Building Your Pantry

A big part of prepping is your pantry and knowing what to stockpile. Years ago I wrote a post on building your stockpile. However, I have learned a lot since that initial post, here are a few more ways to build your pantry.

How are you supposed to know what to stockpile?

At our home, we call it The Menu, this book is where we store all our favorite and frequented meals. If you are just starting, use note cards or notebook paper. The important thing is to make sure you write down what you are making and eating. When you have done this for a month you can look through your notes and find common ingredients, this is your starting point. Ingredients and spices that you use often and are comfortable with, should be your baseline.

How to build your pantry

Now that you have your list of the most used ingredients, you need to purchase them to stockpile. This can be done in a few ways, and as fast or slow as your budget allows. Start by buying an extra box or two on regular grocery shopping trips. My four favorite ways are listed below:

  • Warehouse Clubs –

We love Sam’s club and that is our go-to for our bulk grocery items. Flour, rice, different sugars, and even meat are great to stock up on here. There are different tiers of memberships and you can usually find a discount for your first year (i.e. a free year to try it out.) We for sure go twice a year, with these closest store being a hour and a half from us, but you can adjust this to your family’s needs.

  • Subscribe and Save Shipments –

There are a lot of websites where you can sign up for specific items to be sent on a regular basis, this setting normally comes with a discount. For the most part we use Amazon for Subscribe and Save of spices, different sauces, cleaning supplies and even personal hygiene items. There is an option to adjust the frequency and Subscribe and Save can often save you 15% on a regular basis, with an initial discount on top of that when you set it up. Another retailer we use for this is PetSmart with our dog’s food.

 

 

  • Shopping Sales and Clearance –

This is one way to save money that never changes for us. Always hit up grocery clearance for damaged packaging or brand relabeling. Another tip on grocery clearance is to make sure and check it out for one to three days following a storm, this is when I find the deepest discounts on fresh food and stock up. When you regularly watch sales, you will learn the patterns and can keep your pantry in line with that.

  • Local Farmers –

An initially large investment up front, when ave4raged out, it is often half the price of the grocery store. There are also some farmers who will work out payment plans with you. Make sure to follow your favorite local farmers on social media, they will often advertise an specials, whether someone backed out of their beef or it’s a weather related.

It can be overwhelming to start a pantry from nothing and be unsure of where to start. However, if you can get your most common ingredients together you have your shopping list. From there it is just investing the  time to find the best deals for your budget.

Let me know in the comment section below your favorite tips to start and maintain a pantry!

Homemade Garlic Powder

Earlier this year, I made a list of five items to DIY this year, you can check out that list here. On that list, I wrote that I was excited to make my own garlic powder at home, and now that I have tried it, there’s no going back.

First of all, this homemade garlic powder is WAY more flavorful, so you can use less while cooking. Second, it’s a super easy project to complete. You will need three tools:

  1. A chef’s knife. This knife is made by Victorinox, super shape, and holds a great edge.
  2. A dehydrator. Any dehydrator will do, even the stackable tray ones. I prefer the dehydrators with fans in the back, they dry more evenly, and no need to rotate the trays. My dehydrator is no longer available, but this one is similar and has great reviews.
  3. A blender. Any blender works, I happen to have this Nutribullet.

Now it’s time to get started! I used 2lbs of garlic bulbs for this project, which made about a pint of powder. The most time-consuming part is peeling and slicing the garlic. To save some time, you could use a container of pre-minced garlic. Now you can lay the garlic slices on your tray and get dehydrating, if using pre-minced place parchment paper down on the tray first. Now that you have your trays prepped, set the dehydrator to 125 F and check at 8 hours, every four after that. I use this Dehydrator Cookbook to find temperatures and times for dehydrating.

Make sure that your garlic is completely dry, you do not want it to mold on you. Once the garlic is completely dry, you can pulse it in the blender until it is a fine powder. Store in a mason jar and use as needed.

Dog Emergency Preparedness

It is important to be prepared for whatever may come. This could be inclement weather, injury, food shortages, and many other unknowns. While we may prepare for ourselves, what about our furry friends? Today I’m going to share with you, things I do to be prepped for my dog and whatever comes our way.

Stockpiling Food and Treats

Food security is something that I am very passionate about. This goes for not only my human family but our dog as well. I make sure to always have about three months of food and treats. There are two ways that I save on dog food to ensure I have a stockpile while maintaining my budget. Firstly, is that I have a loyalty membership through PetCo and set up a reoccurring delivery. With reoccurring delivery, there is a 5% discount, combine that with my loyalty membership and every 8th bag of dog food is free. Secondly, is to check for sales. The dog food brand we use regularly goes on a “truckload” price at a local store, I make sure to keep an eye out for this sale and will pick up a few bags.  Subscribe and Save with Amazon is a huge win for stockpiling treats as well.

Water

On the note of food, we should also think about how will we give water to our dogs? Again, you will need to know how much your dog consumes. My dog drinks about a gallon a day, this means I need to find space for all those jugs or another storage option. I do have plastic gallons on hand in the event of an emergency, but a water filter is a great option that does not take up much space.

Variety of Leads

There are many situations in which having a lead for your dog is necessary. Therefore it is important to have a variety of leads to fit these different situations. For example, in our city limits, this means you need a tie-out if unable to get fencing. We also have a 50ft lead that is bright orange for when having our dog out in the woods with us. A slip lead is great when you need to maintain good control of your dog, and also can be utilized for everyday walks. The final type of lead we use is a hands-free lead. This type of lead has a waist belt and is great for when you are exercising with your dog.

 

First Aid kit

First aid is necessary and I have already written an article on first aid kits for dogs, including the one I put together, that you can check out here. It’s nice not to need a first aid kit, but it’s amazing to have one when you do need it. Make sure you have one for home and for travel because you just never know. I’m going to throw in grooming supplies here as well because grooming keeps your dog healthy. A nail trimmer is going to help keep your dog comfortable by keeping their nails from getting overgrown. A brush to groom out any extra fur to keep your dog from getting matted and overheated. Thirdly for grooming, pet wipes to give them an in-between bath and help if they get into anything messy.

 

 

Emergency Plans

Preparing for emergencies means practicing how you are going to handle these situations. For example, if there is a tornado, where is the safe place to take cover? Can you bring your dog to that safe place? Have you practiced with your dog to help ensure things go smoothly in a stressful situation? You can come up with plans and ask questions for many different scenarios including fires, SHTF, any type of storm, and many other scenarios.

Prepping for the unknowns and what-ifs should be an important part of our lives, just like our dogs are. They are family, so being prepared to take care of them in an emergency brings comfort to us. Let me know what you do to be prepared for your dog in an emergency!

 

 

DIY Five Everyday Items This Year

This new year is all about becoming more self-sufficient here at Wolf Pack Woodcraft! I have a list of five everyday items to DIY this year, that I’m sharing with you today.

  1. Laundry Detergent: This may be weird, but I am most excited about making my own laundry detergent. DIY laundry detergent seems like an easy project that lets one control what goes into their detergent and stretches the dollar.
  2. Cheese: So excited to make cheese at home! The first DIY cheese adventure that we will be partaking in this year is mozzarella. I am dreaming of a pizza with homemade crust, sauce, AND cheese.
  3. Vanilla: Storebought pure vanilla is so expensive. I didn’t realize it was something that could be DIY. When I learned that making my own pure vanilla extract was two ingredients and some time, it hit my must-try project list.
  4. Taco Seasoning: Tacos are a favorite around here, but taco seasoning packets can add up quickly. This one is going to be a simple and affordable DIY. Since I have bulk spices on hand, it’s just a matter of blending different ratios together to get the best taco flavor.
  5. Garlic Powder: Currently I buy garlic powder in bulk to save money, as we use so much of it. With garlic bulbs always on hand and an amazing dehydrator at home, garlic powder is begging me to be a DIY project this year.

I am so excited to start on these five everyday items to DIY this year. Sharing the journey with you all will be the very best part, so make sure to stay tuned. I would love to know what DIY projects you have lined up this year, let me know in the comments.

Eight Camping Food Brands To Try This Year

When it comes to camping food, we usually grab the usual Mountain House or Back Packer’s Pantry. While we have started branching out with the likes of Alpine Aire, Peak Refuel, and Omeals to name a few, we are always on the lookout for something tasty. These are the eight camping food brands to try this year!

  1. Next Mile Meals – This brand started out when the owner wanted to be Keto while on the trail. They offer wrap fillings like Deli Roast Beef and Buffalo Style Ranch Chicken to heartier meals like Chicken Broccoli Casserole and Italian Beef Marinara. These are a little pricier at $14 a package( which is one serving) and few, but tasty-looking options.
  2. Outdoor Pantry – I want to eat everything Outdoor Pantry has to offer. There are a variety of offerings from unique meals like Beef and Lamb Gyros and Chicken and Waffles; to the classics like Beef Stroganoff and Biscuits and Gravy. Outdoor Pantry also has snacks like freezer dried pumpkin pie slices and chees curds. Prices range from $4.99 to $14.95 to fit any budget, Outdoor Pantry is a good fit for the adventurous.
  3. Packit Gourmet – Packit Gourmet is a family-owned operation based out of Texas and one of the most appealing things about this brand is that they have snacks. Meals range from All-American Works Burger to TexMex Breakfast Tacos. The assortment of snacks, drinks, and desserts are great too – Queso, Margaritas, and Cheesecake. Pricing per package ranges from $5.99 to $13.99.
  4. Cache Lake – Cache Lake has some delicious-looking meals, but you have to put in the work – there is no adding water to a bag and waiting ten minutes here. However, Cache Lake is the most affordable on the list – some meals come in at $2.50 for a 2 serving package. Cache Lake’s most appealing offering is definitely their Fryin’ Pan Bread with flavors like caramel, pizza, garlic, cinnamon, and more. Don’t forget to check out their entrees either and finish off with banana cream pie.
  5. Wise Food – This is the most affordable make-in-a-bag meal on the list – $8.49 a package which is two servings. Wise Food has all the usuals like Chilli Mac, Alfredo and Creamy Chicken Pastas. Being on Amazon also makes ReadyWise more available to consumers.
  6. Back Country Cuisine – This brand is from New Zealand and offers meals like Creamy Carbonara, Honey Soy Chicken, and Lamb fettuccine at their $9.49 price point. Back Country Cuisine also offers some gourmet options like Coq Au Vin and Lamb Risotto at $15.95. If looking for a sweet treat there is always Banana Smoothie or Carrot Cake with Custard.
  7. Bla Band– This is a Scandanavian brand. Bla Band offers Make-in-Bag meals like Taco Stew, Beef and Potato with Bernaise, and Wilderness Stew with Rice. While Ready to eat meals like Swedish Meatballs with Creamy Potatoes and Pasta Carbonara are also some things Bla Band offers. Prices are also reasonable from $4.38 to $8.67. These meals seem hearty and comforting.
  8. MaryJanesFarm – This brand is organic and another small business where recipes are perfected at home. MaryJanesFarm has everything you could want to eat in a day: hot cereals, fry bread, chili mac, and even peanut butter blondies to finish. The prices are reasonable for organic starting at $5.36 a serving.

Why These Eight Camping Food Brands

These eight camping food brands offer a unique selection of meals on a variety of budgets. There is a food or snack option on this list for anyone, vegetarian or not. Let us know in the comment section down below if you have tried any of these brands or meals listed here! Which one was your favorite? Which one should make it on the next Caroline’s Taste Test?

 

Cook Kit Giveaway

In this giveaway, I will be giving away one of my favorite camp cook kits.

This Giveaway is not sponsored. I have bought and paid for these items with my own money.

This Giveaway is only available to Subscribers in the USA and Canada – Because the Coronavirus international shipping is not allowed to all parts of the world.

This giveaway includes my favorite nesting cup which is a large DZO

My favorite canister stove which is a BRS style stove

Also, a Go Bites long-handled spork

To Enter this Giveaway all you need to do is:

1- Live in the USA or Canada

2- Like and Share the Giveaway Video that is linked below.

3- Leave a comment including the word Wolf on that same video.

4- Subscribe to Wolf Pack Woodcraft, as soon we get 7000 subscribers we will select a winner.

5- You must be a Public Subscriber to win.

The winner will be selected by using a random YouTube comment picker.

The winner will then have their comment pinned to the top of the comments section with a You Win!!! Reply from Wolf Pack Woodcraft

You will then be asked to Email me at wolfpackwoodcraft@gmail.com with your name, address, and phone number.

I wish everyone The Best Of Luck. Thank You all so much I really appreciate all of the support.

Giveaway video link – https://youtu.be/A7BvCJIVV5U

Top Five Mountain House Meals

I love Mountain House, so much that coming up with my top five Mountain House Meals was a difficult task. Mountain House Meals are quick and easy to make, as well as clean up. Not only that but they are delicious and sometimes a warm meal is just what you need. Here are my top five Mountain House Meals.

  1.  Lasagna with Meat Sauce – The noodles are cut into bite-size pieces so you don’t have to try and break up the lasagna in the pouch. Mountain House’s meat sauce has good chunks of ground beef and isn’t too tomatoey. Also, one can’t go wrong with melty mozzarella cheese. Mountain House’s Lasagna with Meat Sauce is sure to be a favorite.
  2.   Biscuits in Gravy – Number two comes in with this hearty breakfast staple that is sure to fuel you for outdoor adventures. The gravy has a perfect creaminess to compliment the soft biscuits.
  3. Chicken and Dumplings – Something about a warm, creamy sauce over some type of bread just makes for the ultimate comfort food. The Moutain House Chicken and Dumplings are also loaded with vegetables to help round out the meal.
  4. Chili Mac with Beef – Chili Mac with Beef is a classic, and for good reason too. Mountain House’s Chili Mac with Beef as a spicy tomato sauce that adds some good flavor to the noodles with big chunks of ground beef. This one is sure to please everyone on your camping trip.
  5. Chicken and Mashed Potatoes – This is another classic, and simply is what it is – chicken and mashed potatoes. It’s a good comfort meal for a cold night, delicious, and warms a person right up. This Mountain House meal is also gluten-free, for those with dietary restrictions.

 

These Mountain House meals are all classics, but Mountain House is always coming out with new flavors. Let me know in the comments what your favorite Mountain House meals are, or if there’s another brand you want us to check out.

 

 

 

Tools To Not Get Lost

When you think of land navigation the two most common tools people think of are Map and Compass.  However, there are at least a few other tools that can really help keep you from wandering off and getting lost. In this video, I talk about a few of my favorite tools that have kept me on trial and confident in my ability to always find my way home.

 

 

Affiliate link to the gear I use: https://www.amazon.com/shop/wolfpackwoodcraft

More on using a map and compass: https://www.wolfpackwoodcraft.com/how-to-use-a-compass-easy-mode

My favorite Compass: https://amzn.to/2MvJ32G   lost