Dehydrated Tomato Chip Recipe

If you like tomatoes then this dehydrator recipe is for you! I love Tomato Chips and I bet you will too!

Ingredients:

·        4 - 6 Roma Tomatoes

·        Garlic powder, sea salt, pepper, basil, oregano, or any other seasoning you like. (I also like lemon pepper)

Directions:

Slice the Roma Tomatoes in 1/4 inch slices and place on dehydrator tray. Sprinkle your choice of seasoning on top of Tomatoes. Dehydrate for 12 - 24 hours until they are crunchy and no longer soft. These make a great healthy snack!

Bug Out Vehicles and Survival

Going to talk about bug out vehicles today for a bit. People seem to think that you need an armored tank or something. While this might be nice in some instances, it's not really needed or required. To my way of thinking it is much better to have a vehicle that can get you out of a situation and into a better one quickly. Some of the bigger vehicles may be nice and offer some protection but if they are really slow and too big and clumsy to get away then what is the point? Anyone could set up a road block and wait you out. It's as simple as that.

What I want is something small and quick that I can get out of in a hurry if I need to. I prefer either an ATV or an Argo Amphibious Vehicle. These vehicles are very versatile, can go just about anywhere you want to go, are not big and clumsy, and give me the option to leave the vehicle quickly if I need to.

Now some are going to say, what about the elements? You have no shelter. Well, my answer to that is that there are plenty of places out there to take shelter without staying in your vehicle. Ever heard of a tent? Or how about building a shelter? You don't need to have a shelter attached to your vehicle that will just tie you down and make it harder for you to travel quickly and quietly.

It's hard to sneak around when you are driving a diesel or a school bus. You won't make it unnoticed and you will be a nice moving target that is easily followed. An ATV is small and can go places the bigger  vehicles can't, making a whole lot more difficult for people to follow you.     

Mayan Calendar

Well, the end of the Mayan calendar is tomorrow. Some of you may think the world will end. I don't, however I am not going hold it against those that do. Even today's calendar's end and then start over in the New Year. The Mayan long calendar is just coming to an end it is the beginning of the new calendar period. Just like our calendars of today.  

However, it never hurts to have things in order and have supplies set aside for an emergency situation. At some point in your life or in the lives of your children, they might be needed. You never know when a tornado might hit or an earthquake. Life is unpredictable and you must be prepared for all events that could happen. That is what this blog is about. Being prepared for emergency situations. Taking care of yourself and your family. Taking responsibility for your lives and the lives of your loved ones. You can't count on other people to do it for you. The government can only do so much and can only respond so fast to an emergency situation. You have to be prepared to help yourself.

Gun Safety and Children

I'd like to take a moment and talk about children and gun safety. Even if you are a survivalist, even if you have trained your children how to handle firearms, they still need to know how to act around an unknown firearm or any firearm when they are not properly supervised. One of the best programs for this is the NRA Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program. It's very simple and teaches kids one very simple rule. "If you see a gun, STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult!"

I don't care who you are or what your training is or who your child is or how much training your child has. In an unsupervised situation when your child is not directly under your supervision then the above rule should always apply! In fact I'll take it a step further. If your child does have training with guns then they should be the first ones to obey the above rule and make sure other children they may be with know how to react if they come in contact with a gun.

The above rule also pertains to someone carrying a gun. If your child sees any gun, on the ground, just laying around, hidden, or carried by someone, doesn't matter where the gun is the above rule still applies. Whether the person who has the gun is a child or an adult. If your child sees a gun teach them the above rule on how to deal with it! "If you see a gun, STOP! Don't Touch. Leave the Area. Tell an Adult!"

My suggestion, look into the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program! It can be found on the internet at the NRA Site. For more information go here   http://eddieeagle.nra.org/

Honey & Cinnamon Dehydrated Apples!

These are great! Honey & Cinnamon Dehydrated Apples!

Ingredients:

4-6 apples

4 tbsp honey

2 tsp lemon juice (to keep the apples from browning)

cinnamon powder

Directions:

1. Slice apples thinly (peel them if you would like)

2.   Mix honey and lemon juice

3. Place apples in Ziploc baggy and pour in honey mixture

4. Close bag and shake until the apple slices are completely coated

5.  Lay apple slices in single layers in food dehydrator

6. Sprinkle with cinnamon powder

7. Dehydrate for 4 to 6 hours

 

Do you own a live trap?

 
My suggestion for you today is to purchase a live trap. I prefer a medium sized one and a small one. The small one can be used to catch quail, pigeons, and other birds, rabbits, skunks, and other small animals. The medium sized one is great for catching raccoons, skunks, cats, chickens, possum, and other medium sized animals. 

Why do you need this? There are three main reasons. The first reason is, if you have a predator that is killing off your live stock or digging up your garden, then it is nice to be able to trap these predators and vermin before they destroy your food supply. A live trap is great for this because you can catch the animal responsible for the problem and kill it. However, if you accidentally catch your house cat then the trap doesn't hurt it and you can just release it. 

The second reason is that you can catch food animals. Quail, pigeons, rabbits, squirrels, and other animals that you can catch in a live trap are also resources that you can use to supplement your food supply. It never hurts to have another source of food. 

The third reason is that although some of the animals that you catch are not good food animals, they do have very good skins. Learn how to properly use the trap, learn how to properly kill the animal, and then learn how to properly skin the animal. Then you can learn how to tan the hide and use the leather or the fur for your benefit. The furs and leather will also make good trade items. 

The other great thing about live traps is that they are so easy to set and use that kids can do it. I taught my five year old niece how to set mine one evening and that night she caught a raccoon. In fact, my brother and I used to set them all the time when I was a kid just for the fun of seeing what we had caught. When we caught a dangerous wild animal then we would get our parents to help us either let it go or shoot it. If we just caught a cat or a bird then we would let it go ourselves.

So, my suggestion for you is to purchase at least two live traps.

Doomsday Preppers The Time of Reckoning

If you watched this episode you can see exactly what happens when people don't know how to handle firearms correctly. However, the fact that these two guys obviously didn't know what they were doing caused Tom to get seriously hurt and  could even have caused him to lose his hearing. And while he was yelling at Steve about firing inside the blind I didn't see Tom trying to stop him from doing it. He was standing right beside him and didn't stop him and they were both aiming out the window of the blind. So, I can't say it was just Steve's fault. Seems to me that they were both at fault. So, I'm thinking neither one of these guys is going to make it very far.

Chocolate Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups Recipe for the Dehydrator

Got a great new dehydrator recipe for you today! Strawberry Chocolate Fruit Roll-Ups! I know, they sound great don't they! They are really tasty too! Here's what you need!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup fresh or frozen strawberries (I like the fresh ones better)

1/2 cup chocolate chips (I prefer them melted and then pureed with the rest)

1/3 cup white grape juice

1/2 cup any flavor applesauce (I prefer the berry flavored)

Instructions:

Puree all ingredients in the blender to a smooth consistency. Cover your dehydrator sheet with plastic wrap and then spread on the puree evenly about 1/4 inch thick. Your dehydrator should be set for 135 degrees for 8 to 10 hours until firm and not sticky. When done remove the plastic wrap and place on parchment paper or wax paper. Then cut into strips and roll up! To store place in plastic wrap or mason jars. They should stay fresh for up to 3 to 4 weeks if stored properly.

Enjoy the recipe!

Ghillie Suit

Would like to talk to day about survival clothing. When you make your survival kit you want to have the basic clothing at least 2 changes or more. This includes a long sleeved and short sleeved shirt, pants, shorts, underwear, socks, gloves, and jackets. However, I would like to recommend that you add to that. I would recommend that you purchase a some camouflage clothing or a ghillie suit. A ghillie suit is a special type of  camouflage clothing. In short, it makes you look like a walking bush, tree, or swamp monster! The suite itself looks like heavy foliage so it is the perfect clothing to wear if you are trying to blend in with your surrounding out in the wild. This is important if you are having to go out on patrol to safeguard your home or shelter, if you are going out to hunt food, or if you are trying to evade something or someone that is dangerous to you or your family. Most ghillie suits can be purchased for between $60.00 to $250.00 and it is well worth the price.

Emergency Food Storage Handbook

I'd like to recommend a book today. It's called "Emergency Food Storage & Survival Handbook." This is a great book for those of you who are just getting started with your preps. It gives you 10 steps to follow to create an affordable food storage program for your household. This is great for people who are just getting started and it will also help those who have already started but may need some good tips. It shows you how to prepare your own household grocery store and pharmacy. It teaches you how to rotate your stores and use them effectively. It gives instructions on how to store water safely and how to provide effective sanitation. It gives instructions on how to prepare a good first-aid kit, a car kit, and a 72 hour pack/emergency kit for your family.

In short, this book will at least teach you and your family how to prepare a three-month supply of the essential items you will need to survive a disaster. It is a very good resource to have!

This book can be purchased here http://www.2012supplies.com/d/ This site is also a very good resource for those of you who are prepping.

How to prepare for a flu pandemic!

Influenza Pandemic? Have you gotten your flu shot this year? What is the best way to prepare for a bad flu outbreak?

Symptoms of the flu:

·        fever

·        cough

·        sore throat

·        stuffy or runny nose

·        muscle aches

·        headaches

·        tiredness

·        nausea & vomiting

·        diarrhea

What to do if you think you have the flu.

·        Stay home until you are well! Do not go out and spread the flu virus to the public, your coworkers, and friends!

·        Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze! Again, keep your distance from others to help prevent the spread of the virus.

·        Make sure to throw away all of your used tissue!

·        Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer especially before you touch your face, nose, or mouth.

·        Drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration and get as much rest as you can.

·        If and when you go to the doctor or the emergency room ask for a mask. This not only will help prevent you from spreading the virus, but it will also help prevent you from picking up other viruses or illnesses.

·        Make sure you take your doctor's advice and ask questions! What is the best medicine to take to relieve the symptoms of the flu? How long will the symptoms last? When should I seek more medical care?

·        Avoid sharing computers, pens, papers, eating utensils, food, towels, blankets, sheets, and other personal items. The more others touch a sick persons personal items the more likely the virus is to be spread to other family members!

·        All sick individuals should be kept isolated in their own room. If a sick person wonders around the house they are more likely to infect a non-sick person.

·        Make sure to clean any area that the infected person has been in. Especially the bathroom, door knobs, light switches, and handles. Wash any surface that people commonly use to help prevent the spread of the virus.

·        Make sure others wash their hands often to prevent the spread of germs. And always wash your hands before taking care of the sick and after taking care of the sick.

As always, if there is a severe flu pandemic you should also have at least a 3 month supply of food available in your house as well as any medications, baby supplies, feminine hygiene products. Make sure you have an emergency radio, flashlights and batteries, and a first aid kit as well. And, don't forget that you need 1 gallon of drinking water per person per day!  

Night Vision Goggles

My recommendation for Night Vision Goggles is the Yukon 1x24 Night Vision Goggle. One of the things I like about this particular item is that can be hand held or hands free. I also like the fact that is used by just one eye. This to me is an advantage. I also like the fact that when attached to your hat or head, it can be flipped up out of the way until you need it. It is not the most expensive piece of equipment out there, but it certainly gives you the best for your money.  All the specifications are listed below as well as the site where I obtained the information!  

 http://www.nightvisionetc.com/74-yukon-nvmt-1x24-night-vision-goggle.html

 

YUKON NVMT 1x24 NIGHT VISION GOGGLE

 

 

 

 

The NVMT 1x24 Head Gear Kit incorporates the exciting element of hands-free night vision with the quality and value of a 1x24 monocular. The NVMT 1x24 monocular uses no magnification so that users can see a clear image with no distortion or change in depth perception. The small, compact monocular is secured to the head gear by a mounting system that sits easily on the front head strap so that the NVMT can be flipped up when not in use or flipped down when activated; the NVMT head gear is designed to be used with your right eye only and can not be interchanged for the left. The 1x24 also features separately activated Pulse™ system IR illuminator that uses a pulsating infrared beam to enhance night vision viewing capabilities. A simple detaching mechanism allows the monocular to be taken off the mount for hand-held use. Additional accessories for the NVMT 1x24 are the NVMT IR Flashlight, Riflescope Conversion Kit and Digital Camera Adapter. The NVMT Goggle 1x24 is backed by Yukon’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

FEATURES

• Hands-free operation
• Versatile
• Compact
• Lightweight
• Easy to use and reliable
• Lens cap loss is prevented by conveniently securing the cap firmly to the monocular body
• Photo/Video equipment adaptable
• Integrated (25mW) IR illuminator with focusing beam
• Integrated “On/Off” and “IR activation” LED indicators
• Two built-in ¼” tripod sockets
• Weather resistant
• Limited Lifetime Warranty

Included Accessories:

• NVMT Head Gear (#29031)
• Protective carrying case
• Wrist strap

Optional Accessories:

• Digital Camera Adapter (#29023)
• Directional Sound Amplification System (#27022)
• NVMT (Sea Wolf) IR Flashlight (#29074)
• NVMT Rifle Conversion Kit (#29045)
• Universal 17” High Table Top Tripod, Window Mount and Rifle Stock / Arm Stabilizer Pad Kit (#29013)

SPECIFICATIONS

Image Intensifier tube classification	Gen 1
Magnification	1x
Lens diameter, mm	24
Field of view, degrees	30º
Resolution (typical), lp/mm	32−36
Focus range, yard	1 to inf.
Eye relief, mm	12
Diopter adjustment, dptr	± 4
Detection distance (approx.), yard	up to 160
IR illuminator effective distance, yard	up to 100
Power supply	3V (CR 123A)
Estimated battery life (w/out IR), hour	up to 30
Operating temperature, °F	-22° to +104°
Dimensions (w/out Head Gear), in	5.6” x 3.4” x 2.4”
Weight (w/out Head Gear), oz	13.4

Sweet Potato Chips Recipe (Raw)

Today I have decided to pass on a basic Sweet Potato Chip dehydrator recipe. This is a very basic simple recipe that uses raw sweet potato. However, do not feel like you have to stick with just putting salt on these. They also taste great if you add a little pepper, lemon pepper, or other spices. Give it a try and play around with the spices until you find the taste that is right for you!  

Introduction

Easy and superb! Easy and superb!

Minutes to Prepare: 10

Number of Servings: 4 or more depending on how big the sweet potato is

Ingredients

2 sweet potatoes/yams, sliced very thin
1 tsp fresh sea salt, to taste 

Directions

Slice sweet potatoes as thin as possible. Sprinkle salt over the top and toss to distribute evenly.

Set slices in a single layer on a dehydrator sheet and dehydrate at 115 for 12-20 hours, depending on the humidity outside, etc.

Store in airtight baggy/container and enjoy! Sooo crisp and delicious! 

Here is the site where I got this recipe http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=778811

 

 

Sorry for the delay in posting.

I'm sorry for the long delay in posting. I've been ill and am now just starting to feel better.

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

 

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

This item can be found here  http://airsoft-club.com/shop/tactical-gear/tactical-vest/usmc-hunting-combat-tactical-vest-type-a-black?gclid=CPyrh_j-3rMCFQKRPAodoCsAXQ

 

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!

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



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.