Week 6 -- Store bought staples

 

  

  So, let's talk about some of the other things you'll want in your pantry.  Things like mayonnaise, mustard and things that have nice long shelf lives.  Here's the thing:  you want survival foods, but you also want everyday foods.  Disasters are not going to hit you one right after another.  Usually.  lol  And some reasons to keep your pantry stocked are not tornadoes and hurricanes. Some reasons are  much more every day and mundane, like losing your job, illness, injuries, etc.  Out here it can be something as simple as unpassable roads or power outages.  I love not having to freak out when I can't get to the store.  I can go into that pantry at any given moment and find the stuff to make easy tasty meals. That is priceless.  Do you know that big box stores keep only about 3 days of stock on their shelves ? What happens if gas dries up or prices make it impossible for trucks to roll ?  No deliveries. 

   Here's my story. I have been a stocker and thrifty witch for a long time.  Probably from growing up kinda poor and watching my mom struggle to put food on the table in the middle of paychecks. And from living in the lower echelon of society myself. So, when I can, I buy a little extra and put it away.  One Memorial Day weekend, we were coming home from a meal out when my husband fell asleep at the wheel and rolled our car. The car was totaled, we were taken to a hospital and treated. I was just banged and bruised but he (the breadwinner in this family) broke a vertebrae in his back and couldn't work for 3 months. We have limited available savings and pretty much live paycheck to paycheck. The company he works for gave him all his vacation and holiday pay for the year, his last paycheck and held his job. What a blessing.  But 3 months is a long time for no money coming in (except my monthly disability check) while money is still going out to pay insurance and electricity and stuff.  I had just downsized our cell phone bill and plan, thank God. I was looking around at where I could cut spending to make this a little easier.  And the very first thing was the grocery bill. I thought I could probably not have to buy much in the way of food. This was surely going to be the test of stocking up. I got a pad and pen and went to the pantry.  I started with a list of breakfast foods and made a menu from what was in there. Did the same with the other 1-2 meals a day.  I checked my freezers too, which were pretty well stocked. Long story short, over that 3+ month period, I spent less than 38 dollars at the grocery store. Had to buy olive oil, toilet paper and a couple of other small things.  By the time it was over, my pantry was bare and so were the freezers.  But we made it. And garden season was in swing, so I was able to replenish a lot of things from there.  THIS --  this is the reason I prep.

  Okay-- so if you look at the picture above, you can see things like baking cocoa, ketchup, artichoke hearts, salad dressings, peanut butter. Of course, there's a whole shelf of home canned jellies and jams.  lol  I also have a shelf of plastic gallon sauerkraut jugs that are filled with flour, sugar, pastas, beans, salt, things I have dehydrated etc. Another shelf has some canned marinara sauces, mayonnaise, jars of peanuts, black and green olives. I have baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch.  You know what your family eats and you know what you can make. . I know that I need to keep a backup 1 pound cake of compressed yeast for baking bread. When the pandemic started one of the first things I couldn't find was yeast. That won't happen again. I always think too that if things get really rough, I will need some things that aren't just survival foods.  I will need comfort. Sweets. Special foods (artichoke hearts). Peace of mind. 

  Happy stocking.

Week 5 : Mama, will we ever be able to eat meat again ?

 

After watching a few Zombie movies, you might never want to eat meat again.  lol

  I wanted to talk about stocking your pantry with meats from the grocery store, since I know a lot of people don't can.  In my humble opinion, it's worth learning how to do, but that's me. The initial investment can be a little pricey for a pressure canner, jars and rings, but it doesn't have to be. I know people who have found jars and canners at thrift stores and flea markets. But, back to the subject at hand. You can always freeze fresh meats you find on sale, if you have a freezer. I do and will buy things specifically to freeze. However, freezer life is limited, so that should be meats you are eating regularly, not storing.  Other items I can for shelf stability and I've told you a little about that.  But if you're not a canner, you can still keep your pantry stocked with some good sources of protein for your family's diet. So, let's look at some affordable options.

  If you're a sales shopper, like I am, keep an eye on the in between pages of your grocer's sales papers.  You know the part-- where the vegetables and ketchup and stuff is.  A lot of times you'll find great prices on things there.  The Dollar Store also is a good place to find items, as is Big Lots. I'm not a Walmart fan, but they do carry the cat litter I like, so when I'm in there, I scan the shelves for sales. Here's a list of things I look for, things I know I can build a meal around that my family likes.

1) Canned fish. Tuna, mackerel and salmon. The canned portions are much cheaper than fresh, and check the BBD (best by date) and will keep in your pantry for as long as 2-3 years. They're good sources of protein as well as Omega-3's and other nutrients.  I always buy tuna packed in water, unless the oil packed is crazy cheap (then I rinse it before I use it).  All 3 are good for making sandwich salads, croquettes, casseroles or loaves.  I keep 10-20 cans of tuna in my pantry at all times and rotate it as I use and buy more. I usually have 5-6 cans of salmon and mackerel there as well. We'll stick  oysters, clams, sardines and anchovies in here as well.  I do have canned oysters and clams in my pantry, that I use to make a seafood chowder. No anchovies for me, but I do have a couple of tins of sardines in mustard sauce in there.  (Not sure why.  LOL)  

2) Canned chicken. Several companies make a canned chicken breast in small cans that you can buy. They are a little pricey, but they are available. Dark meat is also available, and costs a little less.  Chicken is a healthy protein source. These can be used for chicken salad sandwiches (no cooking required)  or to make soups or chicken and dumplings or enchiladas or anything else you would make with cooked chicken. Can also just be eaten out of the can in an emergency.

3) Potted meat.  This stuff is not one of my favorites, but if you're hungry, you'll be grateful for it.  It is a deviled ham product, all seasoned and ready to go. Great for sandwiches.(If you have bread).  It's inexpensive, it's a source of protein and fats and the tiny little cans don't take up a lot of space. We'll stick those Vienna sausages in here too in their cute little cans. 

4)  Meat soups and stews. These are always handy, and you can doctor them up a little if you need to (I do).  There are ready to eat beef stews, chicken and dumplings, bean soups with ham and a whole lot of other things. All that is required is dump and heat and there you are. There are canned sloppy joes, different Chef Boyardee pastas with meat, and other similar items you could consider too. Again-- just be sure it's stuff your family will eat. Don't waste money (even on a sale) if it's not useful to you.

5) Canned beef and pork. Can be used in all sorts of meals and are convenient. Probably not something you'd buy for everyday use, but handy just the same.

6) Canned hams and bacon.  I always pick up the little funny shaped cans of DAK canned ham when I see it. It's great for so many things, tastes good and keeps well. I dice it up and brown to serve with scrambled eggs. Use it in beans.  Use it for sandwiches. I'm not a big fan of canned bacon, but it might work for you. Then there's the good old Spam and Treet,  2 canned meats that have been around since the 1930's. They're making a comeback and are versatile enough to use in many recipes.  Again, good sources of protein that can give you some versatility in your meals.

  So, there are some ideas of things to look for.when you're thinking about the meat and protein part of pantry stocking. Hope it's helpful. I have canned pork loin, ground beef, roast beef, chicken of all sorts, and corned beef that I always keep on my shelf. Last week I found some pork loin on sale and canned up some more of that. High protein, low fat...and useful in so many ways.  Maybe I should have added beans in here too... but I think I'll save that for next time. 

  Bon Apetit, babiees...