A New Debt Squeeze Is Coming: Can Your Household Survive It?

Most people never think about government bond yields. But this year, those numbers have quietly become one of the biggest threats to household budgets in the U.S. and Europe.

Borrowing costs for governments have climbed sharply in 2026, and analysts warn that tighter financial conditions, stubborn inflation, and slowing growth could squeeze consumers and businesses alike. When governments pay more to borrow, you usually end up paying more too.

What’s Happening to Borrowing Costs

The pressure has been building for months. In September, Euronews reported that the 30-year U.S. Treasury yield climbed above 5.38%, its highest level since 2007, while the 10-year Treasury approached the closely watched 5% mark.

Europe saw the same thing. Britain’s 10-year government bond yield hit its highest level since 2007, and Germany, France, Italy, and Spain all saw borrowing costs jump after the European Central Bank raised rates and warned inflation could stay well above target for an extended period.

A big part of the problem is energy. With conflict in the Middle East disrupting oil supplies, investors expect inflation to stay high, and they’re demanding higher returns to lend money to governments.

Why It Hits Your Wallet

Government bond yields act like a baseline for many other loans. When they rise, lenders raise the rates they charge you.

Mortgages are the clearest example. According to the Associated Press, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.18% this week, down slightly from recent weeks but well above the 6.22% average a year ago.

On a $300,000 loan, that difference adds close to $200 to the monthly principal and interest payment. Over the life of the loan, it can add up to tens of thousands of dollars.

The Federal Reserve has added to the pressure too. In September, it raised its benchmark rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its first increase since 2023, and that pushes up rates on credit cards, home equity lines, and many auto loans.

Inflation Makes It Worse

Higher borrowing costs would be easier to absorb if everyday prices were stable. They aren’t.

The latest Consumer Price Index report showed prices up 3.7% over the past year, with gasoline up 34.2% and fuel oil up 74.2%. Households are paying more to fill the tank and heat the house at the same time their debt is getting more expensive.

That combination is what makes this a squeeze. Money that used to go into savings or emergency supplies is getting eaten up by interest payments and higher bills.

Who’s Most at Risk

People With Variable-Rate Debt

Credit cards, home equity lines of credit, and adjustable-rate mortgages tend to rise along with interest rates. If you carry a balance on any of these, your costs can climb without you borrowing another dime.

Anyone Who Needs to Borrow Soon

If you’re planning to buy a home, a car, or equipment for a small business, you’re facing some of the highest borrowing costs in years. Waiting may help if rates ease, but there’s no guarantee they will.

Households Without a Cushion

Families living paycheck to paycheck are the most exposed. When a car breaks down or a job disappears, they often have no choice but to put it on high-interest credit.

How to Prepare for the Squeeze

Attack High-Interest Debt First

Credit card balances are the most expensive debt most families carry, and they get worse as rates rise. Put every extra dollar toward the highest-rate balance first, and avoid adding new debt while rates are high.

Lock In What You Can

If you have an adjustable-rate loan, find out when and how much it can reset. Talk to your lender about your options before the next adjustment rather than after.

Build a Real Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is what keeps a surprise expense from turning into high-interest debt. Start with a small goal, like one month of essential expenses, and build from there.

Keep some of it as cash at home for outages and emergencies, stored in a fireproof and waterproof safe. Keep the rest in an account you can reach quickly.

Use Your Pantry as a Hedge

A well-stocked pantry protects you from rising prices and gives you breathing room if money gets tight. Buy shelf-stable staples your family actually eats while prices are reasonable, and rotate them into your regular meals.

If a paycheck is delayed or an emergency drains your account, you’ll still be able to feed your family without reaching for a credit card. That’s one of the most practical ways to protect your household from a debt squeeze.

Track Every Dollar

You can’t fix what you can’t see. Write down every expense for a month, either in a notebook or a simple budget planner, and look for subscriptions, fees, and habits you can cut.

The Bottom Line

No one knows exactly where interest rates go from here. Mortgage rates have eased slightly in recent weeks, but borrowing costs remain far higher than they were a year ago, and inflation is still running hot.

You can’t control bond markets, but you can control how exposed your household is to them. Pay down expensive debt, build a cash cushion, stock your pantry, and give yourself room to weather whatever comes next.

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How to Survive a Flash Flood: Before, During, and After

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US States Where You Can Buy Emergency Supplies Tax-Free

Hurricane Straps: What They Are, Why You Need Them, and How to Install Them

How To Survive a Tornado Without a Basement or Shelter

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Governments Want You to Stockpile. Is a 72-Hour Emergency Kit Really Enough?

In the space of a few weeks, governments on three continents have told their citizens the same thing: keep emergency supplies at home. Japan, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe have all renewed calls for household stockpiles, joining long-standing advice from FEMA here in the U.S.

Most of these campaigns settle on the same number, about three days. That raises an important question for anyone who’s serious about preparedness: is a 72-hour kit actually enough?

What Governments Are Telling People

Japan: Three Days Minimum, a Week if Possible

Japan made the strongest push. According to Metropolis Japan, the country’s new National Disaster Management Agency issued its request on November 2, the day the agency opened, asking households to keep at least three days of food, water, and portable toilets, and ideally a week’s worth.

Officials also urged residents to secure bookshelves and tall furniture and to find their nearest evacuation shelter. Disaster minister Goshi Hosono described it as everyday preparedness for expected disasters like a Nankai Trough megaquake or a Mount Fuji eruption, not a warning about a specific threat.

The reasoning is blunt. Seoul Economic Daily reported that Japan wants households to manage on their own because roads and communications could be damaged after a major disaster, delaying outside help.

The United Kingdom: Three Days and Some Cash

Britain launched its “Be Ready” campaign on October 22, asking households to be able to get through at least 72 hours if power, water, or phone service is cut by storms or cyberattacks. The suggested list includes three liters of drinking water per person per day, food that needs no cooking, flashlights, spare batteries, a radio, phone chargers, and cash.

The UK government also stressed that people don’t need to buy everything at once. Adding a few items to each grocery trip is the approach it recommends.

Europe and the United States

The European Union has been pushing citizens toward 72 hours of self-sufficiency since early 2025, with countries like France and the Netherlands using similar figures. Some go further, with Germany long recommending up to 10 days of food and water.

Here at home, FEMA’s Ready.gov basic disaster supplies kit calls for several days of food and water, along with a flashlight, first aid kit, radio, and other basics. It’s the same 72-hour baseline most of the world is now repeating.

So Is 72 Hours Enough?

For a short power outage or a typical winter storm, three days of supplies will cover most households. But as a complete plan, 72 hours falls short for several reasons.

Help Doesn’t Run on a Schedule

The three-day figure is a minimum, not a promise that help will arrive by day four. Japan’s own government is saying “ideally a week” precisely because a major earthquake could cut off roads and communications for much longer.

Large disasters stretch emergency services thin. If your area is one of many hit at once, you may be waiting well past the 72-hour mark.

Water Runs Out Faster Than You Think

The CDC recommends storing at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days, and a 2-week supply if possible. That’s more than the UK’s three liters, and it’s the bare minimum for drinking, cooking, and basic hygiene.

For a family of four, two weeks of water is 56 gallons. Most 72-hour kits hold a small fraction of that.

Most Kits Ignore Sanitation

Japan made a point that most American kits overlook: portable toilets. When water pressure fails, toilets stop flushing, and in a long emergency, poor sanitation quickly turns into a health problem.

An emergency toilet kit with waste bags costs little and takes up almost no space. Add plenty of trash bags, wipes, and hand sanitizer.

Building Beyond the 72-Hour Kit

Step One: Get the 72 Hours Right

Start with the basics every government agrees on: water, no-cook food, medications, a flashlight, spare batteries, a radio, a first aid kit, phone chargers, and some cash in small bills. Don’t skip the cash, since card readers and ATMs often go down with the power.

Step Two: Stretch It to Two Weeks

Once your three days are covered, keep going. Store more water in stackable water storage containers, expand your pantry with foods your family already eats, and keep a larger supply of prescription medications if your doctor and insurance allow.

Step Three: Make Your Home Safer

Japan’s advice to secure furniture applies anywhere earthquakes or severe storms are possible. Furniture anti-tip straps keep bookcases and dressers from falling on someone, and they cost a few dollars apiece.

Know where your nearest shelter is and how you’d get there, and agree on a family meeting place. Those plans cost nothing and matter as much as anything in your kit.

Take It Gradually

You don’t need to buy a two-week supply this weekend. The UK and Japan are both encouraging people to build their stockpiles slowly, adding a few items to each grocery run.

That’s the smart approach anywhere. Steady, regular additions build a real reserve without blowing your budget or starting a panic at the store.

The Bottom Line

When governments from Tokyo to London to Washington start saying the same thing, it’s worth listening. None of them are predicting a specific disaster, but all of them are admitting that help may not arrive right away.

A 72-hour kit is a great start. Treat it as the floor, not the ceiling, and keep building toward two weeks of real self-sufficiency.

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You may also like:

How to Survive a Flash Flood: Before, During, and After

Build a Survival Tiny House in 3 Days (FULL PLAN HERE)

US States Where You Can Buy Emergency Supplies Tax-Free

Hurricane Straps: What They Are, Why You Need Them, and How to Install Them

How To Survive a Tornado Without a Basement or Shelter

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How to Preserve Eggs In Beeswax the Old-Fashioned Way

When you think of preserving eggs, how do you think about it? Popping them in the refrigerator, sure… maybe even freezing the whites, yolks, or scrambled eggs. But how about room temperature preservation? And I mean long-term preservation! Impossible? Not hardly. Room temperature preservation of whole eggs is possible using just beeswax and oats. It’s ... Read more

How to Preserve Eggs In Beeswax the Old-Fashioned Way can be read in full at New Life On A Homestead- Be sure to check it out!

from New Life On A Homestead

Declassified: They’ve Been Controlling the Weather Since 1996

Anybody who has spent real time outdoors knows how a clear morning can turn black by supper with no warning from the forecast. It happens often enough that plenty of people have started asking whether somebody is tinkering with the sky. They aren’t all cranks either, because the US military once admitted to seeding clouds over a war zone.

Then in 1996 an Air Force college put out a paper titled “Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025,” and that title has kept the argument alive for thirty years.

When Did It All Start?

The first confirmed case of the American military changing the weather goes back to Vietnam. Starting on March 20, 1967, Air Force planes seeded clouds with silver iodide over Laos, North Vietnam and South Vietnam in a program called Operation Popeye. The aim was a longer monsoon season that would turn the Ho Chi Minh trail into mud, and the crews even had a slogan for it: “make mud, not war.” Congress knew nothing about it, and the planes flew without unit markings.

Columnist Jack Anderson exposed the program in the Washington Post in March 1971. A year later, Defense Secretary Melvin Laird told Congress the stories were false. Then in January 1974, a private letter from Laird leaked to the press, in which he admitted he had lied. Popeye was hardly a one-off, and once you read the worst secret experiments Washington tried to hide, you’ll see the same script every time.

After the leak, military leaders were called into a closed Senate hearing, and Nature magazine reported 2,602 seeding missions once the Pentagon finally owned up. With a record like that, nobody can blame you for taking a flat denial from Washington with some doubt.

The Truth Behind the 1996 Paper

Anyone can download the 1996 paper today, and it reads exactly as dramatically as the title suggests. It grew out of a study the Air Force chief of staff ordered to figure out what the service would need to dominate air and space by 2025. 

Thinking decades ahead is normal for the military, and you can borrow the military rule of 3 for planning a crisis to get your own home ready the same way. As for the paper itself, the authors argued that American forces could “own the weather” by then, and they compared weather modification to the splitting of the atom. They also listed five technologies that would have to come first: advanced weather modeling, far stronger computers, fast data transmission, a global sensor network, and a way to actually intervene in the atmosphere.

But the paper was never secret, and that is where the word “declassified” gets stretched. Students at the Air War College wrote the paper, and it carries a disclaimer calling its scenarios fictional, and the Air Force says it does not reflect policy. 

The Project Is Still Going Today in 9 States

Cloud seeding never went away; it just moved into civilian hands. The federal government says it does not run any seeding itself, yet a 2024 federal count found nine states with active programs, and all of them sit in the West and the Plains:

• Utah: the biggest program in the country. The state bought 190 remote-controlled generators in 2025, which makes it the largest remote-controlled seeding network in the world, and state water officials estimate it adds about 10.4% to the average snowpack.
• Idaho: Idaho Power runs its own seeding to protect the water behind its dams, and it files a final report with the state every winter. Scientists also ran a research project here in 2017 called SNOWIE, which studied what actually happens inside the clouds after seeding.
• Wyoming: the state ran a six-year randomized test from 2008 to 2013 over the Sierra Madre and Medicine Bow mountains. In 2026, the state also cut its own funding, although seeding stays legal if someone else pays for it.
• Colorado: state boards and partners run seeding over the mountains, and the state shares costs with other Colorado River Basin states.
• Nevada: the Desert Research Institute runs and tests seeding projects here.
• California: active programs, and the home base of Rainmaker.
• New Mexico: listed with active programs in the federal count.
• North Dakota: a long-running program, and the state where Weather Modification Inc., the contractor that flew the Wyoming test, is based.
• Texas: local water districts in the south and central parts hire private firms to seed clouds, mostly for rain and to fight hail.

The newest name in the business is Rainmaker, a startup backed by Peter Thiel that flies drones instead of piloted planes. In early July 2025, it released 70 grams of silver iodide into two clouds over south-central Texas. Deadly floods hit the state days later, and that timing set off a national argument. 

The worst part here is that people like you and me are affected by the consequences. And a flash flood can be deadly because it gives you only a few minutes to react. So, if you live in one of these states, make sure you know the 4 things to grab before water reaches your door.

The States That Are Against It

Tennessee passed the first ban in April 2024. Florida followed in June 2025 with the toughest version, which makes weather modification a crime, and Louisiana passed its own law the same month. In 2025 alone, lawmakers in 22 states introduced bills to ban or restrict the practice.

The wave kept rolling in 2026. Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill that would make cloud seeding a felony carrying up to five years in prison. West Virginia and Missouri have bills of their own, and Wyoming asked Congress to step in. In Washington, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed a federal ban in July 2025 that would also outlaw research into blocking sunlight. Critics call these laws a reaction to conspiracy theories, and seeding companies warn that a ban could hurt farmers who count on seeded snowpack. 

Your state matters for more than cloud seeding, though, and if you’ve ever thought about moving, check the safest states when SHTF before you call a realtor. Either way, where you live now decides whether seeding is even legal over your land.

Washington’s Answer? Denial, Denial

In July 2025, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin promised Americans straight answers on geoengineering and contrails. The answers that followed said no government weather program is running and no contrail is made on purpose. You are supposed to take that on faith, but the last time Washington denied weather work, the Defense Secretary was lying.

Nobody went to prison over Popeye, and nobody lost a pension. So the same people now ask for your trust again, and they point at a two-man startup called Make Sunsets while the bigger operations go on in plain sight.

Meanwhile, nine states put silver iodide into the clouds over farms and towns that never voted on it. The only federal rule is a 1972 law asking operators to report to NOAA, and NOAA does not regulate anything. In other words, nobody has the job of telling you what drifts onto your land.

So get ready for next summer, and put away enough water to carry your family through a few months. I go to sleep some nights thinking TEOTWAWKI is already here, so I made sure my 3-barrel water system fills up every time it rains. Down in the root cellar, I also keep stocked water in food-grade 5-gallon jugs, where the cool and dark keep it fresh longer. Also, in case rainwater is undrinkable, I keep the flower pot filter right next to the tablets. 

Think about it for a minute, and make sure you have all of these in place before the next dry summer. 

Poisoned Rainwater?

Silver iodide is the compound most seeding relies on, and it comes down with the rain. Researchers who have measured it generally report levels far below what would worry a doctor, although long-term studies on repeated seeding over the same ground are thin. For anyone who collects roof runoff for a garden or animals, the bigger risks usually sit closer to home. Bird droppings, dust, and whatever the roofing material sheds all end up in the tank.

An annual water test will tell you more than any press release, and a first flush diverter keeps the dirtiest first rush out of the tank, where most of the grime collects. You can go a step further with a DIY rainwater catchment system you can build in 3 hours , and it works right alongside the diverter. Inside that setup, a charcoal filter handles a good part of what gets past the diverter. Boiling kills germs but does nothing about metals or chemicals, so filtering has to come first if the water is for drinking.

The Solution? Learn to Predict the Weather the Old Way

Long before phones and weather apps, farmers read the sky, and they passed those signs down to their kids on every farm. Somewhere along the way that got lost, and plenty of kids today can’t tell you which side the sun comes up on, let alone read a storm coming in the clouds.

So make sure you know the old ways yourself, and then go through Wilderness Long-Term Survival Guide with the grandkids on the porch some evening. Once they learn it, the knowledge stays in the family for good.

This way you will learn:

• How to read a barometer and tell from the speed of the drop how hard a storm will hit
• Why cirrus clouds spreading into a milky sheet give you about a day before the rain
• What a ring around the moon or sun says about how soon wet weather arrives
• Which wind shifts bring a storm and which ones clear it out
• Why a red sunset means dry weather while a red sunrise can mean rain
• What low chimney smoke tells you about falling pressure
• How to use a pinecone on the porch rail as a free moisture gauge

When the grid goes down, and the phone stops loading the forecast, the sky becomes the only weather report you get. That’s when this book earns its keep in your stockpile, since it also covers water, shelter, and fire for the days the power stays off.

Washington lied about seeding clouds once, and it took a leaked letter to get the truth out. Today nine states put silver iodide in the sky, nobody regulates it, and nobody will tell you whether the rain missing from your county fell somewhere else on purpose. Keep your barrels full, keep a notebook by the rain gauge, and keep your own eye on the sky. Whether anyone is managing the weather or not, your family will see it coming before the news does.

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You may also like:

How to Survive a Flash Flood: Before, During, and After

Build a Survival Tiny House in 3 Days (FULL PLAN HERE)

US States Where You Can Buy Emergency Supplies Tax-Free

Hurricane Straps: What They Are, Why You Need Them, and How to Install Them

How To Survive a Tornado Without a Basement or Shelter

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Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar

This Pasta Fagioli soup mix in a jar is part of my series of making soups that can be stored in our pantries. Mark and I love a hot bowl of soup with a slice or two of homemade bread. What I like about this recipe is that it’s a vegetarian soup mix in a jar, but you can always add leftover cooked ground beef when you cook it yourself.

Don’t you love those meals you start in a slow cooker and let cook all day? You know dinner will be ready tonight with very little work? I sure do. This soup has a tomato base, which is one of my all-time favorites; add some beans and a little pasta, and it’s a little bit of heaven in a bowl.

When I make my sourdough bread, I freeze two loaves for soup night, so it’s ready to go when the soup is cooked. Life is so good! I thaw it the night before, and it’s ready when the slow cooker finishes cooking my dinner.

Short History of Pasta Fagioli Soup

Pasta Fagioli Soup has its roots in the rustic kitchens of Italy, where simple, inexpensive ingredients created some of the most iconic dishes. Traditionally made with pasta, beans, vegetables, and herbs, this hearty soup was a staple for families who relied on pantry essentials to stretch meals and feed a crowd.

As Italian immigrants came to America, Pasta Fagioli evolved into the beloved Italian-American comfort food we enjoy today, rich, cozy, and endlessly customizable. Its long-standing popularity comes from its affordability, nourishing ingredients, and timeless homemade flavor.

Pasta Fagioli Soup, often affectionately called “Pasta Fazool” in Italian-American households, has roots that stretch deep into the heart of rural Italy. Its name comes from the simple ingredients that define it: pasta (pasta) and beans (fagioli). What began as a humble, peasant-style dish has grown into one of the most beloved comfort foods in Italian cuisine.

In old-world Italy, especially in regions like Campania, Lazio, and Tuscany, families relied on inexpensive pantry staples to create filling, nourishing meals. Beans were plentiful, pasta was affordable, and vegetables like onions, carrots, and celery were grown right at home. Nothing went to waste, and everything was used to stretch a meal to feed a large family. Pasta Fagioli became a symbol of resourcefulness, comfort, and the beauty of cooking with what you have.

As Italian immigrants brought their recipes to America in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the dish evolved. Regional variations blossomed, with some versions using a tomato base, others being brothier, and some adding ground beef or sausage to make it heartier. Italian-American kitchens adopted the dish as an everyday staple, and soon it became a familiar bowl of nostalgia, served in restaurants and at family gatherings alike.

Why Soup in a Jar Gifts Are the Perfect Homemade Surprise

There’s something so heartfelt about giving a gift you made with your own hands, and Soup in a Jar gifts check every box: practical, beautiful, budget-friendly, and delicious. These charming layered jars don’t just look pretty sitting on a countertop—they hold the promise of a warm, comforting meal ready to be enjoyed on a busy night. In a world where everyone is juggling tight schedules and facing rising grocery costs, a simple homemade jar mix feels like a little act of love.

What makes soup mixes such a timeless gift is their blend of simplicity and usefulness. With a handful of pantry ingredients, you can create a thoughtful present that lasts on the shelf and brings comfort long after the holidays are over. They’re perfect for neighbors, teachers, new parents, college students, or anyone who appreciates a ready-made dinner they can just pour, simmer, and enjoy.

Plus, layering the dry ingredients in a mason jar turns an everyday recipe into something personal and eye-catching. Add a ribbon, a tag, or a handwritten note, and you’ve created a gift that feels warm, homemade, and genuinely meaningful. Whether you’re building a pantry of emergency meals or crafting heartfelt holiday gifts, Soup in a Jar mixes are a cozy tradition worth keeping.

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar

Kitchen Items You May Need

• Slow Cooker (I used a 3-1/2 Quart One)
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Quart wide-mouth mason jars (32-ounce) with lids and rings
• Funnel for jars
• Funnel for seasoning bags
• Seasoning Bags (these are the ones I purchased: 3.5 inches by 5.5 inches) or small baggies
• Twine for Tags
• Strainer
• Dicorain (optional)

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar

Ingredients for the Jars

• Small pasta shells (I used Ditalini)
• Great white northern beans
• Pinto beans
• Kidney beans
• Minced Onion
• Spices
• When ready to make:
• 10 cups of water
• 28-ounces diced tomatoes
• 2 cups chopped carrots
• Grated Parmesan cheese (as a garnish)

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar is the Perfect Gift

These are great to store in your pantry, or you can gift them to a family expecting a baby or someone who is under the weather. Who doesn’t love a hot cup of soup, right? Nothing says love like a homemade soup mix in a jar.

Tips for Best Results

• Shake the jar a little to settle each layer for neat, even stripes.
• Vacuum-seal jars for long-term storage.
• Add a packet of Parmesan or a small wooden spoon to make it a cute gift set!

How to Assemble Jars

The first thing to do is gather the ingredients. Of course, you can always add more of your own favorite spices.

Grab a wide-mouth one-quart mason jar (32-ounces) to layer some of the ingredients shown above. Start with the white beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Be sure to watch for small rocks in the beans.

Place the pasta in a baggie and place it on top of the beans. Put the seasonings in a small bag and close it. The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta baggie and under the lid. It’s very tight, so squeeze the air out of the baggies. Seal the lid using a FoodSaver or Dicorain, if you so desire. Put the canning ring on and add some twine with a tag, and it’s ready to put on your pantry shelf or give to someone in need.

How To Make Pasta Fagioli Soup

Step One

Please spread the beans out to look for rocks or debris. I didn’t find any today, but I have seen some over the years.

Step Two

Grab a strainer, and wash the beans thoroughly.

Step Three

Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker (I used a 3-1/2-quart slow cooker).

Step Four

Add the water, and turn it on high for 7 hours, and then check the beans for doneness. Mix in the pasta, the tomatoes, and chopped carrots. Cook another 2-3 hours until the carrots and beans are tender.

Finished Product

Here’s the finished product: a rich, savory soup with grated/shredded Parmesan sprinkled on top. I served it with my SourDough French Bread!

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How To Store Leftovers

I love these Silicone One-Cup Divider Freezer Tray containers. You can pop one section (1 cup) out and put it in a bowl to microwave whenever you want. I use them for so many things. We freeze one-cup servings of leftovers all the time. The “meal” pops right out after freezing because it’s a no-stick silicone container. We also store our cooked rice in these so we can pop out a section for use in our dinner meal prep.

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix Recipe

Print

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix in a Jar

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 hours hours

Total Time 10 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Author Linda Loosli

Ingredients

• 1 cup small pasta shells (I used Ditalini)
• 3/4 cup dried white northern beans
• 3/4 cup dried pinto beans
• 3/4 cup kidney beans
• 1/4 cup minced dried onion
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon Celery salt
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 Bay leaf

Ready to cook Add-Ons

• 10 cups water
• 28 ounces diced tomatoes
• 1-1/2 to 2 cups chopped carrots
• 1/2 cup of sugar (I always add a bit of sugar to my tomato based soups), this is an optional item.

Instructions

Fill The Jars

• The first thing to do is place the seasonings in a small bag and close it. The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta baggie and under the lid.
• Grab a wide-mouth quart mason jar (32-ounces) to layer some of the ingredients shown above.
• Start with the white beans, pinto beans, and kidney beans. Be sure and watch for small rocks in the beans.
• Place the pasta in a baggie and place it on top of the beans.
• Now, place the seasonings in a small bag and close it.
• The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta baggie and under the lid.

Cooking the Pasta Fagioli Soup

• Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker (I used a 3-1/2-quart slow cooker). *Set the pasta, tomatoes, and chopped carrots aside.
• Add 10 cups of water, turn the slow cooker on high for 7 hours, and then check the beans for doneness.
• Mix in the pasta, the tomatoes, and chopped carrots. Cook another 2-3 hours until the carrots and beans are tender.

What Jars Can I Use?

I use wide-mouth quart jars (32 ounces) because they are easier to fill and hold a bit more than regular-mouth quart jars. Although any 32-ounce jar would work, you may not be able to use a FoodSaver with them.

Should I use a FoodSaver to seal the jars?

Mark and I used a FoodSaver to seal the jars, but we didn’t add an oxygen absorber. Today, I would use my Dicorain. It’s a personal preference, but since we’ll eat these within 1 year, I’m good with just sealing them.

Can I store my soup in bags?

Yes, you can store the soups in freezer bags if you want to take them to someone without giving up a jar. Just add a tag to it for the instructions. Keep in mind that sometimes pasta can tear through plastic bags.

How long will these jars be safe to store on my pantry shelves?

As a Master Canner Preserver, I always say, “If we make it, it’s a year.” We don’t have the processing tools to store them long-term. But we must be free to do what feels right for us. I only make what I will use up in one year, that’s how I roll.

Are there Gluten-Free Noodles?

Yes, a reader mentioned she uses Sam Mills Gluten Free Corn Pasta Lasagna Corte. Yay, for another option for our GF friends! Gluten-Free Pasta

My Soup In a Jar Series

• Friendship Soup Mix In A Jar
• Chicken Noodle Soup Mix in a Jar
• 3 Bean Chili Soup Mix In A Jar

Final Word

I hope you’re enjoying my soup mixes in a jar. If you want to make them in pint-sized wide-mouth jars, it would be very easy to cut the recipe in half. Mark and I like to make larger meals and freeze some for another day. My goal is to teach people how to use beans, pasta, and rice. We can do this, my friends, we must. You can always add your favorite cooked meat if you so desire. May God bless this world, Linda

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