Simple Foods = Good Eats #3

Today let's talk about fruit and veggies.  There are just basics that we all need in our pantries for being prepared for any occasion/problem.  Life can throw some strange moments our way and we need to be prepared.

Many of us garden and during the appropriate months we can have plenty of fresh veggies and often times fruit available.  Not everyone has the space or ability to garden.  You can be prepared as well.
I do garden, but I am limited in garden size, therefore I do keep a lot of store bought veggies and fruit available.  Much of it is canned.  Frozen is wonderful, but I want to be prepared in the event of loss of power.  We can eat veggies and fruit straight from  the can in an emergency.

I can as much of my home grown as possible.  I like to dehydrate many items as well.  Both keep for very extended periods of time.
I think we need to look at all our options!  Store bought, home canned or frozen and dehydrated.  IT IS ALL GOOD!

Things I can't grow - I get at very exceptional sales and prepare myself - like pineapple, mushrooms & apples.

Dehydrated mushrooms that were found very cheaply on sale.  Super easy to do

Zucchini and yellow squash are easy to dehydrate as well.  I slice and place ONE squash per tray - therefore I know how much to put into a baggie.  Great for soups in the winter.

DO NOT FEEL BAD if you can not garden or can.  It isn't for everyone.  Store bought is perfectly OK.  I do not understand people criticizing others for having store bought 'anything'.  Sometimes it is just easier.  It is OK.  If you have dietary restrictions, you may have to rinse store bought food well before preparing and you may have to really watch and read the ingredients.
Remember you can keep it simple - just basics will be a wonder to have in an emergency.

Even I keep a great supply of store bought goods on hand.  I watch sales and mark down and add to my pantry when I can.  I am not ashamed to have prepared goods on hand - it could save a life.

A super sale on fresh pineapple yielded much goodness for our pantry.  Canning pineapple is very easy to do and it tastes so good in the dead of winter! 

There are just many ways to add to your fruit and veggie pantry.  Grow what you can.  Can what you can - then fill in with all the other goodies.

Also - think about looking at LDS and prepping sites for large quantities of dehydrated foods.  Most of those sites carry the #10 size cans of just about anything you can think of and these cans of food last for years and years.  (you just can't be too prepared in this world today).

But start slowly and build up your deep pantry as you can.  If you garden, you have fresh goodies all summer and hopefully can put some back for winter.  Remember you can even grow some things like lettuce, herbs and onions in the house in the winter.

Purchase canned goods you will use whenever you find a good sale or markdown.  Add to your stock and you will be prepared for about any problem.  It may save you and your family.

I know I repeatedly say this stuff - but folks it is important.  Not one of us can predict the future and anything can happen.  

Loss of job, low finances, illness, acts of nature or government turmoil.  I am sure the people in countries that are in  utter chaos at the moment - didn't think it could happen a few years ago either.  ANYTHING is possible.

Get your pantries stocked.  Work slowly but steadily - persistence pays off!