Your 3-Month Supply

I recently finished a large container of Taco Seasoning (that I bought at Costco) that I have had in my cupboard for years...well, at least two. My family loves tacos, but even with fairly regular use, it has taken us awhile to get through it. As time has gone on, I have found it necessary to add a bit more seasoning than suggested to get a decent taco flavor.

Last week I opened up a fresh new container for a tasty batch of taco salads. I took my first bite...I think fire shot out of my mouth and my nose ran like a faucet. The seasoning seemed SO intense! Clearly the seasoning is the same...my taste buds are just different. I had gotten used to the "past its prime" seasoning bottle.

Why would I bring up this story? Seasonings and Spices are a critical part to your 3-month supply. They can turn something ordinary and bland into something very palatable. One thing to consider though, is shelf life.

Most ground seasonings can last 3 to 5 years unopened (whole spices will last longer). But once you open it, the quality starts to degrade. Within a year, you no longer have the flavor you started with. So, do you throw away your spices after a year? No, but just make sure and store seasonings in bottles small enough that your family can go through them in a relatively short amount of time. If you use a lot of certain seasonings...i.e. I use cinnamon like it is going out of style... store it in big containers. Otherwise, buy it in the smaller containers at the grocery store so they can stay sealed up longer and be ready for you when you need them. Stores like Walmart, Smiths and Dans all have lower priced spices that can be purchased for as low as $1 for a decent size bottle.

Seasoning the Fruits of your Green Thumb

One element of food storage that cannot be overlooked is seasonings. Items in this category include iodized salt, dry yeast, baking soda, baking powder, vinegar, bouillon, herbs, spices and seasoning mixes. Using flavorings your family enjoys could potentially make all of the difference between bland and satisfying eating.

Some seasonings I like to stock up on are taco seasoning, cinnamon, soy sauce, Lawry's seasoning salt, oregano, basil, thyme, chicken and beef base, garlic powder, etc. Think of recipes you currently use and what spices you feel would add to your cooking. Don't forget to stalk up on iodized salt. The recommended amount is 8 pounds per person.

Another area of preparation I feel very strongly about is gardening. The benefits of growing your own food are many. Some of them include...

• the money you save by not having to buy fresh produce. Think about it, you are growing your own groceries!
• the nutritional value is considerably higher for home grown foods because fruits and vegetables are picked when they are fully ripe (unlike the grocery store).
• you gain valuable skills and supplies, so if you found yourself in a position where you HAD to garden, you would already have the skills and supplies needed.
• it is very satisfying!

Now some of you might be saying. "I don't have enough room for a garden." Here is the good news...there is no specific space requirement...you can use whatever space you have. Look for a space in your yard that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight. For some it might be a flower bed, for others a nice four by four grow box.

"Don't worry if you don't have a traditional garden plot, many foods can be grown in small places with some creativity. A variety of vegetables and herbs, and even strawberries can be grown in pots on a balcony, porch or sunny window. These can also be used as borders in a typical flower garden. The important thing is that you start now to try to grow a few things. " ~Emergency Food in a Nutshell

When we landscaped our yard it was very important for us to have a nice grow box built. I love that box. It is a great space, but there are still limitations. Because of that I have had to be creative. I have had to plant herbs in the front yard among other bushes, planted cucumbers in open beds, planted dwarf peach trees because my yard is not big enough for the full size. It is not my ideal, but it works and it has blessed my family. I can't wait to go through the seed catalog that just arrived today and start planning out this years harvest!

Herbs and Other Seasonings

We had a wonderful class today on Fats and Seasonings. I will post more on that tomorrow. But in our discussion of fresh and dried herbs and seasonings a company was mentioned that is a great resource for wholesale herbs. It is called San Francisco Herb Co. and has been in business since 1973. They have discounts on bulk orders and have many hard to get spices and seasonings, so it is worth a look. Click on the link http://www.sfherb.com/