Cooking with Basic Food Storage: Yogurt from Powdered Milk

YOGURT BY THE GALLON
2 quarts boiling water
4 cups dry milk powder
2 quarts lukewarm water
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 capsules freeze-dried acidophilus (optional)

Spray large saucepan with non-stick cooking spray and bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Blend dry milk powder with part of this water (using blender,egg beater, or wire whisk), then add back to saucepan and heat to 180 degrees. Pour into 5-quart container.Add remaining water to milk mixture and let cool to 110 degrees (ice cubes may be added to mixture to help cool). At 110 degrees add stirred yogurt and acidophilus (if desired), and mix well. Pour into four 1-quart jars (plus about one cup additional into small container) and keep in a warm place for incubating, 4 to 6 hours. Do not jiggle or move jars during incubation period.

Possible incubation methods:
(1) Place a heating pad on countertop. Cover with a towel. Set jars on towel; cover with second towel. Turn heating pad to medium heat.
(2) Place jars in gas oven with only pilot light on.
(3) Place jars in pan of hot water; cover with towel.
(4) Place jars in six-pack cooler; pour two quarts hot water around jars;close lid.

After 4 to 6 hours, the mixture should be set. Test by dipping a spoon into jar, rather than by stirring. If set, place lids on jars and refrigerate in the jars. The mixture will become firmer when cooled.

YOGURT SOUR CREAM
Line a colander or sieve with loose-weave muslin cloth (flour-sack dishtowel). Pour yogurt into cloth. Cover and place over a bowl. Drain for about 15 minutes until you can gather the edges of the bag together; secure with a rubber band, and hang over the bowl. Let hang 1 to 4 hours in a cool place, until consistency of sour cream. With a spoon or spatula, scrape yogurt from fabric and place in a container. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Mix well. Store, covered, in refrigerator up to 3 weeks.

YOGURT CREAM CHEESE
Follow instructions for sour cream, but drain 3 to 8 hours in a cool place, until consistency of cream cheese. Add salt to taste, if desired.Reserve drained whey from the above products and use as buttermilk in pancakes, biscuits, or other recipes.

Emergency Phone Numbers Bring Quick Response

An emergency phone list taped to a kitchen cupboard and placed near a phone will help ensure a quicker response during an emergency, which may even save a life. Please take a moment to brainstorm for possible people and agencies that you would want to communicate with in the event of an emergency. Make your children aware of these numbers, their location, and regularly review possible situations where you would need to use them and update them as necessary.

Some numbers you might want to have on your list include:

• Any emergency--911
• Fire station
• Police station
• Family doctor
• Poison control center
• Animal control
• School numbers
• Local friends or relatives
• Out-of-state friends
• Family Cell Phone Numbers
• Family Work numbers
• Neighbors
• Other important numbers

Emergency Essentials has a form you can print out for free:
Emergency Phone List (PDF Format)

Source: Emergency Essentials

*This blogspot does not endorse any products

Cooking with Basic Food Storage: More wheat recipes

JANE'S WHOLE WHEAT GRAINY BREAD

5 c. hot tap water
2/3 c. canola oil
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. molasses
2 T. salt
3 T. SAF instant yeast (instant, NOT rapid rise)
12-14 c. freshly ground whole wheat
3 T. dough enhancer (My mom said to use 1/3 cup - about 5 T. - since her wheat is old)
3 T. wheat gluten

THESE INGREDIENTS ARE WHAT MAKES THE BREAD GREAT, BUT THEY ARE OPTIONAL:
1/2 c. cracked wheat
1/4 c. oat bran
1/4 c. wheat bran
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/4 c. ground flax (I used whole flax seeds)
1/4 c. millet
1 c. rolled oats
1 c. sunflower seeds
2 T. buttermilk powder
1/4 t. vitamin C crystals (I didn't use)
1 T. lecithin (I didn't use)
(There are about 4 cups here worth of "optional" ingredients. You can of course play around with this greatly and add some of the stuff, all of it, none of it, different grains, etc.)

Step 1: Grind 9 c. of whole wheat.

Step 2: Combine hot tap water, oil, honey, molasses, 9 or so cups flour, and dough enhancer and gluten. Mix together. Then add the yeast (the oil and salt will kill the yeast if not mixed in first). Add optional ingredients now.

Step 3: Mix on low speed and at the same time add flour until the dough begins to clean the sides of the bowl (flour amount will vary due to humidity and the protein and moisture content of the wheat). A stickier dough will make a more moist bread - so sticky is good.

Step 4: Knead for 5 min. on low speed.

Step 5: Oil hands and counter. Remove dough and mold into loaves. Recipe will make 12 mini, 5 medium, or 4 large loaves. Place in pans greased with oil (we used Pam). Cover loaves with a clean cloth and let rise for 30 minutes or until almost doubled (It took about an hour at my parents' house). Brush with egg white whisked with a fork, then sprinkle with rolled oats. If you don't do this, you can brush with melted butter.

Step 6: Bake at 350 for 30 min. Immediately remove from pans and place on rack to cool. Slice and enjoy! The bread will last 1-2 weeks in the fridge, and 3 months in the freezer.

WHEAT PIZZA CRUST

Makes one 14" crust.
Dissolve together:
1 c warm water
1 T sugar
2 1/4 t yeast

Mix in:
1 t salt
3 T olive oil
1 c whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c white flour

Dough will be soft (but not sticky) and forming a nice ball. Allow to rest in bowl ten minutes. Dust cooking stone with cornmeal and press dough out with oiled fingers. Top with sauce and desired toppings. Bake at 425 degrees F for 14 minutes.

Source: The Foodees Blog

Emergency Communications

Telephone

The wired public telephone network is built for reliability. However, if the lines on your street go down, so does your phone.

Telephone Tips

• Keep at least one corded, analog phone that works without batteries or wall power (i.e. not an ISDN phone) connected at home.
• Do not make unneeded calls in an emergency. Keep the lines free for those who really need them. If you must call, try to be brief.
• When you do not get a dial tone, punch a number key. If you hear its tone, your phone is not dead. Do not hang up! You are in a queue--wait for the dial tone.
• A fast busy signal indicates your call did not go through, so hang up, pick up, and redial. A slow busy signal indicates that the called party is on the phone. Try later.
• If you cannot reach your party, dial someone far outside the emergency area and ask him/her to dial your party. Because their call may enter the local, congested network through a different line, they may be able to get through. As an alternative, try using a calling card. This may route the call outside the emergency area.
• Use conferencing if you need to hold a meeting but can't meet in person. Your phone company may offer this, or try freeconferencing.com or mrconference.com on the internet.
• Unit Leaders: set up a phone tree in your unit.

Wireless Phone Tips

• May cell phones and their providers allow sending SMS or e-mail. These may get through even if you cannot make a call because of congestion or because you have a poor signal; the lowest "bar" reading on your phone may be enough. Learn how to send and receive these messages.
• A car cell phone charger provides another option to keep your cell phone going.
• Not all cell towers have backup power. If you get no signal, try moving to another one or seek higher ground.
• Nextel's DirectConnect simulated walkie-talkie bypasses the regular telephone network. As long as itself is not congested, you may reach other DirectConnect users across the country.
• Nextel's DirectTalk is an actual walkie talkie built into the cell phone. If may reach other DirectTalk subscribers who are within a few miles.
• Satellite phones are a valuable resource because they do not depend on the local telephone network. They will work from most indoor locations and every outdoor location, no matter how remote. However, they are expensive to own and use and you need someone who knows how to operate them.
• If you must call during a thunderstorm, use a cell phone or cordless phone so lightning has no wire path to you.

INTERNET

Type of Service/What you Need

• Dialup: A Dial tone on your phone
• Cable: An intact cable system, although TV signals do not need to work. Your cable modem needs power
• DSL: An intact phone system. A dial tone is not needed. Your DSL modem needs power.
• Satellite: No local infrastructure needed, buy your satellite equipment needs power.

Internet Tips

• You can reach cell phone subscribers by sending SMS messages over the Internet, even if the lines are congested. Various services provide this ability, like Yahoo Instant Messaging.
• You can attach a read receipt to email, informing you that the sender has opened the email, although the sender may opt not to send a receipt

RADIO

Because it does not depend on wiring, you have options.

Radio Tips

• A prior agreement with the designated, local FM broadcast station may let the bishop or branch president pass messages to your ward members. Call your County Emergency Management Agency to find the station. Find this agency in the phone book or at http://www.pema.state.us.gov/ (click on the the county link)
• CB, FRS, GMRS walkie talkies can provide local communications.
• Ham operators, including non-members, are generally eager to assist in an emergency. Other hams, professional emergency responders, members with world band receivers and sometimes CB/FRS/GMRS walkie-talkies may receive their transmissions. Hams with short-wave licenses can use NVIS to cover the entire stake. Not: Hams may use any frequency if needed during an emergency (FCC 97.403).

COURIER

This is self explanatory. Wherever your car, bicycle, or other transport can take you, you can deliver a message.

Courier Tips:

• You may also be able to reach someone closer to the target area and have him/her go there.
• Keep a small (legal) amount of reserve car fuel on hand in an approved container, situated in a safe, ventilated area.

Source: Michael Vuister, Scranton Stake Emergency Communications Coordinator

Disclaimer: This is not an official church document. Use at your own risk. All trademarks are recognized. No specific brands are endorsed.