All 12 weeks from 2015 in one spot!

As per the request of many friends in our ward, I'm listing all 12 weeks from the program I did the last few months of 2015. Let me know if you have any questions!

How to obtain a 3 month supply

of Food Storage (dinners) in 12 weeks weeks.

Here is a very easy and inexpensive 12 week "rotating" food storage program, which will get a family of four (or adjust to your needs) a 3 month supply of rotate-able food storage dinners within 12 weeks. It's basically 7 meals that your family enjoys and will eat once a week, for 12 weeks, plus water and other necessities.

Each week there will be a simple meal idea in each Sunday bulletin. When followed, it will provide a 3 months supply of dinners for a family of 4 by the end of the year. If your family doesn't like these meals, substitute it for something else, but make a goal to do it!

Week 1:

6 lb of spaghetti (8 oz. per meal multiplied by 12 weeks)

12 - 8 oz. packages

12 jars of 26 oz spaghetti sauce with meat (for protein)

Total cost: Approx. $30

Boil noodles according to package directions. Drain water.

Add sauce to noodles. Stir and heat through. Serves 4.

Also add to storage:

2 Gallons of Water

2 Toothbrushes

“And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” Mosiah 4:27

Week 2:

Tuna Noodle Casserole (serves 4-6)

-spiral noodles (8 oz) – need 6 lbs. total (x12)

-1 can Tuna (drain) – 12 cans total

-1 can Cream of Mushroom soup – 12 can total

2/3 c. milk (can use powdered milk) – need 2 quarts worth

Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain. Arrange noodles and Tuna fish in layers in casserole dish. Combine soup and milk. Pour over noodles. Salt and Pepper to taste. Top with cheese, if available. Bake 375° for about 25 minutes.

Also Add:

-1 Gallon Water

-12 pack toilet paper

"Let us be in a position so we are able to not only feed ourselves through home production and storage, but others as well." (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, Oct. 1980)

Week 3:

This is an easy week!

2 Large Cans Stew or Chili (serves 4-6). Heat through.

Need 24 cans total

Also Add:

-2 Gallons Water

-3 bottles shampoo and conditioner

“Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. We could refer to all the components of personal and family preparedness, not in relation to holocaust or disaster, but in cultivating a life-style that is on a day to day basis its own reward. Let's do these

things because they are right, because they are satisfying, and

because we are obedient to the counsels of the Lord.”

-Spencer W. Kimball, Sept. 30, 1976

Week 4:

-2 cans Cream of Chicken soup (24 cans total)

-1 can chicken (12 cans total)

-4 cups hot cooked rice (24 cups dry rice total)

Cook rice as directed. Add chicken to Soup to create gravy and heat. Serve “Chicken Gravy” over rice. You can top this with a wide variety of canned or fresh items. 
 Purchase 12 cans/servings of each of the following possible toppings to create your 3 month supply:

Olives, dehydrated onion, dehydrated/freeze-dried peppers, pineapple chunks, freeze-dried cheese, almonds, coconut, tomatoes, peas, corn

mandarin oranges, mushrooms, etc.

Also Add:

1 Gallon Water

Sanitary Supplies as needed

“I invite you to prepare so that you shall not fear. I testify of the peace of mind that comes from obeying this counsel and laying up in store the supplies that can help us weather the storms of life. “ 

President Eyring, Nov. 1998 and Jan. 2009 Ensign.

Week 5:

Taco Soup

(I call this my “case lot sale soup”!)

This will feed a family of 4+ for lunch AND dinner for a day (or longer)!

1 pound ground beef, or 1 cup freeze-dried beef crumbles or TVP

(12 lbs. Ground beef or 12 cups total of TVP/beef crumbles)

1 pkg taco seasoning (12 total)

1 – 15 ounce can pinto beans (12 total)

1 – 15 ounce can kidney beans (12 total)

1 – 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed (12 total)

1 Large can diced tomatoes (12 total)

1 Small Can chopped green chilies (12 total)

1 can corn (12 total)

1 – 8 ounce can tomato sauce (12 total)

¼ cup dried onions (3 cups total)

1-2 cups water

Do not drain any canned items except the black beans. Brown fresh beef with onions and taco seasoning if needed, before adding it to everything else. Otherwise, combine ALL ingredients in large pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes (or longer for softer beans/more flavor). 
Top with desired garnishes (cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, etc.)

Also Add:

1 Gallon Water

3 bars of soap

“O be wise; what can I say more?” -Jacob 6:12

Week 6:

Bean Burrito Enchiladas

1 (16 oz) can Refried Beans (12 total)

1 (12 oz) can Red Enchilada sauce (12 total)

8 Flour Tortillas (recipe below) (make as needed each week)

2 cups flour (or grind your own) (24 total cups)

½ tsp. Salt (3 tsp total)

¾ cup water

3 Tbsp coconut (or olive) oil (36 Tbsp. Total)

Directions for flour tortillas

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Stir in water and oil. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 10-12 times, adding a little flour or water if needed to achieve a smooth dough. Let rest for 10 minutes.
Divide dough into eight portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 7-in. circle.
In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook tortillas over medium heat for 1 minute on each side or until lightly browned. Keep warm. Yield: 8 tortillas.

Next, create 8 Bean Burritos by placing refried beans inside tortilla and rolling up. Then layer them in a 9X13 pan. Pour sauce over the top. Then add cheese to top, if available. Bake at 350° until sauce is bubbly. When done, add other things on top as available... olives, sour cream, etc.

Also Add:

1 Gallon Water

1 Tube of Toothpaste

“I bear my humble witness to you that the great God of heaven will open doors and means in a way we never would have supposed to help all those who truly want to get their year’s supply.” (Vaughn J. Featherstone) 

Week 7:

Other “Needful Things” to add to your 12 week supply:

Fluffy Eggless Pancakes and Syrup (Yields 8, double if desired)

1 cup all-purpose flour (12 cups total)
1 teaspoon sugar (¼ cup total)
1 teaspoon cinnamon (¼ cup total)
2 teaspoon baking powder (½ cup total)
1 cup reconstituted powdered milk (3 Tbsp per 8 oz. Water, mixed. 2 ¼ c. powdered milk total)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (¾ cup total)
1 tablespoon water (¾ cup total)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (¼ cup total)
2 tablespoon butter/butter powder (1 ½ cup total)

Syrup:

1 cup water (12 cups total)

2 cups sugar (24 cups total)

1 tsp. Mapeline flavoring (¼ cup total)

Pancakes: Combine dry ingredients and mix slightly. Add milk (reconstitute powdered milk first), oil, water, and vanilla. Whisk together until just combined. Be careful not to over mix - it should still be slightly lumpy. Set aside to rest for a few minutes. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. While pan is heating, add butter (or butter powder, reconstituted). As soon as the butter is melted, add melted butter to pancake batter. Return pan to stove. When pan is hot, with a measuring cup or ladle, pour 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface. Carefully flip pancakes with turner/spatula and cook until golden brown. Note: This recipe also works well with whole wheat flour. Chopped fruit, nuts or chocolate chips can be added to batter before cooking for a unique treat. Syrup: Bring water to a boil, add sugar. After the sugar has dissolved, turn off heat, add mapeline.

Also Add:

-1 Gallon Water -2 Deodorant -2 Packages/replacement blades Razors

VaughnJ. Fatherstone; Conference Talk on Food Storage (click on link)

Other “Needful Things” to add to your

12 week supply besides food:

Week 8

- 1 Gallon Water - 3 Months worth Diapers - 1 Large bottle Hand Sanitizer - 1 Large Bottle Lotion - 1 Roll Plastic wrap

"The greatest events spoken of by the Holy Prophets will come along so naturally as the consequences of certain causes, that unless our eyes are enlightened by the Spirit of God, and the spirit of revelation rests upon us, we will fail to see that these are the events predicted by the Holy Prophets.”

(George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discources, Vol 21, 264)

Week 9

-1 Gallon Water

-Purchase or Create First Aid Kit (consider how many will be using it and add more if needed.)

Basic First Aid kit:

-Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves

(if you are allergic to Latex).

-Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.

-Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect. -Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.

-Burn ointment to prevent infection.

-Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.

-Tweezers and needles for splinters, etc.

-Nonstick Sterile Pads for wound healing. (These are recommended for bleeding and draining wounds,

burns, infections.)

-Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminate.

-Thermometer

-Ice pack

-Tylenol and Ibuprofen (Consider babies and children)

-N95 Masks

“There is no need to be anxious about events leading up to the Second Coming. . . The formula is simple: Be faithful. Unencumber your life. Lay up in store.”
 (Bishop Keith B. McMullin)

Week 10

-2 Gallon Water

-1 Roll Aluminum Foil

-Paper Plates/Cups/Utensils (Help reduce use of water)

-1 Bottle Dish Soap

-Laundry Detergent

-1 roll of Dental Floss

“Another fallacy is to believe that the choice to accept or not accept the counsel of prophets is no more than deciding whether to accept good advice and gain its benefits or to stay where we are. But the choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. It becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future. The best time to have decided to help Noah build the ark was the first time he asked. Each time he asked after that, each failure to respond would have lessened sensitivity to the Spirit. And so each time his request would have seemed more foolish, until the rain came. And then it was too late”.

Henry B Eyring in Conference Report, Apr. 1997, 33; or Ensign, May 1997, 25). 

Week 11

-1 Gallon Water

-3 month Supply Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.

-3 Months Supply Baby Wipes

Home Made Baby Wipe recipe

10 Cup Rubbermaid Container
2 ½ Cup HOT water
2 Tbl. Antibacterial Soap
2 Tbl. Olive Oil
A few drops Essential Oils if desired (lavender is my favorite)
½ Big Roll Paper Towels (Bounty Big roll or Bounty Rinse & Reuse)
Cut Paper towels in ½ (width), Remove cardboard.
In sealable container, pour water, oil, & soap, then Mix.
Put ½ paper towel in . Place lid on and turn upside down for 2 hours. (Allowing water mixture to soak through)
Pull wet towel from the middle!
Seal lid when not in use.
“More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared.” 
(President Ezra Taft Benson)


And finally - week 12!

There will ALWAYS be other “Needful Things” to add to your 12 week/emergency supply. Prayerfully ask for personal revelation, as to what Heavenly Father needs you to store. He WILL answer! Thanks for taking this journey with me. I hope you feel peace at the end of this 12 week preparation period. -Tamara Simon

Week 12

Purchase or create a 72 Hour Kit for each member of your family!

(Suggested minimum needs for a 72 Hour Kit):

Water- 1 Gallon (8#) per person per day for 3 days

Food- Minimal or Non-cook, Lightweight, Palatable,

Can opener, Cooking and Eating Utensils.

Clothing - 1 change, Extra Shoes, Raingear, Adequate winter wear,

Bandanna, Hat

Bedding - Sleeping Bag, Blankets(Space Blanket)

Personal Hygiene - Include Feminine Hygiene and Baby Items Sanitation Airtight Bucket or Porta-Potty, Toilet Paper, Newspaper, Soap/Hand Sanitizer, Towel, Disinfectant, Trash Bags, Bleach.

First Aid Kit- Consider Personal Medications

Shelter- Tent or Tarp, Rope 36’

Tools - Pocket Knife, Small tools, Axe, Pointed Shovel

Light - Flashlight, Batteries, Candles, Matches

Communication- Radio, Batteries, 1 whistle per person

Fuel- For Cooking, Light, Heat

Important Papers- Wills, Testaments, Stocks, Securities, Titles, Certificates, Insurance, Current Family Pictures, I.D. Cards and Tags, Inventory of Household Items, Pencil and Paper, Maps, Phone Numbers, Emergency Manual, Car keys, house keys, Books (scriptures, How To’s), other documents.

Activities- Card games, coloring books, crayons, paper, pencil, puzzles, etc. to  keep the morale up, during an emergency.

Money- Cash and Change (Small Bills)

Remember- Keep car gas tank at least half full.

“The great test of this life is obedience”.  President Monson