Emergency Preparedness: Car

This month we decided to get stuff for our car.
In our trunk we already have: a small first aid kit, toilet paper, an extra blanket, tire gauge, rags, extra container of water and a case of water bottles, extra container of motor oil, spare tire with jack, and jumper cables- all of which we have used.

On the website DMV.org I found this post: 

Outdoor Lodge recommends the following list of items:

• Flashlights and extra batteries.

• A folding camping (Army) shovel.

• Jumper cables (8-12 feet long).

• Set of tire chains. Know how to install these beforehand.

• Fuses. There are several types, so make sure you have the right ones for your car.

• Tools: pliers, flat and Phillips-head screwdrivers, and an adjustable wrench.

• Wool blanket.

• All the necessary fluids for your car, including 2 quarts of motor oil, brake fluid, power-steering fluid (if applicable), automatic transmission fluid (if applicable), a gallon of water, and a gallon of antifreeze. Also include a funnel, and keep a few rags handy in case of spills.

• Fire extinguisher.

• Road flares.

• Gloves, wool socks, and a pair of boots.

• Electrical and duct tape.

• WD-40.

• Knife.

• Bright cloth or emergency road sign to display in your window in case of trouble.

Other items to consider are:

• Non-perishable food items and a can opener

• Rain gear

• Extra clothes

• Folding chair(s)

• Pillows

• Sleeping bags

• Snacks

• Books and games

• Toilet paper

http://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/emergency-kit.php

Other items I have seen from other websites are:

• cell phone charger
• cat litter (great for adding traction in winter- I have also used this!)
• windshield scrapper (I thought this was a given- in winter it is an essential everyday tool- unless your found of scrapping your windshield with a credit card)
• foam tire sealant
• tow straps

Read more: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/20-must-haves-in-your-car-emergency-kit-1.aspx#ixzz3F5we0tMP

Once again with such a long list, we plan on getting just a few things at once and slowly building our car emergency kit.  Safe driving to you!

Caramel Dip

So, caramel apples is a favorite October treat.  Well, where I live caramel is only sold in large expensive bags.

I thought of making my own but I did not have cream like many recipes call for.  I tried making some without it and butchered the recipe.

I know placing a can of sweeten condensed milk in a crock pot, covering it with water, and cooking it on low for 8 hours works. You can also boil it on the stove- always keeping it covered with water- for three to four hours.

Anyway, between failed recipes and limited time, no caramel apples in October.  We then received several apples for free and how to get dipping caramel crept into my mind again.  I did not want to wait 3-4 hours, constantly watching my stove.  I just wanted caramel and I did not want to run to the store, nor spend the money, for cream.

I then thought, "Wait a minute! I have half a dozen recipes for caramel popcorn. Surely one of those would work."

And it did!

Here is the recipe I based my caramel on:

Mixture1 1/4 cup brown sugar1/2 C corn syrup1/2 c Margarine1/2 can sweetened condensed milkDash of Salt

I halved the recipe (should have cut it in fourth) and did not cook it as long as I wanted caramel that was thinner for dipping.

Afterwards we had so much caramel left over, we made a small batch of sticky caramel popcorn.  Lots of treats. Just what everyone wants after Halloween, right?

Moving

We just moved for the third time this year!  Thank you summer job and my husband's new career.  Good thing we saved our boxes.

I posted ways to keep moving cheaper. (Ex: boxes from grocery store)

Our last move was only 20 miles so we were able to borrow a trailer and friends' trucks to move stuff instead of renting a moving truck. That saved money.

Moving so often has also helped us dejunk. That saves space in the next home as well as time packing/unpacking and the stress of moving and finding a place for unwanted stuff.

Here is another post from a fellow blogger with other moving ideas.

10 Cheapskate Moving Tips and Tricks from The Craft Patch

I liked to add to their "Use old paper as packing material" that we use old plastic grocery sacks to pack our breakables in.

Pumpkin Bars

I love the fall for a few reasons.  The summer heat is fading, leaves are falling, and pumpkins are here.

Yes one of my favorite activities is raking leaves, and playing in them, the crunch, the smell, the bugs, yup great.

And I love eating pumpkin.  Last year I posted pumpkin muffins- a year long treat at our house.  This one, however, I only make in the fall. Like popcorn balls at Christmas or sugar cookies come Valentines Day, it's one of those special treats that has a special time of year.

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bars

4 eggs

2 cups flour

1 2/3 cup sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup cooking oil

1 tsp. salt

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin

1 tsp. baking soda

Beat eggs, pumpkin, sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. 

Mix dry ingredients together. 

Add to pumpkin mixture a little at a time and mix thoroughly. 

Spread in ungreased 15x10x1 inch jelly roll pan. 

Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Cool and frost. 

Cream Cheese Icing for Pumpkin Bars:

 4 oz. cream cheese

 1 tsp. vanilla 

1/2 cup butter 

2 cups powdered sugar 

Cream softened cream cheese and butter.

Add vanilla. 

Add powdered sugar a little at a time, beating well, until smooth.

Sorry no picture of these, we ate almost all of them before I thought about a picture. So good!

Cornbread

My aunt, who is from the south, told me we didn't have the right kind of corn meal up here to get real true cornbread, so we may be missing out on "real" cornbread, but I have found an amazing recipe that I (in my non-southern ignorance) really enjoyed. I  aquired this recipe from a Colonial Days celebration at an Elementary school.

Corn Bread
Heat Oven to 350.
Oil (not cooking spray) a 9 X 13 pan- heat in oven
In a bowl add:

• 3 Cups flour
• 1 1/2 Cups sugar
• 1 Cup corn meal
• 2 T baking powder
• 1 tsp salt

In a larger bowl add:

• 6 T butter
• 2 1/2 Cups evaporated milk (or buttermilk)
• 2/3 Cup oil
• 4 eggs

Add dry ingredients and mix until blended. It can be lumpy

Carefully pour into the hot pan and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Butter

Not that this is a money saver, but it is fun to try.

1 pint heavy cream
pinch salt

Pour in a quart size jar, with tight lid. Seal well.
Shake, shake, shake, roll, dance, whatever until the butter has separated from the buttermilk.  20 minutes or so.  Enjoy homemade butter!

For the buttermilk, you can make yogurt, bread, or cornbread.