Provident Living...Meals in a Jar/Bag Class!

Meals in a Jar...Using Your Food Storage

 

Pinterest has many Meals in a Jar recipes

For the last while I have seen a lot of meals in jars on Pinterest.  It really piqued my interest, because I am having a hard time visualizing how to use all those cans of dehydrated and freeze dried foods in my store room.  If you are anything like me you would rather give your first born to the Gypsies than open one of those cans!  Last Thursday night, the Highland Stake sponsored a class on Meals in the Bag and Meals in the Jar.  It was held at the home of Leslie Heath.  Lisa Barker from Honeyville Farms taught the class.  While we were waiting to begin, she quickly put together a wonderful Pasta E Fagioli Soup in a countertop pressure cooker that takes only about 10 minutes to cook.  I will include the recipe later.  The following information is from Sister Barker's handout.  The handout will be sent to you in an email...it will include some recipes that I won't publish here.





I've stored it...now how do I use it?

Meals in a jar have been around for quite awhile.  We put together soup and cookie mixes for gifts for our neighbors and friends.  This takes it to a new level.  Many of the ingredient will come from those special cans we just can't bring ourselves to open...because...once they are opened they aren't good for 25 years any more!  Relax...once the cans are opened, the remainder can be resealed in canning jars using your Food Saver.  The Food Saver can also be used to seal the meal...or you can use oxygen absorbers.  Mylar bags are also used for this...but I like the pretty layers.  If you are worried about impending earthquakes...use the mylar.

 

Two books available...

"Dinner is in the Jar" and "It's in the Bag."

Both are available from Amazon.

Sample...Meal in a Jar

 

What to store...the basics

This is helpful...I've wondered about this.

 

Meals in a Bag...

Sample Meal in a Bag.

Everything...including water...is included in the bag.

 

A "Meal in a Bag" is everything needed to make a meal packed inside a color-coded shopping bag.  Breakfasts, dinners and desserts will each be a different color.  I like this idea because it uses the shelf-stable pantry foods that our families will eat.  It can be mixed with some long-term items such as freeze dried fruits and vegetables, as well as meats.  Fresh meats, vegetables and condiments can be added as desired. Colors can also be used to determine if a meal is a chicken dish or a beef dish.  Sister Barker said that her children are allowed to go down and  pick a meal from the shelf...that way they feel involved and that they have a choice.  The meal bags can be put together one at a time until you have the number that you want.  Once the meals have been put together they should be rotated.  Use them everyweek.

Recipes and instructions are included on the front of each meal bag.

 

Using a counter top electric pressure cooker...makes meals super fast!

 

 

Pasta e Fagioli Soup

1 c. FD sausage or ground beef
1 c. dehydrated onions
1 c. dehydrated shoestring carrots
1 c. FD celery
2 cloves garlic, minced
2  14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes
2  15 oz. can red kidney beans, rinsed
1  15 oz. can great northern beans, rinsed
1  15 oz. can tomato sauce
28 oz. V-8 juice

4 c. water
2 T. rice vinegar (it's what makes all the difference)

3 t. Wayzata Tuscan Spice Blend
OR
1 1/2 t. salt
1 t. oregano
1 t. basil
1/2 t. pepper
1/2 t. thyme

1 1/2 c. ditali pasta

Put everything in electric pressure cooker and cook on HIGH for 9 minutes
with a natural release.  Delicious!

 

This recipe is a perfect Meal in a Bag...it just won't fit in a jar.  You could do it half and half with the FD veggies, spices and pasta in a jar.  Add the jar to the bag...easy peasy!  More recipes and information is on the way...check your email.

 

Note:  Remember that Conference Weekend is the time to rotate and update your 72 hour kits.