I decided to mix up some powdered milk and pour it into a gallon milk jug. Never told anyone. We all drank it and no one noticed. Truthfully, I was not looking forward to drinking it because I remember powdered milk tasting so bad and I ended up drinking two glasses full! The next day my 11yo son said we should make some powdered milk to try and I laughed. Told him he drank it last night :o)

FYI, I bought a box from Sam's for $7.49. It makes 20qts. Two boxes fill a 3 gal. bucket lined with a mylar bag, dropped in oxy. abs. and a desiccant packet. The stuff is to expensive to buy prepackaged so this works great. I am the world's pickest eater! Take the test you will be amazed!

We also ate a Y2K meal last night. 2 cans of Campbells Chuncky Soup poured over rice. Everyone licked the pans clean. I am surprised by the kids and their receptiveness to all this new stuff.

Mary

-- Mary Howe (doesnotmatter@thistime.com), January 14, 1999

Answers

Mary, thanks for the info! Can you tell me what is the weight of the contents of the box from Sam's? I was going to order prepackaged stuff today, and want to compare before doing so. You may have saved me a ton of money! Thanks.

-- PreparedMama (mama@aaa.com), January 14, 1999.

Prepared Mama :-) (Like your name)

The boxes contents weight is 4lbs. I was so happy with the product and will put up quite a bit. The prepackaged milk is SO expensive! Try one box and see if you like it and then if so, you can stock up. Good luck and keep preparing. Mary

-- Mary Howe (doesnotmatter@thistime.com), January 14, 1999.

Thanks, Mary. Forgot to ask, what brand should I look for? I need to sign up for Sam's club membership. This is definitely cheaper than the cheapest price I've found so far, which was $8.50 for 3 lbs. PLUS shipping.

And our favorite way to eat Chunky Soup is over rice, too! I'm gonna try the Chicken/Veg one over noodles next time for variety.

-- Prepared Mama (mama@aaa.com), January 14, 1999.

Hi - it's me again :o)

My Sam's club only sells one brand and one size. It is Mid-America Farms. (A division of Mid-America Dairymen, Inc. Springfield, MO). It is Instant Nonfat with vitamins A & D.

Also, after I am done with the packaging of my mylar bags, I cut the instructions for milk preparation off the box and slip it down the side of the bucket before sealing.

Mary

-- Mary Howe (doesnotmatter@thistime.com), January 14, 1999.

Mary - Can I come over for a Y2K dinner? Sounds yummy.

-- Buffalo Bob (buff@halliburton.com), January 14, 1999.

Sell-by date: the Mid-America milk we bought at Sam's in September has an expiration date of May 2000, as packaged in wax-paper-covered cardboard. If repackaged in buckets with oxygen absorbers, it should last a lot longer, yes? You can also use this milk by the spoonful in your coffee, just like powdered creamer. Sam's also has Idaho potato flakes in large plastic bags (can't remember the cost, must have been reasonable, tight-wad that I am), which can be repackaged in the same way as the milk. Molly McButter will have to suffice for the real thing when reconstituting the potatoes--you can add powdered milk too. Also from Sam's, several large containers of freeze-dried parsley and fake bacon bits, which add a nice touch when mixed in with the potatoes.

-- Old Git (new name, courtesy of Andy) (anon@spamproblems.com), January 14, 1999.

Bought the boxed potatoes (1 lb size), for 44 cents each at Wal Mart, they were on sale - 1/2 off. I couldn't pass up the bargain because there's so much you can do with dehydrated potato flakes. I also found 1 lb cans (sealed like coffee), at a store called Winco (formerly WareMart). They are the cheapest place I know of to find real bargains. Taco Bell refried beans for 38 cents a can, at other stores they are 99 cents each. I try to store goods that are precooked because of water and fuel conservation.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), January 14, 1999.

Mary,

Where can I buy oxygen absorbers and dessicant packages? Are they available at certain type stores (hardware, feed and seed)? Thanks.

-- Vic (Roadrunneris@compliant.net), January 14, 1999.

To Buffalo Bob: You are right. Y2K dinner was yummy and lots of fun. Sorry you can't come over for dinner. Mr. Mary

PS - If you show up on the doorstep post Y2K you won't be turned down for a meal.

To: Old git: I am assuming that repackaging the milk will definetly help it to last longer. Mine also came the same way from Sam's with the 2000 expir. Those Idaho potatoe flakes are 4.99 and taste quite good. Mary

To Vic: I ordered from a company in Pa. 1-888-645-7735. They are quite prompt. Good luck. Mary

-- Mary Howe (doesnotmatter@thistime.com), January 14, 1999.

Thanks, Mary!

-- Vic (Roadrunneris@compliant.net), January 14, 1999.

Anyone have any idea where to buy powered eggs? Sam's doesn't seem to have them. I'm not really interested in ordering them and I would like larger containers than what's available at the outdoor/camping stores.

Direct emails appreciated.

j

-- j (sandpine@juno.com), January 14, 1999.

Mary,

I did the same thing with my kids when we were collecting samples of powdered milk to try. When I tried the nonfat sample from Maple Island in Minnesota, I was amazed since they will only drink Albertsons 2% milk. Needless to say, I ordered some. I found it tasted better if refrigerated overnight.

-- Bill S. (Bill_S3@juno.com), January 14, 1999.

Egg powder: Adventure Foods supplies backpackers in the NC mountains (and Everest expeditions, too). Our orders from them have contained extremely high-quality foods, were delivered fast, and were well-packed in sealed, reusable ziplocks. The proprietors are the most congenial and helpful people you can imagine. AF also has dried butter, cream cheese, sour cream, and other heretofore unimaginable dried goodies. You might also want to check out their "Bakepacker," an inexpensive means to bake on top of a heat source--and there's an excellent BP coobook too, with recipes using 99% dehydrated ingredients. The cookbook is worth it for the dried food info alone, plus there's invaluable nutritional information. I'm particularly impressed by the nutritional breakdowns at the web site--diabetics please note food exchange info. Here's what AF's site says about their powdered egg:

The best tasting whole egg powder on the market. Our exclusive! 2 tablespoons equals one egg. Contents: Whole egg. All data is per cup. 2 Tbs. = 1 whole egg. Net weight 0.23 lb per cup. Total calories: 643 Protein: 53.9g (35%), Total fat: 43.1g (62%), Carbohydrates: 5.3g (3%), Cholesterol: mg, Sodium: 544mg, Saturated fat: 13.4g, Dietary fiber: 0 Bread exch: 0, Meat exch: 8.2, Fruit exch: 0, Vegetable exch: 0, Milk exch: 0, Fat exch: 4.31

It costs about $9/pound but remember the heavy liquid has been removed and the remaining powder will make a lot of scrambled eggs. (I've got some and it's amazingly edible!)

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 15, 1999.

What can be done with powdered egg apart from baking. How do you use it to make scrambled egg? Any other uses?

-- Tony Power (power@mail.austasia.net), January 15, 1999.

Hi, Tony, you simply mix the powder with water and use pretty much as you would any beaten egg.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), January 15, 1999.

There is an egg substitute sold in supermarkets that is not exactly dried eggs. It can be used in baking but will not whip up into scrambled eggs. Look at what you are buying to be sure it says they are eggs and not a substitute.

Me

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), January 25, 1999.