Reflections of katlupe

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Pantry Moths In Your Food

Photo Source: Teodoro S Gruhl

One of the biggest fears for people who store supplies of food is insect infestations. It can happen in the cleanest of homes. You can bring in a bag of food from a store that was already infested, and then you know what happens after that. If you store any livestock feed in your house, that could be a source of insects. Feeds seem to be an easy target.

I had that happen when I had my pet hen, Lil' Red. She didn't eat a whole bag of chicken feed real fast. I stored her feed in my pantry. One day, I discovered her feed had insects in it. It led to a few days of emptying my pantry of everything. Then I washed it down real good, including all the containers of food that was stored in there. As well as the walls, floors, shelves, door, ceiling and window. What a job that was!

In the spring, I like to take the pantry apart and give it a real good cleaning. This year I am buying from Amazon the Catchmaster Moth and Pantry Pest Trap: Two Packs of Two. I read the reviews and the people who bought them loved them. Some of the reviewers said they stock up on them and put them in every room of the house. And they really do work. Good enough for me. I will be trying them for myself and will let you know how they work out.

The pantry moth, as I call it, is not just one type of moth, but includes beetles as well They consist of the flour moth, the rice or black weevil, the sawtooth grain beetle, the red flour beetle, the granary weevil, Indian meal moths, etc. Too many to name here, but you get the idea. There is a lot of them! And they are coming to a pantry or kitchen near you, if you don't do the preventative maintenance involved.

Repackage foods in jars with tight fitting lids!

These pests will not make you sick or anything. It is just the idea of them being in your food that makes me sick! When you bring home food in boxes from the store, repackage it. My choice is glass jars with tight fitting lids. Tins are good too as long as the lids fit tight. I always check the bag of flour or rice when I open it before I pour it into the large jar I store it in.

The pantry moths like grain products, cat and dog foods, rice, pasta, processed foods that are in boxes like rice mixes, boxed type dinners, etc. birdseed, livestock feed, peanuts (in fact while researching this article I discovered that they LOVE peanuts!) and other foods too numerous to mention.

The best advice I can give is this:

Take everything out of your pantry.
Dust the whole thing, especially the walls.
Vacuum real good.
Wash with a good detergent all the shelves, walls, windows, floors and any containers.
Let it dry.
Put several of the pantry moth traps in several areas of your pantry. Even if it is small.
Make sure there are no moths in the food you put back in.
Wash all the food containers off real good. Dry.
Then put back in.
If you can, put a bay leaf in the jars of food that you put back in.

This is no guarantee that you got them. If not, you will see them caught in the pantry moth traps. I would say this is a job that should be done once or twice a year. Be very careful when you bring food in from the stores. Especially if you buy a bag of something that came open, or was taped by the store. You can also freeze the foods in your freezer first, if you have one available. Then repackage it in your containers for the pantry. Protect your pantry! It is your source of food!

*I am an affiliate of Amazon and receive a tiny commission if you buy from my links. But Amazon did not ask me to write this post. I wrote it because it was information I felt was needed.

Monday, February 06, 2012

Homesteading Skills You Want To Learn

Fall 2011

I am working on a new eBook that will consist of needed homesteading skills. So I wanted to ask my homesteading readers a few questions. One is, if you are new to it, what would you like to learn? Or if you are not new, what was the first skill you learned, or wished you had learned in the beginning? When you think of homesteading and being self-sufficient, what comes to mind? Often someone moves to their future homestead, and then finds all the jobs that need to be done, but all at the same time! That is not good. You need to learn them before you get there.

Preparing raised beds with the wheel hoe

If you had to learn one skill first, what would it be? My own thought is, that it would be gardening. Nothing can beat growing food. Since the garden takes time to get started. Usually your garden gets better after you have acquired the experience. There is a lot to it. Starting seeds, the soil, planting, pest control, weed control, harvesting, etc. Lots to learn, but it is so worth it!

Canning with two pressure canners

For me, I learned how to can first. When we were living in an apartment, a country apartment, but still not exactly a homestead, I started out canning. My husband was baking bread and washing laundry by hand. We were fortunate in that apartment, that we were on the second floor, and was able to string a clothesline from the landing at the top of the stairs. It was an old farm that had been made into apartments and there was lots of land, a creek and old apple and pear trees. I canned crab apple jelly for the first time there.

Our home in 1996-97!

After that we went out on the road while my husband had a job driving an over-the-road truck. We traveled all over the country and I was busy reading our homesteading magazines aloud to him while he drove. I made lists of all the things I wanted to learn how to do. Eventually, all that came to be.

All Photographs Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated July 2016

Friday, February 03, 2012

Not Much Snow Yet In February

A Back View

It is surprising that we don't have much snow yet. New York state usually has record amounts of snow by now. We are used to it. So today when we took our garbage to our land fill and recycling center, we drove on truck trail which goes through the forest. It was a sheet of thick ice. You could ice skate down the middle. Now I wouldn't have taken it if I was driving. There are a lot of sharp curves, and if you went off them you'd go down a steep bank. That would be too much excitement for me to drive on it. My husband though, drives it slow and calm, like its just normal. He can drive any road, in any weather.

No snow? In February?

At the top of the trail, this is the hay field without snow in February. I still can't believe it. It started out as a dreary day, but now our sun is shining. The sun is hitting our solar panels now. We already had our generator on. As soon as the panels are bringing in more power, the generator will be turned off. We may not have had much snow, but we still have had cold temperatures and sunless days. Too many to count!

My favorite tree along the way!

Of course, what this means is that if we don't have a lot of snow to melt off in spring. Then there is not as much mud. I am definitely not taking it for granted that we will not get any more snow. This is February after all, and February is usually our worse month of the year. I have a feeling some big snow storms will be on the way this month. If I am wrong, that is okay.

As you can see, the fields have no snow at all!

I put plastic milk bottles outside at night to freeze for our cooler. They have not frozen solid in weeks now. Even though it is cold, they are not freezing solid. They freeze a little bit but not enough. Today, I saw where there is some ice that fell off the roof and I am going to use that in the cooler instead. In winter, I never have to buy ice.

Hobo was napping when we got back!

The building at the landfill was very cold. I felt sorry for Jessie, my husband's friend, and his coworker who work in that building all day. I was thinking about our cozy wood stove at home. When we got back from the landfill, which is only about five miles from our house, our cat, Hobo was sleeping in the chair in front of the wood stove. She knows where to go if she is cold!

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Herbal eBooks In The Kindle Store

Burdock, a valued plant on my homestead!

One of the things that I have been enjoying so much since I started reading eBooks on my new Kindle Fire, is the free eBooks available on Amazon. "Now why are they free," you ask? "They must be awful books to be sold for free!" Not so! Not so! They are being offered for free for a specific time period, set up by the author to get new readers to have the chance to read their books, and talk about it. To Tweet it! To share it on Facebook! To mention it in their blogs and on forums they frequent. They would love for you to write a review of it on Amazon. If they have a website, they would be equally happy if you made a comment there.

Here are some of the recent books I have downloaded from Amazon's Kindle store. I can't say if they are still free or not. It changes daily. Most of the books are very low cost, so you can load your Kindle up for very little money.

Herbal Health Care: How to Take Care of Yourself and Your Family Naturally

This book was about various herbs and how to use them for preventative and ailments. I liked it as no matter how much I read about natural health care, I can never get enough. Very well written and good details through out.

Natural Health Brief: Tea (Natural Health Briefs)

This eBook is written by Kathy Burns-Millyard, the same author who wrote the book above. I didn't realize they were both by the same author until I recognized her style of writing when I was reading the second one. Now I loved this book! I like tea and drink it. Not that often though. That will change. After reading all the benefits of Green Tea, Black Tea, Oolong Tea and White Tea, I am ready to give it a try. Especially as she mentioned some of very things I am trying to work on for myself.

How to Use Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Aromatherapy)

I admit I do not know anything about essential oils. This book gave me a good idea of how to use and what it can be used for. I knew I wanted to explore it and find one certain one to use so I could learn. This book has given very clear directions on how and what to do. Dr. Miriam Kinai is a born again medical doctor who specializes in dermatology. She is also a certified aromatherapist and a trained Christian counselor.

Anti-Aging Herbs : Feel Better, Live Longer and Look Younger - Includes Recipes! (Healing Foods Series)

I can't say enough good stuff about this book! I loved it and I know I will refer to it often. The recipes sound delicious as well has healthy. The author, Lee Ann Dobbins said she had no energy and when she started researching she found that it was a matter of what she was eating. Once she changed her diet she was full of energy and completely revitalized. Now she shares the information and recipes with us!

Hawthorne Trees provide berries that are found in heart medicines.

Selling eBooks means you have to publicize your books yourself. And what is wrong with that? Not a thing! It means, I get to read some very good eBooks by some new indie authors and hopefully, they will go on to much success.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Prepare For Loss Of Income As Well

Blizzard of 2011

Preparing for natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, flooding, etc. is all well and good. One of the biggest reasons to prepare though, should be in case of loss of income. Loss of a job, loss of the wage earner due to illness or death, or divorce. Yes, divorce can happen to anyone when they least expect it. I know, it happened to me. Of course, that was before I was into preparedness or homesteading. I came out of that divorce pretty bad off, considering how I was living before it happened.

Home grown and home canned!

Growing and canning your food, as well as stocking up on supplies, all takes money to do. Learn to save your seeds from one year to the next. Swap with others for plants you want to try. Buy items to stock up little by little each week or month. Once you have done it though, you can look at all those assets you have. If anything happens in your life like a divorce, or having to leave your homestead and move somewhere else, those are the first items to pack. All the material goods in the world will not supply your main needs which is shelter, water, heat and food, and not necessarily in that order.

The key to preparing is in the garden!

This is going to be my year of stocking up even more. I am planning on buying local produce in season before my garden starts producing. Local producers start their plants in greenhouses, then they get a big jump on the gardening season here in our zone five. As you know, I have been busy making the plans for the garden, and those are a part of the whole picture. I start seeds in the house, but it isn't the best place to do that. We don't have a lot of free space, and our house gets cooler at night than seeds like.

An electric garden cart makes my chores easier!

As you age, some of the jobs become harder, but they also give you a sense of accomplishment. The food supply is my accomplishment. I hate to make my husband or son have to help me when I get worn out. They do, and will without complaint. I have been finding easier ways of doing the jobs that are hard for me. Both of my knees have gotten very bad, and I have learned to be patient and rest. After awhile, I can go on and do whatever it was that I was doing. Altogether it is a part of the bigger picture......preparing for everything, life tosses your way! Are you prepared or just getting started?

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Shopping For Food Frugally

I am shopping for potatoes today!

Frugal shopping takes planning, as I told in my previous post, Making A Plan For Frugal Shopping. Walking into my local grocery store, Mainesource in Binghamton, NY, with my well planned list should result in a good supply of food for my family. Now if you shop in the discount grocery stores, you will get bargains. Bargain food in those stores though, is usually not quality grade food. It is good and safe, but most times the meat is greasy and the produce has seen better days. Not so at Mainesource, which is where I do most of my shopping.

Plenty of choices for potatoes or onions here!

Upon entering the store, the first thing we encounter is the fresh produce. My plan included potatoes and onions, as we eat a lot of them and are always running out. Have you ever bought those five and ten pound bags of potatoes and get them home to find they are spongy, full of sprouted eyes and some are really dirty? Many times the other stores put them on sale to move them out of the store. At Mainesource, the potatoes are always fresh, clean and almost perfect.

Top quality food for restaurants is good for consumers too!

After paying more money for those small bags of potatoes, I was pleased to see the prices on these bags. We bought one 50 pound bag of potatoes for $13.49. Potatoes is a good food to serve your family as it helps you to fill up those with big appetites. There are so many ways to serve them and usually everyone likes them. I like to find recipes for old favorites and add some variety to our menu.

Good sized, fresh potatoes!

The next time you go to the store you make your big purchases for something else. After all, you shouldn't need more potatoes. If you find you do, because you used them all up, then you should buy two bags instead of one. By knowing your family's eating habits you will know whether they will go through something quickly. Sometimes it maybe that having something new in bulk makes them eat more of it. After a period that may wear off. Then they'll be saying they are tired of it, unless you fix it in different ways.

Home fries in the making!

I like serving potatoes for breakfast as home fries or hash browns with eggs and toast. Makes your family members starting the day out with a full stomach. There are many recipes for potatoes online, you can make so many dishes with them. Here is one from my friend, Paula, Fanned Potatoes. That is a recipe I will be making soon, as I know Paula is a fantastic cook! Here are some of my own:

Steamed Potatoes

Wash clean a dozen well-grown new potatoes, steam
until a fork will pierce, dry in heat five minutes, then peel, and throw
into a skillet, with a heaping tablespoonful of butter, well-rolled in
flour, half a pint of rich milk, ten drops onion juice, salt and pepper
to taste, and a teaspoonful of chopped parsley. The sauce must be
bubbling when the potatoes are put in. Toss them in it for five minutes,
put in deep dish and pour the gravy over. Serve very hot.

Easy Shepherds Pie

1 lb. ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Cream of Mushroom Soup, or whatever you have
1 tbsp. ketchup
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup frozen peas and carrots
Mashed potatoes to cover the top.

Cook beef and onion in 10" skillet over medium-high heat until well browned, stirring to break up meat. Pour off fat. Stir soup, ketchup, black pepper and peas and carrots into skillet. Spoon beef mixture in 9" pie plate. Spoon potatoes over beef mixture. Bake at 400°F. for 15 min. or until potatoes are lightly browned.

Parmesan Corn Chowder

2 cups water
2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1 cup sliced or diced peeled carrots
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 cups milk
1 can (14 3/4 oz.) cream style corn
1 1/2 cups (6 oz.) shredded Parmesan cheese

In a large saucepan, combine the first five ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender (do not drain).

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir into the vegetable mixture. Add corn and Parmesan cheese. Cook 10 minutes longer or until heated through. Yield: 7 servings

Parmesan Potato Casserole

2 cups mashed potatoes
8 ounces cream cheese
2 eggs
1 small onion, diced
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs; set aside. In a medium-sized bowl, combine mashed potatoes, cream cheese, eggs, onion, and flour. Beat with a mixer on low speed until blended. Beat at high speed until mixture is light and fluffy. Add salt and pepper. Pour potato mixture into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with bread crumb/Parmesan cheese mixture. Bake for 35 minutes

Potato Deutsch's

7 potatoes
6 slices dry bread
2 cups milk
2 eggs
salt and pepper

Grate potatoes, rinse in cold water, press dry. Soak 6 bread slices in milk, then beat in 2 eggs, salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in the potatoes. Pour into a greased dish, top with sour cream, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Latkes

Potato pancakes are really tasty!

2 cups grated peeled raw potatoes, well drained (about 2 large)
1 beaten egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3 - 4 Tbsp. flour (just enough to make a thick batter)

Drop by spoonfuls (spread with spoon to 3/8" thick) on a well greased griddle or heavy frying pan containing hot oil. Brown on each side. Drain on paper towels and newspaper before serving. Great with applesauce!

A pleasant buying experience at Mainesource!

I am trying to buy most of our food in bulk these days. The reason is that you get more food for less money. Once you get started doing this, you will really see the savings over time. You will be paying less money per pound. So for me it is worth the drive 32 miles away to buy the food. Buying not only potatoes, but other produce, meat, dairy products, canned goods, condiments and pasta this way, will really stretch that food budget in these tough times.

$13.49 for 50 lbs.

By the way, According to the FTC Blogging Disclosure, I have to let you know that Mainesource did contact me about writing a post about how to save money by shopping in bulk. That was after I had posted about their store in several past posts, since it is my regular store. In no way did they influence me on what I wrote!

If you already shop in bulk, put a comment in telling your tips for buying, storing and using your bulk food. I'd love to hear from you and may use it in a future post on this blog.

FTC Blogging Disclosure

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