, call and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
We had swine flu at our house 2 weeks ago. My nephew who was staying with us this summer came home from his parent’s house on a Sunday night not feeling well, He was achy, feverish, and with a sore throat. He went to bed. By Monday morning, he was really sick. He went to the Instacare to see the doctor and they did a rapid flu test on him, and they told him it was negative, and if he felt like it he could go to work that afternoon. He thought he could go to work, but couldn’t manage to get out of bed, and when I saw him that night, he informed me the doctor had told him, “he didn’t have the flu”. I questioned how he was feeling, --feverish, body aches, chills, bad bad cough, and I said, “you have the flu”. Knowing how the tests were often inaccurate, it took some convincing of my nephew that he really had the flu and it was most likely Swine flu.
Although he felt condemned, we kept him isolated in his bedroom. I took him meals there. He came out only to use the bathroom and shower. He took ibuprophen during the day, and cold/flu meds at night to help control the cough and help him sleep. He was down for 5 days, the first 3 days the worst. I wiped down door knobs and the bathroom counter, sink and faucets often. He wore a mask when needed.
What did I learn? I ran out of over- the-counter cold and flu medicine and when we went to get the particular kind we wanted, they were out of it at the store. Note to self: need to stock up. Also note to self: if everyone in the house was sick, or I couldn’t get to the store, would I have enough food and drinks that soothe colds and flu on hand? Need to prepare better. Could I be ready if we had a major community outbreak and people were asked to stay at home? I think so, but also need to assess that further. Found out there is probably more I need to do to prepare for such things.
Positive note: We kept everyone else in the family healthy. My nephew survived and went back to work the next Monday afternoon, still with an occasional cough, but once more feeling like he was among the living. Continue Reading »
So what is it? Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza virus that regularly is seen among pigs. The virus, like most viruses, changes and adapts itself constantly. It mixes and blends with other viruses to emerge in different forms. H1N1 is just one subtype that has been isolated. In the past, there have been times where the swine flu infected humans, but they have been very few. Suddenly this year we saw a change, and illnesses in humans that began to be reported in Mexico suddenly began to spread until cases were reported throughout the world. Because of this, World Health Organization leaders finally classified it as a pandemic.
A vaccine is not currently available for Swine flu, like vaccines for seasonal flu strains. But there are anti-viral medications that can be given to lessen the effects of the flu and help people recover faster. Unfortunately some deaths have also occurred from the H1N1 flu virus. This can be expected with any flu virus.
So what can you do? First educate yourself and your family about the flu. Then know what to do if you do get sick. Recognize the symptoms, know how to best care of yourself, and when to seek medical treatment, know how to prevent it from spreading to others, and plan ahead.
Symptoms are just like most flu: body or muscle aches, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache.
How is it spread? It is an airborne virus. A cough or a sneeze of a sick person carries the virus in droplets through the air to whatever it lands on. A healthy person then touches the door knob, the countertop, the handrail, etc. and it enters the body through their mouth or nose. So, the smart person knows that you need to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, but not with your hands. Cough or sneeze into your elbow, a shirt sleeve etc. Hands that are not washed can spread the virus easily. Avoid touching your face or nose, so you don’t assist this transfer to you.
How do you take care of yourself if you are exposed to someone with the Swine flu? First, realize you may not get this flu or become really sick. But you can do things to protect yourself.
• For high risk people--- older people, very young children, individuals with chronic medical conditions, or compromised immune systems,--- that get flu symptoms, you should see the doctor and get on medication as soon as you can. Most others can treat themselves at home unless your symptoms become worse after 3 days.
• If you develop difficulty breathing, have chest pain, or loss of consciousness get medical help immediately.
• Wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer. Always wash hands before and after meal preparation, snacks and meals, and after bathroom use. This helps prevent others from getting the flu, and also keeps you healthier.
• As mention above, cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough or sneeze.
• If you do get sick, the symptoms will come on very fast and be more severe than a common cold.
• DON’T GO TO WORK OR SCHOOL OR CHURCH! You are contagious as long as you are symptomatic. Most doctors recommend at least 7 days at home.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprophen (Advil, Motrin) for body aches and fever. Do not take more than recommended dosages.
• Aspirin should not be given to anyone under age 20. (Can trigger a serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome.)
• Rest, drink fluids as much as you can.
• Treat stuffy nose with over the counter products (decongestants) that work for you.
• Sometimes a cool water vaporizer can help with coughs.
Right now, if you get sick and your doctor does a quick lab test to see if you have the flu, it may give a false positive or a false negative test. In other words, the testing is not reliable. If you are symptomatic, you probably have Swine flu. Treat it as such.
Don’t become upset if the doctor does not put you on medication. Right now it is only being used for individuals in hospitals with confirmed cases, or those people at higher risk for complications. Most normal healthy people, although very sick with flu, will be okay without it.
If you are caring for someone with flu, keep them isolated from others in the family. Have them wear a mask, if they have to leave their room. You wear a mask if you go into their room. Wash your hands when you leave the room. Try to keep food dishes and eating utinsels separate. Use a Clorox type spray cleaner to wipe down shared areas like the bathrooms or doorknobs often. Clorox will kill the virus and you can even make your own solution and put it in a spray bottle in a 1:10 solution (1 part Clorox to 10 parts water). Spray and leave it for at least 2-3 minutes before wiping it off, or let it air dry.
Lastly, call and talk to your doctor if you have any questions.
We had swine flu at our house 2 weeks ago. My nephew who was staying with us this summer came home from his parent’s house on a Sunday night not feeling well, He was achy, feverish, and with a sore throat. He went to bed. By Monday morning, he was really sick. He went to the Instacare to see the doctor and they did a rapid flu test on him, and they told him it was negative, and if he felt like it he could go to work that afternoon. He thought he could go to work, but couldn’t manage to get out of bed, and when I saw him that night, he informed me the doctor had told him, “he didn’t have the flu”. I questioned how he was feeling, --feverish, body aches, chills, bad bad cough, and I said, “you have the flu”. Knowing how the tests were often inaccurate, it took some convincing of my nephew that he really had the flu and it was most likely Swine flu.
Although he felt condemned, we kept him isolated in his bedroom. I took him meals there. He came out only to use the bathroom and shower. He took ibuprophen during the day, and cold/flu meds at night to help control the cough and help him sleep. He was down for 5 days, the first 3 days the worst. I wiped down door knobs and the bathroom counter, sink and faucets often. He wore a mask when needed.
What did I learn? I ran out of over- the-counter cold and flu medicine and when we went to get the particular kind we wanted, they were out of it at the store. Note to self: need to stock up. Also note to self: if everyone in the house was sick, or I couldn’t get to the store, would I have enough food and drinks that soothe colds and flu on hand? Need to prepare better. Could I be ready if we had a major community outbreak and people were asked to stay at home? I think so, but also need to assess that further. Found out there is probably more I need to do to prepare for such things.
Positive note: We kept everyone else in the family healthy. My nephew survived and went back to work the next Monday afternoon, still with an occasional cough, but once more feeling like he was among the living. Continue Reading »
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