Shopping List--Week 5

It’s Wednesday, time for week 5 of your disaster shopping mission. This week will be a little more expensive than previous weeks, depending on what you already have at home. So, you should have purchased some non-perishable food items to stow away in your kit. Long-term food storage doesn’t have to have gross, inedible food in it. Refer here for a poem on better food storage. Yes. A poem.

Anyway, now it’s time to find a way to cook that food. Obviously, if you have electricity just carry on as normal. However, if you are without power, here are a few food-prep options.

1. A butane stove: these can be used indoors, provided you have PLENTY of ventilation. The best thing would probably be to use this outside under the cover of a porch or awning. These can be purchased here. This one is rated for indoor use and can be purchased here or at your local Ace Hardware or camping supply store.

2. Apple box oven: these things are super cool. Click here and here to learn more. Cooking brownies or muffins when the power is out? Yes, please! You can easily make one at home or you can attend a hands-on class in June and make one with the help of a professional! Check back next week for more details on the date and class location.

3. Grill: Use this outdoors only. Here’s why. If you’re stuck at home because of a severe winter storm or flood, why not treat yourself to a nice steak? No electricity required! Plus, it’s a good way to use up all that meat in the freezer that will go bad without electricity.

4. Fondue pot/chafing dish: this would probably take quite a bit of time (but if you’re trapped at home, it’s not like your social calendar is going to be full). If you happen to have fondue makings sitting around, have a nice disaster fondue party. However, if you are like 99.9% of Americans you don’t exactly keep fondue fixin’s on hand. But, you can certainly heat up some nice soup or chili in it!

So, what do you need to buy this week? How about (per family member):

4 cans of soup

4 cans of chili

4 boxes of macaroni and cheese

2 cans or jars of spaghetti sauce

2 boxes of spaghetti noodles.

That’s a lot of meals that can all be cooked on one butane stove burner! If you do not already have a camp stove or butane burner, now is a good time to pick one up. I know it’s a load off my mind to know that I can at least cook macaroni and cheese or spaghetti without power and keep my kids fed and happy. (a lot happier than if I just popped open a can of spam, gave them a spoon and told them it was dinner).