How I came to love Freeze Dried Foods and Emergency Prep

One of the things that made me fall in love with Shelf Reliance was the Q.

Every month I was trying to set aside a bit of money sometimes $50 and sometimes more like $200, depending on what I thought we needed to add to our families Emergency Food & Supplies Storage. 

So I would have to reevaluate what our family needed every month, and would find those things on sale and save them.

PROBLEMS:

• Re-evaluating every  month
• Remembering to set the money aside
• Playing catch up when I'd forgotten to neglected for several months.
• BIGGEST problem...When I did find things on sale... Shelf life is typically 2yrs or less.
• Buying food my family didn't typically eat because the food we eat dosn't store for long periods of time! ("foodsaving" a few bannanas and check back in 2 years... LOL)

HOW DID THE Q ANSWER ALL THESE PROBLEMS?

1. I was able to set a budget and count on that every month!!
2. I had a saved food plan and didn't have to double check every month. And this food plan was LEGIT!
3. Since it was automatic and at a set budget...I never have to play catch up (which isn't fun for play month in a budget)
4. Hooray the food I was buying was going to last 25 years!! 
• With NO PRESERVATIVES
• NO SUGAR
• NO SALT!!!
• With the same (sometimes better) nutritional value than what I would get fresh at the store!
• I wasn't relying on canned corn and chili in time of emergency!
5. Now I was buying the food my family ate like broccoli, strawberries, bananas, peas, white chicken, sausage...
6. TADA!!!!!!!!!! It's delivered to your door with excellent shipping prices!! You can't beat that! $7-$15 ships a typical Q!

What I DIDN'T realize...

(When I started I thought I was saving for my family and making an investment...But I was in a for a happy surprise)
(And I'll try no to make this part to long....)

1. I was going to  be saving sooooo much time by using these
2. I was going to be able to make FAST, HEALTHY and delicious meals my family would LOVE.
3. I was going to love these as much or more than the fresh foods...
4. I would save money not running to the store for milk which always resulted in 2-4 bag of other "must haves" equaling $30-$60 (The milk is the BEST powdered milk you have HAD!)
5. I would always have on hand items that I was always running out of... milk, eggs, apples, onions, peppers, bannanas...
6. I would love the EGGS...I was terrified the first time I used powdered eggs...now I can't live without them!!
7. I could pull together a delicious meal in 5-10 mins! (and it would smell like I'd just spent an hour chopping fresh foods!)

Thank goodness for these THRIVE foods and Shelf Reliance, they have helped me:

• Be a better mom, with good for you snacks
• Be a better cook, with healthy foods on hand for my "go-to's" and "hurry and make something for dinner" meals
• Run a safe household...Knowing that my children and family are prepared is a great feeling!

Southwest Layered Nachos

These Southwest Layered Nachos are a breath of Fresh yummy air when you wish you were out to eat...just to get something different than your every day cooking...
THRIVE has made this such a delicious and Yummy meal you'll be making it once a week for the whole summer!

First the Salsa
I whip this up and set it aside to hydrate and it's ready to go.
Put all ingredients in a mason jar-
1 can of petite diced tomatoes (if I had fresh..I would!)
1/3 C THRIVE Red and Green Bell Peppers
1/3 C THRIVE Onions ( I've used the FD or Dehydrated)
1-2 tesp. sea salt or Kosher Salt
1 T. Garlic
Have any Fresh Cilantro? I use a fist full...
1 Half of a Lemon's Juice

Put the lid on Shake and Set aside for dinner!


The Beans
Boil 4 Cups of water
add to that:
1 Cup THRIVE Instant Black Instant Beans
1 Cup THRIVE Instant Red Beans
a half a Jalapeño Chopped

Boil 10-15 minutes till tender and Drain.

Add 1/3 C Brown Sugar
a few Table Spoons of Mustard
2T Onions.
Simmer and stir till well blended and coated.

Pan Boil Chicken Breasts with:
2T THRIVE Onions
2-4T Thrive Green and Red Bell Peppers
and Sprinkle a tad of salt over the top.
Cover with a lid and cook for about 5-10 minutes watching constantly, to avoid to high a heat. Flip and add a little butter or oil to grill. Cook till throughly done.
Remove and Slice or Shread to top the Chips


You Might also want:
Fresh sliced Lettuce
Sliced Olives
Sour Cream
Guacamole ( Use THRIVE Onions and Peppers!)

Assembley is what makes this beauty come together. I put it on my cast-iron skillit for easy entry in the oven.
Here's How I layer mine:

Salsa , Sour Cream and Guacamole

Lettuce

Cheese

Chicken

Chips

Cheese

Beans

Chips

I put it in the oven after each batch of Cheese, It melts perfectly and everything is hot and ready when it comes together!! YUM!!

I used Thrive Motzerella & Cheddar Cheese here and these could be baked on a camp stove and toasted by the son if you were super desperate! We have used Indian fry bread and made some happy campers before!

Can you use fresh Motzerella? I do when I bake this for my family, but most other THRIVE ingredients make this a Quick, Simple and Inexpensive Dinner that will make everyone Happy.

Best tip: Food Should Taste Good! has the best chips ever, super healthy and yummiest ever!! Try looking at costco, or in the health food section, Pictured are the "Sweet Potato" Chips, Multi Grain or Lime are delicious as well!!