Disasternecessities
is pleased to present to you a new line of excellent food storage products
from Harmony House Foods.
Why foods from
Disasternecessities.com by Harmony House? Let us tell you give you some good
reasons!
-
Quality,
quality, quality
-- Our products are guaranteed to meet or exceed your expectations. We take
great care to sell ONLY premium products. Did you know all dehydrated
vegetables are NOT equal? There are varying degrees of quality. We only sell
the best. PLUS, we are fully FDA approved.
-
Freshness
-- Our products move so quickly they don't have time to settle on our shelves
for weeks or months. Our customers frequently comment about the freshness of
our dehydrated vegetables.
-
Price
-- We set up our business as a service, and we continue with that philosophy.
Being a family owned and operated business allows us the flexibility to offer
you the finest products at very reasonable prices.
-
Customer
satisfaction
-- If you're not happy, we're not happy. We'll do whatever it takes to
maintain your confidence and trust. We'll make phone calls to shipping agents,
send replacement products, give discounts... in other words, we go the
second and third miles for our valued customers!
-
You
can see the difference
-- We never "hide" our products in cans or colored bags. Whether you buy our
"Easy, Quick, & Healthy" gourmet soups blends, dehydrated vegetables or
legumes, you will be able to see exactly what you bought as soon as you remove
it from the shipping box.
-
Fast
shipping
-- If we get swamped with orders we'll work through the night to make sure you
get your order as quickly as possible. We'll never make you wait days or weeks
before your order is shipped!
-
Communication
-- We promise fast responses to any request made to our service department. If
we're having a problem with your order, or we find inadequate product to fill
your order, we'll let you know immediately. You'll also be provided with
tracking information as soon as your order ships.
-
Environmental
awareness
-- We care about the environment, and only use recyclable or biodegradable
packaging material--no stryofoam packing chips! Our packaging chips are
made from cornstarch and dissolve in water.
-
Good
social & business practices --
We carefully follow the guidelines for "Good Manufacturing Practices" as set
forth by the FDA. We take social responsibility seriously and use our
resources to help make the world a better place.
QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS...
Dehydrated
Vegetables
Q:
What is the Shelf-life of your products?
A:
The suggested shelf-life of our products (opened or sealed) is 12-24 MONTHS.
The reason the range is so broad is because of climate variations. Most
customers can expect a long shelf-life for our products. This is assuming an
average climate and original packaging. Some users prefer to repackage items
in a vacuum sealed container, and this would extend the life even longer.
Please be aware that high humidity and unstable room temperatures can decrease
the shelf-life of dehydrated products and other food items.
Q:
Do dehydrated products lose their nutritional value in processing?
A:
Nutritive value is of primary concern these days, and many customers want to
know about the food value of dehydrated vegetables versus fresh vegetables.
You will be pleased to know that the nutritional content of dehydrated
vegetables is nearly identical to that of fresh! The slow, air drying process
preserves the nutrition while evaporating the water. Thus, you are left with
concentrated nutrition pound for pound versus fresh. In fact, of all the food
processing techniques available, dehydrated products maintain more of their
nutrition than their frozen or canned counterparts. You can enjoy the longer
shelf-life of dehydrated products, the convenience, and the taste without
sacrificing the nutrition!
Q:
What does the Dry to Fresh ratio mean?
A: It simply
shows the amount of dry product you will need to make the equivalent of the
fresh. For example, if there is a 1:8 ratio, it means that 1 pound of dry
product would reconstitute to 8 pounds of fresh product. Keep in mind that
most dehydrated products are very light, and adding the water back to the
product greatly increases the weight. For example, 1 gallon of water weighs
over 8 pounds, while 1 gallon of dehydrated spinach weighs 12 ounces.
Q: What
volume do your various containers hold?
A: We have four
main sizes you will consistently find on our site:
ZIP
POUCH: Contains approximately 1 cup of product
JAR:
A plastic jar which contains 1 quart of product
JUMBO
JUG: A plastic jug which contains 1 gallon of product
BULK
BOX: A 12 x 12 x 12 box of product
Q:
Can I eat dehydrated vegetables raw?
A:
YES! Just chew them slowly, so they have a chance to rehydrate in your mouth.
Q:
Can I use dehydrated vegetables for dishes other than soups & stews?
A:
Absolutely! You can substitute dehydrated vegetables for fresh vegetables in
just about any dish, including casseroles, loafs, pizza toppings, omelets,
breads, etc.
Q:
Can I grind these into vegetable powder?
A:
You can if you have the proper grinder. Do not try to grind corn, carrots, or
diced potatoes in your blender.
Q:
Can I rehydrate your vegetables without cooking them first?
A:
Yes! It takes a little longer, but you can just soak the amount of vegetables
you need in cold water until desired tenderness.
Q:
Can I cook a plain vegetable as a side dish, or do I have to use them in
something else?
A:
You can cook them alone. However, they will not have the identical texture as
a fresh vegetable. The “harder” vegetables (corn, potatoes, carrots, etc.) do
maintain a similar texture to fresh. When used in a dish with other
ingredients, many people cannot tell the difference.
Q:
Can I microwave dehydrated vegetables?
A:
Yes. Because microwave ovens vary so much in cooking times, you will have to
determine the length of time needed for your oven.
Q:
Can I sauté dehydrated vegetables?
A:
Yes. When doing this, use about 1/3 less water than is called for and use the
soaking method for rehydration, rather than cooking. You don’t want the
vegetables to be too wet when adding them to the pan.
Q:
How do I actually use these in other dishes?
A:
Determine what quantity of fresh vegetable your dish calls for. Figure out
from the package label what the dehydrated equivalent would be. Make sure to
ADD the required water to the recipe to rehydrate your vegetable! For example,
Surprise Loaf calls for 1 cup celery. Here’s what you would do:
Recipe
calls for 1 Cup Celery.
Celery
has a 1 to 2 ratio with water
Add
1/3 Cup Celery + 2/3 Cups water
Q:
What is the shelf-life of dehydrated vegetables?
A:
This depends on several factors. We recommend a shelf life of 1-2 years. If
you live in a dry climate, they would last longer. Some people vacuum seal the
vegetables in a separate bag. This will greatly extend the shelf life. Our
vegetables are designed for everyday use, but are also good for long-term food
storage.
Q:
Are your dehydrated products certified organic or Kosher?
A:
All our products are certified Kosher and a certificate of validity is
available on request.
Because
of the restrictive requirements, we presently cannot claim to carry organic
products. We get hundreds of inquiries from health conscious consumers who
recognize the nutritional value and time savings of using dehydrated products,
but are not exactly sure how to use them in every day food preparation. We’ve
listed the most frequently asked questions and have attempted to address each
issue in this short guide.
Dehydrated
Beans & Legumes
Q:
What is the difference between your beans and dry beans in the store?
A:
A lot! If you buy dry beans in the store, you need to clean and sort them,
soak them overnight, and then cook them for an hour or more before they are
tender. Our beans are produced through a patented process which does all the
work for you! Just put the amount of beans you want in the pot, bring to a
boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let stand for 5
minutes. That’s it! Look at the time savings below:
Store
Bought Beans = 10 hours+
Sort,
Clean, & Rinse (15 minutes)
Soak
overnight (8 hours)
Cook
(1-2 hours)
Our
Beans = 20 minutes
Place
in the pot and bring to a boil (5 min.)
Simmer
(10 min.)
Let
stand (5 min.)
Q:
How many beans would I need to equal the equivalent of a standard can?
A:
A typical 15 oz. can of beans contains 40% water and 60% beans, which would
leave you with 9 oz. of drained beans. It would take approximately 4 oz. of
our dehydrated beans to equal the same quantity you would get in a standard
can. Because our beans are 1/4 the weight of canned beans, you can see why
Campers, RVers, and Boaters love to have our beans on hand all the time!
Q:
Can I use these just like regular beans?
A:
Yes. Use them in any dish that calls for beans.
Q:
What is the shelf life of your beans?
A:
We recommend 2-3 years.
Q:
Can you store the unused portion of beans
in
the refrigerator and then reheat them?
A:
Yes. They store very well, and they reheat well in the microwave.
TVP
(Textured Vegetable Protein)
Q:
Is your TVP meat-free?
A:
Yes. We do not carry any products that contain meat.
Q:
How do I use TVP?
A:
Add them to soups, stews, chilis, casseroles, or any dish where you desire a
meaty texture.
Q:
Where can I find the nutritional information for your TVP?
A:
When you select the item on our website, at the bottom of the page the
nutritional information will be listed.
Sample
Recipes
HOMEMADE
SPAGHETTI SAUCE
Embarrassingly
simple, wonderfully delicious!
6
Lb. Can Crushed Tomatoes
1/4
Cup Mixed Red & Green Dehydrated Peppers
1/4
Cup Dehydrated Onions
3
T Dehydrated Celery
2
T Sucanat or Brown Sugar
1
T (rounded) Oregano
Combine
all ingredients in kettle and simmer for 20 minutes. Add Chickenish bits,
burger crumbles, or other meat substitute if desired. Makes enough sauce for a
2 Lb. box of Spaghetti. Leftovers can easily be stored in the refrigerator and
used throughout the week.
SUPER
SIMPLE NAVY BEAN SOUP
3/4
Cup Dehydrated Navy Beans
2
T Hamish Bits
2
T Dehydrated Diced Potato
2
T Dehydrated Onions
2
T Tomato Powder
1
T Dehydrated Mixed Peppers
Combine
all ingredients in a cooking pot. Add 4 cups water. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Season to taste. We like a little salt and oregano.
Q:
Is your facility monitored for quality?
A:
We are fully FDA inspected and approved. We recently received a complete FDA
inspection with no deficiencies to correct, and a 100% approval rating.
Q:
Are your products organic?
A:
The process of becoming approved to make the "organic" claim is a lengthy one.
If you have not completed the process, you cannot even label items as
"organic" even if they are. While we are working through the process we can
assure you that we sell ONLY the best ingredients in the marketplace today. No
one can match our quality.
Q:
I found similar products priced cheaper. Will you match the competitions price?
A:
Our focus is on QUALITY-- not price cutting. Although we will always seek to
give you the best value for the money, we do not sell Grade B products. This
is why we proudly display our products in clear bags and containers. We never
"hide" our products in cans or colored bags where you don't know what the
product looks like until you open it. Most people are happy to pay a little
more to provide better quality for their family. Try the difference!
Q:
Can I use your products for long-term storage, or my emergency supply kit?
A:
Absolutely! However, due to the varied needs of individuals, and family sizes,
you will want to repackage the items to your exact specifications. What most
people do is buy the "Bulk Box" or "Jumbo Jug" size and repackage the product
using a "Seal-a-Meal" type home vacuum sealer. Once sealed in this manner, the
products will last for years.
Of
course we sell plenty of food storage items on Disasternecessities.com,
including year supplies of #10 Cans.
Q:
Have your products ever been recalled?
A:
We have NEVER had a recall, and have only received glowing comments
from FDA inspectors regarding our quality standards. We go above and beyond
the standards for Good Manufacturing Practices as outlined for food packagers.
Q:
I wish you sold a product I like that you are not currently selling.
A:
If there is something you are interested in us selling, please e-mail us or
give us a call. We always consider our customers preferences.