THRIVE: GMO free Food Storage

A few weeks ago, Shelf Reliance published an update "allergens report."  Since that time, I've been meaning to write this post and just kept forgetting about it.  So, here it is, a few weeks late, but here nonetheless:

I am excited to be able to tell you that:

 80 of our 105 products are GMO free!

• All THRIVE Fruits are GMO free
• All THRIVE Vegetable are GMO free
• All THRIVE Grains are GMO free (except instant rice)
• All THRIVE meats are GMO free

If you are interested, you can read the entire THRIVE allergens report (click on link).  It lists all THRIVE foods that are GMO free, MSG free, and Gluten free.  

Would you be ready?

I've been thinking a lot about the tornadoes, tsunamis, floods, fires, and earthquakes of late.  My husband and I have been talking about how they are happening more and more frequently and closer and closer to home.  While we've always had a 72 hour kit and just re-vamped it a few months ago, we've wondered how we would really respond in such a situation.
So, I pose the same question(s) to you:

Would your family be ready to evacuate if necessary?

What would you grab if you had 30 minutes warning?

What if you had 10 minutes warning?

What if you only had moments?

We created a to-do list for each of the above time limits, prioritized it and then split it between Cory and I.  We each just start working down our list until we have to leave.  We've assumed that if we had 10 minutes notice or more we would be able to leave in our van.  If we only had moments, it would be on foot.  We also regularly keep extra food, a mini-72 hr kit, a few blankets and small bills in our van.  We are actually going to time ourselves sometime over the next few weeks to be sure we can get through everthing on our lists in the allotted time.  I'll let you know how that goes!

Below are our lists.  I'd love to hear your plans / suggestions!

30 Minutes:

My List:

• Shoes on
• Kid's shoes on
• Turn on movie for kids
• Purse, Cory's wallet, keys and cell phone in van
• Folder of important papers / original documents in van
• External hard drive in van
• Extra flashlight / candles in van
• Extra snack food (crackers, a few cans of THRIVE fruit, nuts) in bag in van
• Kid's sippy cups filled with milk and in van
• Cooler filled with milk, cheese and fresh fruit & frozen water jugs in van
• Camera in van
• Kid's pillows, blankies and 1 stuffed animal each in their carseats
• Small suitcase with an extra changes of clothes, extra diapers & wipes, and diaper cream in van
  
• A bag of toys, coloring books and crayons in van

Cory's List:

• Shoes on
• Shut off gas using our gas shut off tool
• 72 hr kits in van
• Four 5-gallon water jugs in van
• Four 24-pack water bottles in van
• Fire extinguisher in van
• Tent in van
• Camp Stove in van
• Extra blankets in van
• Pack and Play in van
• Guitar in van
• Portable DVD player set up in van with a few extra DVDs
• 5-10 preselected books (they are all next to each other on a bookshelf) in van

10 Minutes:

My List:

• Shoes on
• Kid's shoes on
• Turn on movie for kids
• Purse, Cory's wallet, keys and cell phone in van
• Folder of important papers / original documents in van
  
• External hard drive in van
• Extra flashlight / candles in van
  

Cory's List:

• Shoes on
• Shut off gas using our gas shut off tool
• 72 hr kits in van
• Four 5-gallon water jugs in van
  
• Four 24-pack water bottles in van
  
• Fire extinguisher in van
  
• Tent in van

Moments:

My List:

• Samantha's shoes on
• Own shoes on
• Strap Hanna to me in front carrier
• Put 72 hr kit on me
• Hold / keep track of Hanna / Micah
• Grab, purse & cell

Cory's List:

• Boy's Shoes on
• Own Shoes on
• Get 72 kits on boys
• Get own 72 hr kit on
• Hold / keep track of Samantha & Noah
• Grab wallet and cell

THRIVE Sour Cream Tips

I get a lot of questions about THRIVE sour cream:

• Does it taste just like fresh?
• Is it as good as the THRIVE instant milk?
• What recipes have you used it in?
• How do I mix it?

Taste
Well, here are my thoughts:  No, it doesn't taste just like fresh sour cream like the THRIVE instant milk tastes just like real milk.   It does have a slightly different taste to it.  However, it is good.  I have eaten it as a topping on my tacos, nachos, quesadillas etc.

Use
However, my favorite places to use it are in recipes.  Recipes like this banana bread or this Stroganoff or these lava brownies.  It also works well in fruit and veggie dips.

Tips
I don't like the recipe on the can.  If you want a cup of sour cream, I suggest doing the following:

• Add one cup THRIVE sour cream powder to a bowl
• Add 2 T. HOT water as whisk until smooth.
• Continue to add HOT water 2 Tablespoons at a time until you've reached a consistency that is just slightly more runny than you'd like.  (I usually end up adding about 8-10 Tablespoons water).
• Chill for at least 1 hour (it will thicken as it chills)

THRIVE 6 Grain Pancake Mix Tips

I tried the THRIVE 6-Grain pancake mix for weeks and weeks before finally getting it right.  Basically, no matter what I did, it turned out kinda raw / wet and gooey in the middle.  Not how I like my pancakes!

Fortunately, I loved the flavor.  That was my motivation: I really wanted the pancakes to work b/c they had such great flavor.  So, I posted my problem on the Shelf Reliance consultant forum. Twice actually.  About a month apart.  I got lots and lots of tips:

• Cook them at a higher temperature
• Cook at a lower temperature
• Don't over mix them
• Mix them in a blender
• Cook immediately after mixing
• Let them sit for 10-15 minutes after mixing before you cook them
• Add warm water
• Add cold water
• Add less water
• Add more water

I was so appreciative of all the help, support and suggestions, but nothing worked.  I'm not sure what was wrong with me or my kitchen or my grill, but nothing worked.

So, I decided to research what exactly makes pancakes rise.  I found there are two things (duh): baking powder and baking soda.  I found that baking soda is activated immediately when you add water and something acidic to it (buttermilk, honey).  The food must be baked / cooked immediately after mixing or the baking soda won't work properly.

Baking powder on the other hand, is available in both double acting or single acting forms.  The single acting is similar to baking soda except it only needs water to activate it.  However, the double acting baking powder is different.  It reacts twice: once when the water is added and a 2nd time when the heat is added.  So, nothing has to be cooked or baked immediately for it to work properly.

The 6 Grain pancake mix has both baking powder and baking soda in it, but not much.  In fact, they are the very last two ingredients.

So, here is what I did:

• I added 3 tsp double acting baking powder to 3 cups 6 Grain Pancake mix and 2 1/2 cups cold water.
• I mixed it very well with a fork
• Let it sit for 10 minutes
• Did not mix it again
• Cooked on a greased grill at 350 degrees (medium high) for about 2 min
• Flipped and cooked for about 30 seconds on the other side

They turned out perfect! Light and fluffy on the inside and just slightly crispy on the outside.  YAY!

You can purchase THRIVE 6-Grain pancake mix on my website at a discount.   

NO COUPON CODE NEEDED!  

As an independent consultant, Shelf Reliance has authorized me to sell their products at the lowest available price: lower than through Shelf Reliance directly or any other retailer!

Sources:
What is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?

THRIVE Quinoa Stew

I am in LOVE with Quinoa lately.  Dare I admit that I was just recently (about a year ago) introduced to it?  I'm sure many of you are far more familiar with it than I, but I just LOVE it.  I'm using it at least weekly, if not more often.

If you wanted (though I don't recommend it), you can replace the Quinoa with Rice.

I've adapted this recipe from one I found over at Picky Palate back in January:

Healthy and Hearty Chicken Quinoa Stew

• 1/3 cup THRIVE freeze dried onion
• 1/2 cup THRIVE freeze dried celery
• 1/4 cup THRIVE diced carrots
• 1/3 cup THRIVE mixed bell peppers
• 8 cups water  
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 cup THRIVE freeze dried potato dices
• 1 cup THRIVE freeze dried chopped chicken (I used fresh shredded chicken in this picture, but have made it both ways)
  
• 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
• Salt, black pepper and Garlic Salt to taste
• 3 Cups cooked Quinoa (cook according to package direction minus 2-3 minutes)

Mix all ingredient but quinoa, mustard and seasonings and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 -15 minutes.  Stir in cooked quinoa, mustard and salt, pepper and garlic salt. Let sit for 2-3 minutes before serving.
8-10 servings

**I also added some zuchini I had in the fridge that needed to be used up.  I don't add it every time, but it was quite tasty.**

Which Type of Food is Best?

I get this question often:

Which type of food is best: freeze dried, dehydrated, frozen, canned?

I think that is up to you and how you plan to use the food, but here is a chart to help you compare:

2-Person Survival Pack 51% off

With current world events, I have had a lot of customers purchasing or asking about purchasing emergency supplies and 72 hr kits.  You can read about how I put together my 72 hr kit in this post.

However, if you are looking for a pre-made kit, I'd thought I'd let you know that the 2 person survival pack that has been on sale for $89.99 (regularly $160) has just dropped to $79.10 for Q Club members.  That is 51% off!  I don't know how long it will be available at this price.  You can purchase the 2-person survival pack on my website.  If you are not a Q-Club member, you will still pay $89.99, or you can join the Q and get the lower price.

It is a good idea to have a kit like this in your home, office, school, and especially in your car.

Here is what is included in the pack:

Essentials

• 1 Heavy Duty Backpack (1 main compartment, 2 small top compartments, 1 medium compartment, and 2 zipping side pockets).
• 1 Multi-function Knife (includes scissors, screwdriver, and nail file)
• 2 (two) 3M®, N95 Deluxe Dust Masks
• 1 Pair of Industrial Leather Work Gloves
• 2 (two) 10-hour, Disposable Heat Packs
• 10 Yards of 2” Duct Tape
• 2 Bright Sticks (provides up to 24 hours of light, 12 hours each)
• 2 name brand OB Tampons
• 1 (one) 50-foot Rope

Shelter and Bedding

• 1 Tube Tent with Rope
• 2 Emergency Sleeping Bags – 84”x36” (windproof and waterproof)
• 2 Ponchos with Attached Hood (one size fits all)

Communication

• 2 Whistles
• 1 Hand Crank Flashlight/Radio/Siren (no battery or electricity needed)
• Universal DC Adapter for Portable Electronics (will charge cell phones, portable DVD Players, and any electronics with a DC plug in! Simply plug your DC device into the adapter, and plug the adapter into your hand crank flashlight. No batteries or electricity needed).
• 1 Notepad and Pencil

First Aid

• 1 First Aid Booklet
• 1 Deluxe First Aid Kit Including:
• 1 Pair of Scissors
• 1 Ace Bandage
• 1 Small Roll of Athletic Tape
• 2 Iodine Pads
• 2 Large Band-aids (4” x1.75”)
• 20 Standard Size Band-aids
• 4 Extra Strength Tylenol Caplets
• 4 Pepto-Bismol Caplets
• 2 Blistex Chapstick Pouches (.5g each)
• 2 Antibiotic Ointment Pouches (.5g each)
• 2 Sterile Alcohol Prep Pads
• 1 Ammonia Inhalant Respiratory Stimulant
• 2 (two) 3” x 2.25” Gauze Pads (2 ply)
• 2 (two) 2”x2” Gauze Pads (12 ply)
• 2 (two) 4”x4” Gauze Pads (12 ply)
• 1 Pair of Tweezers (plastic)
• 1 Pair of Disposable Vinyl Gloves

Food and Water

• 12 - 8.45 fl. oz. Coast Guard Approved Emergency Water Servings
• 2 Coast Guard Approved 3600 Calorie Food Bars
• 1 Plastic, 8 Liter Emergency Water Bag (not pre-filled)
• 8 Water Purification Tablets (1 liter per tablet)

Sanitation

• 1 (one) 2-ply Toilet Paper Roll
• 4 Tissue Packs (10 tissues in each pack)
• 2 Toothbrushes
• 1 Fluoride Gel Toothpaste (.6 oz)
• 1 Hand Sanitizer(.5 oz)
• 4 Wet Naps
• 2 Cloth Wash Towels
• 2 Re-sealable Storage Bags
• 1 36” x 36” Heavy Duty Garbage Bag

Serving size of freeze dried produce

It is recommended that most adults get 1.5-2 cups of fruit every day and 2-3 cups of vegetables.  This is also sometimes listed as 3-4 servings of fruit and 4-6 servings of vegetables b/c 1/2 cup is often listed as one serving.

So, what does that mean for dehydrated and freeze dried produce?  Well, the United States Departement of Agriculture says this:

In general, 1 cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice, or ½ cup of dried fruit can be considered as 1 cup from the fruit group.

That is why Shelf Reliance lists their serving size for most fruits and vegetable as 1/4 cup.  1/4 cup freeze dried = 1/2 cup fresh = 1 serving.

If you were to meet the daily reccommeded amounts using freeze dried produce alone you should have:

• 3/4 - 1 cup of freeze dried fruit (or 3-4 servings) and
• 1 - 1.5 cups of freeze dried vegetables (or 4-6 servings)

A #10 can has approximately 12 cups or 48 servings (it varies a bit depending on the product).  So just one can of freeze dried fruit would provide one person with about 14 days worth of servings.  How incredible is that?  2 weeks of fruit on your shelf with a 25 year shelf life.  Even better?  It is as healthy as fresh, but tastes like candy!
 
Resources:

• My Pyramid Fruit Amounts
• My Pyramid Vegetable Amounts
• My Pyramid Fruits Table

If you are interested in adding produce to your own home grocery store at a discount (5%-45% below retail), you may do so directly on my Shelf Reliance Website.  

NO COUPON CODE NEEDED!  

As an independent consultant, Shelf Reliance has authorized me to sell their products at the lowest available price: lower than through Shelf Reliance directly or any other retailer!

Be Ready!

This awesome video was created by husband and wife Shelf Reliance consultants that are ON MY TEAM!  I tell you, we have the best Shelf Reliance team out there.  There are so many talented people coming together to help others become more Self Reliant.  I feel very lucky to be working with these incredible people.  This video does an excellent job teaching about being ready for disaster and how important it is to have food and water stored.

A quick note

I apologize for the lack of posts this week.  It will likely continue through the next two weeks or so.  I've been overwhelmed trying to train a large addition (15+ consultants) to my team and have been focusing on that and my family, so I've let this blog go just a bit.  I will try to get 2-3 posts up over the two weeks and then be back at it (3-5 posts a week) by the week of the 23rd.  Thanks for your understanding!

Misty

THRIVE Brownies: Cake-like or Fudgey?

I love chewy, almost fudge-like brownies.  However, when I use the recipe on the back of the can for the THRIVE brownies, they turn out a bit too cake like for me.  I've found the following recipe to create a more fudgey brownie:

Mix 1/3 c. hot water with 3 cups THRIVE Fudge Brownie Mix for 1 minute.  Let rest for 10 minutes before baking.  Bake in an 9x11 baking dish for 15-17 minutes.  YUMMY!

However, I've also heard from many of you who prefer cake-like brownies that the THRIVE brownies turn out too fudgey.  Good news!  I've got a recipe for you too!  (this one is also on the can):

Mix 1/2 cup + 2 T. hot water with 3 cups THRIVE Fudge Brownie Mix and 1 T. THRIVE Whole Egg Powder. Let rest for 10 minutes before baking.  Bake in an 8x8 baking dish for 22-25 minutes.  ENJOY!

If you are interested in purchasing THRIVE "just add water" brownies (no eggs or oil needed) at a discount, you may do so directly on my Shelf Reliance Website.  

NO COUPON CODE NEEDED!  

As an independent consultant, Shelf Reliance has authorized me to sell their products at the lowest available price: lower than through Shelf Reliance directly or any other retailer!