A huge part of being prepared is knowing what to do with nothing, or what seems like nothing. I have mentioned before about thinking on the fly, and this is an example of that. My husband would call it strategic planning!

One time you need to use this is when you are faced with a bunch of ingredients in the pantry, but you aren’t sure what to make from the strange menagerie you find. It is comforting to have ideas on the back burner that are versatile and flexible. Even better if they are very creative and taste great! I have a file folder of these to use when my brain is stumped or foggy.

Here is an example.

The Galette. It is a neat little free-form pastry, sort of like a pizza, but the crust-edge is folded up over the fillings. It can be a meal, a side dish, OR even a dessert! You can stuff it with whatever you want and can imagine. A galette can be made with pie crust or a yeast crust, like pizza. I have made them stuffed with carmelized onions, feta and tomato, sausage and cheese, and now even as a dessert.

Running out of time preparing dinner for the first night of Sukkot the other day, I hadn’t put much thought into a dessert. I normally make a pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling, crust-free pumpkin pie or a plain old fashioned pie with crust – but I had forgotten to buy whip cream to go on top! Ooops….

I knew we were having our traditional meal of chicken pot pie. And, as we have downsized our meal portions quite a bit, individual pot pies baked in cast iron skillets was my plan. This would leave pie crust dough leftover and I was stilled befuddled at what to make for dessert.

I looked into the refrigerator to grab the onion for the potpie filling, and realized the peaches were going south. They were very soft, bruised and about to be tossed. Waste not want not, right? So, I decided dessert MUST incorporate peaches!

As I closed the door I spotted an open package of cream cheese with half a pack left! And that was ALL I needed for my brain to kick into high gear – dessert was going to be a cinnamon-peach dessert galette with cream cheese filling! A simple treat that would use these items that were almost ready for the trash, and the leftover pie crust from the recipe used in making chicken potpies! A win-win situation. No waste!

After making the pot pies, I rolled out the rest of the pie crust into a nice circle. Then sprinkled cinnamon-sugar mixture lightly on the crust-center, leaving about 1 inch undusted around the perimeter. Next, I mixed together a scant Tbsp of sugar, 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract, and the cream cheese (approx. 4 oz). I spread this over the cinnamon sugar sprinkle, then sliced the peaches and arranged them on top of the cream cheese.

For a filling more like that in a cheese danish, you would need to use 8 oz of cream cheese, the vanilla, sugar, and add 1 egg yolk. Then mix that well and bake in the 400 F degree oven for 25-30 minutes. 

I sprinkled a little more cinnamon-sugar on top of the peaches, then folded the edges on the peaches in typical galette style. It turned out to be about 6 inches in diameter. I baked this at 400 F degrees on parchment covered baking sheet for about 25-30 minutes, until the peaches were soft. After removing from the oven, I placed it on a cooling rack to cool. I stuck it in the refrigerator for a bit, too, after it was cool - just to chill it a bit. So simple! 

You could do this also with apricots, cherries, apples, pears, or even store bought pie filling. It can be changed-up by serving with or without ice cream or whip cream, or even baking with or without cream cheese. If desired, you can drizzle powdered sugar icing over it, or even a little maple syrup! This one was 2 medium servings, or 4 small. Perfect for the two of us!

How did it taste? It was DELICIOUS! I wish I had made two - one for the next morning! 

Print the PDF for your home storage plan - starting using the flexible recipe now or set it aside in a notebook or file folder for those times when you are stumped like I was. Just remember to make it a part of YOUR Strategic Planning for days when YOU are making much ado about nothing! 

Blessings.

-- Judith 
 

This morning, like every morning, social media wants to know what is on my mind...I decided I am going to tell my social media EXACTLY what is on my mind today -

Toilet paper and chicken wings. Yes, you read that right – because that is what is on my mind.

Over the last week I have seen SEVERAL people share a new version of "tattle on your neighbor" happening on social media posts in groups. The groups I have seen that were targeted have been homeschool groups, homesteading groups, and canning groups. There may be others.

Interesting array of groups if you ask me....

The messages being shared say something to the effect of, "Are you concerned that someone you know is becoming too prepared? We care about preventing extremism on (the social media website)...." Then it goes on to explain how others have been helped by reporting their friends and loved ones. And YOU, TOO can be helped as well. Just follow their instructions.

I just want to know why they have not asked ME - because YES, I AM concerned about a lot of people who, over the last 18 months, have become WAY TOO PREPARED. I mean WAAAAAAAAAAAY, too prepared. For WHAT? Honestly, I am not sure for what....it was CLAIMED it was for "lockdown." But WHO in their right mind needs 50 bulk packages of toilet paper from Costco?  And where did all the chicken wings disappear to over the last 18 months? Because SOMEONE is hoarding them like crazy, and I think social media needs to investigate.

Then there was a 30-something individual we saw locally last year, who had TWO CARTS filled to over-flowing at the Dollar General one day. It was filled with Pop Tarts, CapN Crunch, Corn Pops, EVERY Flavor of Cheerios, mac n' cheese, canned corn beef hash, and every other kind of prepared or frozen food you could imagine. And each cart was easily piled 2 feet above the top rim. I think THEY are someone FB needs to check into – because they were WAY TOO PREPARED for what appeared to be a Super Bowl sleepover party, in the off-season.

How about the people who bought cases and cases of isopropyl alcohol? Peroxide? They were WAY to prepared for something, too. But again, what?

The list could go on and on, but seriously, who do they think they are to decide WHO is too prepared – and for what? I have spoken before about the countless reasons why people are preparing their gardens, pantries and what ever else they need to prepare. I have shared repeatedly how I have had to LIVE on what I had stored – for anywhere from a few months to as long as two years. If I didn’t have the sense to prepare and store those things in advance, how would I have fed my children? MY PETS? My family? How would I have been able to help OTHER families in need?

Just this past winter with us stuck at home for up to 7 weeks we learned more lessons as we discovered there were still holes in our “plan.” We did not have powdered or frozen milk to use in our food preparations! Praise God for our dear neighbor who picked up our grocery orders for us so that we could fill in those holes! I made sure to order a little extra milk each week as well as some powdered milk online, too. Should it happen again that we are iced in, we will be prepared.

Somehow social media moguls are convinced that we are evil demons because we want to ensure we can take care of ourselves in times of need – as is happening now in Louisiana with the recent hurricane Ida situation. How many people there will have the charcoal or gas to cook on their grill, or food to eat until their power is able to be brought back? How many will have food they can share with others in this time of need?

In our times of need, we considered doing exactly what social media and others are trying to force on people now – rely solely on the government. However, their plan is not infallible. During the times when I needed to rely on food storage and such for my family too much income was coming into the home, or we owned too many “assets” to qualify for aid. I bet they never thought of that, did they? Not everyone qualifies for their socialist agenda. There are criteria needing to be met or you are denied, putting you and your family right back in the same situation.

Being a “prepper,” to me, means nothing more than being ready for whatever happens. Weather, financial, or any other issue which may arise. It is a way of life which is lived to help preserve life. Speak up – and speak out against these claims against your desire to protect and preserve yourself and family. 

We also have several excellent examples to hold up before us as we get our pantries in order. Noah - who put up food on the ark to preserve his family after the flood began. Joseph - who taught the people about the differences of feast and famine. Even the Exodus was a prepper situation - they left with provisions, their dough starter, and wealth of Egypt as they entered the desert. 

Yahweh will help us through tough situations, but having extras on hand for needs that arise is sensible and comforting. Do not let social media pressure you into thinking otherwise. And if someone you know pushes you for preparing some things for your family, why not ask them how many rolls of toilet paper did THEY buy last year!

Blessings and shalom.