How to Make Homemade Extracts

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

If you’re an avid baker or cook, chances are you’ve either used extracts or come across recipes calling for extracts. High-quality commercially available products are expensive, hard to come by, and often come with additives, preservatives, and ingredients whose origin is impossible to be certain of.

If you’ve never considered making your own or think that it must be too complicated or require special equipment, then you’re in for a sweet surprise. Making your own extracts is easy as can be. Once you see how simple it is, you’ll never go back to store-bought.

A Few Tips Before You Start

Before you dive in, here are a few things to know that will make your extracts turn out great every time.

Use at least 80-proof vodka. Anything weaker won’t pull as much flavor out of your ingredients, and it won’t preserve your extract as well. There’s no need to buy the top-shelf stuff, though. A cheap, plain vodka works just as well, since the whole point is a neutral base that lets the flavor shine.

Start with clean jars and bottles. Wash them in hot, soapy water (or run them through the dishwasher) and make sure they’re completely dry before you begin. Dark amber or cobalt glass bottles are ideal for storing your finished extracts because they protect them from light.

Label everything. Write the type of extract and the date you started it on a piece of masking tape or a label. Trust me, after a few weeks in the back of the pantry, every jar of brown liquid starts to look the same.

Know how long they’ll last. Alcohol-based extracts will keep for years when stored in a cool, dark place, and many even get better with age. Glycerin-based extracts have a shorter shelf life, generally around a year, so make them in smaller batches.

Expect glycerin extracts to taste a little different. Vegetable glycerin is naturally sweet and doesn’t pull out flavor quite as well as alcohol does, so your non-alcoholic extracts will be sweeter and a bit milder. You may need to use a little extra in your recipes. On the plus side, they’re a great choice for anyone avoiding alcohol entirely.

Okay, let's dive in. Here are 4 homemade extracts you can make with or without alcohol.

1. Vanilla Bourbon Extract

This is your basic vanilla extract, with the addition of some rich bourbon flavor that adds a little depth to your cookie or cake recipes. You will need a mason jar, bourbon, vodka, and three whole vanilla beans. The rule of thumb is 3 beans per cup of alcohol. You can also use smaller bottles if you like, just make sure you have one vanilla bean per bottle.

Instructions:

1. Cut the vanilla beans in half with a sharp knife to expose the seeds inside.
2. Place the cut-open beans into the jar or bottles– for a mason jar use all the beans.
3. Combine vodka and bourbon in equal amounts in a container that is easy to pour from.
4. Pour the alcohol into the jar or bottles so that the container is completely full.
5. Place in a dark, cool place for four to six weeks, shaking from time to time.
6. Once the color of the liquid is dark brown, you’re done. Enjoy!

As you use up the extract, you can top it off with more vodka, and it will continue to extract– the gift that keeps on giving.

Vanilla beans are the priciest part of this recipe, but there’s a way to save money. Look for “Grade B” or “extract grade” vanilla beans. They’re drier and less pretty than Grade A beans, but they’re cheaper and work just as well for extracts. And if you like a bold, rich vanilla flavor, don’t be afraid to add a few extra beans. The more beans you use, the stronger your extract will be.

Non-Alcoholic Vanilla Extract

For the non-alcoholic version of this recipe, use food-grade vegetable glycerin in place of alcohol (3 parts glycerin to 1 part water) and let the extract work it’s magic for a minimum of 8 weeks instead of 4-6.

2. Homemade Cherry Extract

If you are lucky enough to have a cherry tree, then you do not want to pass up the opportunity to make a cherry extract. Wonderful for use in baked desserts or drizzled over pancakes or ice cream, the store bought version is too expensive to use willy-nilly, but when you make it yourself you can use it liberally or even give it away as a very special handmade gift. You will need cherries, vodka, and a mason jar.

Instructions:

1. Measure out 12 ounces (a pint) of vodka.
2. Pit 2 cups of fresh cherries, tossing them into a jar as you go.
3. Cover the cherries with vodka, seal the jar, and shake vigorously.
4. Place the jar in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks, shaking every few days.
5. After 2 weeks, strain cherries out and pour extract into a glass bottle and store it in a cool, dark place. Voila!

Don’t throw those cherries away! After two weeks soaking in vodka, they’ve turned into boozy little treats. Spoon them over ice cream, stir them into a cocktail, or chop them up and fold them into a cake batter. Just keep in mind they’re still packing a punch, so they’re for the grown-ups only.

Non-Alcoholic Cherry Extract

For the non-alcoholic version of this recipe, use food grade vegetable glycerin in place of alcohol (3 parts glycerin to 1 part water), and let the concoction brew for a minimum of 3-4 weeks instead of 2.

3. DIY Almond Extract

This traditional extract tastes so much better when you make it yourself that you won’t believe you’ve ever paid for the prepackaged stuff. If you happen to have an almond tree, then you really have no excuse. You will need a glass pint jar, almonds, and vodka.

Instructions:

• Take 15 raw almonds and drop them into boiling water for exactly 1 minute. Remove them and rinse them in cold water.
• Squeeze almonds from skins, discard the skins and allow the almonds to dry completely.
• Once dry, chop the almonds coarsely and place into your pint jar.
• Pour 2 cups of vodka over the almonds, seal the jar, and give a good shake.
• Let the jar sit in a cool, dry place for 6-8 weeks, shaking every couple of days.
• Strain your extract through a coffee filter and store it in a dark glass jar or bottle (if possible) in a cool, dark spot.

Keep in mind that homemade almond extract won’t taste exactly like the stuff from the store. Most store-bought almond extract gets its strong, marzipan-like flavor from bitter almond oil, which isn’t something you can make from regular almonds in your kitchen.

Your homemade version will have a softer, nuttier, more natural flavor. Many people actually prefer it, but don’t be surprised if it’s milder than you expected. Also, don’t swap in apricot or peach pits to boost the flavor. They can be toxic.

Non-Alcoholic Almond Extract

For the non-alcoholic version of this recipe, use food grade vegetable glycerin in place of alcohol (3 parts glycerin to 1 part water), and let the almonds marinate for a minimum of 8 weeks instead of 6-8.

4. No-Fuss Orange Extract

For anyone who has ever loved orange-infused confections, you will not believe how easy it is to turn a waste product into a delicious extract. For this recipe, you will definitely want to make sure you use only organic citrus. If you prefer lemon, lime, mandarin, or even grapefruit, you can substitute them in the recipe. Any citrus will do. You will need vodka, citrus fruits, and a mason jar.

Instructions: 

• Begin with 4 organic oranges, or a number of citrus fruits with a similar amount of surface.
• Using a peeler, carefully peel the outermost layer of the skin from the fruits, without getting any of the white pith.
• Place the peels in the bottom of a mason jar.
• Pour one cup of vodka over the peels, put the lid on tightly, and give the jar a hearty shake.
• Place the jar in a cool, dark place for 8-12 weeks and shake it from time to time.
• Once the peels have lost much of their color, strain them out and bottle the extract in a glass container and store away from direct sunlight. Bon Appetit!

Even with organic citrus, give your fruit a good scrub under warm water before peeling to remove any dirt or residue. If you can only find conventional citrus, scrub it extra well to get rid of the wax coating. And don’t let those peeled oranges go to waste! Peeled fruit dries out quickly, so juice them or eat them within a day or two.

Non-Alcoholic Citrus Extract

For the non-alcoholic version of this recipe, use food grade vegetable glycerin in place of alcohol (3 parts glycerin to 1 part water), and let the citrus skins soak for a minimum of 12 weeks instead of 8-12.

In case you haven’t picked up on the gist of these recipes– it is extremely easy to make extracts at home. Almost any aromatic spice or herb can be made into a potent extract using these same techniques.

Just use your imagination and your harvest of lavender, mint, cinnamon, basil, even rose petals. Similar techniques are used to make medicinal tinctures as well, so bear in mind that extracts can be used for more than just baking and cocktails.

If you want to try herbs, here are a few tips. Use fresh leaves if you can and gently bruise or crush them before adding them to the jar to help release their oils. Loosely fill your jar about halfway with herbs, then cover them completely with vodka. Mint and basil usually only need four to six weeks, while woody spices like cinnamon sticks can take a little longer.

If you’re making lavender extract, be sure to use culinary lavender, and use it sparingly. A little lavender goes a long way, and too much can make your baked goods taste like soap.

If you have an aromatic herb, pungent fruit, or interesting spice around, feel free to experiment. Extracts are a delicious way to extend the season of your garden or just increase your level of self-reliance.

You May Also Like:

• How to Make Vanilla Extract at Home
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Easy-To-Make Dinner Rolls For Two

These are my easy-to-make dinner rolls for two! Have you ever craved something super delicious but didn’t know where to start when making it? Some of my readers are in the same boat. I like to give my readers some ideas of fun things to make and how to do them. Dinner rolls are a favorite around our home, and I don’t need to make a big batch because it’s just Mark and me.

I’m concerned about what I see at grocery stores, such as empty or nearly empty shelves. I’ve been married 57 years this year and worry about our food chain. I’ve never seen grocery store shelves as empty in my entire married life as I’m seeing right now. And don’t get me started on the higher prices. There are no words.

Please learn to make bread and teach your kids and grandkids how. If you have fresh ingredients, YOU can make bread. Bread, biscuits, and tortillas fill the belly and put smiles on faces.

I’ve updated this recipe and am reposting it in hopes that you and others will enjoy this super-quick, easy roll! There are so many meals you can serve dinner rolls with, such as soup, chili, and salads. Have fun making these; you’ll never buy dinner rolls at the grocery store again.

These Easy-to-Make Dinner Rolls for Two are simple and require few ingredients. The best part is that you won’t waste food, either, since this recipe only makes four rolls. I’m a big proponent of not wasting! I’ve tried to follow the adage “waste not, want not.” It took me a while to perfect this recipe and ensure I didn’t waste any rolls by making too many.

Make This Recipe for a Small Batch of Rolls

I promised some of you I would devise a smaller dinner roll recipe. This is perfect for one person, a couple, or college students.

The nice thing is that you don’t need a Bosch bread mixer or a KitchenAid stand mixer. We only need a bowl and a Danish Whisk! Squeals are so easy to make; anyone can mix them with fresh ingredients. My bread, dinner roll, or cinnamon roll recipes are no-fail. Anyone can make these.

In case you missed my post: Easy-to-Make Soft Dinner Rolls (8 dinner rolls).

Ingredients

• Milk: Due to its fat content, milk helps produce softer bread and enriches the flavor; it also browns the dough while cooking.
• SAF Instant Yeast (this is what I use) is a leavening agent that helps to produce the needed gas that causes the bread to rise. It feeds on the added sugar, expelling carbon dioxide in the rising process.
• Dough Enhancer (optional): Makes your bread and rolls light and fluffy and helps strengthen their texture.
• Salt: Added to help tighten the gluten in the flour and act as a preservative.
• Sugar: When used in yeast bread, sugar provides food for the yeast. It also helps shorten the rise time in the rolls and maintain moisture, creating a softer roll.
• Eggs are a great source of protein. They help bind the bread dough together, creating a moist, soft dinner roll. They also increase browning during cooking, adding a rich, delicious flavor and helping extend the life of the dinner roll.
• Oil helps prevent the dinner rolls from crumbling and keeps the water from evaporating, creating a moist, soft roll.
• White All-Purpose Flour (I use Bread Flour): All-purpose white flour has a lower protein content. Bread flour has more protein, which helps to hold the shape of the dinner roll and adds more nutrients. I use bread flour for all of my baking tasks that call for flour.

Kitchen Items You May Need:

The items you need for these rolls are fundamental. You probably already have most of these kitchen items in your home. Just imagine making rolls from scratch with simple ingredients. I picked these items up quickly so I could make rolls any time I wanted.

Don’t miss out on making these rolls for two. You’ll LOVE them, I promise!

• Large Mixing Bowl
• 11-inch Danish Whisk (I prefer the 11-inch whisk because it fits inside a wide-mouth quart mason jar)
• Dough Scraper
• 6-Inch Cake Pan or a small muffin pan
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Dough Enhancer (it makes your bread and rolls fluffy)

Easy To Make Dinner Rolls For Two

These Easy-to-Make Dinner Rolls for Two are easy for anyone to make. You don’t need special cooking skills to make your rolls delicious—just follow my recipe! If you’ve never made rolls before, you are in for a treat because these are just so simple.

Sometimes recipes are too hard, and you don’t feel like messing with them. If there are just two of you, then make sure you give this recipe a try! I think you’ll like the simplicity and yumminess of these rolls.

Step One – Gather Ingredients

Gather your ingredients so you’re ready to start. You should have fresh ingredients; that’s a must if you want great results. I only buy enough white bread flour for 12-18 months.

I store my flour in 5-gallon food-grade buckets with red Gamma Lids. Yes, I still color-coded all my food storage and emergency preps. You can buy the buckets just about everywhere or online.

I keep my SAF Instant Yeast and Dough Enhancer in the refrigerator; the excess stays in the freezer. As mentioned, I only buy enough bread flour for 12-18 months.

Step Two – Grease Pan and Dump Ingredients into Mixing Bowl

Grease a 6-inch round cake pan and set aside. Grab a bowl and a Danish Whisk. Dump everything in a large mixing bowl. Please note that this is where I “whisked the one egg.”

Step Three – Stir Ingredients Thoroughly

Stir until mixed thoroughly. If the dough is too sticky, add additional flour if needed, but don’t add too much; we want a fluffy, soft dough.

Step Four – Flour the Countertop and Knead the Dough

Flour your countertop, then scoop the dough mixture out onto it. Knead on the counter for about 3-4 minutes. This kneading step helps to develop the dough so the rolls will be soft and moist.

Step Five – Cut Dough Into 4 Sections

Divide the dough into four sections (never stretch your dough). I use a Dough Scraper.

Step Six – Mound Each Section Into a Ball

Mound each section into a ball, and place the four balls in the greased pan. I generally “grease” my pans with a spray of vegetable oil.

Step Seven – Let Dough Rise

Cover with plastic wrap or a warm, wet towel. Let it rise for about an hour.

Step Eight – Preheat Oven – Bake

Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C). Sometimes I let the dough rise a second time for my bread, but it’s not needed with these rolls. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Lightly brush the tops with butter after baking for softer dinner rolls. I use a baggie slathered with melted butter to spread on the warm rolls. Let cool. Store in bags to keep the dinner rolls soft. Enjoy.

Easy-To-Make Dinner Rolls For Two

Print

Easy-To-Make Dinner Rolls for Two

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Let It Rise 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes

Servings 2 people

Author Linda Loosli

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup warm milk
• 1/2 teaspoon SAF Instant Yeast (this is what I use)
• 1/2 teaspoon Dough Enhancer (optional-it makes the rolls fluffy)
• 1/4 scant teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 to 1-1/8 cups white all-purpose flour (I use bread flour)

Instructions

• Gather all of your ingredients.
• Grease a 6-inch round cake pan and set aside. Grab a bowl and a Danish Whisk. Dump everything into a large mixing bowl.
• Stir until mixed thoroughly. Add more flour to the dough if the dough is too sticky. Do not add too much; we want a fluffy, soft dough.
• Flour your countertop, then scoop the dough onto the countertop. Knead for about 3-4 minutes.
• Cut the dough into 4 sections (never stretch your dough).
• Take each section, mound it into a ball, and place the four balls in the greased pan.
• Cover with plastic wrap or a warm, wet towel. Let it rise for about an hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F (176 °C). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until slightly golden brown. Lightly brush the tops with butter after baking if you want soft dinner rolls
• I use a baggie slathered with butter to spread on the warm rolls. Let cool. Store in bags to keep the dinner rolls soft. Enjoy.

Can I freeze these dinner rolls before baking them?

You can, but I don’t recommend it. These have no preservatives and don’t contain ingredients that would make them rise after being frozen.

Can I freeze these dinner rolls after baking them?

I bet you won’t have any left with this small batch! All you have to do is freeze them in freezer bags. Thaw at room temperature before you enjoy them.

How do I store them after baking these dinner rolls?

I store mine in freezer bags on the countertop. They will stay soft for about 3-4 days. Remember, they don’t have preservatives, so eat them within this time frame.

Is it okay to store these dinner rolls in the refrigerator after baking?

The fridge will dry out the rolls. It’s best to store them in freezer bags at room temperature on the countertop.

Can I use a different flour to make these dinner rolls gluten-free?

I wish you could, but most gluten-free recipes have so many ingredients I can’t even pronounce. I’m so sorry, no gluten-free flour will work for bread 1:1; only cakes and cookies can use that ratio for flour. Now, I just heard, but have not tried this one: King Arthur Bread Flour 1:1.

Can I use active dry yeast instead of instant rapid-rise yeast in this easy-to-make dinner roll?

I like to use instant yeast because it eliminates unnecessary steps. Instant yeast can be added directly to the dry ingredients, whereas active dry yeast must be dissolved in warm water before being added to the dry ingredients. It’s all about simplicity, right?

Here are some other delicious dinner roll and bread recipes to try!

• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
• No-Fail Dinner Rolls
• Soft Dinner Rolls
• No-Fail Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
• Cinnamon Rolls for Two
• Croissant Rolls

Final Word

Please let me know if you can make my easy-to-make dinner roll recipe for two of you! Small-batch dinner rolls are the best when there are just two of you, when you’re a college student, or when you live alone.

There is something incredible about grabbing a bowl and dumping the ingredients in to make dinner rolls at the last minute. Ohhh….and the smell of homemade dinner rolls right out of the oven! Don’t even get me started!

We need to teach this skill to our kids and grandkids so they can make bread, regular rolls, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, and tortillas. May God bless this world, Linda

The post Easy-To-Make Dinner Rolls For Two appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

from Food Storage Moms

Texas Election Surprise: What Could Change for Farmers and Homesteaders?

For more than three decades, Republicans won every statewide race in Texas. Tuesday night, that streak cracked wide open.

Democrats led or won several of the state’s biggest contests, and one race that rarely makes national headlines could matter more to rural Texans than most: the race for agriculture commissioner.

Where the Race Stands

Democrat Clayton Tucker, a Lampasas rancher, declared victory over Republican Nate Sheets on election night, according to The Texas Tribune. If the result holds, Tucker would be the first Democrat to lead the Texas Department of Agriculture since Jim Hightower left office in 1991.

Early Wednesday tallies showed Tucker with about 51% of the vote to roughly 47% for Sheets, with more than 90% of the expected vote counted. The Associated Press had not called the race as of those reports, so the final result is still pending.

The ag race was part of a broader shift. KUT and other Texas outlets reported Democratic wins in the races for U.S. Senate and governor, though several down-ballot contests remained too close to call overnight.

Why This Office Matters More Than You Think

Most people couldn’t name their state agriculture commissioner. But the office touches daily life in rural Texas in ways few others do.

According to the Tribune, the department oversees a $1.8 billion budget. It provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers, infrastructure grants for rural communities, and aid for rural hospitals.

The agency also regulates cattle, grain, plants, pesticides, hemp, and organic operations. It runs the National School Lunch Program in Texas public schools, provides disaster relief to farmers, and checks that grocery store scales and price scanners are accurate.

It’s also home to the State Office of Rural Health and the AgriStress Helpline, which offers mental health support to farmworkers and rural families. For homesteaders and small producers, that makes the commissioner one of the most consequential officials in Austin.

What Each Candidate Promised

Both candidates campaigned on food quality and on the strain data centers put on rural land and water, though they offered different approaches. Here’s what each said they would do, based on the Tribune’s candidate guide.

Tucker, secretary of the Texas Farmers Union, campaigned on preserving family farms, lowering food costs, and removing chemicals from food. He has said he wants to make industrial hemp available for farmers to grow, rebuild agricultural co-ops, help young farmers get started, and challenge large agricultural companies he describes as monopolies.

Tucker also focused heavily on data centers. The commissioner has no direct authority over them, but he pledged to work with lawmakers to reduce their impact on land, water, energy, and farm production.

Sheets, founder of Nature Nate’s Honey and now a West Texas rancher, campaigned on helping farmers produce clean and healthy food, including in school lunches. He called for data center companies to invest in water and agriculture funds and to lose preferential tax breaks.

Sheets also proposed cutting transportation costs for farmers, boosting rural jobs, giving the state more power to investigate agroterrorism, requiring E-Verify for employment, and creating a marketplace connecting consumers directly with local producers.

What Homesteaders Should Watch

Whoever takes office in January will walk into a tough stretch for agriculture. Texas producers have faced years of drought, rising costs, tariffs, and the loss of farmland to development.

For small producers and homesteaders, a few areas are worth following closely. Hemp rules, disaster relief programs, rural development grants, and any changes to how the state supports local food sales could all shift under new leadership.

Data center policy is another one to watch. While the commissioner can’t approve or block projects, the office has a public platform to push the Legislature on water and land use, which matters if you rely on a well or live near a proposed site.

Your Food Security Shouldn’t Depend on Who Wins

Elections change priorities, budgets, and programs. They don’t change the basic math of feeding your family when supply chains break down.

The most resilient households grow some of their own food, preserve it, and know local producers by name. A good stock of heirloom vegetable seeds lets you save seed year after year, and a pressure canner turns a summer garden into a shelf-stable pantry.

Get to know the ranchers, farmers market vendors, and co-ops in your area now. Whatever happens in Austin, those relationships are the food system you can actually count on.

The Bottom Line

If Tucker’s lead holds, Texas agriculture policy is headed for its biggest leadership change in more than a decade. Watch for the official call, then for the new commissioner’s first moves on hemp, rural grants, and disaster aid.

In the meantime, keep building the kind of food independence that no election can take away.

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15 Ways to Fortify Your Home Before All Hell Breaks Loose

Estimated reading time: 13 minutes

Your home is your fortress, and it is your first and most important line of defense against anyone who intends to do you harm.

In the current world, locked doors and perhaps a home security system is more than enough to deter most burglars. However, disaster breeds desperation, and once the SHTF, many people will be willing to work a lot harder to enter a home if they think there is anything worth stealing inside.

Before disaster strikes, it’s important to have a plan in place for how to fortify your home in order to protect against burglars and looters. In this article, we’ll look at 13 things that you can do to fortify your home before all hell breaks loose.

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1. Reinforce Your Doors

Points of entry are obviously the weakest links in a home’s security and therefore must be thoroughly fortified. The unfortunate reality is that a single knob lock is not enough to deter a determined intruder for more than a couple of minutes.

A strike or two to the doorknob with a hammer is all it takes to render this type of lock useless. Knob locks can also easily and quietly be picked using something as simple as a knife.

To ensure that your doors are secure, you will want to equip them with deadbolts, reinforce the hinges with longer screws, reinforce the jamb with longer screws, and reinforce the strike plate with longer screws.

Here is some more information on how to fortify a door.

2. Reinforce Your Windows

Windows may not be designed to be a point of entry, but they are arguably an even weaker link in your home’s security than your doors since windows can easily be broken.

One solution for fortifying the windows in your home is to install metal security bars. If you’re worried about making your home look like a prison, you’ll be happy to know that many window security bars come in decorative designs that won’t ruin the aesthetics of your home.

Another option is to cover your windows with security film. This transparent film prevents windows from shattering when they are struck. Keep in mind that glass doors present the same security issues as windows and must also be reinforced in the same manner if you really want to fortify your home.

3. Install An Alarm System

In many instances, the sound of an alarm going off is enough to scare away would-be intruders. In an SHTF scenario, though, the sound of an alarm by itself is probably not going to be enough of a deterrent.

With that said, alarm systems serve a second, even more critical function: alerting the occupants of the home when someone tries to break in.

Many people mistakenly assume that they will be able to hear an intruder breaking in even if they are sound asleep. While this might be true in some instances such as an intruder trying to kick down your front door, there are many instances where intruders are able to break in without making much noise at all. If you are even somewhat of a sound sleeper, the problem is even more exaggerated.

With an alarm system installed, you can ensure that any break-in attempt will be met with piercing noise that alerts everyone in the house. This can provide you with the precious seconds you need to arm yourself and address the threat.

There are plenty of home security systems, such as SimpliSafe, that have a battery backup and will continue working even during an extended power outage.

4. Block Off Your Chimney

Few people ever consider their chimney as they plan to fortify their home. However, if an intruder is desperate enough, entering a home via the chimney isn’t out of the question. It’s no doubt a risky and somewhat tricky maneuver, but shimmying down a chimney is possible if the chimney is large enough and the intruder is small enough. To prevent this from happening, you may want to consider blocking off your chimney.

There are several different products on the market designed to close off the top of a chimney, many of which are able to secure the chimney while still allowing smoke to escape.

5. Secure Your Garage Door

In most cases, intruders won’t be able to access your home through your garage since they have to get through both the garage door and the door into the house.

With that said, it is still essential to secure your garage if you plan on storing any supplies or valuable items in it. Even if you leave your garage empty, securing your garage door still provides an extra layer of defense for your home.

There a number of products you can purchase to fortify your garage door and make it impossible to force open from the outside. These products include things such as lock kits, door stops, and fortification bars that you can attach to your garage door.

Here's how to secure your garage door.

6. Plant Deterring Plants Underneath Your Windows

Windows may be the weakest point in a home from a security standpoint, but they do take some effort to enter. Suffice it to say that it isn’t all that easy to break a window, hoist yourself up onto the ledge, and climb inside when there is a cactus or a thorny rose bush planted beneath the window.

This method of fortifying your windows certainly isn’t fool-proof and should be combined with window security measures such as bars or security film. However, planting things such as cacti or other thorny plants underneath your windows can make life that much more difficult for an intruder who plans to enter your home through a window.

Check out this list of plants for home security.

7. Put a Fence Around Your Property

Putting a fence around your property provides you with an outer layer of defense that an intruder must conquer before he is ever able to reach your home. Most privacy fences are relatively easy to scale, though, so you will need to be selective about the type of fence that you choose.

There are several different qualities that a good security fence should exhibit. First and most importantly, a good security fence needs to be difficult to climb. This means you will want to choose a fence that is at least eight feet tall, has few if any horizontal rails, and is spiked or pointed at the top.

A good security fence also needs to be difficult to bypass. This means securing your fence to the ground with concrete and equipping it with a padlocked gate. Lastly, you will want to choose a fence that you are able to see through in order to prevent intruders from being able to hide behind it.

There are a number of metal security fences that fit all of these qualifications while still being decorative enough to not stand out in an urban neighborhood.

8. Fortify Your Walls

Very few break-ins involve busting through the wall of a home. However, if someone decides to open fire on your home, drywall and wooden studs are not going to do much to stop bullets from shredding through your walls.

The bad news is that the only way to really fortify your walls is to have walls that are made of stone or brick on the outside. If you live in a stone or brick house already, you don’t have to worry too much about your walls being a weak point. If you don’t have stone or brick walls, though, you’ll need to have a plan in place in the event that someone decides to open fire on your house.

Here is how to make your home bulletproof.

9. Install Outdoor Security Lighting

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to deter intruders is to make them feel like they’re being watched, and nothing does that better than a bright spotlight. Criminals prefer to work in the shadows where they won’t be seen. Motion-activated outdoor lights eliminate those shadows and force would-be intruders to think twice before approaching your home.

Place motion-sensor lights near all possible points of entry, especially back doors, side windows, and garage areas. Solar-powered options are great for off-grid readiness, and you can even find models with battery backups in case the power goes out.

Lighting by itself won’t stop an intruder, but it will make them a lot more nervous, and sometimes that’s enough to send them looking for an easier target.

10. Use Security Cameras

In a full collapse scenario, you may not be able to count on law enforcement to respond to security camera footage, but that doesn’t mean the cameras are useless.

Visible security cameras (even cheap or fake ones) serve as a powerful psychological deterrent. Intruders are far more likely to avoid a home that looks like it's being monitored. Better yet, real security cameras can provide early warning if they are paired with a motion sensor and app notification system.

If you can’t afford a full camera setup, grab a few realistic dummy cameras and place them near common entry points. They won’t catch anyone on film, and some burglars might recognize that they're fake, but many won't, and that will be enough to stop them from trying to break in.

11. Remove Potential Climbing Aids

Your home may be well-secured at ground level, but have you ever looked around your yard for things that could help someone climb?

Items like stacked firewood, trash bins, trellises, sheds, and even decorative latticework can all act as ladders for a determined intruder. A tall fence won’t help much if there’s a step stool sitting right next to it.

Walk the perimeter of your home and identify anything an intruder could use to reach higher windows, balconies, or the roof. Either remove those items or secure them in a way that makes them unusable. This is especially important for homes with second-story windows that are otherwise hard to reach.

12. Secure Your Attic Access

Most people don’t think about the attic as a vulnerability, but in certain homes, especially two-story ones, it absolutely can be. Some homes have attic access points in the garage, outside the main living area, or even with cheap panel doors that can easily be kicked in from inside the house.

If someone does manage to get into your attic from the outside (say, via a neighboring structure or a tree), they could potentially drop down into your home unnoticed.

To prevent this, secure any attic entry points with locks or reinforced panels. If your attic access is in the garage, consider installing a lockable cover or even moving the access indoors if possible. It’s not a common attack route, but all it takes is one determined intruder to exploit it.

13. Keep a Low Profile

All the reinforced doors and security bars in the world won’t do you much good if you’re advertising that your home is worth breaking into. In an SHTF scenario, desperate people will be looking for the homes that seem to have the most to offer, and you don’t want yours to be one of them.

This starts long before disaster strikes. Break down the boxes from big purchases like TVs, generators, and bulk food orders before putting them out with the trash. Don’t post photos of your stockpile or your gear on social media, and be careful about how much you share with friends and coworkers.

Once the power goes out, keeping a low profile becomes even more important. If your house is the only one on the block with lights on, a humming generator, and the smell of cooking food drifting out the windows, you’re going to draw attention. Hang blackout curtains, run any generators sparingly, and try to make your home look just as dark and hungry as everyone else’s.

The goal is to make would-be looters walk right past your house without giving it a second thought.

14. Get to Know Your Neighbors

One family can only keep watch for so many hours a day. Eventually, you have to sleep, and that’s when your home is most vulnerable. This is why one of the best ways to fortify your home is to make sure you’re not defending it alone.

Take the time to get to know the people who live around you now, while things are still normal. You’ll quickly figure out who is trustworthy, who has useful skills, and who might be willing to work together if things go south. You don’t have to tell them about your preps. Simply being on good terms is enough to build a foundation.

When disaster strikes, a group of neighbors can take turns keeping watch, share information about suspicious activity, and even block off access to the street if things get bad enough. Looters are far less likely to target a neighborhood where people are clearly watching out for one another.

A fortified home is good, but a fortified neighborhood is even better.

15. Keep Firearms Accessible

In many cases, the best defense is a good offense. While all of the tips discussed in the previous sections will make it very difficult for an intruder to enter your home, there is no way to make an ordinary house impossible to break into unless you have an enormous amount of money to spend and don’t mind your home looking like a prison.

Fortifying your home may be enough to convince most intruders to try for an easier target, but it isn’t going to stop someone who is hell-bent on entering your home. Given the right tools and enough time, a determined intruder will eventually be able to break into your home no matter how well fortified it might be.

When and if this happens, you will either have to hide away or meet the threat head-on. In both cases, it is essential that you are armed. Hiding away in a locked bathroom in the hopes that the intruder will simply steal all of your stuff and leave is both a risky gamble and a good way to lose everything you own.

Even if you do decide to hide once an intruder enters your home, you’ll still want to have a firearm on you in case they enter your hiding place. Of course, trying to confront an intruder without a firearm is an even more deadly risk.

Once you have fortified your home, make sure that you keep at least one firearm that is loaded and easily accessible. It may be your last line of defense, but a firearm is also the only defense capable of stopping an intruder who is willing to do whatever it takes to get inside your home.

Here's our list of the best guns for home defense.

Conclusion

As I said, if a criminal is determined enough, he will find a way into your home. However, there are other things you can do to make it more difficult for him. For example, you could get a dog (or dogs), a decoy safe so your most valuable things don't get stolen, or you could build a safe room so you can at least keep your family from harm.

Here are some more home security tips for life after SHTF.

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The post 15 Ways to Fortify Your Home Before All Hell Breaks Loose appeared first on Urban Survival Site.

from Urban Survival Site

The Importance of Ammunition Reliability for Preppers

A prepper’s equipment rarely attracts much attention when it works exactly as expected. Ammunition poses a particular challenge, though: its condition and performance aren’t always fully visible during an ordinary equipment check. A cartridge can look perfectly normal while leaving unanswered questions about how it will function after months or years in storage.

That makes ammunition reliability an important consideration when building and maintaining an emergency supply. Price, bullet design, caliber, and range performance each provide part of the picture, but none tells the whole story.

For preppers, the larger question is simple: Can you depend on the ammunition you have stored when replacing it may no longer be easy?

What Reliability Means in an Emergency

Reliability should be one of the first considerations when selecting ammunition for emergency preparedness. It means considering firearm function and ammunition performance separately, then storing and periodically inspecting your supply so that problems are more likely to be discovered before an emergency.

Neither a recognizable brand name nor a standout range test substitutes for that process.

A failure to fire or feed can turn otherwise functional equipment into a problem at exactly the wrong time. In an emergency, there may also be no convenient opportunity to purchase another box of ammunition or replace questionable cartridges.

The relevant reliability standard is therefore repeatable function rather than an impressive result from a small number of rounds.

Compatibility matters as well. Different firearms can behave differently with the same ammunition, particularly when bullet shapes, cartridge dimensions, magazines, and firearm designs vary.

Preppers should also think beyond what happens at the range. Ammunition kept for emergencies may remain stored considerably longer than ammunition purchased for routine shooting. Heat, moisture, repeated handling, and poor storage conditions can all become concerns over time.

A sensible preparedness plan therefore includes proper storage, periodic inspection, and stock rotation rather than simply buying ammunition and forgetting about it.

Choosing Ammunition for a Preparedness Stockpile

A preparedness stockpile needs a standard beyond price or brand preference. Ammunition should be appropriate for the firearms you own and sufficiently dependable that you aren’t discovering compatibility problems after an emergency has already begun.

This is particularly important when consolidating a preparedness collection around a small number of commonly available calibers. Standardization can simplify storage, inventory, and replacement while reducing the number of different cartridges that need to be kept on hand.

Reliability also involves the firearm itself. Ammunition, magazines, and firearm maintenance all contribute to dependable operation, so a malfunction shouldn’t automatically be blamed on the cartridge.

Why Simple Firearms Have Long Appealed to Preppers

Revolvers have long appealed to some preparedness-minded gun owners partly because their operation avoids the magazine-fed cycling sequence of a semi-automatic pistol. Their advantage isn’t that ammunition failures become impossible. Rather, the firearm presents a different set of reliability considerations.

Historically, that simplicity helped make revolvers attractive wherever straightforward operation and long-term dependability were priorities.

Semi-automatic pistols provide different advantages, including greater magazine capacity and faster reloading. They also make compatibility among ammunition, magazines, and the firearm an important consideration.

For preppers, there isn’t necessarily one universally correct choice. The more useful question is whether the firearm and ammunition combination you intend to depend on has demonstrated consistent operation before it becomes part of your emergency supplies.

Defensive Ammunition and Performance

Modern defensive ammunition commonly includes jacketed hollow-point loads, particularly in popular handgun calibers such as 9mm. Evaluating this ammunition involves two separate questions: whether the cartridges function reliably in a particular firearm and whether the projectile provides the intended performance.

Testing standards such as the FBI protocol can provide useful information about projectile performance under controlled conditions, including tests involving clothing and other intermediate barriers.

However, favorable projectile testing doesn’t establish that a particular load will function equally well in every firearm.

Established defensive loads such as Speer Gold Dot, Federal HST Ammo, and Winchester Ranger T-Series have been designed with performance through varying conditions in mind. For preparedness purposes, though, published performance data should complement rather than replace firsthand knowledge of how ammunition behaves with the firearm in which it will be used.

What Happens When Stored Ammunition Deteriorates

Ammunition is often stored for long periods, which makes storage conditions an important part of preparedness.

Modern ammunition can remain usable for many years when properly stored, but that doesn’t mean every cartridge in a stockpile should automatically be assumed reliable forever. Moisture, corrosion, physical damage, extreme temperatures, and repeated handling can introduce uncertainty.

A preparedness stockpile should therefore be treated as usable inventory rather than a collection that is sealed away and ignored indefinitely.

Older ammunition can be periodically inspected and rotated into appropriate range use while newer ammunition replaces it in the reserve. This approach helps maintain familiarity with the ammunition while preventing a stockpile from consisting entirely of cartridges that haven’t been examined in years.

Storage Is Part of Ammunition Reliability

Where and how ammunition is stored matters almost as much as what is purchased.

A cool, dry, and relatively stable environment is preferable to locations exposed to significant moisture or temperature swings. Ammunition containers should also protect cartridges from unnecessary exposure and physical damage.

Organization matters too.

Clearly identifying caliber and other relevant ammunition information can prevent confusion when multiple firearms or cartridge types are stored together. Keeping track of purchases and rotating older stock first can make a large ammunition reserve easier to manage.

The objective isn’t to create an unnecessarily complicated inventory system. It is to know what you have, where it is, and whether its condition has changed.

Reliability Matters More When Resupply Isn’t Guaranteed

Under ordinary circumstances, questionable ammunition can be replaced. During an extended emergency, natural disaster, supply disruption, or other crisis, that assumption may no longer hold.

That changes the value of reliability.

A box of ammunition that doesn’t work properly isn’t merely an inconvenience when the nearest replacement may be unavailable. The same principle applies to magazines, firearm maintenance supplies, and other equipment that becomes harder to replace once normal supply chains are interrupted.

Preparedness is partly about identifying those dependencies before they become problems.

That doesn’t necessarily mean accumulating the largest possible quantity of ammunition. A smaller, well-maintained supply that has been stored properly and is known to work with the firearms on hand may be more useful than a much larger collection of unknown condition and compatibility.

Dependable Ammunition Is Part of Being Prepared

Ammunition reliability isn’t a promise that every emergency will unfold predictably. It is one part of reducing avoidable uncertainty.

For preppers, that means thinking beyond caliber and quantity. Ammunition should be compatible with the firearms it is intended for, stored under suitable conditions, periodically inspected, and managed as part of the broader preparedness inventory.

When normal access to stores, replacement equipment, and supply chains can’t be taken for granted, knowing that your existing supplies have been properly maintained becomes considerably more important.

The best time to discover a problem with stored ammunition is long before you actually need to depend on it.

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The post The Importance of Ammunition Reliability for Preppers appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

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