Fantastic Fridays!

Remember, Fridays at the Mesa Home Storage Center are dedicated for families and individuals to come and can for themselves, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. All products are available for canning and purchase!  Please contact the office at 480-214-9114 to schedule reservations in advance. 

Great Online Resources

http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/babysteps/
Starting small can make things much easier! This site has some great suggestions on how to take baby steps to establish your food storage.

www.providentliving.org
The church has inspired general suggestions and guidelines for us to follow.

http://www.iwillprepare.com/
Excellent tips from a stake preparedness rep!

http://www.pioneerliving.net/
This site has some handy specific instructions for back-to-basics living.

Message From the First Presidency

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance,
for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs
as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to
“prepare every needful thing” (see D&C 109:8) so that, should adversity
come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops
as they care for others.
We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity
in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in
savings.
We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your
savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into
debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you
can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve.
We realize that some of you may not have financial resources or
space for such storage. Some of you may be prohibited by law from
storing large amounts of food. We encourage you to store as much as
circumstances allow.
May the Lord bless you in your home storage efforts.

The First Presidency

Chicken Barley Chili

Chicken Barley Chili (from http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net)
Serving Size: 10 (1 cup) servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

• 1 (14.5 oz) can Italian diced tomatoes (I used home canned)
• 1 (16 oz) jar/can Salsa or tomato sauce (use salsa for spicier version)
• 1 (14.5 oz) chicken broth
• 1 cup Quaker Quick Barley
• 3 cups water
• 1 T. chili powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
• 1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces and boiled (can use canned chicken)
• cheddar cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips (optional)

Directions:
In a large pot, combine the first 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile boil the chicken in a separate pan. Add bean, corn and chicken to large pot. Increase heat to high until chili comes to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for another 5-10 minutes or until barley is tender. If desired, top with shredded cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips. Makes a huge batch!

Looking for Recipes

Do you have any tasty food storage recipes to share with us? Are you a wiz at making meals out of canned rice, beans, wheat, or other stored items? Or do you have a recipe that's a favorite for your family? (It doesn't have to be from food storage items.) If so, please e-mail your recipes to meadowview2ndcanning@hotmail.com. I'd love to share at least one per week!

Welcome!

Hello and welcome! This blog has been created to make information about Meadowview 2nd ward canning and general food storage information more accessible. Please be patient while I continue to add content and info. :) Feel free to e-mail me at meadowview2ndcanning@hotmail.com if you have any questions!
Our next Stake canning day is Tuesday, December 21st. Please let me know if you would like to place an order. Before you place an order, please read the following instructions and guidelines put in place by the Mesa Home Storage Center (I know it's a lot of info, but it's necessary to know.)
For prices on food items, maps to the Storage Center, and a calendar with San Tan Stake Canning days, please click the following link.
http://cid-b0ac338f4bd057eb.office.live.com/browse.aspx/Canning?Bsrc=EMSHHM&Bpub=SN.Notifications

MESA HOME STORAGE CENTER

POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

• The Purpose of the Home Storage Center is to help church members prepare for adversity by helping them build a basic supply of food for their long-term storage.
• The Home Storage Center is located at 235 South El Dorado Circle, Mesa, Arizona 85202-1044.  The direct phone number is 480-214-9114.  The email address is mesahomestoragecenter@gmail.com.
• The Home Storage Center is closed on Mondays and open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Fridays from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturdays from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm.  It is closed the first Saturday of each month.  Fridays are dedicated for families and individuals to come and can for themselves, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.  All products are available for canning and purchase.  Please contact the office to schedule reservations in advance.  (No outside products may be brought into the cannery for canning, including  products that have been previously purchased and removed from the cannery.)
• Home Storage Center products are not to be re-sold.
• Home Storage Center products may be purchased by church members.  Non-members may purchase products when accompanied by a member.
• Patrons must pay for products before the products can leave the center. We accept checks and cash. When using a check, you will be required to write down the name of your Stake, Ward, and personal phone number.
• Bulk and pre-packaged products, cans, lids, boxes, oxygen packets, pouches, etc. are always available for purchase and do not need to be ordered in advance.
• Pre-packaged cases or bulk products are available for purchase at any time.  A list of the products and pricing may be found at www.providentliving.org.  Products may also be ordered online at ldscatalog.com.  The shipping fee is included in the cost.
• Free product labels are available but are only to be used for products purchased from the Home Storage Center.
• Dry products are scheduled for Stake canning on a three month rotation with five products canned each month.  Please refer to the canning calendar for scheduled products. (Spaghetti, potato pearls, and pancake mix are not canned.)
• Pre-packaged cases consist of: Pinto Beans, Quick Oats, Red Wheat, White Rice and a Starter Kit (The Starter Kit is a combination of the products.)  These products are sold only by the case; six #10 cans per case.
• There are no product limits at this time.  (Ward and large quantities of bulk items must be ordered a minimum of two weeks in advance.  Wards are required to pay for bulk purchases using only one check or cash.)
• All participating stakes are pre-assigned a stake canning day and shift Tuesday through Thursday plus Saturday mornings.  The morning shift begins at 9:00 am and the afternoon shift begins at 1:00 pm.  All participants should arrive at least10 minutes early so shifts can begin on time.

• Stake canning procedures are as follows:  Individual members turn in orders to the Ward Specialist.  Ward Specialist turns in ward orders to the Stake Specialist.  Stake Specialist turns in stake orders three weeks in advance of the assigned stake canning day, directly to the Home Storage Center. (See stake canning calendar)  Orders are submitted via email or phone (480-214-9114).
• Only those who participate in canning the products on their assigned stake canning day may purchase the canned products.  Upon purchase of the canned products please provide the cashier a copy of your individual pre-order form.
• There are no age restrictions.  Children should be old enough to contribute to the canning process and must be supervised.  No one under the age of 16 is allowed to operate the seamer machine.

 GENERAL CANNING INSTRUCTIONS

• For canning products it is recommended that the Home Storage Center and members homes are used in preference to ward/stake meeting houses.  (Complete the church tax administration form when using a meetinghouse)  Do not store welfare commodities in meeting houses.
• The majority of stakes have their own stake can seamer machine available through the stake canning specialist.  The Home Storage Center also has portable can seamers and two pouch sealers available for check out; please reserve in advance.
• Home storage center products taken out of the center may not be brought back in and canned.
• Products taken out of the Home Storage Center should be stored long term using cans, pouches, plastic buckets, and/or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic containers.  Do not use containers that were previously used to store non-food items.  Only buckets made of food grade plastic with gaskets in the lids should be used.  For buckets use 1 oz. of dry ice per gallon; do not use oxygen packets or nitrogen gas.  Oxygen packets are acceptable for PETE containers, one per gallon.  (For more information concerning PETE, pouch, and dry ice packing visit www.providentliving.org.)
• Oxygen packets have approximately 3 to 4 hours of life.  For long term storage it is recommended that the packets be stored in a mason jar sealed tight with a gasket in the lid.  While canning products only remove about 30 oxygen packets from the package at a time then reseal the package until more packets are needed.  Never use oxygen packets when canning sugar.
• Products intended for long term storage must be dry (about 10% or less moisture).  Warning: Botulism poisoning may result if moist products are stored in packaging that reduces oxygen
• Flour, powdered milk, rice and other products may occasionally take on an odor when stored in a sealed container.  If this happens, open the container and allow the product to air out for a few days before using.  Replace the product if there is continued concern.
• Listed below are a few dry products that are not suited for long term storage due to moisture content:

a. Barley, pearled                    b. Nuts                                   c. Eggs, dried

d. Brown rice                          e. Whole wheat flour              f. Brown sugar

g. Whole milled grain              h. Vegetables/Fruits                j. Meat, dried