Steripen Sidewinder Water Purifier

Shelf Reliance just came out with this new water purifier called the Steripen Sidewinder.  This looks so awesome.  I cant wait to buy it!  I could tell you about this awesome water purifier and why I think it is so cool but this video can do a much better job than me.  The cost through me is $99.49. 

If you are interested in earning this for FREE and earning some extra cash let me know and I can tell you more about becoming a consultant with Shelf Reliance.  Click here to read more about becoming a consultant.  As a consultant I am ALWAYS getting things for FREE or 1/2 price.  In fact this evening I am turning in an order for my self where I am getting $120 worth of product for FREE and $150 worth of product for only $75.  Cant beat that!

Pumpkin Spice Latte/Hot Chocolate

Yesterday I stumbled across a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  It said that these taste as good as Starbucks if not better.  Now we dont drink coffee so the alternative to using coffee is hot chocolate.  Normally I am not a big fan of pumpkin ANYTHING.  So this was a stretch for me.  Turns out these are REALLY good!  Even my kids loved them. 


As promised on Facebook here is the recipe

Pumpkin Spice Latte

1 c. THRIVE chocolate drink (hot chocolate) or coffee

Pumpkin milk
1 c. milk, any %
1/4 heaping c. pumpkin puree
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbs. honey, brown sugar or any sweetener you like

Combine all ingredients except for the hot chocolate or coffee.  Whisk well or put in a blender and blend.  In a pot add 1/2 of the pumpkin milk and the hot chocolate.  Mix.  Top with cool whip or marshmallows.  Enjoy!

I made more of the pumpkin milk and am storing it in the fridge so later when my kids want some it will be ready. 

Words can not express how good this is.  And that is coming from a NON pumpkin lover! 

Pardon my picture....and the Christmas mug.  :)  Our cool whip was frozen.  I didnt realize my husband put it in the freezer.  So it was really clumpy....but it tasted just fine and that is what matters!  :)

Peanut Butter Balls Food Storage Style

So I forgot to take a pic before 

 

I received an email today with this recipe in it.  It sounded good but the best part....it took 5 minutes to make.  That is right up my alley...quick and simple!  My daughter had a church activity to go to this evening and each kids was to bringing a treat.  I told her to make cookies to take but you know how teenagers are....they NEVER listen.  So 20 minutes before we have to leave I find this out and I thought why not try this out.  Little will the kids know this is a total food storage recipe!  Well I guess the kids who know me well will have some idea. :)  So here it is......

Peanut Butter Balls

 
3/4 c. non-instant powdered milk
1 c. quick oats
1/2 c. honey
3/4 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. raisins.

Mix all together and form balls.  Store in an airtight container in the fridge!

Thats it!

You can really change this recipe up.  You can use creamy or chunky peanut butter.  Instead of raisins I added mini chocolate chips.  You can add dried fruits.  The sky is the limit on what you can add.

I have some of the pickiest kids I know and they ALL liked these.  Its a healthier snack, if satisfies your sweet and savory cravings.  It has some crunch to it if you are wanting something crunchy.  The best part of these....THEY TAKE 5 MINUTES!!!

My Memories GIVEAWAY

I am so excited to announce that I have my 1st giveaway thanks to My Memories!

 I use to love scrapbooking but then my kids got older and I was always so busy!  Scrapbooking takes so much time and there is so much stuff to store.  I just got to the point that I didnt have the time or space.  So I stopped.  I have found a solution.  My Memories digital scrapbooking!  We have moved into a digital world so why not digital scrapbooking! 

Think about how much time it takes you to dig out all your supplies, which takes all that space to store, and then once you are done you have to clean up.  I HATE cleaning up when I am done.  With My Memories digital scrapbooking software there you no longer have to store tons of supplies and my fave part....NO MORE CLEAN UP!!!  My Memories is a website that offers scrapbook software.  You purchase and download their My Memories Suite to your computer and do all your scrapbooking on your computer.  They also have backgrounds that you can download.  Some are free some you have to purchase.  They have so many CUTE options for backgrounds its almost hard to choose. 

Once I figured out how to use the software I had so much fun!  There seems to be unlimited options on their software.  Once of the things I really like is that you can share your scrapbooking with your friends and family online. 

Want to win a FREE download of My Memories Suite? 

• Leave a comment with your name.
• Become a follower of Thriving Food Storage
• "Like" me on Facebook
• "Like" My Memories on Facebook
• Visit My Memories and choose their favorite digital paper pack or layout, then comment on my blog telling me which ones you like.

For every entry option you do you will receive an additional entry!

The giveaway ends on Thursday, Oct. 6th at 11:59pm. 

My Memories has given me a special code for you to use.  The code does not expire and you can share it with your family and friends!  Use this code STMMMS19059 and you will receive $10 off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store.

Zaycon Foods

I am so excited to start ordering from Zaycon Foods.  I placed my first order yesterday.  I have heard wonderful reviews from friends about their products.  Zaycon Foods is based out of Washington but they have drop locations through out all 48 continental states.  To see a list of all cities visit their website here. 

Right now they have their chicken event going on.  Orders have to be placed by tomorrow.  Sorry for the short notice!  Chicken is $1.49/lb.  You have to buy by the case which is 40#.  A case is $59.60.  This is a great price.  I will defiantly be stocking up!

Zaycon Foods do several different events through out the year including:

chicken
turkey
pork
beef
bacon
fish

Check out their website to learn more about them!

Dutch Oven Cooking

Tonight I had my husband teach me how to use our dutch oven.  It was defiantly WAY easier than I had thought it would be.  In the end I think I will have my father-in-law come over and help me.  :) 

When using a dutch oven there are different things you need to do with it.  Treat it like you would any cast iron.  To clean  your dutch oven NEVER use soap in your dutch oven. After you have cleaned it stick it in a warm oven for a little while.  When it comes out spray pam on it and let it dry.  If you dont use your oven for a while stick it in your oven through a cleaning cycle and it will burn off any smell or any other bacteria that has gotten into it. 








Dont use metal utensils.  They can/will scrape off the cast iron.  That is what I know for now.  When I have my father-in-law come down I will ask him some more questions and post more about using your dutch oven.  There are so many websites out there about dutch ovens.  Check them out.  There is tons of useful info out there.

Tonight we made a cherry cobbler.  I will give you the recipe and tell you how to put it together.  Please dont get scared off when you see how hard it is! 

Cherry Cobbler

1 can cherry pie filling
1 10oz sprite or 7up can
1 box cake mix (any flavor you like)

Dump the cake mix into the dutch oven.  Pour in the soda and stir.  Not much, just for a few seconds.  When you are done with that open the can of cherries and evenly poor them over the cake mix.

Thanks it!  Oh, cook it for about 1 hr.

I really was surprised how easy it was to prepare the oven and cook in it.  Now, depending on how big your oven is will depend on how many briquettes you will need.  The one we used was a 10" so we needed 20 briquettes.  10 on top, 10 on bottom.

We took an empty #10 and poked holes in the bottom so there would be oxygen for the fire.  After we poked the holes we used a can opener to take the bottom out.  We placed a piece of tin foil on the cement outside and the "shell" of the #10 can on top of that.  We then put 20 briquettes in the can.  Lit them and waited for them to turn white.  While we waited we added the ingredients for the cobbler.

We also put tin foil underneath the dutch oven just so we wouldnt get any burn marks on the ground.  When the briquettes were ready we evenly placed 10 underneath the oven around the outside.  If you pile the briquettes in the middle the middle of your food will burn.  So evenly place them around the outside of the oven and you should be good.

Then we did the same thing on the top.  After those were placed we built walls with tin foil just to block the wind.

We then waited an hour and we had cobbler.  I think next time we will cook it just a few minutes less but it was still good.  You can change up this recipe simply by changing the fruit or the cake mix flavor.

Over all I think it was successful.  I can do this on my own now and if we didnt have any power we will be set.  We will have lots of cobbler.  I guess I need to learn how to cook other things now.  :)

Powerless Cooking

This is one topic/storage area that I am really lacking in.  I have a few propane bottles with camp stoves that we can use but other than that I have nothing.  I have heard wonderful reviews on the sun ovens.  There is one big downfall with them...you have to have sun.  I live in the NW so as you know, that means we have very little sun.  I do have 2 wonder boxes and I KNOW how to use them.  Now that is good thing if I am in the middle of cooking and the power goes out.  Or I can use my propane stoves just enough to boil my water and then finish off with my wonder box.  To learn more about the wonder box click here to see a previous post.

My in-laws did give me a dutch oven but I have no idea how to use it.  I think this week I will have my husband teach me how. 

Where I live we tend to loose power in the fall and winter.  Typically its not for very long or even at dinner but you NEVER know!  Its better to be prepared BEFORE something happens.

What do you have for powerless cooking?  Do you now HOW to use it?  What are your thoughts and ideas?