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Many Eastern Seaboard residents who don't normally choose to eat many canned foods and certainly wouldn't identify themselves as preppers will be introduced to this diet if Hurricane Irene performs as predicted -- LIGHTS OUT!
This article from CNN is interesting from that point of view, and you might get a couple of tips to add to your prepping skill set, even if you're a veteran of power outages:
Mayonnaise may adorn your sandwiches and tuna or chicken salads at the outset, and pre-sealed packets aren't a bad way to go, but after a few hours, mustard is a better safety bet. Avoid flavor fatigue by assembling a sampler pack of yellow, Dijon, deli, whole grain, flavored and honey mustards. Per the good folks at French's Mustard, "There are no ingredients in mustard that spoil. "Refrigerate After Opening" is not required for food safety–we only recommended you do so to maintain optimal product flavor."
Peanut butter is another excellent bet, but it, too can get monotonous. Put a portion into a small bowl or plastic container and play around with spice mix-ins like cumin, cinnamon, hot sauce, paprika, Chinese five-spice or curry spices. It's dandy on bread, crackers (you did remember to stock up on crackers, right?) or raw vegetables; just don't make your blend too hot or salty if water and other beverages are still in short supply. If peanuts aren't your bag, pop a can of chickpeas, mash them up and gussy 'em up.
No worries. Most people will either be sitting on their hands, waiting for someone to 'save' them, or doing foolish things that endanger not only their lives, but the lives of others. I actually knew the 'famous' guy in Charlotte, NC, who was caught in one of their infrequent ice storms. The power had been out since the night before, toppled trees were all around him, it was dangerous to step foot outside, he was cold and hungry. So he lit off his grill in his closed garage. The fire department couldn't reach the house before it burned to the ground because of the downed trees and lines and icy roads. His insurance company said "act of God" didn't mean his own stupidity.
What cracked me up about a NorthEastern ice storm the following year was the people out in the streets, demanding that the power be turned back on immediately, they were freezing and starving - and all around them were splintered trees and wooden fences. It was all the power companies' fault, and someone ELSE's responsiblity to take care of their families.
"A lifeboat, not a cruise ship" has always been the message first FEMA, then HLS, have tried to get across to those in disaster areas. However, most folks don't understand or care that their $27 steak dinners or Mickey D's or Pizza Hut might not be available for awhile, and resent even the thought that they should do without or cut back. Wait'll the storm surge destroys their water supplies and puts sewage up their pipes and in their streets and yards - they'll REALLY squeal then. "Water water everywhere - but nary drop to drink!"
"Most people will either be sitting on their hands, waiting for someone to 'save' them, or doing foolish things that endanger not only their lives, but the lives of others."
How true! Well-put, SCG...
The ones you really don't know whether to laugh or cry about are the people loading their grocery carts with frozen entrees to last them through the power outage. OMG...
Actually canned food is not all that bad, especially if it's home-canned. But we like to mix stuff up, just for variety (we do this, even when there is no storm). Macaroni and cheese from a packet is boring. DW switches the mac for elbows, uses the cheese sauce, adds a can of diced tomatoes, a can of white chicken meat, some freeze-dried onion, and the result is outstanding! We have even served this concoction to company, and nobody knew what it was, but they loved it.
When she wants to make something soup-y but richer, like a stew, she'll start with a can of something...could be French onion. Then she boils up a pot of rice, and adds it. Next, whatever veggies we have left (or add a can of whatever). If there's no meat in the original soup, she'll add some leftover hamburger or turkey. Another tasty, hearty meal.
I guess anybody who has a bunch of canned goods and a family to feed, with a little imagination, can whip up something that does not need mustard of any sort (not mayo or ketchup either). There is enough salt in most canned goods that it's better to pour off the fluid (even most of the soup broth, replaced by water), and forget adding more salt in the form of condiments. Brown rice, hard red wheat pasta, and sliced potatoes will all give the meal more 'body'. Sometimes just adding a fresh, lightly fried onion will make the whole thing taste fresh and delicious!
Also in Gristides Giovanna Levy was doing some last minute shopping. Her basket contained tins of tuna, toothpaste and hot dogs.
She said: ‘This is the second supermarket we’ve been to. ‘We’re going to order in loads of food from restaurants and have it just sitting there ready to eat.'
At Walgreen’s by Union Square candles were in short supply, as were frozen pizzas again.
One man walked around with two bottles of Gatorade in his basket. An elderly gentleman was waiting in line clutching two bars of Lindt chocolate and four tins of sardines.
Also in Gristides Giovanna Levy was doing some last minute shopping. Her basket contained tins of tuna, toothpaste and hot dogs. She said: ‘This is the second supermarket we’ve been to. ‘We’re going to order in loads of food from restaurants and have it just sitting there ready to eat.' At Walgreen’s by Union Square candles were in short supply, as were frozen pizzas again. One man walked around with two bottles of Gatorade in his basket. An elderly gentleman was waiting in line clutching two bars of Lindt chocolate and four tins of sardines.
With a bunch of Woody Allen and Seinfeld neurotics running around I would expect nothing less. BTW New York is the most Neurotic city in the world.
I am going to take a direct head on hit where I am in NH according to the latest weather maps. I hear the wpower may go off and stay off a week Oh well.
My diet is going to be the same as any other times over summer, power or no power. Tonight i got 2 cheese burgers, 4 cobs of corn from the garden and a salad.
I'll be pissed if this storm upsets my Beer's though
Worst case is I will be eatting 8 cobs of corn morning noon a night after this storm.
My diet is going to be the same as any other times over summer, power or no power. Tonight i got 2 cheese burgers, 4 cobs of corn from the garden and a salad.
You must be a whale of a gardener. I didn't get a single cheeseburger out of mine this year.
my soybean not doing well this year either, just enough for 2 servings of edamame not much left for cheeseburger.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy in Wyoming
You must be a whale of a gardener. I didn't get a single cheeseburger out of mine this year.
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The fire department couldn't reach the house before it burned to the ground because of the downed trees and lines and icy roads. His insurance company said "act of God" didn't mean his own stupidity.
It was all the power companies' fault, and someone ELSE's responsiblity to take care of their families.
Oh well.
