Self Starting "Old Fashioned Girls" by Choice!!!

[fleurdujour]

Hi, I used to be in SanDiego Co now I live in New Hampshire. Back to basics is a great way to live, and so rewarding. Definitely try baking bread. key is to allow yeast to activate....warm water (like a baby bottle on your wrist) a bit of sugar and yeast and let sit 10 minutes before using....it will bubble (foam) and that is how you know yeast is activating. The rest is easy.

Jamul has a great CC and be sure to check out the enrichment classes....they offer alot!

The main thing I try to do is use natural pure ingredients....dry beans...brown rice...make your own stock from meats and veggies, salt pepper herbs spices and lots of onion and garlic....such great flavors. A garden is great...but I know it's hot where you are. We had a drought this summer so I invested in a couple of inexpensive rain barrels....and they watered my garden all summer!

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

So I was looking at Azure Standard for buying grains. They have an "account" and "checkout" button on their page, but someone said I need to find a co-op, what is that and where do I find it?

 

[chickbird]

Quote:

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Hi just wanted a *bump* and to see if anyone had an answer to the last question about the co-op.

Also, what do you guys use to store your grains in?

I was thinking of using something like this; (making sure of course it's food grade) around 25 gallons; not the big 55's.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

Quote:
All you need to do, is call Azure to ask for your local contacts.

As to storage on the cheap, go around to your local grocerys and restaurants, and ask if they have any food grade buckets.
Bakeries are the very best for finding them.
5 gallon pails are best, as they stack well, and make rotation easier.
Then, just to eliminate the plastic touching the grains and such, you can use pillowcases to line them with.
Thrift stores are great places for finding those. Or cheap WalMart ones.
Best grains to stock up on, are, Wheat, Spelt, Rice, and Oats. Black beans are great to, and Azure has 5 gallon buckets of raw honey for excellent prices.
It granulates over time, but it does not turn into a rock like proccessed honey does.
Celtic Sea Salt is another fave of ours.

Number one rule of stocking.
Store what you eat, and eat what you store.

www.cookingtf.com is hands down the best place to find out the nitty gritty of all this.

 

[PaulaJoAnne]

I wanted to mention to, that preppng all your own food from scratch is not as time consuming as one thinks.
So much of it is because we are applying modern methods to old foods, or just giving up and using fake and processed foods.

We eat traditional foods, so for instance, sourdough takes me only 2 minutes a day, with a few extra on baking day.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

"Number one rule of stocking.
Store what you eat, and eat what you store."

very sound advice

 

[herfrds]

Ok here is the BEST BEST BEST pie crust recipe I have ever made or found.
I have won several pie contests with this crust. People just rave over it.

Never Fail Pie Crust

3c flour
1 1/3c lard

Mix together til it resembles crumbs

Add:

1t white vinegar
1 beaten egg
1t salt
5T cold water

Mix just til it holds together.
It says it will make 2 crusts, but I roll it out pretty thin and get 3 to 4 eight inch pie crusts.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Quote:
It's like a little grocery store. You can become a member, which is like a part owner (receive special sale pricing, particpate in monthly meetings, etc.). You don't have to become a member, though. You don't get the special sale pricing then or particpate in the meetings. I am assuming that's what others are speaking of. That's the way the co-ops work around here. Mine has bulk flours, peanut butter, oils, spices, organics, and such. The one around here is dedicated to buying local (within the state) and features a lot of organic goods.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

So I got a bunch of those free buckets today and have spent the last few hours cleaning them out. They will be ready to start stocking food in tomorrow. So, does anyone use those "moisture/ oxygen" grabber thnigs inside with their food, or are these not necessary?


Thanks!