Product Feature: Shortening Powder

I've been looking through the September Specials and deciding what I want in my Q order for this month (my Q is set to ship the 8th of the month so this is a priority the first week of the month).  I'm always excited to see what the specials are going to be but then I have to decide what to include in my order.  Sometimes that's easy and sometimes it's not.

This month I was contemplating the Shortening Powder:  Why would I want Shortening Powder?  What advantage does it have over storing shortening?  How can I use it?  If I want it, do I want it in a #10 can or in a Pantry can?

Why would I want Shortening Powder?
One big advantage to storing Shortening Powder is shelf life.  Did you realize that shortening has an unopened shelf life of only 2 years?  And once you open it, it's about 1 year.  The Crisco website says that "If you notice any change in color or appearance, or if your Crisco product develops an off odor or taste, it's probably past its shelf life and shouldn't be used."  THRIVE Shortening Powder has an Unopened Shelf Life of 10 years (based on optimal storage conditions) and an Opened Shelf Life of 1 year.

I can't help but think of the benefit of measuring a powder out rather than shortening which then clings to the sides of my measuring cup.  I've tried a couple tricks for decreasing the stickiness, and even a special measuring cup, but it is still a pain to me.



How can I use it?
By adding water and blending it together, you can use the shortening powder in place of regular shortening.  (1 cup of Shortening Powder + 1/4 cup of water = 1 cup of shortening).  One site I read suggested you can sprinkle a small amount of the powder into a pan for frying.  The shortening powder quickly turns to liquid shortening as the pan heats up; it also notes that this is not good for deep fat frying but good for pan frying.

I'm also thinking I'd like to try making a biscuit mix to keep on hand for easy biscuits and that the Shortening Powder would work perfect in a mix!  As I searched the internet, I found a blog with a biscuit recipe for shortening powder that will be on the top of my To Try list once I get the Shortening Powder (guess I've made my decision).  That same blog has some information on shortening powder, but it doesn't state which brand she got her information from.  I like her comment about not having to "cut in" the shortening into my recipes.

Pantry can vs. #10 Can
A Pantry can of THRIVE Shortening Powder has 67 servings (1 Tablespoon = 1 serving)
A #10 can has 200 servings
My husband loves to make biscuits and gravy on Sunday mornings so I've been buying the large 6 lb container of Crisco and it has 227 servings (also 1 Tablespoon).  So now to figure out if we're using that many servings before it goes bad.  If yes, then I need to buy the #10 can.  If not, then I need to buy it in the Pantry Can size.

Number crunching

I am very frugal so I always like to make sure I'm getting a good price for whatever I buy, remembering that if I'm going to throw it away, it's not a good price no matter what I pay for it.  Using the numbers below and knowing how often we use shortening, I'll be purchasing Shortening Powder in a #10 can.  If you use shortening less often than we do, the Pantry can may be the right size for you.

Pantry can on sale is $5.49 for Q-Club and Home Party customers, which is 8¢ per serving.

The #10 can on sale is $10.99, which is 5.5¢ per serving.

Product Feature: Tomato Powder and Tomato Basil Bread Recipe

Today, I'm highlighting another THRIVE Food from the June Specials.... THRIVE Tomato Powder.

THRIVE Tomato Powder has an Opened Shelf Life of 18 months and has ONE ingredient - tomatoes!  The Unopened Shelf Life is 8 years.

Using the instructions from the can, to make 6 oz Tomato Paste, mix 1/4 c of THRIVE Tomato Powder wtih 1/2 c water.  Heather Lorimor of Cooking With My Food Storage recommends a 1 to 1 ratio of tomato powder to water to make tomato paste, and 1 to 2 for tomato sauce. Heather also recommends adding 2 T of sugar to sweeten it up a bit.  You can check out her recommendations on her Cupboard Door Food Storage Reference Chart.

In addition to using it as a powder (like when adding it to water or bouillon to create a soup base), you can turn the tomato powder into a basic tomato sauce or tomato paste.  From there, you can make your favorite pizza sauce recipe, enchilada sauce or homemade spaghetti sauce.  Here's a recipe for Taco Soup from Shelf Reliance, using THRIVE Tomato Powder.  And I found this recipe for homemade ketchup that I'd like to try using the Tomato Powder.

Tomato Powder was one of my very first Shelf Reliance orders for two reasons.  First, my upline sponsor had made a Beef Vegetable Soup with the THRIVE Tomato Powder at the first Shelf Reliance Tasting Party I attended and it was amazing.  Princess Naked Toes went to the party with me and she still talks about that soup almost a year later.  But that Consultant, my upline, did NOT use a recipe!  I'm still trying to duplicate her soup and have it taste as good as she made.  When I do, or she finally writes down what she does (hint hint), I will share with you!

The second reason is this Tomato Basil Bread recipe from Stolen Moments Cooking.  The recipe calls for 2 T of tomato paste.  Even the small can of tomato paste has quite a few more Tablespoons than 2.  So I either make several loaves or I end up throwing away the rest of the can.  Using the Tomato Powder, I use 2 1/2 t tomato powder and 5 t water to make 2 T tomato paste for this delicious bread recipe!

Let's compare the numbers.  A small 6 oz can of tomato paste has 10 Tablespoons in it.  The pantry can contains 56 T.  For the Tomato Basil Bread recipe, I use 2 1/2 teaspoons.  I can make 67 loaves from one pantry can.  Therefore at the consultant website price of  $12.79, it costs me 19¢ in tomato powder per loaf.  That's significantly less than buying a can of tomato paste.  If I buy my tomato powder in the #10 can, the price of the tomato powder is even less per serving or per loaf.  And as a Q customer, the price is even better.

Currently Hy-Vee shows the price of Hunt's Tomato Paste 6 oz can as 68¢, which is 6.8¢ per Tablespoon, so cheaper per Tablespoon.  BUT when you add in that I end up throwing away the rest of the can because I don't use it and it goes bad, it costs me 68¢ in tomato paste per loaf, I'm saving 49¢ per loaf of bread.  Even if I buy the store brand at 29¢, I'm saving 10¢ per loaf.

I LOVE being able to use just what I need, instead of buying extra of something and wasting it.  I also love knowing that I always have the items I need in my home store.

For the month of June 2012, THRIVE Tomato Powder is on special.  A #10 can is $28.19 to Q Customers and $29.39 on I'm THRIVing!'s website.  Contact me to find out how you can become a Q Customer or to get the monthly special prices on the other sizes available (Pouch, Pantry Can, Case of #10s, or Pantry-10 Pack).   So continuing our comparison, buying the #10 can on the June special, it will cost 14¢ in tomato powder to make the tomato basil bread.

Here's my bread machine adaptation of the recipe from Stolen Moments Cooking:

Tomato Basil Bread for Bread Machine

• 3/4 c. warm water
•  1 T. olive oil
• 2 T. tomato paste (2 1/2 t THRIVE Tomato Powder, plus 5 t water)
• 2 1/4 – 2 1/2 c. flour (I use 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup old fashioned oats, and the rest white flour)
• 2 t. dried basil, oregano, or Italian seasoning
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 T. sugar
• 1 t. salt
• 1/8 – 1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 pkg. active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 t. yeast)

Add liquid ingredients to bread machine pan.  Add flour, herbs, parmesan, sugar, salt and red pepper flakes on top.  Create a well in dry ingredients and add yeast.  Use 1 lb loaf setting for bread machine.

Product Feature: Freeze Dried Green Bell Peppers

I was so excited to see the June THRIVE Specials!  There are a number of items that I have been wanting to get that are on special this month (Like the THRIVE Freeze Dried Red Bell Peppers).  I'm also partially kicking myself because in May's Q shipment, I ordered THRIVE Freeze-Dried Green Bell Peppers.  I'm not completely kicking myself because if I'd had to wait until June, I wouldn't have been able to make this yummy salad for our family Memorial Day gathering.

This is my favorite way to eat the FD Green Bell Peppers - break them up into bite size pieces, without rehydrating, and throw them on top of my salad.  Yum!  They give me the crunch that I love from a crouton plus that zing of a green pepper.

I've also used them as a simple snack, again without rehydrating.

As a pizza topping - I made a mushroom, onion and green pepper pizza when my Q order arrived but my pictures didn't turn out.  Next time, I promise!

And I will be using them in Fajitas, especially after I get my June Q order with those THRIVE Freeze Dried Red Bell Peppers.  Once my husband figures out that he can touch the food storage, I can see him adding these to his omelets and scrambled eggs.

Why use freeze dried rather than fresh?  For me and green bell peppers (and red ones too), it's because I'm not good about using the whole thing before it goes bad - I'll generally use half of it.  And my experiences with trying to freeze the remainder always ends with freezer burn.  THRIVE is my solution!