The standard time to plant winter cover crops in Oklahoma is about mid-September. (Maybe a bit earlier for those in extreme northern OK, and maybe a tiny bit later for those in extreme southern OK if the heat is hanging on into mid-Sept. and little rain is falling.) Although most cover crops can be planted in mid-September and will grow just fine, the other 'general' recommendation is to plant them at least a month before you average first autumn freeze date. Cereal rye, like Elbon, is the exception to the rule. It can be planted late...right before the first expected freeze...and will sprout and grow well.

I checked "Still Tasty" web site and linked it below. They are a fairly good resource for checking if food is still "good". I suspect the oils in the oats have long since gone "off" and they probably smell somewhat to strongly rancid. Rancid oils are a nasty body damaging free-radical - from any food source - so I would toss them. In home food storage the keys to extending the storage life are temperature, oxygen-free storage, and avoid exposure to light. I vacuum-seal oats to extend the storage time, but turn my oats over fairly quickly, even though I store at least a year's worth. I also store them in a cool food storage room in the basement where it is dark (windowless room). Room temperature for food storage is considered 70-degrees F (and that's what storage charts base their numbers on), and for each 10-degrees lower you store food, it extends the storage time. Optimum storage temperature is 40-60-degrees F which can double the normal storage life. Even if you store oats in a freezer, that would delay the grain oils from going rancid and extend the storage life, but not prevent it. I suspect on the top of the refrigerator can be warmer than room temperature from the heat put off by the motor, so that would reduce the storage time exponentially by increasing the storage temperature. For each 10-degrees warmer than room temperature, the storage time declines. -Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: Still Tasty - oats

Good for you for getting your stock organized. I actually love my small pantry and I like to keep it organized. I do need to get into the home canned jars and see if any of them need to be tossed. I stock up to like Nicole and I am a budget, thrifty shopper. Cathy from Idaho mentioned couponing a few days back and I decided to drag out my coupon box and start using it again. I did a little research and found out how to really do the coupon thing to your advantage. Oh and I saw that couponing show.....how sad that those people do that....How can anyone use 300 toothbrushes or like you said soda......I've had soda taste bad in just a matter of a few months.....The point is to buy exactly what you know you will use and stock up. I love having a stash and I always have paper products and cleaning supplies as well as food...Our Albertson's has great buys of meat for loss leaders and I take advantage.........

Hmmmm. I'd add an egg, a bit of oil and enough milk or water to make it batter and bake it. I'm only assuming that the leavening is in there. Maybe some grated carrots, chopped apple, raisins and/or nuts. (grin) Yup, I might as well just make it from scratch! In the alternative I'd open it, taste a bit. If it's sweet enough I'd cut in some bits of butter and use it as a topping for apples, kind of an oat bran apple crisp. Annie