eFoodsDirect Offers Storable Meals In Case of Emergency!

Over the past 30 years the founders of eFoodsDirect have helped people become more secure and confident with their greatest dependency—food.
When a major emergency strikes, imagine your peace of mind having a convenient, just-add-water-and-simmer food supply on hand. And if a minor emergency pops up where you’re simply trying to feed the kids, you'll appreciate the best-tasting, most versatile food in the world.
As you learn more about who we are and what we stand for, you’ll find the eFoodsDirect Difference is all about putting people first.

Mission

Our mission is to build innovative brands and systems that improve the personal security of each life we touch. We strive to manifest excellence in every aspect of our business by putting people first.

Vision

Our vision is to feed and prosper the world – one meal at a time.

Eat Today, Store for Tomorrow

Serve, Save and Share

Serve:

We serve our customers by providing quality products and excellent customer service each and every day. When our customers serve an eFoods meal they can always count on it’s ease of preparation, delicious flavor, and high nutritional value.

Save:

We provide the best storable food that can literally save the lives of our customers in times of emergency, hardship, or disaster. As our customers save for their personal reserve, they are insuring a secure future for themselves and their families.

Share:

We share a message of preparedness and independence to encourage our customers to gain control of their greatest dependency: food. Our customers share the benefits of eFoods products with their family and friends, increasing preparation awareness for millions of people and making our vision a reality.

***My personal review***
I was sent 3 meals as pictured below:  Creamy Potato Soup, Tortilla Soup and Cheesy Chicken Rice Casserole.

One of the first things that my daughter noticed is that each pouch doesn't expire until the year 2027!  She thought surely that was a misprint.  I explained to her that the efoodsdirect foods were meant to be shelf stable for many years. 

The first one we tried was the Chicken Rice Casserole. For this we had some grilled chicken leftover in the freezer from Mother's Day.  I did not add it to the cooked casserole, but at it separately.  My husband and daughter both chose to cut their chicken up and add it.    The first photo is it starting to cook, the second photo is my bowl of soup.   This soup was way delicious!!  I chose the option of putting in 2 tablespoons of margarine but this is not necessary.

Second we tried the Creamy Potato Soup.  We had some ham leftover from Easter in the freezer that I added to it.   Below is a photo of my bowl.  I did also add a bit of shredded cheddar after I took the photo.   Again, most delicious!

We've not tried the Tortilla Soup yet, but expect it to be just as great as the other 2.  My daughter just told me she wants to try it for supper tonight.

The meals are so easy to fix.  No need to add any other ingredients unless desired, just water, let it boil and it's done.  Quick and easy.

I am VERY impressed with efoodsdirect.  Along with my pouches of meals to try I received their catalog.  We have been dreaming over the packages we want to order.
The foods will be great to have in storage in case of emergency.  They are super shelf stable.  Most when you order even come in plastic totes for safer storage yet!
They offer more than just lunch and supper meals.  The food kits also come with breakfast, drinks and desserts too!   Take a good look over their website to see what I mean.

Below are some awesome offers for you to have a chance to try the foods yourself.  I highly recommend!

Special Offers

6 Free Meals

We’re confident that once you taste our incredible recipes, you’ll be a customer for life. That’s why we will send you 3 of our most popular products FREE (pay only a small shipping and processing charge). Discover for yourself how easy they are to prepare – simply boil water, add the food, simmer and serve. In 15 to 20 minutes you have a nutritious and great-tasting meal. No matter how you slice it, a free meal is hard to pass up.

So have your first meals on us and then enjoy the savings, convenience, nutrition, and security of eFoodsDirect products. All we ask is that you pay for the shipping and handling. Remember having a savings account in food will be much more valuable than gold. These meals are just a sampling of the great recipes available through eFoodsDirect.

• Three (3) pouches of Quick-Fix meals
• Four (4) 1-cup servings, or two (2) hearty meals per pouch
• Boil water, add a pouch of food, stir, simmer, and serve!

Enjoy this video  :)

TGIFF--Let's Play Catch Up on Finishes!

OMG!  How many Friday's have gotten by me and I've not shared my finishes?  I really have lost count.
Tonight is sit n' sew at the quilt shop.  It's a crying shame that I have not done any sewing since the last sit n' sew.  Sad that I have to take my machine and go away from home to get any sewing accomplished!  At least I don't remember sewing anything in the last 4 weeks.  Surely it's not been 4 weeks since my last finish?  Yep, this is how my days have been---so busy that I don't know which way is up!

I am now on the board of our quilt guild.  I am the historian and I'm already wondering what I've done.  It's not much more than taking pictures, getting them printed and putting them in the photo album with a description.  I should be able to handle that and I do enjoy taking pictures.  Also anything in the newspaper about our guild will go into the book.

I've signed up for the Sampler at the quilt shop.  This block of the month club goes for 20 months.  I'm excited to learn new techniques.  IF I remember, I will share my newest completed block each month.

Not sewing related, but I also discovered a local facebook group for couponers.  That has really got me motivated to keep my coupons in order and look for, and take advantage of, the good deals out there. 

Ok...let's move to my finishes (can I find the one photo since I've gotten a new computer since completing it?)   Yay!  I found it in a folder dated 4/18.  Has it really been that long since I finally completed this scrappy quilt for sewing club at church?    It turned out great and has been labeled and donated to the Domestic Violence Center along with 4 polysester quilts that we finished up (the tops were done and donated to us)

Here is a better photo I am finding in my 4/24 folder.  You can see the design much clearer in this one....as well as out 2 cats thinking they need to check it out.

And a close up of the binding and the material I chose to use for the backing.

I had a request to make a plastic bag holder for an order.  I found out they are easy and fun to make.  I actually made several and have more cut and ready to make.  Some are up in my etsy shop.

I attended my first ever workshop.  It was great fun and great learning.....and very expensive!  The technique is called Fusique and was taught by Linda Everhart of quiltingamongfriends.com.
Here is my completed table runner.   Since I have chosen fabric for another one.  I am using the pattern, modified a bit to make a wall hanging for my kitchen.  I need to do a lot with it considering the money put out to learn to begin with  :)

Last but not least on my catching up to post is the quilt that I made for Quiltsforkids.org.  This was my first time trying to machine quilt.  I am not happy with it at all, but I am assured by others that I did well for my first time.  The biggest problem is that the quiltsforkids do want them to be perfect for the kids.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my finishes.  Off I go now to add to this weeks TGIFF post and check out the finishes of others!  Click the button at the top of this post to see everyone's work.

Frugal Friday Link-Up--More Uses for Vinegar

First I want to apologize for missing last Friday.  I overslept so it was out of bed and on the run the entire day!  Today isn't much better.  What happened to my free Friday's?  Oh yeah, for one thing I took the merchandising job and Friday is one of my work days.

I am continuing with the many uses of vinegar from the 99 Cent Solutions book.  Vinegar is one of the most versatile and useful, as well as cheap things on the market.

1.  Keep Your Flowers fresh.  Keep those blooms a-bloom for as long as possible by adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the vase, then fill it with water from the tap.

2.  Shiny scissors.  Water might rust those scissors, so instead, dip a cloth in white vinegar and wipe the blades well.  Dry with a towel.

3.  Keep water bottles fresh.  Adding a few drops of apple cider vinegar to your bottled water when you are out hiking and such will keep the flavor bright and the bacteria down.

4.  Keep cats out of the sandbox.  Drizzle a pint of white vinegar over the sand and stir it in with a spade.  It will dry overnight, but cats will avoid the place for weeks. (We need to try this!)

5.  Skip chips---on your nails that is.  Paint your clean bare nails with white vinegar and let it dry.  When you apply the polish, it will stay on without chipping for days longer.  (I need to try this!)

6.  Clean dirt off the blinds.  Nobody likes cleaning the window blinds.  Now and then the grime and dust is just too much and you have to give it a go.  Use socks and vinegar.  Mix half water and half vinegar.  Put a clean cotton tube sock on each hand.  Dip the socks in the vinegar mixture and pull your hands along each blind.  The dirt will slip right off.  Dip them in clean water to rinse the dirt off, then back in the vinegar mixture for the next slat.

7.  Avoid oven odors.    Soak a clean sponge in white vinegar and use it for the final wipe-down after you have finished cleaning the oven.  Let the vinegar dry completely before turning the oven on again.  This will eliminate the strong chemical smell the next time you use the oven after using a chemical cleaner.

8.  Fluff sweaters after washing.  Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse water whether hand washing or machine washing.  Your wool and acrylic sweaters will not be flat and dull.

9.  Clear the air of grease.  Put a small dish of white vinegar in the kitchen and grease will miraculously collect on the surface rather than hanging in the air.  Try it and see the next time you are frying chicken.

What posts have you done over the past week to include in this week's linky?

 

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island on DVD and Blu-Ray--Win A Copy!

Warner Bros. is proud to announce the release of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island on DVD and Blu-Ray; June 5th 2012 along with the Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Blog App!  

Sean Anderson (Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games) finds a hidden signal that he believes will lead him to his long lost grandfather (Michael Caine, Miss Congeniality).  With the help of his new step father (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, The Scorpion King), Sean finds a map and starts his adventure which leads him to Kailani (Vanessa Hudgens, High School Musical) and the island of Atlantis!  Sean and his friends battle giant bees, killer lizards, a volcano of gold, and electric eels to escape the lost city and make their way home!






Enter below for your chance to win Journey 2: The Mysterious Island on DVD and Blu-Ray!!

Please note these restrictions--winner must be at least 18 years old and have a physical mailing address, no P.O. Boxes. Winner must reside within the United States. Winner must contact me within 48 hours or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: This information was sent to me via partnershub. The prize is being provided by Warner Bros. and partnershub.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Squidoo Hopping--Let's Talk About the Facebook Groups

Today let's chat about all the different groups on facebook for squidoo.  There are a lot of them!  I belong to several and still see more on the side of my page that I could join.

Have I joined too many?  Probably so!  Do I post to them all?  No, I don't.  Do some people post the same things to every single group?  Yes!  LOL

Most days I feel that squidoo has taken over my life.  I would say that 75% of my time online is with squidoo.  I'm not saying that is a bad thing, especially if I can start making some real money.  However, what if I don't?  Sure, the socializing is good.  I'm seeing lots of lenses of interest.......but also viewing lots of lenses I wouldn't too, just for the sake of giving out some "love".    I also try to return comments, but I am behind on that.

Two groups that I am in have daily threads, one for new lenses and one for updated lenses.  Those groups are: Post a Squidoo Lens Here   and Squidoo Facebook Community .  I do try to list one of the lenses that I update each day, but no more.  Some list every lens they update.  When I do list one, I also go through the previous comments viewing others updated lenses.  That is the only fair way to do it.   The same goes if I happen to build a new lens, which, if I am lucky, is one a week.

One group that I am in is owned by Poutine.  I've known her online through squidoo and also through gather.com.  I joined her group because I consider her to be my friend.  She is a very helpful gal.  However, it seems about all I post to her group is the link to this blog post each week.  (Poutine---comment today on other things you would like to see posted to your group please).  Her group is Squidoo for all.

I've joined the Ask a Squidoo Expert group so that I can do that.  There's so many questions about squidoo.  I've already asked several.  I've gotten good answers and I've learned.

Then we have Squidoo Visits and Posts.   In this group you list 5 of your lenses each day....AFTER you have visited at least 5 others that have been posted by others.  They also ask that you give extra love to the lenses that you visit by pinning it, liking it on facebook, clicking on an outlink, or buying a product if you see something of interest.   I so love this concept!   I don't however, do it every single day.   I do try to though.  I also visit at least 10 others instead of 5 as well.  Mostly I click an outlink, but have pinned if it's a recipe or craft I want to try.  Fun fun!

How about Squids who Blogs.   Just as the name says, share your blogs here, whether you blog about squidoo or not.  So far I've only posted the link to this blog post, but will start also posting when I have a giveaway too.

Forgive me, but I don't remember who started Spotted Squids but it is the first facebook group that I joined for squidoo.  About says:  If you use Squidoo and want to gain more exposure for your work, network with other Squids, and you've got a friendly spirit, then you're a Spotted Squid. Feel free to invite friends, share links to your lenses, tell us about Squidoo related blogs, groups, or pages (including yours). You're also invited to share pictures of picnics, parties, and other fun events where you meet with Squids. This is a great place to tell everyone about Open Mike on BlogTalk Radio too. If you've got ideas for the group, share away!  I need to start spending more time in this group.

Last but not least is Squidoo Angels.  I have not participated in this group at all....well, until just now I put in a couple of comments.

So, with all of this said (typed), I have made myself a goal.  I am going to visit each group at least once a day to see what's happening.   I look forward to your comments on the groups too.   I also, as every week, look forward to you linking up here.   This week I am linking up my 2 newest lenses which are both book reviews.   Thanks!!

 




 

Let's Have a McCormick Grill Mates Party!

In the photo above you see the Grill Mates Ambassador kit that I rec'd through crowdtap.com.  I was excited to be accepted to host a Grill Mates party.  We already had a triple birthday party bbq in the park planned.


Let's learn a little more about McCormick Grill Mates before we head to the party:
**The marinades infuse grilled foods with flavor, which leaves them moist, tender, and delicious.
**McCormick has four new BBQ flavors this season, featuring all-natural spice rub-and-sauce-in one that will help you grill like an expert.
**Dry rubs add deep robust flavor and delicious crust while sealing in the natural flavors.  They are perfect for ribs, pork, and chicken.
**Bold seasoning blends transform regular foods into grilled masterpieces.


Visit the Grill Mates facebook community for exclusive recipes and rewards.


On to the party!!  We had about 40 guests total both young and old.  It was a combination party for 3 of my grandchildren---Zelda turning one year old, Skyler turning 9 years old, and Jacob turning 3 years old.


Here are pictures that I took when it was time for the yummy part of the afternoon----eating!

 Hubby said to get over for a picture while the hamburgers and hot dogs were cooking.  We alternated using the Molasses Bacon seasoning and the Montreal Steak seasoning on the burgers.  Both were supreme, although I liked the Molasses Bacon the best.

Dig In!

More of the guests.  They were all around me though and I didn't get a photo of them all.

There's hubby still cooking....always the last one to eat.

Inside my ambassador folder were 2 recipes.  I knew I had to try the Bacon Turkey Burgers as my mom and I both have a problem with red meat.  Above is the photo of mine.  They were exceptional!  I will be doing these again and again.  Below is the recipe:

Bacon Turkey Burgers with Pineapple Aioli

Make gourmet burgers on your backyard grill this summer. Season ground turkey with Grill Mates® Molasses Bacon Seasoning before grilling and serve burgers with a fruity aioli.

Makes 4 servings.
Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon well drained crushed pineapple, with 1 tablespoon pineapple juice reserved
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Grill Mates® Molasses Bacon Seasoning
1 pound ground turkey
4 hamburger rolls

1. For the Pineapple Aioli, mix 1 tablespoon crushed pineapple, reserved 1 tablespoon pineapple juice, mayonnaise and 1/2 teaspoon Seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

2. Mix ground turkey, 1/3 cup crushed pineapple and 1 tablespoon Seasoning in medium bowl until well blended. Shape into 4 patties.

3. Grill over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Serve burgers on rolls with Pineapple Aioli.

 This recipe and more can be found HERE.

The party, and the food was a great success.  Many commented on the great McCormick flavors and most had to have a taste test of the Bacon Turkey Burger.

Now I want to talk about the other products in my kit.
Hubby brought home 2 big slabs of ribs.  He used the Memphis Pit BBQ Rub on them and then slathered on the Brown Sugar Bourbon BBQ sauce at the end.  They were divine!!
Here are 2 pictures to share to make your mouth water.  The first one is early with the rub and the second with him slathering on the bbq sauce.

We were already Grill Mates fans and I am pleased that we also got to try some different products than we've used before.


Disclosure:  As a member of crowdtap.com I was chosen to be a Grill Mates Ambassador and host a party.  I received a kit of information and products for the purpose of my party and this post.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.

WIP Wednesday---It's Been Go Go Go and No Sew Sew Sew

I didn't even do a post last week---I hadn't sewn anything.  I've still not sat behind my sewing machine or working on any sewing projects.  Over 2 weeks now and I am not happy about that.
We have just been on the go!  I always think that once school is out for summer things will slow down.  I don't know why I always think that when they never do!

I have been working on a washcloth order that is now shipped.  I'm also working on a soap savers order, which is almost done.

All is not lost as it's sit n' sew evening this Friday at the quilt shop.  It's still a shame though that most of my work on sewing gets done when I take my machine away from home.  I hope to finish my wall hanging and plastic bag holder for my kitchen while there.  I'm also hoping to work a bit on my quilt.

If I don't let Friday get by me again, I must share my finished projects in the TGIFF blog link up!

My biggest work in progress became finally cutting out and sorting all of my coupons.  I had let this go for weeks, more like months.  It's done though and I am back to my coupon shopping.  I still have this past Sunday's coupons to mostly get cut and in my binder.  I found that we can buy 5 Sunday papers from the news office once Sunday is past.  This is exciting for me.  I also started attending a local coupon meeting that I found out about.

I got way behind on my granny square a day challenge.  I stayed up until 2 am last night trying to catch up.  I don't have all the squares completely sewn on, but took a photo anyway.  It's been 3 weeks since my last report.  You should be able to see a difference in how it's moving along.  I counted....and re-counted....the squares when I took the photo and actually have 160, so it's done up to June 8th.   I'm reminding myself to not take another challenge like this  LOL  A year is a long time to do something daily.  It is going to look beautiful on our bed though once it's complete.

I am linking up with the following blogs:
 

Homeschool Journal--About Time I Checked In

I'm not sure I've posted here on my blog about our homeschool since shortly after Jasmine got home from England.

Things have been crazy schedule wise.  We tried really hard to get back in to the swing of a full school day.  It somehow never happened.  Sure, we did have a few good full schoolwork days here and there but not many.

Now here it is summer break time.  I had intended to just do a few of the things until we were done with those books.  That's also not working out so well.  It's hard when her friends are out of school and wanting to hang out.  I just can't tell her "sorry, we need to do math, science, etc etc before you can go".  Her social life is important to her, and to me too.

We have been reading books about Japan.  That was one thing I wanted to finish up throughout the summer.  Well.....the books are due back to the library today and we have already kept them an additional 3 weeks.   I've written down the titles of the books we didn't get to.  I also wrote down the books we started reading and what page we are on.  I will still try to check say 1 out at a time and read when we can.  You know, I am reading these out loud to her so that I am also learning.   You can see the books we are done with on our Learning About Japan lens that we are building as we finish each book.

I wanted to finish up the math book we are using for review on the dry erase board.  We may still get to that as there are 20 lessons left.  We will see.    We are still reading out of the devotions books, of course.   We need to finish the questions at the end of the chapter we are on in the Introduction to Business text.   We are also going to keep working out of the Everyday Fit book.

Church, Bible study, and youth group and all activities involved in those still goes on.  And, we all know that schooling never really ends anyway, especially when you are homeschooling  :)

 

SIS Shares in Squidoo---Quilting

I think you all know how much I love quilting.  I'm learning more and more, especially now that I have joined the local quilt guild and started going to the sampler and sit n sew nights at the lcal quilt shop.   There are a lot of nice lenses on quilting!

Here are just a few of them:

Quilting Blogs I Love To Visit Often

Hand Quilting Stitches | How to Hand Stitch a Quilt  

Crazy Quilts and Crazy Quilting 

Quilting Blogs My Top 20  

What is stipple quilting? 

Machine Quilting 

 

I know that is a lot of them....I'm going to be watching videos and reading the rest of the evening!  LOL    Here is one of my quilting lenses:

How to Make a Strip (String) Quilt