More Ideas for Cooking with Basic Food Storage
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This collection of recipes should provide some ideas on how to incorporate food storage items into daily life.* It includes ingredients found in the dry-pack canneries and those which are likely found in food storage.
TIPS . . .tc “TIPS. . .”
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USING LEAVENING AGENTS
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A year’s supply of dry yeast, baking powder and baking soda are essential in preparing baked foods.* At high altitudes, less leavening is needed.
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Everlasting Yeast
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1 quart warm potato water*
1/2 yeast cake or 1/2 tbsp. dry yeast
1 tsp. salt*** 2 tbsp. sugar
2 cups white or whole-wheat flour
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Stir all ingredients together.* Place mixture in a warm place to rise until ready to mix for baking.* Leave a small amount of everlasting yeast for a start for next time.* Between uses, keep in covered jar in refrigerator until a few hours before ready to use again.
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Add same ingredients, except yeast, to the everlasting yeast start for the next baking.* By keeping the everlasting yeast start and remaking some each time, yeast can be kept on hand indefinitely.
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*Strain excess water after boiling potatoes, refrigerate in air-tight container.
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EGGS
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Egg Substitute – (for use in baking)
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Before starting recipe for cookies, cake, etc., combine 1 tsp. unflavored gelatin with 3 tbsp. cold water and 2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. boiling water.* This mixture will substitute for 1 egg in a recipe.
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SEASONINGS/SPICES
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Seasonings and spices are especially important when it comes to basic food storage.
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Beef, chicken, or ham bouillon granules are excellent secondary storage items.* Wheat and rice, either brown or white, cooked in bouillon take on wonderful new flavors, as does barley.* In fact, bouillon is an excellent base for many soups, sauces, and casseroles.
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Soy sauce, with its Oriental flavor, is another excellent seasoning.* Fried wheat or rice with fresh vegetables and sprouts is enhanced with soy sauce.* It also adds good flavor to a stir-fry or even to some stews or chicken or fish dishes.
Legumes (peas, beans, soybeans, lentils) respond well to seasoning salts and spice blends like chili powder, curry powder, poultry seasoning and celery, garlic, and onion salts.
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It will be important to keep some “sweet” spices on hand, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice.* Simple rice pudding, for example, is dependent on such spices for its unique flavor.* The simplest cookies and cake are enhanced with their use.
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Cocoa or sweet cocoa mix or a cereal drink like Postum is a good supplementary item to store along with the basic nonfat dry milk.* Punch powder is a welcome flavor in lean times.* Nor should we forget vanilla, almond, lemon, or maple extract for making pancake syrup.
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A year’s supply of flavorings your family enjoys could make the difference between stark or satisfying eating.
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IDEAS FOR CUTTING SUGAR IN BAKED GOODS
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Cut the sugar by half the amount called for.* Replace the sugar with potato flakes (potato pearls canned at the cannery will not work).* If you do this with cookies, they will not brown as well.* In chocolate chip cookies, use all of the brown sugar called for in the recipe, but replace the granulated sugar.* Works well with oatmeal cookies, applesauce cookies, and brownies.
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BUTTER AND MARGARINE
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Butter and margarine are virtually interchangeable.* However, goods baked with butter will have a richer flavor than those baked with margarine.
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MEAT SUBSTITUTES* AND EXTENDERS
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Cooked wheat, cracked or whole, can be fried with hamburger and used in sloppy joes, spaghetti, pizza, or in
casseroles.
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WHOLE WHEATtc “WHOLE WHEAT”
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USING WHOLE-WHEAT FLOUR
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Use wheat in recipes your family already likes, then it is not totally unfamiliar and you know the recipe is good.
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Try wheat in desserts first–who can turn down a cookie?
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Do not feel you must use 100 percent whole wheat.* Half white and half whole wheat gives excellent results.
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How to substitute whole wheat in your favorite recipes
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Wheat flour is heavier than white flour and needs more leavening.
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In yeast breads, use more yeast and/or let it rise longer.
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In baking powder leavened products, increase baking powder by 1 tsp. for each 3 cups of whole-wheat flour.
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Recipes using baking soda need not be adjusted.
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In baked products using eggs, separate the eggs and beat the whites until stiff.* Then fold in just before baking.* For extra lightness, an extra separated egg may be added.* Good for waffles and especially cakes.
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BULGUR WHEAT
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Wash wheat in cool water and discard water.
Add enough water to cover wheat, simmer until all water is absorbed and wheat is tender.
Spread wheat thinly on cookie sheet or shallow pan and dry in oven at 200* until very dry so that it will crack easily.
Wet* surface of dried wheat slightly and rub kernels between hands to loosen and remove chaff.
Crack wheat in moderate size pieces, using a mill, grinder, or leave whole.
This processed bulgur when thoroughly dried is easily stored and may be used in many wheat recipes.* If the recipe calls for cooked wheat or bulgur, simply boil in water for 5-10 minutes, it will approximately double in volume.
It makes an excellent meat extender when used in meat loaves, meat balls, chili and recipes where rice is used.*
Soaked overnight in salt water, may be added to yeast bread recipes to give a nut like taste.
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CRACKED WHEAT
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Cracked wheat may be made in a blender by using the *chop* selection on the machine.* Depending upon the coarseness desired, adjust the length of processing time.* Cracked wheat may also be made by using various food processors or a nut chopper.
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WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD
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Makes 3 loaves
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1 tbsp. dry yeast**************************** 1/4 tbsp. warm water
2 cups hot water*************************** 2 tbsp. shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar********************* 2 tsp. salt
1 cup cold water**************************** 1/2 cup dry milk
7-8 cups whole-wheat flour
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Mix yeast and warm water and set aside.* Pour hot water over shortening, sugar, and salt.* Mix dry milk with 1 cup whole-wheat flour, add hot water mixture and 1 cup of cold water, then add yeast mixture.* Add 6-7 more cups of whole-wheat flour.* Knead until smooth and elastic and let rise almost double–then time as follows:* Let rise 40 minutes – punch down, 20 minutes – punch down, and 20 minutes – punch down.
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Shape into 3 loaves and place in 3 small greased bread pans.* Allow to rise until double in bulk.* Bake at 375o for 40-45 minutes.
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SOFT AND DELICIOUS TWO-HOUR
WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD
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Makes 4 loaves
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5 cups warm water ********************** 2 tbsp. yeast
1/3 cup honey******************************** 1/3 cup oil
2 eggs******************************************** 1/3 cup potato flakes
6 cups whole-wheat flour************* 1 tbsp. salt
4 to 5 cups unbleached flour
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Dissolve yeast as package suggests.* Make a sponge using all ingredients down to, and including salt.* Use bread mixer or hand-held electric beaters.* Let rest about 10 minutes.* Add remaining flour gradually as needed to make a soft dough.* Knead on floured board; cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double.* Punch down; shape into four loaves; place in greased bread pans.* Cover and let rise again until double.
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Bake at 350o for 30 to 40 minutes.* Put hot bread on a towel to cool for a soft crust.
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BLENDER WHEAT PANCAKES
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Makes 6 to 8 pancakes
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1 cup milk **
1 cup uncooked whole wheat
2 eggs******************************************** 2 tbsp. oil
2 tsp. baking powder********************* 2 tbsp. honey or sugar
1 1/2* tsp. salt
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Put milk and wheat in blender.* Blend on highest speed for four or five minutes or until batter is smooth.* Add and blend on low, eggs, oil, baking powder, honey, and salt.* Bake on hot griddle.
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Variations
WAFFLES
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Add one additional tbsp. wheat
Increase oil to 4 tbsp.
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WHEAT WAFFLES
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Makes 8 waffles
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2 cups flour (1 cup white and 1 cup wheat)
4 tsp. baking powder********************* 1/2 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. honey or sugar****************** 1 3/4 cup milk
6 tbsp. salad oil****************************** 2 eggs
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Mix dry ingredients together, including nonfat dry milk.* Stir in remaining ingredients.* For lighter waffles, separate eggs.* Beat egg whites and carefully fold in.
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WHEAT CEREAL
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1 cup wheat
2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
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Mix above ingredients together.* Put in shallow pan or slow cooker.* Bake overnight at 200 o.* Or may soak overnight; then cook on top of stove for 2 hours.* Serve with milk and sugar or dates.* Wheat may be ground in food blender or grinder for a finer texture.
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CRUNCHY WHEAT CEREAL
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Makes approximately 5 cups cereal and 2 cups crumbs
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6 cups whole-wheat flour************* 1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
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2 cups buttermilk (2/3 cup powdered milk, 2 cups water,
****** 2 tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice)
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Mix ingredients thoroughly.* Press or roll evenly to fit two ungreased cookie sheets.* Bake at 350o until golden brown around edges.* Turn over with spatula, break into small pieces and return to 200o oven to dry out thoroughly.* Grind chunks in food or meat chopper on coarse blade.* Put ground chunks in strainer and sift out small granular pieces.* Larger pieces may be used for cereal and casseroles.* Finer pieces may be used as you would graham cracker crumbs for pie crusts and other desserts.
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Variations
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Add cinnamon to the dough before baking.* Add nutmeg to give a custard or eggnog flavor.* Poultry stuffing can be made by eliminating sugar and adding sage, poultry seasoning, celery salt and bouillon granules.* Make salad toppers by adding garlic salt, onion powder, salt, or other favorite condiments.* You can even make dog and cat food by reducing sugar and adding bouillon, then breaking up to the appropriate size.
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WHEAT FLAKES
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2 cups coarse-ground whole-wheat flour
2 cups water
1 tsp. salt
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Mix lightly with spoon until free from lumps.* Beat just until mixed.* Pour onto cookie sheet or jelly roll pan.* Use 1/2 cup dough on a 12-inch by 15-inch cookie sheet.* Tip sheet back and forth to cover entire surface.* Drain excess (about 1/4 cup) from one corner, leaving a thin film.
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Bake at 350< for 15 minutes.* Break into bite sized pieces.
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BREAKFAST CEREAL
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Use wheat either whole or cracked with raisins, honey, or brown sugar.* One cup of wheat makes 4 to 6 servings.
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Thermos Method
1 cup whole wheat************************ 2 cups boiling water
1/2 tsp. salt
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Place in quart-size thermos; screw top lightly.* Leave overnight.
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Gas Range Method
1 cup whole wheat************************ 2 cups boiling water
1/2 tsp. salt
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Place ingredients in a pan over the pilot light all night.
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Crock Pot Method
1 cup whole wheat************************ 2 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
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Cook 6 to eight hours or overnight on low.
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Cracked Wheat Method
1 cup cracked wheat********************* 2 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
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Bring to a boil.* Cook covered on low for 10 to 20 minutes.* Cook enough whole wheat to last a week.* It may be tightly covered and stored in the refrigerator up to two weeks.
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CHINESE FRIED WHEAT
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Makes 8 servings
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1 cup cracked wheat (strain out flour before cooking)
2 1/2 cups water*********************** 1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. vegetable oil******************* 1 beaten egg
1 onion, minced**************