Car Kit

Car Kit Jumper cables/fuel can Tools Freeze-dried food Hard candy Bobbers Hooks Needles Sinkers Striker/fire starter Razor blades Saw Leather man Batteries Fish line Flashlight Magnesium striker stick Signal mirror Plastic bags Emergency survival manual First aid kit 2 bandannas Knife Compass Snare wire 1 light stick Light Potable aqua (water purification tablets) Matches Magnifying glass Parachute cord (rope) Cotton balls W/petroleum jelly 7 gallon water container Flashlight/radio Steel wool Candle Drinking tube Cup Wet wipes Nalgene bottle Bouillon cubes 5 coffee filters Folding shovel Hatchet Emergency blanket/other blankets Map book Duct tape

Possible Additions Axe Full shovel Wool blanket Sand spade High lift jack Come along Winch Fire extinguisher .30-.30 rifle Sling shot Woodmans pal

Building a 72 Hour Kit

In most major disasters it takes a minimum of three days for aid agencies to respond to public need. This time can be prolonged depending on the severity of the disaster. For this reason a 72 Hr kit is recommended for everyone to have. There are a few ideas of things we put in our kits.  We try to go through our kits every general conference and snack on the food during that time and replace it.  It is also important to have clothing that fits.

72 Hour Kit Candles Waterproof Matches Magnesium stick/ striker Emergency blanket Potable Aqua 3 chemical light sticks Toilet paper Wet wipes 2 freeze dried meals Oatmeal Fruit rollups Cliff bars/shots Honey shots Granola bars/hard candy Salt/multi spice/oil Sewing kit Floss/toothpaste/toothbrush/soap Pens/paper Books/games EmergenC- energy drink Teabags/Gatorade Wind up radio/flashlight Battery Flashlight First aid kit Poncho Beef jerky Tuna fish Trash bags Fleece vest Wool socks Hat Fleece jacket Bandanna Long sleeve shirt Propane stove Towel Coins Wire ties Convertible pants Scarf Rope Mess kit Boonie hat Cotton balls w/ Vaseline Sheath knife 5 coffee filters Compass Whistle Signal mirror

Homemade Dishwashing Powder

 Dish washing tabs can be so expensive!  This is a simple recipe that is inexpensive and works great!

Mix 1 cup of baking soda,

1/3 cup of citric acid, (buy in bulk on Amazon)

1/3 cup of salt (table salt will work in this recipe),

10 drops of citrus essential oil. (optional)

Scoop about one tablespoon of the mix into the dishwasher detergent compartment. This dishwashing powder is powerful enough to remove grease and other caked on foods typically left behind on plates.

Liquid Laundry Soap

Liquid laundry soap is more time consuming to make, but still works great. It depends on the type of washing machine you own, which type of soap you can use. Top loading machines can use liquid or dry laundry soap. Front loading machines are more specific and you will have to check your machine to see if it accepts dry soap or liquid only.

6 Cups  water

1/3  bar  grated Fels-Naptha  soap 

½  Cup Washing SODA by Arm & Hammer -NOT Baking soda soap, NOT laundry soap

½  Cup Mule Team Borax

Use a 2 -5 gallon bucket

4 Cups Hot water

22 Cups Hot water

Mix: grated Fels-Naptha soap in a large saucepan with  6 C water.  Heat on low until dissolved.  Remove from heat and stir in Washing Soda and Borax.  Stir until thickened.  Add 4 C hot water  (boiling water will make it dissolve faster) to the 2 gallon bucket.  Add soap mixture from saucepan and mix well.  Fill bucket with hot water until 2 gallons is reached (about 22 more cups water).  Mix well.  Set aside uncovered for 24 hours or until mixture is thickened. Pour into smaller plastic bottles for storage.

New and Improved Dry Laundry Soap

In an earlier post, I added a homemade laundry soap.  It works just fine.  However, having 2 dogs and stinky boys at home makes this laundry soap a big improvement in our home!
This easy to make recipe lasts my family of four about 4 months and costs about $12 to make.  I keep used peanut butter jars and the like to store my laundry soap in.

2 Bars Fels Naptha Soap
2 Bars Zote Soap (or flakes)
1 55 oz Box Mule Team Borax
1 55 oz Box Arm and Hammer Washing Soda (not laundry detergent!)
2 lb Box of Baking Soda (optional for homes with pets or strong smells in clothing)
18 oz Container of smelling Crystals from Downy or Gain (optional)

Use a cheese grater, blender or food processor to grate the bars of soap into flakes or small beads.  Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl or container. I recommend using a mask or doing this outdoors.  The dust from mixing the powders can be problematic.

**Use about 2 Table Spoons of Laundry Soap in a full load.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth or DE is an abrasive dust made from the fossilized skeletal remains of a single celled algae which used silica found in water to create a shell. It works because the microscopic shells have sharp projections that penetrate an insect's cuticle, allowing vital liquids to leak out. DE also absorbs the waxy coatings on insects' bodies both actions cause pests to die of dehydration. It works by physical rather than chemical action and is non toxic. This works on all bugs, good and bad, from cockroaches and scorpions to glass spiders and is safe to use around the house, in the garden or around pets and livestock.

To use around the house sprinkle it liberally in areas prone to infestation or where you notice you are getting bit. We put it behind our stove and under and around our fridge as well as under our couch cushions after we noticed we were getting bit, problem solved. The easiest way I have found to apply it is to buy a salt shaker or herb shaker ( we reused an old one) with small holes or you can by a bottle used to refill construction chalk lines, these can be found at hardware stores or the tool section at Walmart. If you are putting it somewhere that it will be easily blown away try adding a small amount of water to the area before you apply the DE.

Not only can it be used for pest control in the home but also for food storage and gardening. To use DE in food storage add 1-1/4 C DE to each five gallon bucket of food. Then shake and roll (the boys love this part) the 5 gallon bucket thoroughly. Obviously you only want to use this on food items that you can wash. Do not use with things such as salt and sugar. DE has no shelf life and never degrades. It will even kill insects that hatch years later. To use in the garden dust the soil or make it into a solution to spray on fruits and vegetables which protects them from insects.

I love this stuff and highly recommend you have some on hand. Although it is not dangerous the dust can irritate your lungs and cause your hands to dry out mildly so you still need to be mindful when using it. It can be found on the internet or at many grain, tack and pet food stores as it is usually fed to livestock to kill intestinal parasites. I've found it as cheap as 50lbs for $25 so not only does it work well but it is also available to those of us on a frugal budget.

- Casey

Seeded Crackers

1/3 C sunflower seeds
1/3 C sesame seeds
2 T Flax seed
2 T Chia Seed
1 3/4 C Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 t sea salt
1/3 C water
2 T honey or x agave
2 T canola Oil

In a food processor, grind the seeds into flour using the pulse so you don't turn it into seed butter.
 
Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor.  Mix until dough comes together and forms a ball.  Add extra flour or water as needed.

Divide dough into two balls.  Place 1 ball in the center of a parchment liner.  Place another parchment liner on top of the dough and roll out dough between the two sheets with a rolling pin. (The thinner you roll the dough, the crunchier the crackers will be) Remove top parchment liner, and cut into small squares using a pizza cutter. Repeat with next dough ball.

Spray with oil and sprinkle with coarsely ground seeds.  Place in the oven at 370 degrees and bake for 10 minutes or until the crackers begin to  turn a rich brown on both the top and bottom.  Let the crackers cool on the pan before serving. Tastes similar to wheat thins!  YUM!

~Shar's Kitchen Center