Friendship Soup Mix In A Jar

Don’t we all have a friend we want to send a little “thank you” to? Back then, it was common for women to share recipes and food gifts. Let’s bring that back! This Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar is an excellent gift for someone you love or are concerned about. It’s also an easy way for your family to enjoy soup.

Let’s make this soup mix in a jar, and you’ll see how easy it is! My friend Janet (a reader) held my hand and sent me detailed text messages explaining how to use lentils. I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

I’m updating my soup mixes in jars. There are so many food shortages that we must be prepared now more than ever.

Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar is the Perfect Gift!

My friendship soup mix in a jar is a healthy, wholesome meal everyone will enjoy, and it’s easy to prepare. Add some bread, biscuits, or crackers, and dinner is ready. I have some tags for you to print if you wish to give them as gifts; they tell you how to prepare the soup. One of the things I like about this soup-in-a-jar approach is the beautiful presentation. All the colors make it truly look like a fancy, cherished gift, which it is.

The recipe is also printable below. You can make these in pint or quart wide-mouth jars. This recipe is for the 32-ounce wide-mouth quart mason jars, but you could cut it in half for the wide-mouth pint mason jars.

Ingredients for Making The Gift Jar:

• Dried green split peas: The mature green peas are peeled, split, and dried. The split pea doesn’t need to be soaked before cooking.
• Dried lentils: A legume, the seed of the lentil plant. Lentils are never eaten fresh; they are only dried products.
• Pearl barley: Used to bulk up soups. A very healthy grain! It has twice the amount of fiber and calcium as brown rice.
• Beef bouillon granules or beef bouillon cubes: A highly concentrated cube or granule made of beef stock, spices, herbs, and vegetables.
• Dried/Minced Onion: When dried, onions take on a richer flavor than regular onions. This makes them perfect for soups, as they add a kick of sweet onion flavor!
• Uncooked white rice: Jasmine, basmati, and long-grain rice are the most popular. They have a mild flavor and are light and fluffy when cooked.
• Uncooked small pasta (I used Ditalini): There are various small pastas, such as ditalini, uncooked alphabet pasta, or macaroni.
• Italian Seasoning is a spice blend of ground herbs such as basil, rosemary, oregano, garlic powder, sage, thyme, or coriander.
• Bay Leaf: A very aromatic leaf that gives off a subtle minty flavor when infused with a liquid.
• Salt and Pepper to taste: They help to enhance the flavors of the other ingredients in the soup.
• Water or beef broth: Used to cook dry ingredients and seasonings.
• Additional ingredients to add after the soup has cooked: one pound of cooked ground beef (drain excess fat from cooking), one 14-15-ounce can of diced tomatoes, undrained, and one 15-ounce can of tomato sauce.

Filling the Jars:

Grab a wide-mouth quart (32-ounce) mason jar to layer the dry ingredients above. First, put the pasta in a baggie as stated. Place the seasonings in a small bag so you can place them under the lid after filling the jars with the other ingredients. Start with the minced onions, the green split peas, dried barley, lentils, and rice, and end with pasta on top of the bag. Trust me, you will need a Funnel to fill the jars with the dry ingredients.

The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta bag. These are so fun to make, my friends! They would make great gifts to take to someone who is sick, having surgery, or just having a bad day—the list is endless. I used seasoning bags. I bought the 3.5” x 5.5” size bags. You may want some Twine for the printable gift tag(s) or create a printable label.

What the Soup Looks Like When Made!

Step One: Pour the Dry Ingredients and Seasonings into a Soup Pot

After opening the jar, remove the bag of pasta and set it aside. Grab a soup or other large pot, pour the dried soup ingredients into the pot, and add the seasonings.

Step Two: Add Water and Bring to a Boil

Add 3 quarts of water and bring it to a boil. Cover and let the soup simmer for 50-60 minutes.

Step Three: Remove Bay Leaves and Add Pasta.

Remove the bay leaves, add the pasta, and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the pasta and grains are tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

How to Make Friendship Soup Mix In A Jar

CLICK HERE TO PRINT

Friendship Soup Mix in a Jar Recipe

Print

Friendship Soup Mix In A Jar

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Servings 8 people

Author Linda Loosli

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried green split peas
• 1 cup dried lentils
• 1/2 cup pearl barley
• 1/3 cup beef bouillon granules or 1-2 beef bouillon cubes
• 1/4 cup dried minced onions
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup uncooked white rice
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 1/2 cup uncooked small pasta. I used Ditalini (place in a small plastic bag so it's easy to remove from the jar).
• 3 quarts of water (when ready to make soup)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

• Grab a quart (32-ounce) mason jar to layer the ingredients above. First of all, put the pasta in a small plastic bag as stated. Place the seasonings in a small bag so you can place them under the lid after filling the jars with the other ingredients. Start with the minced onions, the green split peas, dried barley, lentils, rice, ending with pasta on top in the bag. The seasoning bag will go on top of the pasta bag.

Cooking Friendship Soup Instructions

• After opening the jar, remove the bag of pasta and set it aside. Grab a soup pot and pour the dried soup ingredients into the pot, add the seasonings. Add 3 quarts water and bring it to a boil. Cover and let the soup simmer for 50-60 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and add the pasta and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the pasta and grains are tender. Salt and pepper to taste.

Optional Add-Ons

• You may want to add the pre-cooked meat and tomato products when you add the pasta. One pound cooked ground beef, one 14-15-ounce can of diced tomatoes, and one 15-ounce can of tomato sauce.

What can I serve with this soup?

• Homemade Biscuit Recipe
• 2-Ingredient Biscuit Recipe
• Easy Dinner Rolls Recipe
• Homemade Cracker Recipe

What kind of jar can I mix friendship soup in?

I prefer wide-mouth mason jars. Be sure to check out garage sales and thrift stores for these jars. So many people have stocked up on canning supplies but may never use them. Hopefully, they will sell them or give them to a neighbor.

The suppliers know they need them, so watch for jars in the spring. One thing that helps while filling the jars is a funnel. This one fits on regular and wide-mouth jars. Canning Funnel

Do I need to use a FoodSaver to seal the jars for the friendship soup recipe?

The FoodSaver removes the air from the food, which is critical to keep it safe for one year. I put the seasonings in bags inside the jars so the powder from the seasoning doesn’t ruin my FoodSaver hose.

Dicorain™ is Now Available

In case you missed this post, here it is. It’s a time saver and relatively inexpensive. Rays told us about them. Dicorain™ A New Way To Vacuum-Seal Some Foods. Dicorain™.

Do I need to use oxygen absorbers in my jars?

You can if you want to; I don’t. Based on my Master Canning and Preserving classes, the food is good for one year. I don’t have the equipment to extend the shelf life, so one year works for me.

Can I store my Soup Mix in a Jar or Mixes in Bags?

Yes, you can, but some pasta or dehydrated vegetables may pierce the bags. I never use bags because I worry about mice or critters contaminating my food. I only use jars.

Is there a gluten-free noodle option that would work?

Yes, a reader mentioned she uses Sam Mills Gluten Free Corn Pasta Lasagna Corte (currently unavailable). Yay, here’s another option for our GF friends! Gluten-Free Pasta

What is the shelf life of my Soup Mix in a Jar Recipes?

As you know, Mark and I took classes to become Certified Master Canners and Preservers even though we had been canning, dehydrating, and pressure canning foods for over 56 years together. I lived in Logan, Utah, and purchased a Ball Canning book in 1970. I then drove to the Utah State Extension Service to have my equipment tested (pressure canning gauge and seal). I had a Presto pressure canner back then and eventually bought the All-American pressure canner.

Shelf Life of One Year

I feel strongly about mentioning this because I learned that the food we can keep at home generally has a shelf life of one year. If we dehydrate food at home, the shelf life is one year. Let me be real: I ate my canned peaches when they were 3-4.

I get it—I’m sure you do, too! I’m just telling you what I learned. If you think about it, if we grow a garden or go to a Farmer’s Market to get fresh fruits and vegetables, one year should be fine for a normal shelf life.

We Can Do This, My Friends!

Grow food and preserve it by canning or dehydrating it. Each year, we start all over again. We can do this, my friends. I want to make soup mix in a jar because I saw what happened after disasters in many states. These jars would make great gifts and easy dinners at the last minute. They are perfect during a disaster, as they can be filled with boiling water to feed the family.

You must have a way to boil water, cook a meal, or make a soup after a disaster. Please get a Butane Stove and Extra Canisters. The perfect pan for a butane stove is a 4-quart Saucepan.  You don’t want the pan hanging over the burner on your Butane Stove. It’s all about safety.

My Soup Mix in a Jar Series

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

Final Word

The next time you want to cook in the kitchen but aren’t sure WHAT TO MAKE, these Friendship Soup Mix in Jar options are fantastic for gifting, especially during the holiday seasons, and keeping around your own home for a quick meal solution. Canning is an important skill, and these soup mix jars are a great alternative to traditional canning. Plus, you will have TONS of delicious soup to eat later. Happy soup-making, my friends! May God bless this world, Linda.

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from Food Storage Moms

How to Clean Strawberries Quickly and Easily

If you didn’t know better, you might think that those perfectly plump, ripe, and appealing strawberries you brought home from the grocery store are clean and ready to eat. Spoiler warning: they most certainly are not. Commercial strawberries are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to retaining pesticide chemicals and other nasty things, ... Read more

How to Clean Strawberries Quickly and Easily can be read in full at New Life On A Homestead- Be sure to check it out!

from New Life On A Homestead

10 Easy Camping Snack Ideas

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

One of the best parts of camping is the food—there’s just something about cooking over a fire that makes everything taste better. The crackling fire, the scent of smoke, and the joy of eating outdoors can't be beat.

If your idea of camping snacks is just roasted marshmallows and smores, you should know there are lots of other snacks that are easy to make over a fire. In this video by the Outdoor Boys YouTube channel, they share 10 of their favorite campfire snacks.

I'll give you a summary of each snack and how it's made, but I highly recommend checking out the video below to see how it's done.

1. Roasted Strawberries with Marshmallow Fluff

Take a fresh strawberry, slice off the top, and skewer it like a marshmallow. Smear on some marshmallow fluff and roast it until golden and crispy. It’s like a mini strawberry pie on a stick—sweet, fruity, and slightly smoky.

2. Roasted Starbursts

It sounds weird, but it actually works. Slide a few Starbursts onto a stick and roast them gently until they puff up and bubble at the edges. Let them cool slightly, then enjoy the warm, gooey candy. Like hot taffy with a sugary crust.

3. Cinnamon Rolls on a Stick

Grab a can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls, unroll one, and twist it around a stick. Roast over medium heat for 10–15 minutes, rotating often. Spread on some icing and enjoy a fresh, hot cinnamon roll in the woods.

4. Baked Apples

Core an apple and fill it with brown sugar, butter, and raisins. Wrap it in foil and place it in hot coals for 10 minutes. The result? A warm, gooey, cinnamon-scented treat that’s perfect with a sprinkle of granola or a spoonful of instant oatmeal.

5. Maple Kettle Corn

Heat oil in a cast-iron pot over coals. Add a few popcorn kernels to test the heat, then pour in the rest. Just before popping starts, add maple syrup and sugar. Shake, cover, and let it pop. Sticky, sweet, and totally addictive.

6. Nutella (or Cookie Butter) Smores

Swap out chocolate bars for Nutella or cookie butter, and suddenly smores are a whole new ballgame. It melts faster, spreads easier, and gives you way more flavor options.

7. Campfire Churros (aka Cinnamon Sugar Bites)

Cut up canned dinner rolls and roast the pieces on sticks. Dip them in melted butter, then toss in a bag of cinnamon sugar. These little bites are like cinnamon roll holes or homemade donut bits. Super easy and a huge hit with kids.

8. Campfire Donuts

Punch holes in canned biscuit dough, stretch them a bit, and deep fry in a pot of oil over hot coals. Once golden, toss them in powdered sugar. Crispy outside, soft inside—just like fairground donuts but better.

9. Campfire Banana Split

Cut a banana lengthwise (but keep the peel), fill it with marshmallows, chocolate chips, and candy. Wrap in foil and roast for about 10 minutes. It melts into a gooey mess of banana pudding, fudge, and bliss. Top with pudding and sprinkles for extra flair.

10. Candied Baked Yams

Split a yam in half, slather it with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and marshmallows. Wrap in foil and bake over coals for 15 minutes. It’s sweet, creamy, and surprisingly nutritious. Almost a dessert… almost a side dish… very tasty.

Final Thoughts

Each one of these snacks is campfire-friendly, kid-approved, and easy to make. Most don’t require any fancy gear—just foil, a stick, and your appetite.

You May Also Like:

• 150 Camping Recipes with 5 Ingredients or Less
• Grandma's Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
• How to Cook a Meal Over a Campfire
• 17 Reasons to Stockpile Cinnamon
• 17 Sore Throat Remedies in Your Kitchen

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20 Reasons to Keep Honey in the Pantry

Honey has long been used as both a natural sweetener and a medicinal remedy. This golden liquid not only adds flavor to our food but also provides numerous health benefits. If you’re looking for a fantastic ingredient to keep in your pantry, look no further than honey. Today, I want to discuss 20 reasons to keep honey in your pantry. Please stock up on honey; raw and unfiltered is the best.

I started stocking creamed honey from Cox’s Honey, which is made in Shelley, Idaho. I can freeze it, and it is 100% honey, with no additives, raw, and unfiltered. I remember calling my Cox’s Honey rep and asking if it’s organic. The answer is no. They have no control over where the bees fly, so that is the answer.

1. Natural Sweetener

As a healthier alternative to refined sugar, honey can be used in various recipes. From sweetening your tea or coffee to baking delicious desserts, honey adds a unique and mellow sweetness. Emergency Prepping with Honey Bees

2. Immune Boosting Properties

Honey contains antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds that can help strengthen your immune system. Consuming honey regularly may help reduce the risk of infections. How to Boost Your Immune System

Honey may benefit heart health if you’re concerned about sweeteners and heart disease.

3. Cough Suppressant

A spoonful of honey can relieve you if you have a nagging cough. It’s soothing and can help alleviate throat irritation and reduce coughing. Allergies: What You Need to Know

4. Energy Booster

The natural sugars in honey, such as fructose and glucose, provide a quick energy boost. Whether you need a pick-me-up during exercise or an afternoon slump, a tablespoon of honey can give you the energy you need! You better believe I’m doing this as often as I need to.

5. Wound Healing

Honey has been used for centuries to treat wounds and burns. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help wound healing by keeping the area clean. Applying honey topically can help speed up the healing process. Of course, always talk to your doctor first. 35 OTC Medications You Should Store

6. Allergy Relief

Local raw honey contains trace amounts of pollen from the area it was produced. Some research suggests that consuming local honey may help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms by desensitizing the body to allergens. Allergies: What You Need to Know

7. Digestive Aid

Honey has mild laxative properties and can help relieve constipation. It also acts as a prebiotic, which means it can help with your gut health.

8. Natural Skincare

Honey is not only great for consumption but also topical application. It has moisturizing properties and can make it an excellent ingredient for homemade skincare products. I like to make my skincare products, like face masks and scrubs, using honey.

9. Great For Your Diet

Honey helps protect our bodies because it’s a natural ingredient found in nature and is just great for our diets overall.

10. Weight Management

Contrary to popular belief, honey can be a helpful tool in managing weight. Its natural sweetness can satisfy sugar cravings. I have also known honey to help control appetite because a little goes a long way!

11. Soothing Sunburns

The anti-inflammatory properties of honey make it an effective remedy for sunburns. Applying honey topically can help reduce redness and inflammation and promote healing. How to Reduce Sunburn Naturally

12. Natural Preservative

Honey’s low water content and high acidity create an inhospitable environment for bacteria. Adding honey to homemade jams, sauces, or dressings can extend their shelf life. This is one of my favorite reasons for keeping honey in the pantry: it’s a natural preservative.

13. Nutrient-rich

Honey is very nutrient-rich and includes many vitamins and minerals. These include vitamin C, B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, calcium, and copper. It also has iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, and phosphorus, adding a nutrient boost to your recipes.

Honey is a natural sugar made mostly of fructose and glucose, providing a high level of carbohydrates. It also contains amino acids and enzymes. Honey may not be a good natural sweetener for you if you have diabetes; check with your healthcare professional. In any situation, you should consume honey in moderation, just like most foods.

14. Natural Cough Syrup

Combining honey with lemon juice or herbal teas creates a natural and soothing cough syrup. This homemade remedy can relieve coughs and sore throats without the artificial additives in regular cough syrups. 10 Healthy Foods Under $1

15. Promotes Better Sleep

Consuming honey before bedtime may improve sleep quality. The natural sugars in honey stimulate the release of serotonin, which converts to melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep. How to Sleep Safely During a Crisis or Emergency

16. Sore Throat Relief

The soothing and antibacterial properties of honey make it an effective remedy for sore throats. Mixing honey with warm water or herbal tea can provide instant relief and help reduce inflammation. Canker Sores: Causes and How to Treat Them

17. Natural Energy Gel

For athletes or those engaging in prolonged physical activity, honey can serve as a natural energy gel. Its quick absorption and easily digestible sugars make it a fuel source during exercise. Fitness for Survival

18. DIY Hair Conditioner

Honey’s moisturizing properties make it an excellent ingredient for homemade hair conditioners. Mixing honey with other natural ingredients like olive oil or coconut milk can nourish your hair, leaving it soft and shiny.

19. Delicious Addition to Recipes

Honey’s unique flavor profile adds a lot to dishes. From drizzling it on pancakes or yogurt to using it as a glaze for roasted meats, honey enhances the taste of many recipes. Popeye Pancakes Recipe With A Secret Trick

20. Long Shelf Life

Unlike many other food products, the shelf life of honey is exceptionally long. That’s why many preppers consider honey an excellent item for long-term storage. Due to its low moisture content, honey can last indefinitely when stored correctly in a sealed container. This means you can always have a jar of honey in your pantry, ready to be used whenever needed. Foods That Have a Long Shelf Life

More Tips

• Honey Bees: Everything You Should Know
• How To Stock A Pantry

Please store your honey in glass mason jars if possible. I remember a cute neighbor in Southern Utah who told me he had just purchased several 5-gallon honey buckets. Here’s the deal with 5-gallon buckets: eventually, the honey will crystallize, and that’s okay. The term crystallized honey means it will become as hard as a rock. Over time, crystallization is a natural occurrence, even at room temperature.

Yes, it will happen in quart mason jars, which are better because you can soften the honey to its liquid state in direct sunlight or in a pan of warm water on your stove. I have had plastic honey containers crack and leak, so from that day forward, I place all my honey in quart mason jars.

What is pasteurized honey?

This is honey that has been heated to prevent crystallization, fermentation, and granulation. Heating keeps the honey in a liquid state longer and helps maintain a smoother and clearer texture. It doesn’t kill any bacteria since most bacteria can’t survive in honey. The process kills yeast spores that prompt honey to ferment.

Honey consumed by children 12 months old and younger can be a problem. There is a rare bacterium called Clostridium botulinum whose spores can cause botulism, particularly in young children. Boiling foods for 10 minutes or longer has been shown to kill these spores. The risk to young children is high enough that the CDC directs us to wait until children’s immune systems are stronger, so wait until after they are at least one year old.

Final Word

Keeping honey in your pantry is a wise choice. Not only does it serve as a natural sweetener and flavor enhancer, but it also provides many health benefits. I mentioned at least 20 reasons to keep honey in your pantry, but I’d love to know why you keep it in yours! May God Bless this World, Linda

Copyright Images: Honey Being Poured AdobeStock_226346903 By Ivan, Honey In Glass Jars AdobeStock_217168361 By Ivan

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from Food Storage Moms

What Animals Are Worth Growing For Meat Production

When disaster strikes, grocery stores won’t stay stocked forever. If you’re serious about long-term survival, you need a steady supply of protein. And that means raising your own meat. But […]

The post What Animals Are Worth Growing For Meat Production appeared first on Survivopedia.

from Survivopedia

Why You Should Bury A Barrel In Your Backyard

The backyard of the average suburban home is an open space that is sitting there begging to be used for prepping. One such way you can utilize your backyards for prepping and survival is to bury barrels in them. But why would anyone want to bury a barrel in their backyard? There are several reasons […]

The post Why You Should Bury A Barrel In Your Backyard appeared first on Ask a Prepper.

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Tips On Storing Food Storage Safely

Today, I want to share my tips on storing food safely. I’m very concerned with what I see on Facebook and many blogs concerning food safety. Here’s the deal: We can’t afford to waste our precious dollars on the goods we buy to feed our family if we can’t store them properly.

You may have a different opinion, and I respect that. I have been canning food for over 50 years, and even so, Mark and I went several years ago to get our Master Canning Preserver Certificates.

Things change, and canning has had to change because food grown now is less acidic. Therefore, we have to adjust our canning habits. If you missed this post, please read it: Four Things That Are Not Safe To Can At Home.

My tips are easy to follow and will save you money in the long run. You have probably heard me say, “Buy right the first time.” To help you understand and deal with the necessary changes, I will walk you through my journey of storing food, and I’ve been doing it for 56 years.

I have been married for 56 years and have always had food storage. Some years were leaner than others, but I have always had food.

My mother taught me to make bread and to cook from scratch. Those are two valuable skills, and I appreciate the sewing skill that she taught me. If you have taught your family these skills and more, I applaud you. I do because you have taught them to be self-reliant.

Today I’m only talking about food, not water. You know my thoughts on storing water, please store at least 4 gallons per person daily. You may think that is way too much. It’s not, trust me on that one.

Tips On Storing Food Storage Safely

Shelving

When Mark and I were first married, we built some shelves ourselves. We were newbies, but we knew we needed to store food. We bought brackets, metal strips, and shelving.

Then, in our next home, we built shelves attached to the two-by-four studs in the basement. Those were perfect because I could see all the jars lined up that we had bottled. They were super strong and held up very well.

Fast-forward to now, and we have downsized to a much smaller home in Southern Utah. This house was perfect for the two of us and our two puppies. We even had room for guests. Thankfully, our family didn’t mind sleeping with buckets of wheat in the guest bedroom.

To stock our #10 cans, we purchased shelving from Costco online. The shelves in the store are not as sturdy. These are the ones I bought (then I added plastic sheets on the shelves) at Costco: Trinity 6-Tier Wire Shelving with Wheels.

We had wheels so we could move them easily if necessary. Those are 4-foot Bungee cords from Home Depot holding my cans in case of an earthquake.

Updated: Our Home in Northern Utah

As you know, we have moved up north to be closer to family and friends. We now have a home that is 1000 square feet. This was trickier to store our food storage and emergency preps. I have had to let go of some things because of my oxygen issues.

We had custom shelves built to accommodate most of our food storage. They were supposed to be 2 feet deep, but the builder didn’t hear that somewhere along the line, so it is what it is.

Buckets/Gamma Lids

This is how I store my Lehi Mills hard white wheat. I only buy wheat from them because they clean it at least six times, whereas most companies only clean their wheat two times.

My wheat grinders are pricey, so I can’t risk running cheap wheat through them. These Lehi Mills buckets are 6-gallon in size.

I store all my white bread flour and wheat with Red Gamma Lids. Everything in my house is color-coded.

I admit I may be a perfectionist—yep, I own it. I don’t put oxygen absorbers in my wheat and never use Mylar bags. I also don’t live where it is humid.

The wheat comes in these buckets, and I replace some lids with Red Gamma Lids. I pour the newer wheat into the buckets with the Red Lids, which is how I keep track of the freshest wheat.

Wheat-Hard White Wheat

Containers

I love to buy Rubbermaid 8-quart and 12-quart commercial containers, like the ones below. They are airtight, and the lids are easy to remove and put back on. I use them because we used to live in the desert, and we had critters.

Yes, I have bug spray monthly; I have to. But I only spray the perimeter of my house. Mark and I can sleep at night knowing our food is protected from pests outside.

Canning Jars

These are mason jars made by Ball and Kerr. It’s been an easier year to get canning supplies, including lids, water bath canners, and pressure canners. Please note: Be careful what you read on the internet.

It is not SAFE to oven-can any food. The jars are not designed to have DRY HEAT, they may EXPLODE. In case you missed this post, Four Things That Are Not Safe To Can At Home

FoodSaver

FoodSavers are fantastic for food storage. I don’t use oxygen absorbers when I place food in my mason jars when using the FoodSaver Jar Sealer. I did call FoodSaver, and they said the old-style accessory hose is going away. It only works with the V2000 or V3000 series. The new accessory hose is now green and black, which is why people were having trouble getting the old style hose. The picture below shows what the old style looks like. Now we can use the Dicorain! Thanks to Ray for telling us about it.

Now we can use the Dicorain! Thanks to Ray for telling us about it.

Long-Term Food Storage

My suggestion to all is to start with small cans of food, and when you have extra money, buy some commercially processed Freeze-Dried food in #10 cans with a shelf-life of at least 25 years stored inside your home.

Please buy one #10 can a month. Since the prices have skyrocketed this year, I advise waiting until they are not so high to continue your long-term food storage efforts. Here is a post you should read: Canned Foods I Highly Recommend You Store (these are short-term). Another option is to sign up for their newsletters and watch for discounts.

Dehydrating Food

Having a dehydrator is awesome for dehydrating your food. Mark and I took classes to get our USDA Master Canning and Preserving Certificate. We have both been canning together for 56 years or so.

But I wanted to know if there were changes in the canning world. Yes, indeed, there are changes. Our food has changed. It’s less acidic, so we have to make a few changes to our old canning ways.

We learned in class that the food we water bath, pressure can, or dehydrate ourselves has a shelf-life of one year. Yes, I have eaten some home-canned peaches that are 2-3 years old.

I get it. But it’s best if used within one year. So there you have it.

I have an Excalibur Dehydrator, but I have friends who have a Nesco and love theirs. Please get one that fits your budget. You will never waste food again. You can dehydrate leftover fruits and vegetables for snacks or soups.

Food Storage Types

Freeze-Dried Food:

Let me explain freeze-dried food in a nutshell. The first step is freezing, followed by placing the frozen food in a vacuum chamber under low heat.

The third step starts when the frozen water crystals evaporate directly from ice to vapor, a process called sublimation.

What’s nice about freeze-dried food is that, depending on the manufacturer, it generally lasts longer in your storage stash. Please always look at the cans and see the shelf life listed.

You can eat the food directly out of the can, so meal preparation uses much less fuel. Freeze-dried foods usually have an open shelf life of 1-2 years.

Again, please look at the #10 can or the manufacturing company’s website for details.

Pros: You can eat it right out of the can. It uses less fuel because we can get by on most foods without cooking them. The bonus is that it has a longer shelf life than dehydrated food.

Cons: It’s more expensive.

Dehydrated Food:

Okay, most of us purchase dehydrated food every day. We buy cereal, spices, pasta, beans, baking mixes, etc. Dehydration is the process of removing water from the products.

The water is slowly removed from the food without actually cooking it. This is one of the most affordable, lightweight, and compact ways to purchase food for storage or everyday cooking.

We need to be aware of the term “dehydrated.” It generally takes longer to cook. Most items can’t just be “eaten” right out of the can—they’re too hard. This is fine for soups, stews, etc.

We must remember that dehydrated food does not typically last as long as freeze-dried food. Dehydrated food usually has a 5-8 year shelf life, while freeze-dried food usually has an OPEN shelf life of 6 months to 1 year. Please read the information provided by the companies you purchase from or produce the food.

Pros: It costs a lot less money.

Cons: It uses fuel to cook it and has a much shorter shelf life.

Mylar Bags/Oxygen Absorbers

I must set the record straight about not using Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers. About 12 years ago, I dry-canned food from a local church cannery in Salt Lake City, Utah, in #10 cans. Mark and I purchased the food there and were handed Oxygen absorbers. It was the first and last time I ever did this.

My daughter came, and we were all working together. Our mistake was that the volunteers at the cannery had zero experience using oxygen absorbers.

We dry-canned beans (full of large, inferior-quality rocks), dehydrated onions, carrots, and celery, and were so excited to be getting the food cheaper than, say, a commercial company.

Our problem was that the oxygen absorbers were open, warm, and used, so they would not work.

We were newbies and had no idea what we were doing. One year later, my daughter called and said, “Mom, I think these carrots are rancid.” So I opened my cans, one after another.

Yes, indeed, we wasted $1,200.00 on food we had planned to use for our entire family to have some food storage. All of the food had to be trashed.

At the time, I was teaching classes at Honeyville Grain in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company offered free courses to show people how to cook with food storage, and many outstanding teachers came and shared their expertise.

On one of the days I was teaching, an expert on oxygen absorbers was also teaching. What I learned that day changed my view forever on oxygen absorbers and Mylar bags.

There is a margin of error that can’t be missed when combining ounces of food with the different sizes of oxygen absorber cc’s. You don’t just throw an oxygen absorber into a Mylar bag or #10 can without first calculating the exact number (or more to be safe) of cc’s per ounce for the TYPE of food you put into #10 cans or Mylar bags.

MISTAKES can and will be made. This means different foods use different cc’s. Please be careful, or you may become sick from your processed food.

Storing Food Long Term

• How to Store Butter Long Term
• How to Store Cooking Oil Long-term
• How to Store Salt Long-Term & 9 Rational Reasons You Should
• Popcorn for Food Storage

Final Word

I hope you enjoyed today’s post on how to store food safely. We must stock food to keep our families safe. My gut tells me that there are still families out there that are not doing what they should be for one reason or another.

Do they love standing in line at the city and county buildings to get food after a disaster? Maybe they think the government will deliver food to their homes after a major disaster, I don’t know.

I have heard from local church leaders in my Southern Utah area that less than 10% of people are prepared to take care of their families after a disaster. Some leaders have asked me to come and teach some of the mothers in their congregation how to cook.

It was hard for me to say no because I love helping others. But I was surprised that in a congregation of 350-500, no one was close by to teach others to cook from scratch.

One leader sent me an email and asked, “How do I light the fire under these families in her church so they’ll be better prepared?” Wow, all I can say is, wow.

I feel like shouting from my rooftop, “People, get your act together!” Of course, I know several families in each area will be able to take care of themselves. At least I hope so. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Various Fruits and Vegetables that have been Canned at Home AdobeStock_211841782 By Pamela_D_Mcadams

The post Tips On Storing Food Storage Safely appeared first on Food Storage Moms.

from Food Storage Moms

10 Ways to Hide Your Survival Garden

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

In a long-term disaster, your food storage will only last so long. Eventually you're going to run out. But even if you don't, you'll be eating food that isn't very nutritious. That's why it's a good idea to have a survival garden. It will give you more food to eat, and it will make a great nutritional supplement to your food storage.

The problem is, if things are so bad that you're relying on a survival garden, then there are probably a lot of hungry people out there. People who wouldn't think twice about harvesting all your food while you sleep.

It's not hard to identify a garden: Plants in straight rows, usually with bare soil or mulch between them, and paths leading to it. This means you need a survival garden that either doesn't look like a garden or is completely hidden from sight. The good news is there are several methods for doing this.

Before we cover the methods, let's talk about the content of your survival garden. In a SHTF scenario, annuals will grow out. And unless you save your own seeds, the seeds will run out. If you want annuals, plant ones that will self-seed and take over open or normally grassy areas.

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Orach, spinach, some lettuces, and some edible flowers will turn a grassy yard into an edible meadow in short order. Leave the dandelions in, too, and add a few small fruit-bearing plants if you want. All this is part of what's called an edible landscape.

Perennials, however, should be the mainstay of your survival garden. Thorny plants are particularly beneficial around the outside of plantings. No one's going to push past a thick barrier of hawthorn, especially if the area under the hawthorn is covered in stinging nettles.

Hawthorn is a useful herb tree, while nettles are edible when young, and you can get fiber from the older stalks. I would recommend using stinging nettles more than poison ivy or poison sumac as it's much easier to treat a nettle sting than a poison ivy rash.

All of the following methods can vary in size depending on how much land you have to work with and how well the plants do in your growing zone. Now on to the list.

1. Indoor Gardening

If you're in a crowded urban area or a neighborhood with very small yards, an indoor garden is probably the best way for you to keep your survival garden hidden. Cover any windows facing your garden with slightly opaque plastic to prevent prying eyes from spying your food. Paint walls white or reflective to provide adequate lighting, and use full spectrum grow lights as well as outside light.

Have fans and vents to keep a steady supply of fresh air and mimic natural wind. If you can't have vents to the outside, try growing mushrooms as well as plants because mushrooms produce a lot of carbon dioxide which the plants need. Hydroponic growing may also help you to use your space efficiently.

2. Nobody here but us… roses?

Most people, in cities at least, do not recognize flowers as food. So plant roses. Climbing roses left to trail over the ground can make a thorny barrier that will protect your ground growing perennials (for example, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, and herbs) from detection.

Hedge-type roses, on the other hand, can provide shade to shade-loving perennials and yummy flowers and rose hips (a great source of vitamin C) for you, too. You can also plant other edible flowers, or flowers that produce edible seeds, as part of your planting. Beans and peas can grow up sturdy bushes and flower stalks as easily as up a trellis.

You can also mix in herbs like lavender, thyme, and basil among flowers to add fragrance and further mask edible plants. Many herbs have flowers that blend in seamlessly and even repel pests or curious foragers.

3. Spread It Out

People think of gardens as places where plants are laid out in nice, even rows. Let's mess that up. Instead of a row of four or six tomato plants, drop the plants throughout your growing area. One tomato over there, another in the middle of a bunch of orach or herbs, and so on.

The less your garden looks like a conventional garden, the better. Companion planting gets a bit of a different meaning here. Who would suspect strawberries of hiding among asparagus plants? Who would think this forest of random leafy stalks and thick ground cover would be hiding corn, beans, and squash?

4. Plant Mini Forests

If you have land, anywhere from half an acre and up, you can plant mini survival garden forests on different parts of your land. These mini forests should be planted in a circular pattern with a food-producing tree at the center. A nut or non-obvious fruit works best.

Around the tree you can plant shade-loving edible perennials. And around those you can plant bushes, preferably the kind with thorns. Around those bushes and outward you can plant lower growing, sun-loving perennials and herbs blended together.

On the very outside of the circle you can plant thorny vines, stinging nettles, or any other plant that would deter intruders. As long as there's no obvious path to and from these little forests, there will be no indication to passersby by that they're a source of food.

5. Use Permaculture

Permaculture similar to the mini forest method. Just plant perennials in thick groups or in a section of built-up organic matter (logs and branches stuffed with hay and straw, covered in manure, and buried in a thick layer of soil).

This type of bed works best with perennials, including some trees, and the organic matter within the bed helps retain water and reduce the need for numerous visits. As the planting degrades, it looks like a mound of soil and the plants on it look more like random plants than a garden bed.

6. Plant Not-So-Obvious Plants

Most people know, or can at least guess, what a tomato or pumpkin plant looks like. They may not, however, know what a lemon cucumber looks like, or what certain unusual looking squashes are. Obvious plants should be planted near the center of your property, out of sight of the average passerby. Less obvious plants, however, can grace areas slightly closer to the edges.

Heirloom plants, with unusual coloration or growth patterns, are good options for this. And they will also grow true to seed, so you can save your own, too. Root crops are also highly recommended. Most people would have no idea what potatoes, sweet potatoes, ginger, turmeric, peanuts, and other root crops look like when they're growing.

Consider lesser-known native edibles, too—like sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes), ground cherries, or miner’s lettuce. These blend into natural landscapes and rarely raise suspicion.

7. Plant a Sacrifice on the Border

At the edge of your land, in front of the thorny or stinging barrier (a barrier that is hopefully inter-grown with your fencing), plant some obvious spreading perennials like dandelions or other local and wild edibles.

If someone can get something at the edge and the barrier is obvious and not so friendly, then hopefully they won't bother trying to see what is on the other side.

8. Make it Impossible to See

In closely packed urban areas, a tall fence, say one made out of concrete blocks and about six feet high, will make it impossible for anyone to see your garden. Add a large, sturdy gate as well.

The only downside is that some people may think that if your yard is that well hidden, there must be something very valuable inside. This could make certain people even more determined to get past your fence, so it might be better to have a less visually imposing plant barrier (but no less difficult to penetrate).

9. Use Water

Aquatic and semi-aquatic plants can also be utilized, especially if you already have some water on your land. If you're in a city location, creating a small water retention zone and planting a few water-loving plants can increase your survival garden options substantially.

Planting wild semi-aquatic plants like wild rice, cattails, water lily, or arrowroot can provide a wilderness border to your watery hiding place and plenty of food options for you, too. A network of floating mats, either as is or covered in soil for non-water plants, can also increase the hidability of your survival food sources. And what marauder wants to get all cold and wet?

10. Camouflage With Junk or Yard Clutter

Sometimes, the best hiding spot is in plain sight—especially if it's disguised as something no one wants to look at. A strategically “messy” yard can mask a lot of things, including edible plants. You can grow in and around:

• Old tires
• Rusty barrels
• Piles of wood or pallets
• Disused lawn furniture
• Tool piles or sheds
• Trashy-looking planters or fake junk piles

This method uses the psychology of neglect—people tend to ignore what looks abandoned or unappealing. Climbing plants like beans, cucumbers, or even tomatoes can trail over junk piles or trellises disguised as scrap. Edible ground covers and herbs blend right into weed-like surroundings. It's the ultimate stealth garden.

Final Thoughts

Hiding your survival garden isn’t about paranoia—it’s about preparedness. Whether you have a quarter-acre or just a back patio, these strategies help you grow food quietly and protect your investment from wandering eyes and empty stomachs. The less it looks like a garden, the more likely it’ll still be there when you really need it.

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You May Also Like:

• The Beginner's Guide to Survival Gardening
• 22 Fruits and Veggies that Grow Back Every Year
• What Size Garden Would It Take to Feed a Family?
• 7 Dangerous Plants You Should Kill On Sight
• 10 Best Container Gardening Flowers

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from Urban Survival Site