A Call to Common Sense ~ Proverbs 31 Preparedness Series

“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” 
~ John F. Kennedy, State of the Union Address January 11, 1962

One thing about the Proverbs 31 woman that always inspired me was she did not fear for the future. The Good Book writes that “God does not give the spirit of fear”.

However, He does give wisdom. 

He gives the example of the ants that work hard and put away in due season. He gives the example of Noah to put aside provisions for a coming flood. He gives the story of Joseph to store food for a future famine.

And so, it is with a prudent spirit that I’m spending a little extra care this summer in building up our pantry and/or larder this year. I will be preserving with a purpose.

Common sense dictates that if half the world closes up commerce for over a year’s worth of time, there must be repercussions (right or am I crazy?!?!). 

I already notice little things missing on the shelves. And I’m honestly not sure what to expect. But I’m leaning on the Biblical side of preparedness and am slowly putting aside in a Proverbs 31 fashion.

I am making a real effort to dry any excess produce we grow and be extra mindful about waste! Any small bit of produce (Did someone say zucchini?) will be diced and dried and added to my "winter soup, sauce & stew" pantry. 

If there is a bumper crop of tomatoes, I’ll be diligent to preserve as much as possible.

If there is a good discount on oats (or anything else that is useful and stores long term), I’ll be purchasing two bags (instead of one). I will make certain to have an abundance of the three main preservation ingredients on hand; vinegar, sugar and salt (all of which don't technically expire).

If there’s a desire to buy something bright and shiny, I’ll hold off and make do with what I have. 

Another way I am "doing" this is collecting frugal and resourceful recipes and keeping them in my "Proverbs 31 Preparedness" Notebook. This doesn't cost any money and is a great little homemaking guide for hard times. I will include the pantry recipes I shared HERE (perhaps I will do a printable of these in the future) and any other concepts that allow you to make do with what you have. Of course, it will include all the crazy cake recipes which only uses pantry staples as well as:

Fresh Flour Tortillas

How to Make and Can Jelly Using Fruit Scraps, Sugar and Water

Pantry Builder #1 Ways to Use Sugar

Pantry Builder #2 Ways to Use Honey

Pantry Jam Bars

Pantry Pie Crust

Skillet Flatbread

You get the idea!

I'm also learning how to preserve everything that surrounds me in my environment. It is a little hobby I created for myself. It's called the pretend game... "pretend I have only what is grown on my property and my pantry as a resource for food". What can I make and serve as food for my family? So I look around my yard and find everything that is edible. I learn about my landscape. Dandelions in the spring! These are free and can be made into jelly, fried up into fritters and brewed into tea (they also boast many health properties). I also look at my beautiful roses and see food there! The hips can be dried for vitamin C-rich teas. The petals can be brewed for a relaxing tea and you can make "rose jelly" (which can be served with biscuits made from pantry ingredients). All the culinary herbs can be dried for food but can also be made into jelly. They can top a pizza (all the crust ingredients are pantry staples) to make it more nutritious. I think you get the point. Be aware of your surroundings, what can feed you and how to prepare the various foods. This is just a side little hobby I have been doing and it is quite fun to add this useful information to my "Proverbs 31 Preparedness" Notebook as well.

Here are a few recipes to make "floral and herb" jelly with anything edible in your yard. All that is required is sugar (pantry staple) and a supply of pectin (I bought mine in bulk - -affiliate link) as it is less expensive that way plus it enables me a nice supply for any spontaneous project). HERE is another recipe which uses the basics of herbs, water and sugar.  I have made rose jelly and dandelion jelly and they were both quite delicious.

In conclusion, this is no different from what our pioneering ancestors did to survive each season as they never knew what the weather would bring. I foresee a bit of a storm coming so I’m quietly continuing in the old ways of canning, drying, pickling, fermenting, repurposing, thrifting and saving. However, not out of a rushed panic or fear, but slowly, gently, calmly and with a “sound mind”.

(And if I'm wrong, I will have an amazingly stocked pantry and I will have acquired more forage and food preservation knowledge (always a good thing). With all the savings, I can purchase that apothecary cabinet that I've been eyeing! 😉 )

"The wise store up choice food and olive oil..."

~ Proverbs 21:20a

"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty."

~ Proverbs 22:3

“It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself in such shape that when or if the opportunities come he is ready.”

~ Theodore Roosevelt

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come."

~ Proverbs 31:25

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

~ 2 Timothy 1:7

To begin your own Proverbs 31 Preparedness Binder, here is a printable cover page.  I've be placing much of my information in this binder for any "time to come" and can pass this down to my daughter one day as a beautiful resource. In the meantime, here are the preparedness articles we have shared thus far to get you inspired to continue adding to your Proverbs 31 Preparedness notebook: 

• Prepare Your Own Pantry Series
• Versatility, Reclaiming Space and Basic Pantry Building
• Our Pantry Rotation Strategy and Food Storage Tips
• Home-Made Meals Strictly from the Pantry
• How to Store, Sanitize & Use Water for Emergencies
• Women in the Ark ~ A Lesson in Prayer and Preparedness
• Some "Food" Storage for Thought ~ Pantry Preparedness
• 10 Reasons to Prepare a Pantry
• Buying in Bulk ~ Shelf Life Basics
• Frugal Living and Self-Sufficiency Skills ~ Printable Checklist
• Outdoor Wood-Fire Cooking Inspiration
• 5 Reasons to Store Frozen Water Bottles in Your Freezer
• Shelf Life of Canned Goods ~ Think Before You Throw Out
• Egg Substitutions ~ Free Printable List
• Sugar ~ Foods with No Expiration Date ~ Pantry Builder #1
• Raw Honey ~ Foods with No Expiration Date ~ Pantry Builder #2
• Alternative Lighting Options
• Power Outages, Generator Safety and Carbon Monoxide Awareness
• Medical Preparedness
• Abigail's Pantry ~ A Lesson in Opportunity, Pantry and Preparedness

🍅 🧺 ♥️

What are your thoughts on this? I’m so curious! There are many "ordinary" homemakers like ourselves who feel this importance and are sharing their ideas and experiences that you may also appreciate such as Annabel at The Bluebirds are Nesting and Patsy at A Working Pantry. I also glean much from The Prudent Homemaker and the Preparedness Mama (though her blog is solely preparedness tips).

 

The Intentional Homemaker ~ Snippets

The intentional homemaker seeks to embellish every area of home life.... she adds powerful aroma through her simple basic oven. She adds smiles and laughter through her delicious dinner offerings. She adds comfort and security through her cozy interpretation of home. She is ever ready to bless. She is ever aware of her holy example. And like the God she serves (though she may be in the humblest of circumstances), she strives to make everything she can “beautiful in its time...” 

🪴 Based on Ecclesiastes 3:11 🕯 

Dearest homemaker,

What a glorious work is in your care!

❤JES

The Anatomy of a Quiche ~ Free Printable Recipe Kit

In the summer (especially with all the zucchini) we make a lot of quiches! I will even venture to say that they pop up often in the autumn/winter to be used with spinach, kale or any other leftover produce. To make meal time easier for the homemaker, I have put together a little printable quiche recipe kit. 

“With enough butter, anything is good.”

~ Julia Child

There are many quiche recipes out there, but my go-to is comprised of:

-- 6 tbsp. butter (or oil)

-- 8 c. thinly sliced produce (summer squashes, kale, spinach, chard, etc.)

-- 1 large onion, thinly sliced

-- 5 large eggs

-- dried spices (this we will make into a ready-made mix)

-- 4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese (you can mix and match your own cheeses)

NOTE: This recipe makes one 13x9-inch quiche or 2-round pie plates (reduce the recipe in half to make an 8x8-inch or one round pie plate). You can make this crustless (aka low carb or gluten-free) or you can prepare a pie crust (this is an easy pie crust recipe) and pour contents inside. 

“It is hard to imagine a civilization without onions.”

~ Julia Child

By preparing one of the components ahead of time (the spice mix), it makes for an easy meal. 

Simple sauté 8 cups of thinly sliced produce (my favorite is zucchini) ** with one large onion (also thinly sliced).

** If using greens in this recipe, I will sauté the onion until tender and then add in the kale, spinach or chard until just wilted together. If using broccoli (or a vegetable just as "hard"), I would steam it until tender and then add into the sautéed onion.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and 3 scant tablespoons of the quiche seasoning mix (recipe to follow). Add the slightly cooled sautéed vegetables with the cheese and egg mixture. Pour into a 13x9 inch casserole dish and bake for 400 degrees (Fahrenheit) for 30-40 minutes (or until golden brown and set on top). Or, prepare a pie crust and pour contents inside and bake as normal. 

The key to making this easier is the make-ahead seasoning mix and a basic recipe (which I taped to the inside of my cupboard for convenience).

For the seasoning mix, stir together and place in a (wide-mouth) pint jar the following:

• 13 tbsp. dried parsley
• 3 tbsp. salt (I use the pink mineral salt)
• 3 tbsp. garlic powder
• 3 tbsp. dried basil
• 3 tbsp. dried oregano
• 1 1/2 tbsp. ground pepper

Now, you simply print out the RECIPE KIT, make the seasoning mix and keep your recipe handy for all your quiche making needs. Hopefully this all makes sense?

Happy homemaking!

❤ JES

"In Due Season" Garden Cookbook ~ Free Printable

"The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season."

~ Psalm 145:15

One of my favorite homemaking hobbies is to collect simple recipes for the individual vegetables that we grow. Once I find one we all love, I add it to my gardening cookbook and it becomes a part of our seasonal eating rhythm.

For instance, I made individual section tabs for each vegetable that we grow (i.e., beets, broccoli, cucumber and tomatoes). Once we harvest that certain crop, I can go to the tab of that particular vegetable and prepare a meal accordingly. It is very convenient to have your tried and true recipes in one place for each garden variety.

The compilation process is simple. When I find a cookbook recipe that I like for a certain vegetable, I photocopy it and add it to the proper section of my notebook (the recipe above is from "Betty Crocker's" Cookbook and is a perfect use of our bell-peppers). If I find one online or in an Ebook, I print it up and add it in there also (the recipe below is Barefoot Contessa Online and is tasty for our broccoli harvest). If there is a family favorite, I handwrite it on recipe paper and include it in the binder as well. There is no rhyme or reason where they come from, just so that everyone in the family loves it and that it uses up what we are growing. 

For example, with our eggplant harvest the family favorites are eggplant parmigiana, eekra (a Persian eggplant and tomato spread passed down from my husband’s grandmother) and a tasty Italian-inspired eggplant and rice dish. I'll list some of our other favorite recipes (with links) in each category in another post in case you'd like to try some.

What about you, do you have a garden style cookbook which rotates gently through the seasons? If not, perhaps you would like to prepare one?

List of recommended supplies (affiliate links):

• three ring binder 
• plastic sheet protectors (protect your recipes from spills and stains, just wipe clean)
• adhesive divider tabs (to make your vegetable sections convenient to find)
• free printable (includes a cover insert page, spine insert page, cover sheet, vegetable divider pages and back cover page insert)

Obviously you can customize this to meet the needs of your family. This is just a simple suggestion to get you started. I have a few "clip arts" which I cut out of old cookbooks and I have pasted some of these pictures onto my black and white printouts to make it a bit prettier (my color printer no longer works). 

For the homeschooling mother, you can have the children draw the individual section pages of each vegetable and have them write out the individual names per page as copywork. The young ladies of the family can help to find recipes to try and add into your cookbook. Or they can dig through all your family favorite recipes and sort them in accordingly. 

This is a fun and useful little project for anyone who grows their own food or any of you who make it a point to eat seasonally. I hope you enjoy this little FREE PRINTABLE! Happy homemaking! Love,♡JES

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold,

it would be a merrier world.”

~ J. R. R. Tolkien