APRIL CHALLENGE... WHEAT AND RICE!
Recommended Amounts:
Wheat (lbs):
| # People | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
| 1 | 37.5 | 75 | 112.5 | 150 |
| 2 | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 |
| 3 | 112.5 | 225 | 337.5 | 450 |
| 4 | 150 | 300 | 450 | 600 |
| 5 | 187.5 | 375 | 562.5 | 750 |
| 6 | 225 | 450 | 675 | 900 |
Rice (lbs):
| # People | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
| 1 | 12.5 | 25 | 37.5 | 50 |
| 2 | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| 3 | 37.5 | 75 | 112.5 | 150 |
| 4 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 |
| 5 | 62.5 | 125 | 187.5 | 250 |
| 6 | 75 | 150 | 225 | 300 |
Oats (lbs):
| # People | 3 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
| 1 | 6.25 | 12.5 | 18.75 | 25 |
| 2 | 12.5 | 25 | 37.5 | 50 |
| 3 | 18.75 | 37.5 | 56.25 | 75 |
| 4 | 25 | 50 | 75 | 100 |
| 5 | 31.25 | 62.5 | 93.75 | 125 |
| 6 | 37.5 | 75 | 112.5 | 150 |
Additional Purchases:
Keep in mind that if you store wheat, for example, you will also need a way to grind it. There are several hand grinders and electric grinders out there. I've asked for most of my food storage equipment (grinders- both hand and electric, dehydrators, etc.) for Christmas/birthday presents from my in-laws (otherwise they give me random stuff). If you are just starting with a limited budget, you can get a hand grinder for $30-80, electric ones are between $150-400. Mine is this one, a Blendtec Kitchen Mill and I really like it. A grain mill is a fairly big purchase so think about it, plan for it, decide how you want to provide grains for your family. Also think through which type of an emergency you want to be prepared for - no job for over a year will have power but massive tornado or war zone may not.
You may also want to buy yeast and gluten or dough enhancer. Try out a few recipes and see what you'll need.
I've looked at a lot of places online...the bishop's storehouse seems to be the best price and it is already sealed in long term cans. Their big bags are cheaper but then you are responsible to store them. Lehi Roller Mills (Utah) has wheat for about the same price as the Storehouse but it's in Utah. I would love to find a local mill that will sell food grade to the public but the closest mill I can find at all is about 90 minutes away. If anyone has a better source for grains, please let me know and I will pass it on.
Bishop's Storehouse -
| Storage Life | lbs. | cost | $/lb | |
| Hard Red Wheat, can | 30 years | 5.5 lbs | $2.75 | $0.50 |
| Hard White Wheat, can | 30 years | 5.5 lbs | $3.00 | $0.55 |
| Hard Red Wheat, bag | 30 years | 25 lbs | $7.50 | $0.30 |
| Hard White Wheat, bag | 30 years | 25 lbs | $8.25 | $0.33 |
| Potato flakes, can | 30 years | 1.8 lbs | $5.00 | $2.78 |
| Potato pearls, can | 1.5 years | 1.75 lbs | $3.75 | $2.14 |
| Oats, Quick | 30 years | 2.4 lbs | $3.25 | $1.35 |
| Oats, Rolled/reg. | 30 years | 2.8 lbs | $3.25 | $1.16 |
| Rice, white | 30 years | 5.4 lbs | $4.00 | $0.74 |
Sams's club - hard white and hard red wheat, $40 for 40 lb bucket, sealed, free shipping, $1/lb Need a membership or can pay 10% extra and order online as a guest.
Walmart - I though Walmart might carry the same brand as Sam's and they do!
Hard white or red wheat, 26 lb bucket for $16.25, which is $0.63/lb but free shipping only on orders over $50. Which means you must buy at least 4 of them for the free shipping option but they come in smaller buckets which are easier to handle. Or you could order some other things from them. The Augason brand carries a lot of emergency preparation food in mostly #10 food cans or buckets. You could get a few different items to get to your $50 spending minimum for free shipping. In general, the Storehouse is cheaper, but Augason has much greater variety, more like Emergency Essentials (which has a $6 flat rate shipping on any order).
GFS Size Price $/lb
Rice, bag 50 lbs. $20.49 $0.41
Yeast, vacuum sealed bag 2 lbs $4.99 $2.50
Barley, bag 1 lb $0.99 $0.99
Recipes:
Baby food
Did you know you can make your own baby food? For those of you who start you small ones off with rice cereal, you can make your own for super cheap. I've even seen recipes online for baby cereals made out of wheat, oats, brown rice, lentils, etc.
Indian one has an interesting way of precooking it so it is fluffier...
Nutty Barley Pilaf
I love this side dish! For any of you adventurous enough to try that oatmeal looking dish at the last ward linger longer/ break the fast/ party for Cody, I brought this! It was a little soft because of the weird timing of church but this dish is delicious! It kind of tastes like rice-a-roni but its homemade and better for you. I watched the little Barker boys go to town on it so even little kids will like this grain side dish. I like it with fish or grilled chicken because it doesn't need a sauce like many starchy side dishes. And, barley is cheap and triples in size.
1 c Pearl Barley
1/2 c pinenuts or slivered/sliced almonds (I don't always add but the nutty flavor and texture is good)
1/2 c butter
1 c chopped onion
1 c fresh chopped parsley (I usually just sprinkle in some dried)
2 (14.5 oz) cans of beef or chicken broth ( I use 3 c of water with a couple of bouillon cubes)
Saute together barley, nuts, butter, onion, and parsley. (Saute the onion or they will be crunchy when the barley is cooked) Add broth and 1 can of water (total of about 5.5 c of liquid). Pour into baking dish and bake, uncovered, for 2.5 hours at 350 degrees. Stir every 30 minutes. If it gets too dry, add a little water.
I've recently tried doing this recipe in a crock pot with just 3 c of water and 2-3 hours on medium/low. Baking it gives a better depth of flavor but its still good in a crock pot. Makes more than you think it will, 4-6 adult servings.
Wheat berries Sam Barker's expert recipe
I have yet to try this alternative to breakfast oatmeal but will commit to try it sometime this month. Thanks to the Barkers for sharing their weekly family staple so that we can enjoy this healthy and hearty breakfast cereal!
3 cups of water to 1 cup of wheat berries. pinch of salt.
I put slow cooker on low and run for 8 hours, usually overnight.
Lately I have added a 1/4 extra cup of water to keep it soggy enough as to avoid crustaceous formations on the periphery of the wheat berry lake. (Thanks Sam:)
Good with raisins, craisins, and a mix of oatmeal.
Emily says to add milk and brown sugar!
Whole Wheat Bread Insights and recipes from Berlin Allen
Wheat berries: I purchase the hard red wheat because it gives a more nutty, wheat flavor. Hard white wheat will taste nearer white flour breads, but still give the benefits of a whole grain. (Note, "hard" is necessary for breads because of the ability to hold carbon dioxide, which is necessary for raising. Also, whole wheat flour will not last long once ground - freezing can help extend it somewhat.)
Grinding: I use a hand grinder, as it fit in the budget, and I do not yet need to make enough bread to necessitate an electric grinder.
Recipes: There is an abundance of bread recipes in most any recipe book, as well as online. Just try a few different ones - you will indefinitely need to make tweaks for season, oven, weather, etc.
Kaye Kowallis' Whole Wheat Bread(my mom's; she raised 7 kids on homemade bread, yogurt, granola, etc... this is tried and true)
*2 loaves
Put 2.5 C. warm water and 1 Tbsp. yeast in mixing bowl to proof.
Add 3.5 C. freshly ground whole wheat flour.
Mix at medium speed for about a minute.
Add 1/3 C. oil, then 1/3 C. honey (I use the same measuring cup so the honey slips right out).
Add 1 Tbsp. salt.
If your wheat is old and dry (using storage that is over a decade old, for example), add 2 eggs.
Gradually add 3-4 more C. flour, add the last cup gradually. (The secret to breads is in the flour - you may not need it all; you may need more.) The dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl. Mix for about 5 minutes then turn the machine off (can oil the top, or not, and cover). Let raise double.
Punch down, preheat oven to 350 degrees, and put in two pans (my mom used to use old V8 cans, which makes for a beautiful crust all around and a signature round bread). Let raise to about 1.5" over loaf pan (to the top of the can if using V8 can). This time varies depending on humidity, warmth, and age of wheat / moisture content... usually 10-30 minutes. Gently move to the oven to cook. Depending on altitude, it usually cooks in 35-55 minutes. (I find 32 minutes seems to be working with my oven in Cleveland.)
When you take it out, remove from the pans immediately and cool on a rack (if doing cans, cool on side).
It will cut best after a few hours.
Bosch Foolproof Whole Wheat Bread
(another I have tried and like)
(another I have tried and like)
*6 loaves
6 C. warm water
2.5 Tbsp. instant yeast
2 Tbsp. salt
1/2 C. oil
2/3 C. honey
12-15 C. whole wheat flour
Mix 8-9 cups fresh wheat flour and 2 ½ tablespoons yeast together in the bowl of an electric mixer (or in a large bowl by hand). Add 6 cups warm water and mix to paste consistency. Cover and let sponge 10-15 minutes. Add salt, honey, and oil. Mix by hand or if using an electric mixer, turn to speed 1 or 2 as motor bears down and add additional flour until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Let the mixer knead the dough for five minutes. (If using hands, knead for 10 minutes.) Use oil or cooking spray on your hands to form six equal loaves. Take dough immediately from bowl and fill lightly greased (or nonstick) loaf pans ½ to 2/3 full. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap to keep moist. Let the bread rise until doubled, approximately 1 ½ inches above the top of the pan. Place the bread carefully in a cold oven. Turn the oven to 350 degrees and set timer for 38 minutes.
Whole wheat/bread flour combination bread
This is my (Heather's) personal favorite but I haven't played with many recipes. This one was amazing the first time i tried it. I did add a little extra Gluten (.5 T per C wheat flour) because I used 60 year old wheat we inherited from Ad's grandparents. Play with the flour whole wheat flour ratio as well.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/
Don't give up on wheat bread! It just needs some practice and patience! Old wheat absorbs more water than most recipes call for so go as light on the wheat as possible.
Super Prepper! The more I think about the item of the month, the more I want to balance out my food storage. I'm always so shocked when I run out of something that I know it's time to take inventory. For those of you who are trying to build everything at once, slowly (according to sale prices), here's a list of topics to get you thinking. We'll eventually cover these topics in the next 2 years or so, month by month, but you can do a little in each category now too.
Spices, veggies, fruits, tomato based products, pastas, grains, flours, baking extras (powder, soda, vanilla), soups, condiments, snacks, drinks, dairy products, fats, personal hygiene - including baby items, household cleaning supplies, laundry soap, paper products, meats, water, 72 hour kits, flashlights, sugars, legumes...etc.
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