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Preparedness Nuggets
A Cyberbook of Practical Wisdom for Daily Living
Part the First
Beer Sourdough for Bread
Bread and Flour
Dutch Oven Baking
Outdoor Brick Ovens
Several Guys Shopping Lists in Several Categories
Solar Cooker

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SOLAR COOKER [top]
From: <Sclare27@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 5 Aug 1998 16:01:21 EDT
<< Another issue to address is the amount of time it takes to cook dried beans.
A LONG time! >>
A great solution is a solar cooker. I have just put the finishing touches on
mine, made completely from things I had on hand...cardboard boxes, aluminum
foil, newspaper and a piece of glass I got from an old picture frame. Needs no
fuel, except a sunny day, and will work summer and winter.
At first I was disbelieving that it would work, but I was reminded of how you
can start a fire with a magnifying glass and the sun's rays. The sun is
amazing!! This particular cooker is supposed to be able to even bake bread,
which is at about 450 degrees. Beans will take 3-4 hours, depending on the sun.
Missionaries have developed these little wonders so that people in third world
countries don't destroy their greatest economic asset (their forests) for
cooking fuel. There is also the added benefit of no smoke/ashes/exhaust to deal
with.
Tomorrow is the test drive...we are having "solar day" at the office. I will be
cooking pot roast in the solar oven, which we will position down in the parking
lot. After an impressive demonstration :-) people may be jazzed about making one
for themselves. Looking forward to a "solar cooker" party, where we can all make
them together...B.Y.O.C.B. (bring your own cardboard boxes.)
I think I saw a link to a solar cooking site once, but if anyone wants these
plans, I will be happy to post them.
The one we made and use is http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/minimum.htm The
"Minimum" Solar BoxCooker. You can also check out these
http://sorrel.humboldt.edu/~ccat/sub/slinks.html Solar cooking links A very
simple, inexpensive and effective design for solar ovens can be found in both
the Brownie and Junior Girl Scout handbooks.
If you can locate both current, and older handbooks for both Girl Scouting and
Boy Scouting, you'll be pleasantly surprised at the resources contained in them
that will be useful to anyone looking to become self-sufficient.
Here are some solar cooker sites:
http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/minimum.htm
http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/easylid.htm
http://www.eren.doe.gov/solarnow/activ_3.htm
http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/cookit.htm
http://www.accessone.com/~sbcn/newpanel.htm
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BREAD AND FLOUR [top]
Sam's Club sells 25 lb. containers of baker's flour in heavy paper bags for
about $4.50. This amounts to 18 cents a pound or 18 cents a loaf for the flour.
Shelf life is shorter under these packaging conditions though.
You can store white flour in a galvanized garbage can with bay leaves in it to
discourage the 6-legged brethren 'n sistren. <g> You may also want to consider
adding some soy flour to your bread and instant nonfat dried milk. By doing this
you are providing a protein/carbo complete meal! Especially with little kids
this is so important. I've begun baking this "Cornell" Bread and we are eating
this exclusively for two weeks now. I have six kids (2-15) and they all love it.
The aroma is incredible. French toast is yummy!! I also am adding wheat germ or
a proportion of whole wheat flour.
Here is the recipe.
Place in a large mixing bowl and let stand:
3 cups of warm water
2 pkges or 2 Tbs. of active dry yeast
2 Tbs. honey
2 Tbs. oil
3 tsp. sea salt
In separate container ( I use a big Tupperware, measure then shake!)
6 cups unbleached flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup full-fat soy flour
1 cup non-fat dry milk
Stir the liquids and add 1/2 to 3/4 of flour mixture. Beat vigorously. Add
remaining flour. Work with hands till its ready to knead. Knead for 5 minutes or
so. Place in an oiled bowl and rub little oil on top. Let rise in a warm place
till double in size (1-3 hours - test by seeing if fingerprint remains in
dough). Punch down, fold over edges, turn upside down to rise for another 20-30
min. (test again). Turn onto board, divide into 3 portions. Let rest 10 minutes.
Make 3 loaves. Place in oiled pans. (81/2 x 41/2 x 21/2). Let rise till double
(45 min). Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes. Check doneness by tapping bottom of
loaf - if it sounds hollow its done.
Now....about the Dutch Oven baking . [top]
This recipe will work in two 12" ovens. Just form into two round loaves and
place in greased oven for final rising. When it "ALMOST" doubles its time to
bake. Bake with both top and bottom heat for 2/3's of the time and finish with
only top heat. So for 350 degrees that's 17 coals on the top and 8 on the
bottom. Since it takes about 45 minutes, after 30 minute take oven off bottom
heat and continue with only top heat. Rotate oven every 15 min 1/4 turn for that
first 30 minutes and for the final 15 minutes check to see if bread is evenly
browning. Adjust coal position accordingly.
For more detailed info and recipes there are two books I'm using for help.
The Cornell Bread Book (I got this from Lehmans) by Clive M. McCay and
JeanetteB. McCay
Lovin' Dutch Ovens by Joan Larsen. I got this book from Chuckwagon Supply (along
with my ovens)
http://chuckwagonsupply.com/
For the outdoor brick oven plans see:
http://shell10.ba.best.com/~ovncraft/
Also The Bread Book by Thom Leonard
Both The Bread Book and The Cornell Bread Book can be gotten from Lehmans.
Lehmans 330-857-5757.

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BEER SOURDOUGH FOR BREAD [top]
Mix one can of beer with one cup of flour. Stir and cover lightly and let sit on
the counter for few days till its got that great sour smell. Stir it a few times
a day while its sitting. Then refrigerate and use in any recipe.
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SEVERAL GUYS' SHOPPING LISTS [top]

[I combined several lists here, so there's a lot of duplication. Never mind:
it's still useful to scan through and make sure you didn't completely forget
something important.]
Food:
Dried beans, peas, and lentils
6 cases Power Bars/Survival Bars
Rice, Pasta
Peanut Butter
Powdered Juices, Gatorade, Iced Tea, Milk, Cocoa
Powdered/condensed milk, cheese
Canned/Dehydrated Fruit, Vegetables, Meats, Tuna
Flour
Vegetable Oil/Lard
Spices, Salt, Pepper
Whole Grains (Corn, Barley, Millet)
Sugar
Multi-vitamin/minerals - you can buy now with expiration dates of 01.

Seeds for Gardening:

Eggplant, Tomato, Green Pepper, Squash, Spinach, Lettuce, Green Beans,
Radishes

Herbs to grow indoors in a sunny window:

Basil, Parsley, Oregano

Toiletries:
Soap, Shampoo, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, Fluoride Rinse, Deodorant,
Disposable Razors, Combs, Hair Brush, Sanitary Pads (good as pressure
bandages), OTC pain relievers and medications you use now.

Warm, Waterproof, Windproof clothing. Think wool, Gore-Tex, Thinsulate,

Polarfleece. Spare pairs of shoes/boots, gloves, hats, socks,
underwear. Lots of that stuff is on sale now that it's summer time. If
the power goes out in January lots of people will be cold.

Equipment:
Some type of water filtration/purification and storage system. I'm
using a Katadyne(tm) water filter/purifier.
Can Opener
Food-Grade Airtight Containers
Camp stove and Coleman Fuel (White Gas)
Meat Grinder
HD Aluminum Foil, Oven Roasting Bags, Dutch Oven
Solar Oven, Solar Water Still
Hammer, Roofing Nails, Wood Screws
Hacksaw, Blades, Wood Saw
Hatchet, Chisel/Wedge
3' Crow Bar, 10" Wire Cutters
Good sledge hammer (short handle)
Tow Chain/Straps
24" or 30" Bolt Cutters
CO Detector, Smoke Detector, ABC Fire Extinguisher (2)
Duct/100 MPH Tape
Thick, clear plastic to repair/insulate windows
Sewing materials (needles, thread, patches, fabric)
Solar Lights
Paper, Pens, Pencils
Medical/First Aid Kit
Candles, Matches
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AND..PAPER GOODS

Toilet Paper
Kleenex
Dinner Plates
Napkins
Plastic knives, forks, spoons
Reynolds Wrap Foil
Ziploc Bags - Sandwich
Ziploc Bags - Storage
Rubber dish gloves
Latex disposable gloves
Paper cups

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Soap Bars
Liquid Hand Soap
Liquid Hair Shampoo (Adult)
Liquid Hair Shampoo (Child)
Toothbrushes - Adult - Child
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Deodorant - Mens - Womens
Shaving Blades - Womens - Mens
Shaving Cream
Mouthwash
Astringent

MEDICINE
First Aid book
First Aid Kit
Cough Drops
Aspirin: Adult - Children's
Pepto Bismol
Cold & Allergy
Feminine supplies
Peroxide
Alcohol
Kaopectate
Prescription Drug supply
Vitamins

Coleman metal dinner plates (to hold cheap paper plates)

Dutch Oven
Grain Mill (non electric)
Dish soap
Hot pad holders
Clothes soap
Various food spices
Scrub pads
Thermos (wide mouth type for cooking food)
Electrolytes

TOOLS/EQUIPMENT

Gas Cans
Rubber Mallet
Hammer
Nails
2 cycle oil (if you have a chainsaw)
Stabil gas treatment
Shovels
Wood saws
Work gloves
Wood Axes - Large - Small
Pry Bars - Large - Small
Rope
Heavy duty bolt cutters (just in case)

HEAT/LIGHT

Propane Tanks
Coleman lantern
Coleman stove or backyard BBQ
Coleman lantern mantles
Butane lighters
Flashlights w/batteries
Flashlight bulbs
Candles - 7 day type
Matches - Stick type
Sterno cooking fuel cans
Bags of charcoal
Charcoal Starter tube
Lamps - Aladdin kerosene type
Kerosene
Gasoline
Generator (if you want to use this)
Newspapers for starting fire

MISCELLANEOUS

Wind up or solar type radio

Water buckets
Clothes washing buckets - 15 gallon galvanized type
Metal bucket - for charcoals/ashes
Clothesline

Washboard - for clothes

Clothes Wringer (hand crank)
Clothespins
Bicycle tube repair kit
Bicycle tube (spare)
Bicycle tube hand air pump
Bike rack for carrying supplies
Tire pressure gauge
Disinfectant/Cleaner
Sponges
Watering can - (for do-it-yourself shower)
5 gallon paint bucket w/lid - emergency toilet
Trash bags - 33 gallon size
Trash bags - 13 gallon size (for toilet bucket)
Toilet seat
Ant spray concentrate
Sprayer/Pumper - 2 gallon size
Portable push vacuum
Fire extinguishers)

WATER

Bleach - 1 gallon (5.25%) - to purify water (4 drops/qt. - 2

teaspoons/10 gal - =BC cup/55)
Children's pool - rigid wall type - 6 ft. diameter =3D 200 gallons (for
washing)
Pool water testing kit
Water chlorinating granules (for pool)
Pool tarp - 11 x 16 ft.
Water can - 5 gallon size
Water bag (collapsible) - 5 gallon size
Water/gas funnels
Water Filter
55 gallon water drums (for drinking)
Water pump for drums (hand type)
[top]
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Better Times Cookbook V | Justpeace | Better Times | BobWaldrop.net |Access to
Energy Conservation | On Pilgrimage in Oklahoma City | Bookstore | Better Times
II | Bulgar Bugle | Mutual Aid (Grassroots home and community scale disaster
preparations)