Answers to a Few Questions
The past two weeks I have received so m,any questions about a huge variety of things. I’d like to answer just a few today and hope this can become a regular feature here. Please add your solutions and suggestions in the comments section.
“I’m sure you already have a post about this so if you could send me a link that would be helpful. I couldn’t find one on your blog so maybe I missed it, but if you don’t have a post I thought it’d be a good one. My husband and I just moved into our first house and it has electric heating (YUCK!) the basement is also not finished so all of that cold air is coming up and I’m sure it’s causing out electric heating to be in use more than if the basement was finished. I was wondering if you have any ideas on how we could cut down our electricity bill? I’ve heard people say to turn down the heat when you go to bed at night, but if we do that won’t it just drive up the electric bill when I turn it back up in the morning since I have to heat each room separately? Just thought I’d shoot this email to you:) Thanks! Megan”
I few months ago I had a question about insulating an outdoor storage room from the cold. While some of the suggestions I made may be a little too “tacky” for your basement it is worth looking at the post: Saving our Food Storage from a Deep Freeze I would suggest that the first thing you do is stop any cold air from coming upstairs. If you don’t have a door at the top of the stair or at the bottom either add a door or hang a heavy blanket over the door opening at the bottom of the stair. You will be amazed how much that will reduce drafts. I would definitely turn down the heat at night but don’t go crazy with this. You can’t afford for pipes to freeze so never below about 60 degrees. Add an extra blanket to the kid’s beds. In the morning turn up the heat only as high as you want it to go. The problem arises when we crank up the heat to 75 and then when it gets warm we back it down to 70 degrees. If you get a programmable thermostat it will do this for you and you can set it to have the heat come 30 minutes before you get up. Invest in a small portable heater. You can place this next to the kitchen table so you can all be warm during breakfast or to heat a small area after the heater has been turned down for the evening. Be sure all the doors in your home are kept closed. By closing bedroom doors you heat the rooms and none of the heat escapes into the hallway. You really don’t need warm halls. If you can afford it insulate the ceiling in the basement it will make a huge difference. If you can’t afford it try one of the methods recommended in the Saving our Food post.
Where can I buy N95 respirators?
Check out the pharmacy section at your local stores. If they don’t have them they can be ordered over the Internet. Just search N95 respirators, wholesale. Be sure you compare prices. They have already gotten much more expensive and the pandemic isn’t even close yet. Most places who sell wholesale will sell to you if your order is large enough so get together with family and friends and place an order. Be sure when ordering or purchasing that you get masks that have a metal band across the nose which can be adjusted to form a snug fit.
I need help with dinner recipes made completely from stored foods. How do I replace meats?
I will be including recipes in my food storage posts. I have been working on a cookbook with all the ingredients coming from the pantry so I have lots to share. I would love to hear from you what some of your favorites are. with the challenges farmers are facing this year we may all be eating more canned foods out of necessity so now is the time to start practicing and incorporating these recipes into our everyday menus. Here’s one to star you off:
Thai Peanut Sauce with Chicken and Pasta
8 ounces penne pasta
3 crushed garlic cloves
1/3 C Water
1/3 C Soy Sauce
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/3 C brown sugar
1/3 C peanut butter
1 (8 oz.) can chicken chunks
Combine garlic, water and soy sauce, simmer 2-3 minutes on low. Add vinegar and brown sugar. Simmer 2-3 minutes. When noodles are ready, add peanut butter to soy sauce mixture and blend until sauce is creamy (I whisk it in). Pour over drained pasta and shredded chicken and toss to combine. Also great over stir-fried vegetables.
Thanks for the wonderful advice! I’ve been telling my husband that we need to insulate the basement. Hopefully he can do that this weekend. I think we’re also going to buy some special window covers to keep heat in. And also some weather striping for the doors. The blanket is definitely a great idea so I’m going to go shopping today!:) Thanks again!
Wow, cool site, but I had trouble finding a place to comment.
Would you address the value of storing sprouting seeds as part of food storage? Currently, I am sprouting lentils, which are very easy to deal with, as you can buy them in any grocery store. Also, wheat berries, when sprouted, are more nutritious than plain cooked wheat. In a situation where fresh vegetables are unavailable, we can have something living, complete with enzymes and vitamin C.