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Monday, November 26, 2012

Oatmeal cookie recipe for the dehydrator


I came across this recipe the other day while I was searching the net. It is a dehydrator oatmeal cookie recipe. I thought it looked pretty neat and it sounds great! So, I am passing it along! This recipe takes about 12 hrs to dehydrate and takes about 20 minutes of prep time.

Ingredients:

·        2 cups oats

·        1/2 cup almonds

·        1/2 cup raisins

·        1/2 cup agave nectar (or maple syrup)

·        1/4 cup cashews

Directions:

1. Put oats in food processor and grind until fine. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

2. Put almonds in food processor and pulse a few times to chop them until just coarsely chopped. Transfer to the bowl with the oats.

3. Add raisins and agave nectar to the bowl and mix everything well.

4. Grind cashews in coffee grinder, and use this to coat your palms as you handle the cookie batter.

5. Take small chunks of dough and flatten into rounds on the mesh sheet of a dehydrator tray.

6. Dehydrate for about 12 hours on 110 degrees. Dehydrating time will vary according to how thick you've made the cookies and the desired chewy/crunchy-ness.

Here is the site I got the recipe off of. http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-cookies-raw-vegan-316481
 

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Tactical Tuesday


Today I'm going to share a tactical vest that I found on-line at a very reasonable price. It's only $19.99.  I would say that that makes it a great offer! Has a holster and lots of pouches to carry stuff. Here are the features.
USMC Hunting Combat Tactical Vest Type A Black
$19.99

Model: AS267

FEATURES:
·  Made by high density nylon material.

·  Zipper front open.

·  Adjustable waist belt and girth.

·  Including all pouches and accessory holders shown in photos.

·  1 triple magazine (detachable) and 2 utility pouch on the front.

·  1 walkie talkie or radio pouch.

·  Universal airsoft gun case with magazine pouch (detachable), suitable for most frame size.

·  2 velcro flip compartments inside the vest front.

·  Detachable waist belt.

·  Cushion pad on right shoulder.

·  Perfect for paintball, war game and other outdoor activities.

DETAILS:
·  Color - Matte black

·  Weight - 1130g



 

Monday, November 19, 2012


Going to go out on a limb here for Dehydrator Monday. I came across this site www.backpackingchef.com the other day and thought it was interesting. Now, just to be honest, I have not yet tried the recipes on this site. However, they do look interesting to say the least. The recipe I have decided to share today is from this site. Since Thanksgiving is in just a couple of days I thought the recipe for Pumpkin Pie Bark sounded good.  Give it a try and let me know your thoughts!
Pumpkin Pie Bark

Uses for Pumpkin Pie Bark:

·        No-Crust Pumpkin Pie! Just add water.

·        Makes a chewy snack while hiking.

·        High in Vitamin A and fiber.

Ingredients:

·        1 15 ounce can pumpkin

·        ¼ cup real maple syrup

·        2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice)

Combine pumpkin with maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice. Use real maple syrup for best results. Stir until ingredients are mixed well. You don't need to use a blender.
Spread thinly (about eighth inch) on dehydrator trays covered with Excalibur Paraflexx® sheets, parchment paper, or plastic wrap.
Dehydrate at 135° for eight hours until brittle. After about five hours, flip the bark over using the “flip-trick” as follows: Place a spare dehydrator tray on top of the Bark and flip the two trays over so that the bottom side of the Bark is now facing up. This will ensure complete drying. The flip-trick is very easy with Excalibur Dehydrator trays. If you don't have an Excalibur, just peel the bark off when the bark is dry enough to hold together and turn it over.

Yield: One 15 ounce can of pumpkin barks down to 1 ½ cups weighing four ounces.
No-Crust Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients:

·        ½ cup Pumpkin Pie Bark

·        ½ cup water

Pumpkin Pie Bark dissolves in hot or cold water. If you want hot pie, stir the Bark with hot water until creamy. I use my candle stove to gently warm the water for pumpkin pie.
Garnish with chopped walnuts or pecans if desired.

Again, the full recipe can be found here http://www.backpackingchef.com/pumpkin-pie-bark.html
They also offer some other really neat sounding recipes! Give their site a try!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Long Term Water Storage for Survival Situations

Came across this site while I was searching the internet. http://www.myfoodstorage.com/other-products-1/water-filters-kits-and-storage.html?gclid=CPPrpo-R1LMCFSOnPAod1G0A7g

5 Gallon Water Box

This is one of their products it stores 5 gallons of water. It is basically a cardboard box with a bag inside. I am wondering if they would hold up if you stacked them on top of one another? Or, if the weight would eventually make the bottom box crumble. Has anyone out there used these? Would love to have your feedback.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

EMP Pulse Preparedness


I'm going to talk a little bit about solar power today. Now, there are some preppers out there that think that technology/electronics are going to be obsolete in a doomsday survival situation especially in the case of an EMP (Electro Magnetic Pulse) attack or damage to the power grid. I, however, don't think so. I think a little technology can go a long way especially if you prepare right.

Let's look at an EMP or Electro Magnetic Pulse. An EMP is a burst of electromagnetic radiation that results in damaging electric currents and voltage surges. This, in effect, will bring the whole electric grid off line. No electronic devices will work. Now, EMP's can be cause from high energy explosions. Some examples are nuclear explosions or a sudden fluctuation in the magnetic field of the earth caused by a large solar flare on the surface of the sun.

Now, regardless of if you think this may or may not be a possibility, it never hurts to be prepared! There are ways to combat an EMP pulse from ruining your electronics and bringing your electrical usage to a holt. How you ask? By protecting the objects that can be of the most help to you. The best way to protect your electronics from an EMP is to put it in a metal enclosure. Yes, that's what I said. Put the  electronics that you believe will be the most help to you in a completely metal box. A galvanized metal trash can with a metal lid is a great way to protect your electronic devices. 

Keep in mind, that you will not know when an EMP is going to hit. There really is no way to predict them. So, my advice is to store extra electronic equipment in a galvanized metal trash can or other completely metal container ahead of time. I would also place these items in a cardboard box before placing them in the trash can to keep the electronics themselves from touching the metal sides of the trash can or box. Then you can use metal tape to hold the lid on the trash can. That way it is always packed and ready.

Here are a list of the items I would include in my EMP protected enclosure.

·        An tablet PC and or an E-Reader  (Ipad, Nexus, Dell) -  Doesn't matter what brand, the point is they are very useful and able to store a lot of information (maps, survival guides, recipes, etc...). Make sure you store the whole thing along with its power cord. A tablet PC along with a solar charger will make your life a little easier. Download the information on them before hand so it is ready when you take it out. Download some e-books before hand as well. Trust me you will need a source of entertainment.

·        Cell Phone - Again it doesn't matter the brand. These are also good devices to have around because of the apps and information that you can download onto them. As well as being able to make phone calls in certain situations.

·        A couple of Dual Band Radios/walkie-talkies! - I might even put more than a couple of these away. If things do go badly and all electricity and communication is lost because of an EMP, a pair of hand radios is a great way to stay in touch with other people in your party and with Ham Radio users. Make sure your pack all power cables and chargers too.

·        A weather radio is also a good idea to put in there.

·        An MP3 player.

·        Solar Chargers - None  of the equipment above is going to do you any good if you don't have a way to charge them after you get them out. That's were solar chargers come in. There are all kinds of sizes and models out there. There are a lot of options out there and most are affordable, light weight, and can be easily carried in your backpack.

Now a lot of people are going to say, "You can't depend on electronics in a survival situation! They can break, get wet, or any number of things can happen to them!" This is true, but no more true than any electronic that you are currently using. Accidents happen to electronics all the time, but that doesn't stop people from using them if they have them. And, having them can make your life a little easier.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Doomsday Preppers

I'd like to make a little note about the episode of Doomsday Preppers last night. It showed a man now living in Alpine Texas. Here are some facts about Alpine Texas for those of you who have never lived there. It's hot, it's dry, there are very, very, very few trees and even less water! If you want to go somewhere to learn how to live after doomsday has occurred, then Alpine Texas is the place to be. Alpine is pretty much a dying town. Now, I'm not saying that to be mean or harsh, I used to live there. I loved it. However, I lived in the town of Alpine before the college lost its accreditation and when people still basically were able to get along. Now, the stores are closing the restaurants are all closing and it's basically like I said a dying town. If you want to live in an isolated remote area and are used to living in a dessert climate then the Alpine, Marfa, and Van Horn areas are perfect for you. Just be prepared for dry hot temperatures with little shade and little water.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Tactical Tuesdays!

 
Well, like the title says above, Tuesday will be devoted to tactical/arms/shooting/home defense and that sort of thing. Today we will be talking about choosing a weapon for home defense and what features you should look for. What is the best gun for home defense? This question is asked a lot and there are many answers to this question. It seems that everyone has their favorite. However, if you are new to shooting or guns in general for self defense, then you may not know what to look for. So, I'm going to try to give you some general tips that will help you make a choice. In do so, I'm mostly going to be quoting from The American Rifleman and talking about some of my own personal choices. 

Now, according to the American Rifleman, when looking for a gun for home defense, "Gun buyers should be looking for a firearm and ammunition combination offering an optimum level of stopping power. Overpowered guns produce excessive amounts of recoil, noise and muzzle flash that can leave the home defender deaf, blind and pointed in the wrong direction. More importantly, hot rounds are more likely to pass through the intended target, travel through thin wall or window materials and keep on going to cause unintended damage to others. At the other end of the spectrum, underpowered guns will not stop the threat effectively."  

According to the American Rifleman, one of the best ways to choose a gun for home defense is to look law enforcement agencies and see what they are using. This is a good tip. Law enforcement has basically the same goal in mind as the person looking for a home defensive gun. The goal is to stop the threat without hurting yourself or innocent bystanders, neighbors, etc...So looking at what law enforcement carries is a very good way of helping you choose a good home defense weapon.
 
Now, the American Rifleman there are three types of weapons that make good defensive weapons for the home.

·  Shotguns
·  Rifles
·  Handguns
When choosing a shotgun you need to think not only of the stopping power, but also the recoil. You don't want to choose a shotgun that has a big recoil unless you have the body frame that can handle it! Trust me I know this. I have a small frame and when I first shot a 12 gauge I had the biggest bruise on my arm that I have ever gotten! I don't want to scare you off from this weapon however, if you are a man this gun is probably fine for you. For a smaller framed person or woman a shotgun with less recoil is preferred. The 20 gauge will work just as well as the 12 gauge and have less of a recoil. Having a stock that fits securely to your shoulder is also very important. A person trying to shoot a gun that has a stock that is too long for them is going to have a hard time, not only with the recoil, but also with aiming accurately. However, shotguns with just a hand grip are not recommended because of the lack of accuracy when aiming.
 
Now let's look at rifles. I'm going to quote here from the American Rifleman again because they seem to say it best! "If you want a rifle for home-defense, then consider a tactical semi-auto or pistol-caliber carbine.
 
In the last few years, the popularity of tactical rifles, also called modern sporting rifles, has skyrocketed. The most popular seem to be those based on the AR-15 design. Other examples of this breed include the AK-47, M1 Carbine and Ruger Mini-14. These rifles are light, easy to shoot, produce low levels of recoil and provide plenty of ammunition.

Rifles are powerful defensive firearms with some models offering stopping power similar to a shotgun, but without as much recoil. For home defenders who live in rural areas, rifles can provide the added range and accuracy needed to deal with pests of the four-legged variety. Like the shotgun, a rifle's length may make it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. The other drawback to tactical rifles is the high price tag. In some cases, you can buy two or three defensive shotguns for the price of one tactical rifle."
 
Now let's move on to handguns. According to the American Rifleman, "Handguns continue to be among the most regularly purchased home-defense firearms for several reasons. They are the easy to maneuver in confined spaces, and they can be held and fired with one hand, leaving the other hand free to operate a flashlight, open doors and so on. They can be held close to the body to help prevent them from being grabbed or knocked away by an intruder. A handgun's compact size allows it to be stored in a small space, like a strong box in a dresser drawer. The market is currently replete with excellent defensive handgun options.
 
The two most common types of defensive handguns are double-action revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Double-action revolvers have a cylinder that swings out to one side for loading and unloading and usually have a five- to six-round capacity. Revolvers are easy to learn to operate and very reliable. They do not have buttons, levers or switches. Just pull the trigger and the gun fires. Defensive revolvers are most often found chambered in .38 Spl. and .357 Mag. Loading a revolver with .38 Spl. +P ammunition can increase the revolver’s stopping power without the flash and recoil associated with .357 Mag. loads. A 3- to 4-inch barrel is usually recommended for use in the home.
 
Semi-automatic pistols use a box magazine to load the ammunition. These pistols can be more complicated to operate but they have a lighter trigger pull, hold more ammunition and can be reloaded more quickly than a revolver. Some of the most commonly available semi-automatic pistol cartridges for defense include the 9mm Luger, .45 ACP and .40 S&W. Full-size, also known as duty-size, pistols offer larger magazine capacities and longer grips for more comfortable practice than the compact and sub-compact pistols favored for legal concealed carry.

Although handguns are useful for home-defense, they are, on the whole, weak stoppers when compared to rifles and shotguns. The rule of thumb when selecting a defensive handgun is to choose the most powerful cartridge you can comfortably handle. The exception to this rule is the high-power hunting handgun calibers like .44 Mag., .454 Casull and .500 S&W, which should be avoided. Just like a hunting rifle, the flash and report of these cartridges will leave home defenders deaf and blind when they need their senses the most, and the bullet is very likely to over penetrate the target."
 
 
The article that I have quoted from above can be found here. http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/best-gun-for-home-defense/

Now, be careful with your selection of a firearm for home defense. I would recommend going to a range and firing the types that interest you and then picking the one that feels the most comfortable. Besides, whichever gun you pick you need to practice with to become proficient in its use. A gun is not going to do you any good if you don't know how to use it safely and effectively. Practice makes perfect!
Feel free to offer your suggestions and tell us your favorite gun for home defense!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Dehydrator Recipe Monday's


Ok, as the title says, every Monday I will be posting a new dehydrator recipe. Dehydrators are great when you are preparing food for storage. People have been dehydrating food for centuries! It is not a new technique. "For centuries, dehydrating food has been seen as a survival necessity. Many believe this preservation method is the safest, most affordable and best way to preserve flavors of foods. The dehydration process removes moisture from the food so that bacteria, yeast and mold cannot grow. The added benefit is the dehydration process minimally effects the nutritional content of food. In fact, when using an in-home dehydration unit, 3%-5% of the nutritional content is lost compared to the canning method which losses 60%-80% of the nutritional content. Additionally, vitamins A and C, carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, magnesium, selenium and sodium are not altered or lost in the drying process. Therefore, the end result is nutrient packed food that can be stored long term." For the rest of the article that I quoted you can find it here http://readynutrition.com/resources/dehydrate-foods-for-long-term-storage_31032010/

The above article is very informative. It gives you the basics on why food dehydration is good for survival, how to dehydrate food effectively, how long the food will last, and the best ways to store dehydrated food.  

Now for the recipe! I am including a short video from youtube that shows a great beef jerky recipe! It walks you through all the steps of making this beef jerky recipe and is great for first time beef jerky makers! Enjoy!


Sunday, November 11, 2012

What are you doing to prepare?


Ok, so December 21 is fast approaching. You may or may not believe that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012. And, even if you don't many people believe that the US and quite possibly the whole world is headed for disaster of some type, maybe not on December 21, 2012, but at some time in the future. Many of people are preparing for this. Now, even if you don't believe that something is going to happen, it never hurts to be prepared for a disaster. Disasters don't have to happen to the whole world or the whole US, they can happen to just your state or your city or town. Tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and fires are just some examples of common disasters that can affect your life and the life of your family. Look at the east coast right now and what is happening there. People without power, without shelter, without heat, without food, without drinking water, and without fuel. Point is disaster can happen at any time. Whether you expect it or not.

Let's focus on the east coast right now. Look at what's happening to the people there. There is a lot of chaos and these people had warning of the storm that was going to hit. They were told that Hurricane Sandy was coming, they were told that they should either evacuate or prepare for it. They were told to prepare. Look at the people there today. It is quite obvious that most of the people affected by this storm did not prepare or did not prepare adequately enough.  

What could these people have done to help themselves? Well here's a small list of items that the average person should have on hand just in case a disaster should by chance happen to them. Now this is not by any means a complete list. This is just a beginning list.
 
Shelter

·       Tent
·       Tarp
·       or know of a safe place you can relocate too

Warmth

·       Fire starting equipment, matches, lighter, wood, newspaper, sticks, flint, magnifying glass, magnesium block fire starter, etc...
·       Portable camp stove, sterno burner, portable gas heater, generator, etc...
·       Candles and lanterns are also a source of heat
·       Propane, kerosene, or fuel for your lanterns, stoves, and heaters
·       Make sure you have your fire starting equipment stored in waterproof containers and in a safe dry place. It won't help you if your matches are wet and won't strike.
·       Blankets! Make sure you have extra blankets or sleeping bags to help you keep warm!
·       Extra flashlights and batteries!

Food & Water

·       Have at the very, very, very least a 3 day supply (for each person) of food and water on hand! This might not be enough but it will at least help you and your family get by until you can find more!
·       Dried fruit and vegetables are great to have for emergency use
·       Oatmeal, powdered milk, powdered eggs are great to have
·       Granola bars, energy bars, sports bars, cereal bars, are also great to have around
·       Crackers, wafers, biscuits, are great to have around
·       Canned meats, summer sausage
·       Canned goods, can openers, pots and pans to cook with, cups and plates to eat off of
·       Peanuts and other nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanut butter
·       Water! Have at least 1 gallon of water on hand for each person for three days if not more! Make sure this water is ready to drink! It won't do you any good to have empty containers that are not already filled! They need to be filled and ready to go!
·       If you have a child or an infant make sure you have the food items you need for them (Formula, baby food, extra bottles, snack foods). 

Clothing

·       Have at least a couple of days of clothing on hand and ready to go. This will not only help you stay dry and warm, but it will also help you stay clean.
·       Shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve)
·       Socks
·       Pants (long and short)
·       Underwear (long and short)
·       Hats
·       Jackets
·       Rain jacket, slicker, or poncho
·       Extra pair of shoes 

Medicine

·       Either have on hand extra prescription drugs that you are taking or have your prescriptions in a place you can get them quickly if you have to go to another place to be safe. It is always preferable to have extra on hand already packed and ready to go.
·       First aid kit! Bandages all sizes, antibiotic ointment, painkillers, burn ointment, tape, scissors , icepacks, sting swabs, alcohol swabs, peroxide, needles, tweezers, are all good to have.
·       Allergy medications, cough and cold medication, antibiotics
·       Eye drops, bacterial wipes  

 Toiletry Items

·       Soap, detergent, toothpaste
·       Towels and washcloths
·       Shaving products, toothbrush, clippers, small scissors
·        Toilet paper, paper towels, cotton balls,
·       Tampons or feminine napkins
·       If you have an infant make sure you have extra diapers around!  

Now, like I said above, this is not a complete list but this will at least get you started and get you the main things you need to survive until help gets to you. There is also one other consideration I should mention. If you have pets make sure you have a safe place to leave them, or if you are taking them with you, or keeping them with you, make sure you have the things they require as well. They also need a supply of food and water.

I hope this helps you be at the very least a little better prepare. One other note. Don't sit around and think someone else is going to do it for you. You have to take your life and your survival in your own hands. It's your responsibility to take care of yourself! Take responsibility for your own life! Others may not be able to get to you quickly and help may not get there right away. You have to be prepared!