Adding Variety to Your Bulk Food Storage

 I found this insightful Question on the internet yesterday ...Pause to think of what you HAVE and what you might Add for variety to your bulk food storage.

STEP 1:
IF I HAVE: Wheat, Powdered Milk, Coconut Oil, Salt, Honey or Sugar, Water   (Cool - we've done all those in the last 6 months)
I CAN MAKE: Popped Wheat ,Steamed Wheat, Sprouted Wheat, Cooked Cracked Wheat, Tortillas

STEP 2
IF I ADD: Yeast, (or Sourdough Start), Baking Powder, Powdered Eggs, Baking Soda
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Custards, Puddings, Pancakes, Cookies, Waffles, Muffins, English Muffins, German Pancakes, Crepes, Egg Noodles, Pasta, Breads, Biscuits, Crackers, Mayonnaise. A lot more options huh? Keep reading.

STEP 3:
IF I ADD: Butter Buds, Tomatoes, Powdered Cheese
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Meatless Dinners, Meatless Casseroles, Cream Sauces These really add flavor.

STEP 4:
IF I ADD: Unflavored Gelatin, Canned Milk, Canned Fruits
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Jello Salads, Whipped Cream Desserts, Baby Formula, fruit dishes Mmm, now we have desserts.

STEP 5:
IF I ADD: Soup Base, Rice, Legumes (Beans), Beef Broth, Chicken Broth, Alfalfa Seeds, Sesame Seeds
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Hearty Dinner Soups, Chili, Rice Puddings, Refried Beans, Rice Dishes, Fresh Sprouts, Gluten This would really expand your dinner menu in an emergency.

STEP 6:
IF I ADD: Canned Meats, Dried Potatoes
I CAN MAKE THESE ADDITIONS: Dinners, Casseroles, Sandwiches. This may not sound like a lot but a meaty flavor can make all the difference.

STEP 7:
EXTRAS: Oats, Raisin, Nuts, Peanut Butter, Granola, Juices, Corn Starch, Soup Mixes, Spices & Flavorings, Lemon Powder or Juice, White Flour, Cream of Tartar, Junket Rennet Tablet - to make cheeses, Molasses, Karo Syrup, etc. These are small things that you could do without but really add variety to your diet.

What do you cook with? Add it to your food storage.  Share with me what YOUR Can't do without LIST looks like - it will help others.   

Save $ on your Food Bill

Fruit Basket is 1/2 of your distribution

Veggie side of the basket is the other half

Baskets ready for pick up

Bountiful Baskets.org is an excellent resource for FRESH, top of the line produce in several states.  Check it out and see if it's in an area near you!  I've been involved as a volunteer site coordinator for several years here in Utah and it's always surprising to me how many people do NOT take advantage of this resource.  Food prices have gone up A LOT in the last 2 years and the price for Bountiful Baskets has stayed the same - only $15 for a distribution of Fruit AND a distribution of Vegetables (check out the pictures).  Bountiful Baskets is coordinated by Kodiak Produce out of Arizona.  

Here's how it works:

1.  Go to www.bountifulbaskets.org
2.  Sign up for a new account (this will cost you $3 to join the food co-op)
3.  If you live in Utah - Monday & Tuesday are the days that you can log in and ORDER.
4.  Make sure you pick the State - County - City and proper SITE where you will be picking up the food.  (It's a drag if you order at a site and can't get there).
5.  Ordering closes on Tuesday - so if you miss it; you're not going to be able to get anything on Saturday.
6.  Everything you ordered on either Monday or Tuesday gets delivered on Saturday.
7.  The general basket is $15; they do not publish what will arrive in the baskets. 
8.  They usually have EXTRA items (for an extra charge) that you can choose from which mean they have access to some other supplies that you can have shipped in with your basket; like breads; juice packs (these are a crazy good deal, large bag); sometimes cookies - lots of stuff.
9.  NOTE:  Be on time.  If you aren't there to pick up your things; your items are donated to a local Fire Department with no - refunds.
10.  You can't choose what is in the fruit & vegetable basket so if you're worried about what to do with it all ... be creative; look up recipes and use the internet resources to help you.  One mystery meal a week is good for the soul.

Another Great resource (IN UTAH) is JumboJoes.com.  They are a little different; usually send you emails on the weekend and their product is pre-packaged and boxed.  They also tell you exactly what will be coming so there are no "surprises" - Jumbo Joe's delivers in to two locations in St. George and one in Washington.  They are $20 and are distributed out of SLC.  Excellent produce with a FRIDAY pick up rather than Saturday.  Here are the details on this one. 

Jumbo Joe's Produce Baskets is a retail service from the distributor Joe Granato Inc. This service provides individuals and families the opportunity to cut out the time of shopping for fresh produce at the store, not to mention, giving you even fresher produce than the grocery store. Our produce is not always organic but if we do have an organic offering, it will say ORGANIC in next to the item in the description. Each week we order in our produce based off of what you order so that it's fresh from grower, meaning it lasts longer in your home.
Here is how the order process works:
Step 1 - Visit www.jumbojoes.com every Friday morning through Monday night to order your fresh produce basket(s)
Step 2 - Pick one, or both produce baskets for purchase and add to cart.
Step 3 - Enter any coupon/gift certificate codes (if applicable) at checkout
Step 4 - Create a user account so it is quick and easy to order each week
Step 5 - Enter payment information
Step 6 - Finish checkout. Look for the order confirmation that includes payment confirmation, what's in your basket(s), and where to pick it up the following Friday or Saturday (based off location).
Step 7 - Don't forget to pickup your produce at your selected location at checkout at the designated time. *We don't offer credit or refunds for missed pickups* so please set a reminder or make sure somebody reliable is there to pickup your basket.

- stay Healthy and Well!