Grocery Smarts Round 3

Although I have been using the Grocery Smarts website for awhile now...it is amazing how much I still have to learn about organizing and really maximizing the website's capabilities.

I came across a video made by "The Obsessive Shopper" that explains the site very well and gives you tips on how to best organize your list for your specific shopping trip.

Click here to get more info on how to really make Grocery Smarts work for you and help you start saving!

A Great Tip #3

Another great tip to help you save money at the grocery store is...

Make more meals from scratch.

Processed foods tend to cost more, have a shorter shelf life, and are not nearly as good for you as the "real " thing. Not only that, but you are increasing your skill level at the same time as improving your health.

If you are already making many your meals from scratch...keep it up! If not, this is a great time to start. I recently posted a great "FOOLPROOF BREAD" recipe that is easy to make and is something that is VERY good for you. Click here to get the recipe.

A Great Tip #2

In order to really maximize on grocery store and warehouse club savings...

Buy in Bulk!

Stock up on things that you know you use. One thing that I always stock up on when it is on sale is meat. One thing to consider in buying items, like meat, in bulk, is how to best store them. You want to make sure what you are storing is going to be good for as long as possible. There are many options out there to package goods in an airtight containers (which is especially helpful when freezing).

• The FoodSaver Vacuum Sealer System
• Reynold Handi Vac (This is what I use and I was able to get the special bags for only $1 a box on sale!)
• Ziploc Vacuum Freezer System

Also, take advantage of case lot sales. It is a fantastic way to stock up on foods for your three month supply. Harmons is currently having their case lot sale...most others will have theirs in February.

A Great Tip #1

Our first great tip...

Collect more than one set of coupons!

Ways to do that...

• Subscribe to more than one paper
• Print coupons off the internet...Coupon Mom , Coolsavings , Coupons.com ,etc. Print two of each!
• Get coupons from family and friends that you know throw them away.

The more you have, the more you save!!

Great Deal on a Wheat Grinder!

I know this is a little off subject, but I came across a FANTASTIC deal on the VitalMill Wheat Grinder. It is made by the same company that makes the NutriMill (one of the best grinders out there) and has many great features. Click here to get more information.

I spoke with the people at Bosch and they said it is a great grinder for someone that is looking for a grinder primarily for making bread. It has one speed, which means it just grinds wheat, beans, etc. into flour. It does not have a "coarse" setting, but if you are just hoping to get flour, this is well worth your money. They said it stores well and has the same size storage capacity as the NutriMill. If you are looking for a more cost effective grinder, they would highly recommend this one.

For a limited time (and I don't know when it ends), The Bosch Kitchen Store (John and Jenny's Kitchen) is selling the VitalMill for $139.99 and free shipping. That is a great deal! A wheat grinder will make a considerable difference in helping you use your food storage in everyday life!

Also, if you are interested in purchasing a hand grinder as well...Emergency Essentials is offering this same grinder as well as a Back to Basics hand grinder for $199.99. This sale can only be redeemed in the store.

Shortcuts.com

If you are someone that just really hates cutting coupons (or really loves coupons and wants as many as you can get!) and regularly shops at a store with a "fresh values" card or something like that...there is a great website out there for you. Shortcuts.com is a great website that actually loads your coupons onto your "fresh values" card (or whatever you use) so you don't actually have to remember to take your coupons with you.

The only downside is that it is easy to forget what coupons you have loaded, so I just log on the website when I am planning my shopping list and off I go!

Free Trial

Thank you to My Food Storage Deals for posting their two week free trial offer on the comments page of my last post!! What a great way to try out their services!

Just enter the promotional code... FREE TRIAL

Happy Saving!

Food Storage Deals

Perhaps some of you have heard of this, or even use it already, but another great tool for helping you build your food storage is a website called My Food Storage Deals .

For a monthly membership fee, "you will have access to all five of the major grocery stores' weekly deals. We will compare grocery store prices to "warehouse" prices and help you know which items are Great, Good & Okay Deals. We will tell you when to stock up on items, which items to add to your food storage, give you helpful food storage ideas, weekly recipes, coupon helps and other fun tips."

This website is not for everyone as there is a fee involved, some people don't want to pay money to save money, but it is very convenient and the "tip of the week" can be real money saver. By using their tips I saved $65 at Albertsons and only spent $30.
Check it out and see if it is something that will help you.

Grocery Smarts Round 2

I orginally posted this about a month ago, but it is what I use the VERY most in saving and stocking up on groceries and thought it was worth posting again. One thing I like the most, is it is a site you can really mazimize on if you use coupons, but you don't have to as it shows you all the deals that are offered at the store you shop at. A news station in Vegas did a story on the website that I think has great information. Click here for to watch the link.

I have learned some more information on this site though since my original post...it is only available at this time to people who live in Utah and Las Vegas. That is a real bummer, but if you don't live in either of these two places, there is a girl who has created a spreadsheet that will allow you to make your own savings sheet. Click here to get more info.

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for ways to cut down on spending. I have always been a frugal shopper, but I have been a bit more vigilant this last little while. One thing that has made a big difference in my grocery shopping is this website called "Grocery Smarts". They assign a code for every state and then provide the advertised deals for all of the grocery stores in that state. They have stars highlighting the best deals, let you know what coupons are out there (whether online or in your Sunday paper), and how much your cost will be after the savings. It is brilliant! The passport code for Utah is g84cso. Just go to http://grocerysmarts.com/ and enter the Utah code. You can then select the store or stores you like to shop at and start saving away! It is a great way to not only save money for food you need today, but a great way to stock up for food needed tomorrow!!

Great Website!

I was made aware of a great food storage blog/website. It is called Fun With Food Storage and they have great information. Check it out!

P.S. I have created a link under "Useful Resources" for easy access.

New Year, New Progress

A new year always seems to bring new resolutions. One of my resolutions is to really get this blog up and going again and increase its readership. In order to help me accomplish this goal, I am going to take the approach I did when I taught food storage cooking classes, which is...focus on one specific area per month. I hope this will give me the necessary direction and motivation I need, and will also increase the posts I put up each month. Some of the posts will be focused on long term food storage, but we will also be discussing getting a three-month supply, lowering your food budget by using coupons and/or maximizing what is on sale at the store you shop at, increasing your financial reserve, etc.

There is no better time than the present to make an assessment of where we are in our temporal security and make a plan.

This first month will be focused on...the resources that are out there to help us build our food storage, regardless of our personal budgets.

"When it comes to implementing a successful home storage program, the most important step is to start. With the beginning of a new year, now is the perfect time for individuals and families to review the First Presidency's guidelines on home storage in the pamphlet All is Safely Gathered In. The First Presidency encourages all Church members to gradually establish a three-month supply of food, store drinking water, set aside a financial reserve, and when possible, eventually increase home storage to a longer-term supply. By following these simple guidelines, Church members can prayerfully consider their circumstances and set one goal to begin or continue their own home storage program. As we prepare ourselves and our families for trials and adversity, we will receive temproal security and be able to 'provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience.' "

~Ensign, January 2009, pg.68

Lofthouse Cookie Outlet

Once again, here I am posting about a great deal. I can't help myself! I have just learned of a Lofthouse Cookie Outlet in Ogden that sells "second" containers of cookies. What is considered a "second" you might be asking?...it is actually just a fresh cookie that is "slightly imperfect" but one that most regular customers would not notice.

They are offering amazing deals...a dozen cookies for $1. That my friends is a deal. They sell all varieties, not just the sugar cookies with thick frosting (not that that isn't a tasty treat!).

It's location is a little challenging to find they say, but way worth it. The address is 400 North 700 West, Building 5D. It is a warehouse in the old Defense Depot. Their hours are 7 am to 5 pm weekdays and 8 am to noon on Saturdays.

The best access is off I-15 northbound (exit 344) on 12th Street, then east to Depot Drive, north to 400 north and east on 400 North to the northeast corner of building 5D.

If you need more information, just go to their website, http://www.lofthousecookies.com/

Grocery Smarts

I don't know about you, but I am always looking for ways to cut down on spending. I have always been a frugal shopper, but I have been a bit more vigilant this last little while. One thing that has made a big difference in my grocery shopping is this website called "Grocery Smarts". They assign a code for every state and then provide the advertised deals for all of the grocery stores in that state. They have stars highlighting the best deals, let you know what coupons are out there (whether online or in your Sunday paper), and how much your cost will be after the savings. It is brilliant! The passport code for Utah is g84cso. Just go to http://grocerysmarts.com/ and enter the Utah code. You can then select the store or stores you like to shop at and start saving away! It is a great way to not only save money for food you need today, but a great way to stock up for food needed tomorrow!!

Needing Feedback...

I apologize for not being at all consistent with my postings. My life has kind of been in a whirlwind for the last bit and blog posting has just not made it on the list. But I intend for that to change.

As I was about to post, I wondered if anyone even looked at this blog and if there was even a purpose in posting anything anymore. So...if you read this blog and would like it to continue, would you please comment on this post and I will keep things going. If not, I will assume that no one reads it and close this blog down.

Thanks in advance!

FOOLPROOF BREAD

The title doesn't lie...this really is a foolproof bread recipe. I had watched my Mom bake bread with this recipe for years and although it took me awhile to start making it on my own, I now no longer go to the store for bread and my kids are eating 100% whole wheat bread and love it!

FOOLPROOF BREAD (Bosch Kitchen Recipes)

Small Batch (4 loaves in 4x8 pans)

4 C warm water

1 TB Salt

1/3 C Oil

1/3 C Honey

1 1/2 TB Dough Enhancer

2 T Vital Wheat Gluten

2 TB Saf Yeast

7 C Wheat Kernels

Freshly grind wheat into flour (medium setting). Add water and several cups of freshly ground whole wheat flour to mixing bowl with dough hook in place. Mix using a few short bursts of the jogging switch. Add the salt, oil, honey, dough enhancer, vital wheat gluten and instant yeast and jog briefly. While the mixer is kneading at speed one, slowly add whole wheat flour until dough pulls away from the side of the mixing bowl. This normally will take most of the whole wheat flour you have ground. It is better to add too little flour than too much flour. Allow the mixer to knead the dough until the gluten in the whole wheat flour is properly developed. This takes about 10-12 minutes. Your dough should have a slightly tacky texture. Turn oven on to preheat to 150 degrees. Shape into loaves and place in pans (previously well greased). Turn oven off. Put loaves in warm oven to rise until double in size. This will take approx. 25 minutes, but watch your loaves so you don't raise them for too long. When loaves are double in size, set oven to 350 degrees an turn it on (leave loaves in the oven). Bake for 30-35 minutes. When loaves are done, immediately remove from pans and let cool on wire rack. (Hint: so pans won't stick, wipe out while hot and don't wash them.)

Another great tip... measure the oil and put it in first and then measure and put in the honey. By doing the oil first, the honey then just slips right out!

I will be doing a video demonstration on this in the weeks to come, but give it a try...practice makes perfect!

Just a little info...

I have found myself creating a few different blogs in the last few months and as a results have not been very efficient in updating any of them. In an effort to remedy the situation I have decided on specific days that I will update my different blogs. I may update more than once a week, but I will definitely post at least once. The update day for the Safely Gathered In blog will be on Mondays and I hope to have some great recipes and hopefully some videos on how to make certain things. My post tomorrow will be on making Whole Wheat Bread.

Family Home Storage Center Products

One of the challenging parts of building up your home storage is financially trying to keep up with what things cost. You get a price list from somewhere and often in only a month the prices have changed. The Provident Living website now lists the costs of their products online which is AWESOME!! It also tells you at the bottom of the page when the prices were posted. The Cannery typically has the best prices for long term storage items, especially on wheat, so they are worth checking out. Here is the link http://providentliving.org/pfw/multimedia/files/pfw/pdf/113827_HSOrderForm_US_JUL_08_pdf.pdf

The Provident Living website also has great information on the best way to store your food, to maximize its shelf life.

http://providentliving.org/content/display/0,11666,7532-1-4063-1,00.html

Looking for a Deal?

Part of being "Safely Gathered In" is being financially responsible. Because of that, I am including deals I see around town for those who live in my neck on the woods. Today I was shopping at Smith's Marketplace and happened upon a fantastic sale. It is what they call a "10 item mega sale event". You buy 10 advertised items at a discounted rate and they take $5.00 off your bill at the end. Buy 30 items, save $15.00. My grocery bill came to $60.00, my saving was $57.53. Not too bad.

If you didn't get to see the ad...here it is
http://smithsfoodanddrug.inserts2online.com/customer_Frame.jsp?divID=706&drpStoreID=00475

Home Storage Through New Eyes

I apologize for not posting on a regular basis this past month. I have been in a state of deep contemplation in regards to storing food and how what I have stored fits into the life of my family. Over the last month or so I have read many articles, looked at many websites, taken food storage cooking classes (over the last 7 months), pondered the examples of others, become overwhelmed with the rising cost of everything, felt a desire to be better nutritional provider for my family, etc.

At the end of it all I realized a few things...
One, that using your home storage is in many ways a very personal thing that varies from person to person. For one person, making almost everything from scratch is what works best, for another, it might be making certain items from scratch and not others.
Two, that cooking from scratch is in most instances a more healthy choice, especially if you can try and incorporate whole wheat.
Three, that by learning how to make things on my own, rather than purchasing everything premade from the store, I obtain skills that build my self esteem and help in my desire to be able to "provide" for my family.
Four, there is safety in following the counsel of prophets who have for over 75 years counseled us to have a storage of food. Just watching the news and reading the paper and seeing the food crisis that exists in so many areas of the world, reminds me of the wisdom of this counsel and the peace I feel in having not only food stored, but the ability to use it.
Five, that there is a terrible stigma attached to using food storage...that anything made from wheat is disgusting and nothing tasty can possibly result from using stored food. For example, I was asked to make some breadsticks for a family dinner a few weeks ago. I used a recipe I had been given in a food storage class I had attended because it was so easy. I decided to make one batch with whole wheat flour and the other with half white/half whole wheat flour. We arrived a little late to dinner and everyone had already started eating, so I just walked around handing out the breadsticks. Before I new it, all of them were gone...all 50+ of them. I was shocked. One of my uncles called out to me and asked me if I had made them out of food storage. I replied that I had and he said at the first sign of a disaster he knew where to come. I was grateful for the compliment, but also realized the shock everyone felt when learning that not only did I use my food storage, but I used whole wheat and the result was delicious. I decided at that moment that if I could change anything in the minds of others, it would be that using your food storage is no different than just making things from scratch. And if you incorporate your wheat, you are just making a healthier dish. And just as a side note, after making the breadsticks for that first family dinner, I had been asked to make them for the next two dinners that followed and I left each time with an empty basket.

So that is the revamped focus of this blog, to find ways to use our food storage in our everyday lives and perhaps become a little healthier in the process. There is much we can learn from each other, so let me know of your experiences.

For those interested...

BREADSTICKS

1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 T. honey
4 cups flour (use whichever you wish)
1 T. instant yeast
1 t. salt
Seasoning

Place large jelly roll pan in warm oven with 1/4 c. butter and let butter melt. Place water, honey, flour, yeast and salt in mixing bowl. Blend together and let knead for 8-10 minutes. Roll out into a rectangle to fit jelly roll pan. Spread the melted butter evenly across the pan and sprinkle half of your desired seasoning all over the butter (I like to use garlic salt). Gently lay rectangular shaped dough onto buttered pan to coat underside, then turn the dough over so the top side is buttered. Sprinkle with desired seasoning (ex. garlic salt, salad supreme, dried herbs, Parmesan cheese, etc). Use a pizza cutter to make one long cut down the middle of the pan, and then cut into 1 1/4 in. slices. Cover and let rise. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

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/