The Ready Store Giveaway

If you know me, You know I am all about emergency preparedness. We have stockpiles and kits everywhere. I recently became an affiliate for The Ready Store.  At The Ready Store our goal is to offer the finest emergency preparedness and survival supplies available anywhere. Our purchasing power allows us to provide great products at the best prices. But if you really want to be prepared you need great information to go along with the emergency supplies.

One of the foundations of a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan is a food storage supply. Ideally you would have enough food storage for you and your family to shelter in place for at least several months. If you have to leave home you'll want to have at least a 72 hour survival kit. Freeze dried foods and mixes provide the longest shelf life while preserving the taste and nutrition of your food storage. A critical part of your food storage plan is water storage and filters.

The Ready Store has it all! In order to spread the word about Emergency Preparedness and The Ready Store, I am having a giveaway!!!

You could win a 104-Piece Auto First Aid Kit:

Be ready for all potential emergencies in the car. Our new generation of soft case kit is developed to save time and frustration in the midst of emergency situations. Supplies are easy to find in patent pending, clear-pocket pages. Educational cards informing the consumer on the use of specific contents are included in this kit.

● Includes medicine & antiseptics, bandages, dressings, injury treatment, and references.

● Clear pocket organization for quick access.

● Treats cuts and scrapes, pain and swelling, and burns.

● Recommended by health care professionals.

● Trusted quality from First Aid Only - in business for 20 years!

At The Ready Store, we always focus on the QUALITY of our products first, rather than quantity because we want you to get the best value for your hard-earned money.

Product Contents
Enclosure (1 Pieces):
(1) Vinyl bag Med - Red

Bandages (36 Pieces):
(30) 3/4" x 3" Adhesive plastic bandages
(2) Knuckle fabric bandages
(2) Fingertip fabric bandages
(2) 2" x 4" Elbow & knee plastic bandages

Medicine & Antiseptics (29 Pieces):
(9) Antiseptic cleansing wipes (sting free)
(6) Alcohol cleansing pads
(1) Insect sting relief pads
(3) First aid/burn cream packs
(2) Motion sickness tablets
(4) Ibuprofen tablets
(4) Extra-strength non-aspirin tablets

Dressings (20 Pieces):
(10) Cotton tipped applicators, 10
(2) Exam quality vinyl gloves
(6) 2" x 2" Gauze dressing pads
(1) 5" x 9" Trauma pads
(1) Sterile eye pads

Injury Treatment (5 Pieces):
(2) Butterfly wound closures, medium
(1) 2" x 2" Moleskin squares
(1) 1/2" x 5 yd. First aid tape roll
(1) 6" x 3/4" Finger splint

References & Instruments (3 Pieces):
(1) Accident report form
(1) Call police distress flag
(1) Light stick

For a Mandatory entry: Go to The Ready Store and find another product you might be interested in. Then come back here to leave a comment telling me about it.

For bonus entry: Go to the The Ready Store and sign up for the The Ready Nation Newsletter. By doing so you will be entered in a drawing to win and Ultimate Year Supply of Freeze Dried Food. Be sure to leave a comment telling me you did so.

For another entry: Follow me using Google Friend Connect. Be sure to leave a comment to let me know you are my Friend!

Make sure I am able to reach you via e-mail, either by your Profile or leaving your e-mail address in the comment.


The Rules:
Entries will be accepted from Aug. 29 thru Sept. 4 2010
Winner will be announced on Sept. 6 2010
Winner will have 48 hours to contacted me with shipping information

Good Luck!

Product Review- Zicam

                
                             

The ragweed counts have been thru the roof here in OH. My eyes were stinging, itching and burning. My nose was congested and I had some serious sinus pressure.

I finally had enough and realized I need to take something. I dreaded the foggy feeling you get when you take allergy meds. So I specifically looked for something that was non-drowsy. I happened across the Zicam Allergy Relief Gel Swabs. I saw it was non drowsy and homeopathic too. I thought I would give it a shot

I am pleased to report.....It works! My eyes are better and I can breath out of my nose now!! I have been using for a week now and love it. No drowsy feeling and no other side affects.

I am going to stock up and have some on hand in case the ragweed counts go up again and for my emergency medicine kit we keep with our food storage.

Check out the family of Zicam Products:

            

Easy Tomato Sauce Update

I made the Easy Tomato Sauce the other day.

Some changes I made were I used cherry tomatoes and just regular (non roma) tomatoes. We had an over abundance of tomatoes at the garden this week. I had to find something to do with them! They were a little more watery during the roasting process than roma's would be. I pulled the pans once to drain off some of the juice. And all in all..... I think they roasted well.

I also added just a little sugar to the recipe too.

No joke....... my version of the Easy Tomato Sauce tastes like Prego Brand Spaghetti Sauce!!

It was a little time consuming and messy....but anything with tomatoes is..... but I think it was all worth it!

Food Storage Series: Snacks- Bagel Chips and Croutons

I have found a new blog that I am loving.
It is Home Grown by Angie.

Angie recently posted instructions on how to make Bagel Chips and Croutons.

You won't believe how easy it is!

So go check it out and leave a comment on the blog and you will be entered to win an Excalibur Dehydrator!

Food Storage Series: Snacks: Homemade Crackers

Homemade Crackers


1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon salt (add a bit more if you like a saltier cracker)
3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup water

Pre-heat over to 450 degrees.

Combine the flours and salt in a bowl. Add the olive oil and water and stir until you have a cohesive ball of dough (you’ll need to use your hands to really get it all together). Set aside for 15-20 minutes.

While you wait, mix up a spice/seed blend (skip this if you want plain, salted crackers). Here’s what I’ve been using. Sometimes, I’ll swap out rosemary for the fennel and add some salt to this combo for a slightly different take.

2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon fennel seed


After the dough has rested a bit, divide it into two pieces, flour a board and rolling pin and roll the dough out until it’s as thin as you can get it. Put on a parchment-covered cookie sheet, brush with water and sprinkle with your spice/seed mixture or salt (kosher or a coarse sea salt is best here). Use a pizza cutter to slice the dough into squares or diamonds and bake for 10-12 minutes).

Let the crackers cool completely and then store them in an airtight container. If you don’t eat them all up, they’ll last at least a week on the counter.

They are also delicious sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Each recipe makes between 40-50 crackers, depending on how small you make your cuts.

Recipe found at Food in Jars

Food Storage Series: Snacks- Brown Bag Popcorn

*Make your own popcorn bags!  It is cheaper and more healthy than those store bought bags. Add herbs and spices of your liking and you have got a personalized snack!

Brown Bag Popcorn
3 Servings

Ingredients
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Directions
1. In a cup or small bowl, mix together the popcorn kernels and oil. Pour the coated corn into a brown paper lunch sack, and sprinkle in the salt. Fold the top of the bag over twice to seal in the ingredients.

2. Cook in the microwave at full power for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until you hear pauses of about 2 seconds between pops. Carefully open the bag to avoid steam, and pour into a serving bowl.

Get Ready

I Can

Check out my shop!

I recently created a shop over at CafePress and wanted to share it with you.

I Can
http://www.cafepress.com/ICan1

From your pal,
Carolyn

Get Ready

Midland Dynamo 4-Power Source Survival Radio


The Midland Dynamo is a powerful and sturdy radio with 4 different power sources plus preset weather and emergency channels, a thermometer, a flashlight, and even a USB cord to charge cell phones in an emergency! A must-have to prepare you for any disaster.

I get all my preparedness supplies from The Ready Store.

See the side bar for a link!

Finally a use for my Bundt Pan

In the September issue of Real Simple there's a piece on new uses for old things. 

I might have to try this one out - using a bundt pan as a vertical roaster for chicken.

They suggest layering potatoes, carrots & onions on the bottom, then seasoning the chicken

 and stand it up over the center tube. Place pan on a cookie sheet to catch the drippings.

Some Bundt Pan resources:

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Nonstick Bakeware 9-1/2-Inch Fluted Cake Pan
Nordic Ware 2 Piece Non-stick Formed Bundt Pan Set 6 Cup & 12 Cup Capacity
Nordic Ware Platinum Collection Original Bundt Pan
Nordic Ware Pro Form 6 Cup Bundt Pan



Bundt Classics Cookbook
Bundt Cake Bliss: Delicious Desserts from Midwest Kitchens
Cake Keeper Cakes: 100 Simple Recipes for Extraordinary Bundt Cakes, Pound Cakes, Snacking Cakes and Other Good-To-The-Last-Crumb Treats
Nordic Ware Bundt Cookbook - Soft Cover

Garden Co Op Visit

Weird Vegetable of the Week:

I think this is 3 tomatoes that grew together.

This week's Harvest

Check out more pics from our visit at:
Garden Co Op Day 70

How My SFG Grows - August 13

Well, another thunderstorm and high winds broke our tomatoes again!

Above is the after, below is the before

I am not sure how the Tomatoes will recover.

It is end of season and it has been HOT as hell here in Ohio.

Currently we are in the second week of a heat wave.

I planted some beets and broccoli a couple weeks ago too.

Another Soup Mix in a Jar

Beef Barley Soup Mix in a Jar


1 (1 pint) jar
3/4 cup medium pearl barley, separated
1/2 cup dried lentils
2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
1/4 cup dried minced onions
1/4 cup instant beef bouillon
2 tablespoons dried celery flakes
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried minced garlic

Layer soup kit ingredients in jar in order listed, using half of barley first and then remaining barley at the top. Close jar securely with lid. Attach cooking instructions.

Beef Barley Soup
1 (2 pound) boneless beef chuck, cut in 1/2-
to 3/4-inch pieces or 2 pound lean hamburger
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Contents of gift jar
10 cups water

Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat and brown the meat. Pour off drippings. Add the contents of soup kit jar and water to Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover tightly and simmer 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours or until beef is fork tender.

Discard bay leaves.

Yields 8 servings.

Another super easy layered soup mix! I made a few of these today for some Christmas Gifts. These are in a pint jar. I think these would be perfect for the mail man, hair stylist and more!

Me and my Pitchfork

My two favorite garden things.....

My pitchfork and my boots!

Soups in a Jar

I did it!

I made the soups in a Jar.

I made a few for gifts and

the rest will go in my food storage.

The soup mixes were easy to put together

and they are pretty to look at too.

I vacuum sealed the lids for longer storage too.

Creamy Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup

Chicken and Brown Rice

Chicken and White Rice

5 Bean Soup Mix