The Storm Gourmet
Which is why I am so excited to tell you about one of my favorite storm-preparation books, The Storm Gourmet by Daphne Nikolopoulos. This is the ultimate guide to creating extraordinary meals without electricity or refrigeration. This is way more than just canned beans and tuna.
With shopping lists and suggested menus, there is no shortage of great ideas. The book has more than 70 recipes using nonperishable and shelf-stable food items. In addition, there are instructions for growing a storm-proof herb garden and lots of tips about how best to weather the storm.
If you are looking for a book with recipe ideas that go beyond the ordinary food storage fare, this is the book for you. Although the recipes tend toward the tropical (Avocado Salsa, Tropical Tuna Salad, and Island Shrimp), it provides some great new ideas for using nonperishable food.
Full-Length Mirror Transformation
Find more great projects at Metamorphasis Monday and 2nd Time Around Tuesday!
Our Favorite Easy Hummus
With only a few simple ingredients, you can make this Mediterranean-flavored hummus. This recipe does not use tahini but instead uses spanish olives. You will want to adjust the amount of olive oil so as to obtain your desired consistency. I start with the 3 tablespoons, but always end up adding more to make it really smooth and creamy.
Easy Mediterranean Hummus
1 (15.5 oz) can garbanzo beans, drained
1/3 cup pitted Spanish Manzanilla olives
1 teaspoon minced garlic
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon cilantro leaves
salt and pepper to taste
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Cover and puree until smooth. Add additional olive oil if necessary. May be served immediately or stored in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Thanks to the following sites for hosting a link to this post: Homemaker Monday at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Hurricane Season
Whether you live in hurricane country or not, you should always be prepared for severe weather.
The most immediate inconvenience of severe storms is a power outage. I wrote about my favorite power failure lighting options in an earlier post. I really feel that having power failure lighting in a home is a huge comfort and I consider it a must. But beyond the initial loss of power there comes a need for more long term power sources.
There is the need for light, a means of cooking, communication, and the need to get information from radio or television. We'll look at each of these needs in upcoming posts.
Thrift Finds: Plant Sconces
My souveniers from the trip are these two great plant sconces. I picked up the sconces (minus the pots) for $1.20 a piece. I have a perfect sunny spot for them on my trellis.
I hope to use them for some herbs I've been planning to grow--perhaps the culantro I posted about here.
Culantro Instead of Cilantro?
Looking for Books?
This is how it works: When you sign up, you list 10 books that you are ready to part with. Just for listing the 10 books, you get 2 book credits. If someone requests one of the books you have listed, you accept their request and mail the book via media mail. The cost to you is the cost of shipping your old book (around $2.50, depending on the book's size). You may pay for the postage and print the mailing label online, or print the label without the postage and add it yourself. If you choose to pay for the postage online, you will receive immediate credit for sending the book. Otherwise you will get credit when the receiver marks the book received. For each book you mail, you get a book credit.
When you see a book you would like, you simply request the book. You "pay" for the book with your book credit and another member sends the book to you. You also have the option of purchasing book credits through the site for approximately $3.45 each. However, if you buy several at a time, the price goes down. You can even find other members selling their credits on the discussion boards for an even greater discount.
If you are looking for a particular book that is not currently listed, you can add it to your wish list. You will be put on a waiting list and will receive an email when your "wish has been granted". I highly recommend the wish list system. I have been able to get many books this way without waiting too long.
Using Paperback Swap I have been able to complete several book series for my children, I have found many fiction and nonfiction books for myself and have even found some great workbooks for my kids.
If you think this is something you might use, go to the site and watch the great introductory tutorial. It does a wonderful job explaining how everything works.
I've saved lots of money purchasing books this way. And I feel better knowing that the books I am finished with will be sent to others who will enjoy them. Check it out and let me know how you like it.
Submitted with special thanks to Frugal Fridays.
Disclosure Policy
This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact me at gfcfpantry@gmail.com.
This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.
The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.
The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.
To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org
Make Use of Your Local Library
Besides the obvious (books), many libraries have music, movies, games and more available for check-out. Better still, if you live near a branch location of a larger library system, you may be able to have books sent from other locations to your local branch.
This is a feature that my family uses regularly. Recently I posted about my favorite food preservation books . From the comfort of my home computer, I was able to see the selection of preservation books available in my library system.
Since most of these books were not housed at my local branch, I was able to put the book on "hold" and have it sent to my local branch. I receive an automated phone call when the book is waiting for me. I can also check the status of my request online.
In this way, I have been able to check out nearly twenty different books on food preservation. I was able to look them over carefully and decide which books are best for me. Then, if I feel a book is worthy of a place in my home library, I may decide to buy it. By using this process I am able to make a very informed decision before making the purchase.
And it is so convenient! Take some time to check out the options available at your local library.
Submitted with special thanks to Works for Me Wednesday, Things I Love Thursday and Frugal Friday.Feather Quill Pen
Another safety precaution, you can see in the photo above, is the large piece of plastic sheeting covering the table.
Submitted with special thanks to Thirsty Thursday and Show & Tell Friday.