February Ark Project Info

"There is a wise old saying " Eat it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without". Thrift is a practice of not wasting anything. Some people are able to get by because of the absence o expense. They have their shoes resoled, they patch, they mend, they sew, and they save money. They avoid installment buying, and make purchases only after saving enough to pay cash, thus avoiding interest charges."
~James E. Faust~

Spiritual Goal:

• Schedule time each day to read with your family from the Book of Mormon.

Priesthood Provident Living Goal:

• Plan and carry out an FHE on home fires, include planning an escape route and practicing it.

Storage Goal:

• 100 pounds pasta or flour per person
• Hand grain mill
• Thread, needles, buttons and zippers

72 Hour Kit Goal:

• 1 gallon water per person
• Scriptures
• Personal documents - genealogical records, wills, insurance, contracts, Passports, birth

January Ark Project Info

"Let every head of household see to it that he has on hand enough food and clothing and, where possible, fuel also for at least a year ahead...."
~J. Rueben Clark~

Spiritual Goal:

• Hold Family Home Evening every Monday for the month.

Priesthood Provident Living Goal:

• Review your retirement goals. Are you putting enough aside to be able to support yourselves and to do the things you want to do when you retire? Also change batteries in smoke alarms.

Storage Goal:

• 24 cans of meat or fish per person
• 1 gallon bleach per person
• Can opener
• Garbage bags
• Laundry detergent

72 Hour Kit Goal:

• Gather change of clothing including underwear and shoes for each family member. Include warm coats and boots or have them immediately accessible.
• Ax, shovel, bucket and utility knife
• Infant needs
• $20 cash and $5 in change for phone

Sale at Winn Dixie

Thank you, Jennifer, for the heads up. If anyone knows when this sale ends, let me know and I will post that information as well.

"Winn Dixie has 10 cans of Bumble Bee, Albacore white tuna, for $10. I priced the same at Sam's…they were more expensive. The expiration on the tuna was 2011. Also the Hunts pudding packs, 10 for $10. The expiration on the Hunts was from Jan – Nov 2010."

Reading Codes On Canned Food

Thought this was useful.

The encoded dates on cans represent the date the can was filled and processed. They are NOT "use by" dates. But this can be useful knowledge if you aren't sure how old a particular can is.

As a rule of thumb, acidic canned foods like pineapple and tomatoes can be stored for 12 to 18 months. Low-acid foods, like meat, beans and most vegetables, can be stored much longer - 2 to 5 years. Do discard any can that is bulging or rusting, however, as the contents are almost sure to have gone bad.

From mealtime.org:

Reading Can Codes

Each canned food manufacturer has a unique coding system. Some manufacturers list day, month and year of production, while other companies reference only the year. These codes are usually imprinted on the top or bottom of the can. Other numbers may appear and reference the specific plant manufacturing or product information and are not useful to consumers. Below is a sampling of how some manufacturers code their products so consumers know when the product was packaged. If you have specific questions about a company's product, contact a customer service representative at the phone number listed.

Note: For month coding, if a number is used, numbers 1 through 9 represent January through September, and letters O for October, N for November and D for December. If letters are used, A=Jan. and L=Dec., unless otherwise noted.

Note: For year coding, 8=1998; 9=1999; 0=2000; 1=2001; 2=2002, etc.

Bush Brothers & Company (voice) 865-509-2361
Four digits
Position 1: Month
Position 2 and 3: Day
Position 4: Year
Example: 2061 (February 6, 2001)

Chiquita Processed Foods (voice) 800-872-1110
Ten digits (only 6-8 are pertinent to consumers)
Position 6: Year (A=1999, B=2000, C=2001, etc.)
Position 7 and 8: Julian Date
Example: A195 (July 14, 1999 - July 14 is the 195th day of the year)

Del Monte Foods (voice) 800-543-3090
First line, four digits
Position 1: Year
Position 2, 3 and 4: Julian Date
Example: 9045 (February 14, 1999)

Faribault Foods
Consumers can send inquiries and product coding numbers via an online contact form at the Faribault Foods Web Site, and a company representative will help them understand the coding.

Furman Foods (voice) 877-877-6032
Second line, first four digits
Position 1: Year
Position 2, 3 and 4: Julian Date
Example: 9045 (February 14, 1999)

Hirzel Canning (voice) 800-837-1631
First line, four digits
Position 1: Year
Position 2, 3 and 4: Julian Date
Example: 0195 (July 14, 2000- July 14th is the 195th day of the year)

Hormel Foods Corporation (voice) 800-523-4635
Five digits on the top line
Position 1-4: Information about plant and manufacturing
Position 5: Year
Example: XXXX0 (2000)

Lakeside Foods (voice) 920-684-3356
Second line, second through fifth digits
Position 2: Month (January=1, September=9, October=A, November=B, December=C)
Position 3 and 4: Date
Position 5: Year
Example: 4A198 (October 19, 1998)

Maple Leaf Consumer Foods (voice) 800-268-3708
Top of can, grouping of last four digits
Position 1: Year
Position 2,3, and 4: Julian Date
Example: 9130 (May 9, 1999)

Mid-Atlantic Foods (voice) 410-957-4100
Second through fourth digits
Position 2: Month (letter)
Position 3: Date (A=1, Z=26)
Position 4: Year
Example: MDE0 (April 5, 2000)

Pillsbury/Green Giant and Progresso
(voice) 800-998-9996
Five digits
Position 1: Month (letter)
Position 2: Year
Position 3: Plant information
Position 4 and 5: Date
Example: G8A08 (July 8, 1998)

Seneca Foods (voice) 315-926-6710
Two digits on the first line
Position 1: Month (letter)
Position 2: Year
Example: L1 (December 2001)

Stagg Chili (voice) 800-611-9778
Second through sixth digits
Position 2 and 3: Month
Position 4 and 5: Day
Position 6: Year
Example: S02050 (February 5, 2000)

Vietti Foods
First line, five digits
Position 1: Month (letter)
Position 2 and 3: Date
Position 4: Code for product type
Position 5: Year
Example: E02D2 (May 2, 2002)

CVS Black Friday Sale **Update**

I posted about the CVS sale below, but I wanted to update y'all on what you could actually get for your money. This is a great way to stock up on toiletries for your home storage. I grabbed the following from an online forum that I frequent. The girl who posted it is the same person that I got the CVS sale information from originally. She was showing what she was able to buy at the sale and how much she spent. The sale is still on through Saturday, Nov. 29 I think.

Quote:

Okay, so today I did some shopping at CVS. I LOVE THAT STORE!!!!!!!! My mom went with me and we got there at about 6:45 for it to open at 8. We wanted to be the first ones in the store, and we were. It was my mom's first time playing the CVS game and she bought $101.13 worth of stuff for $6.59 out-of-pocket and she has another $7.99 in Extra Care Bucks (ECBs) to spend in the store any time she wants. I bought $124.17 worth of stuff for $4.27 out-of pocket, and I have a total of $28.46 ECBs to use another time! So essentially CVS paid me $24.19 to buy $124.17 worth of stuff! How great is that!!!!!

Here are pictures of our shopping trip. The first one is what I bought, and the 2nd is what my mom bought. I bought the 2 Maybelline mineral power foundations earlier this week, which is why they aren't in my picture. Not bad for so little money, huh??

Banana Bread (In Jars)

Banana Bread in a Jar

7 (1 pint) wide-mouth pint jars
2 2/3 c. white sugar
2/3 c. vegetable shortening
4 eggs
2/3 c. buttermilk
2 c. mashed, ripe bananas
1 t. vanilla
3 1/2 c. white flour
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. cinnamon
2 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
2/3 c. chopped nuts (optional)

In large bowl, cream sugar and shortening with electric mixer. Add eggs and mix well. Next, add buttermilk and vanilla and mix well. Place dry ingredients in a separate bowl and mix well. Add creamed ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well. Gently stir in mashed bananas and nuts.

Prepare jars with vegetable shortening. Place one cup of batter in each jar. Do not use more than one cup or batter will overflow and jar will not seal. Evenly space jars on a cookie sheet. Bake at 325˚ F for 45 minutes, or until a pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Working quickly, wipe rim, place lid and ring on jar and secure. Jars will seal quickly. Repeat with remaining jars. When ready to serve, bread will slide out.

Pumpkin Spice Cake (In Jars)

This is the recipe that I shared in Relief Society yesterday. I will be adding other jar recipes as I have time, so keep checking back. You can find the wide-mouth pint jars at Albertsons.

Pumpkin Spice Cake (In Jars)

8 (1 pint) wide-mouth canning jars
1 C. raisins
1 C. walnuts
2 C. flour
2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 t. ground cloves
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
4 eggs
2 C. sugar
1 C. vegetable oil
16 oz. can pumpkin

Wash jars, lids and rings in hot soapy water; rinse well. Allow the jars to air dry. Once the jars are dry, generously grease the inside of each jar.

Preheat oven to 325° F. Coarsely chop the raisins and walnuts; set aside. Sift together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add raisins and walnuts; toss to lightly combine. In a separate bowl, beat eggs at high speed until thick and lemon colored, about 3 minutes. Gradually beat in the sugar until thick and light. At low speed, beat in the oil and pumpkin; blend well. Gradually stir in the flour mixture until well blended.

Divide batter among jars, they should be slightly less than half full. Wipe any batter from the rim of the jars. Place jars on a baking sheet, and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until a pick inserted into the center of each jar comes out clean (bamboo skewers work great to test doneness).

While the cakes are baking, place the lids and rings in a pan of water and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and leave them in the water until the cakes are done. Remove the cakes from the oven one at a time, place the lids and rings on them and tighten. Allow the jars to cool. Check to be sure they have sealed. There should be no movement on the lid. If any have not sealed properly, eat them within a week.

When I made these, I used pecans instead of walnuts and golden raisins instead of purple raisins. I also added miniature chocolate chips. Next time I make them I'm going to substitute apple sauce for some of the oil.

CVS Black Friday Sale

Sale dates Thurs. 11/27, Fri. 11/28, & Sat. 11/29
Stores open @ 8am except 24hr stores

If you've been wanting to stock up on toiletries, then Thanksgiving day will be the day to do it!

At CVS they are having an amazing deal (Black Friday Sales). You may want to get up bright and early and be the first person in the door on Thanksgiving because items may not last until Friday. IF for some reason they are out of the items when you get there, you can get a rain-check. The rain-check will give you the price AFTER they subtract the Extra Care Bucks, so for many of the products, they will be FREE. The rain-checks do not expire, so you can hang onto them until you find them in stock. You do HAVE to get your own Extra Care Card from CVS to get these deals and keep them going. It's free to get one.

Here is an example of how you can shop that day (you might not have these coupons, but it's still a good deal if you don't): Oh, and ECB are Extra Care Bucks - they print at the end of your receipt and have a barcode that must be scanned along with your card. OOP means Out-Of-Pocket expense, meaning what you'll have to pay. (This was posted in a forum by someone that already had some ECBs to use).

First Transaction:

Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons $3.99 + $3.00 ECB
minus $1.00 coupon = $2.99 + $3.00 ECB

Aussie Conditioner $2.99 + $2.99 ECB
minus $1.00 coupon = $1.99 + $2.99 ECB

Total OOP: $5.00 + $3.00 ECB & $2.99 ECB (I'm doing this one first because I have $5.00 in ECB to blow, so for me it will be free).


Next Transaction:

Colgate Total Toothpaste - $2.99 + $2.99 ECB
minus $2.99 ECB (from Aussie purchase) = FREE + $2.99 ECB

Do this 1 more time (limit 2) - separate transaction (use ECB from toothpaste purchase)


Next Transaction:

Garnier Nutritioniste Cleansing Towelettes (25 ct) - $5.99 + $5.99 ECB
minus $1.00 coupon
minus $3.00 ECB (from playtex purchase)

Total OOP: $1.99 + $5.99 ECB


Next Transaction:

Bic Soleil Razor - $5.99 + 5.99 ECB
minus $5.99 ECB (from garnier purchase)= FREE + $5.99 ECB

Do this 1 more time (limit 2) - separate transaction (use ECB from razor purchase)


Next Transaction:

Johnson's Soft Lotion - $5.69 + $5.69 ECB

1 Reeses King Size Bar $1.00 + $1.00 ECB

minus $5.99 ECB (from 2nd razor purchase)

Total OOP: $.70 + $5.69 ECB, $1.00 ECB


Next Transaction:

CG Smoothers Pressed Powder - $5.99 + 5.99 ECB

minus $5.69 ECB (from lotion purchase)

Total OOP: $.31 + $5.99 ECB


This will then leave you with ECBs for $2.99 (second toothpaste), $1.00 (hershey's candybar), and $5.99 (CG Smoothers powder) - that you can use towards any purchases in the store.

Albertson's 3-Day Sale

Friday, November 7 through Sunday, November 9.

They will have boneless skinless chicken breast and/or tenders for $1.68 per pound...great price.

They will also have Campbell's Chicken noodle and/or tomato soup. There is a limit of 6 ea., but they will let you buy 6 with each separate transaction...this is the cheapest price you will see on soup and it usually has at least a year to year and a half shelf life. Great for 3 month supply.

Thank you Donna for sending in this info!

Ralph's Supermarket One Day Sale

Ralph’s Supermarket on Jones Creek is having a meat sale Thursday, Nov 6^th.

Bananas $.39

Shurfine Chicken Broth 3/$1

Shurfine Chicken Soup 2/$1

Shurfresh Turkeys 10-12lb $.89/lb

Boneless Fryer Breasts $1.69/lb

Choice black angus Whole Rib Eye $4.99/lb

[There are other cuts of select grade meat in the sale]

Thank you Margaret for sending in this info!

Sister Riggs' Whole Wheat Bread

I am fairly certain that this is her recipe, even though her name isn't on this sheet in front of me. That being said....enjoy!

100% Whole Wheat Bread
(1½ lb. loaf - bread machine)

1 c. water
1 egg
2 T. oil
2 T. honey
1½ tsp. salt
3 c. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. yeast

Add ingredients to bread machine in order given.

Note:

1. Because I don’t like the shape, texture, and dough hook hole in the bottom of bread baked in a bread machine, I use the dough setting, take the raised dough from the machine, form into a loaf, put it in a regular bread pan, and bake it in the oven at 375˚ for 15 minutes and 350˚ for an additional 15 minutes. Brush the top of the hot baked loaf lightly with butter or shortening and then remove it from the pan to a cooling rack.
2. Can substitute white flour or ½ and ½ white and wheat if desired.
3. Can substitute sugar or brown sugar for honey if desired.
4. Can omit egg and use 1¼ c. water if desired
5. Dry milk powder, potato flakes, raisins, etc. can be added if desired.

Store What You Use and Use What You Store

I know I've heard this said in food storage discussions many times. And yet every time I use an online food storage calculator or read up on "what to store," I'm told that I need exorbitant amounts of food that I NEVER use. For example, in January our Relief Society will be starting the Ark Project to help guide the sisters and their families in getting their food storage together. It's a great program, and yet it tells me that I need to store 50 lbs of sugar per person. I rarely use sugar in my house...I just don't cook with it. So I know that it would be silly for me to store that amount of sugar.

To solve this conundrum, Utah State University has developed a food storage plan that allows you to better tailor your food storage to your own family's needs. YAY!!! The basic concept is that you take the meals that you prepare most often and calculate the amounts of each ingredient that you need for a year. Simple and smart (imo).

So now I just have to divide my family's storage goals into 12 months to fit the Ark Project.