More Storms On Their Way a Few More Tips For Preparing and Cooking Without Power

My wonderful niece just sent me this photo from her trip to the grocery store this afternoon in preparation for the latest wave of storms. As you can see store shelves really do empty!

Here we go again. Another huge storm is on it’s way to the east coast and more power outages are expected as already damaged tree and power lines are more likely to come down. It’s time to review the posts of the last few weeks. Take the time to read the posts and to pass them along to others who may be caught without power in the next day or two. While you are reading, copy the posts and check off items as you complete them. Keep the post as a reference should you need a reminder once the lights go out. In my post yesterday I talked about a niece who shared the information and the next day had a friend who needed to use it. Be a friend and share.

There is always more you can do so here are a few more tips. Food in the fridge will keep for up to 36 hours without power. We have already talked about placing a sign on the fridge to help you remember to plan before you open the door. The freezer will keep food safe for 24-48 hours depending on how full the freezer is. Today fill plastic bottles ( about two inches from the top to allow for expansion) and place in the freezer now to freeze. This will turn your freezer into on old fashioned ice box.

You will want to eat any ice cream that is in the freezer right away so it doesn’t make a mess. If the power remains out for more than two days you will want to begin cooking any food that is defrosting. The water you have frozen in the jugs can then be used to drink, cook, or for other purposes if you are also without water. Most of us have lots of money tied up in the food in our freezer so add those water bottles today to help protect your investment.

In the post Tip of the Week Winter Storms (link below) there are directions for making a stove out of a #10 can. Now may be a good time to get one made to have on hand if you don’t have a camp stove or other method for cooking without power. It will be vital to have warm meals and drinks if you are in the cold.

We have mentioned it in other posts but remember this is the time to keep your home warm. Place towels or rugs to stop drafts from under doors and on window sills. Close blinds and drapes now. Preserve all the warmth you have. You can lose much of the warmth in your home in the few minutes it will take you to run around doing these things once the power goes.

Now is the time to plug in your cell phone to make sure it has a full charge. Portable land line phones will not work when the power is out. If you have an old phone that plugs directly into a wall outlet and not into a base station, now is the time to resurrect it and plug it in.

When you go to bed tonight be sure you have laid out extra blankets and sleeping bags where they will be easy to find.

Unplug all your sensitive electronics before turning in. During the day you will be aware if the power flickers and able to run and unplug the computer and flat screen. During the night this may happen several time before the power goes out completely and your electronics may be damaged.

If the power goes and you have an electric stove you will need to figure out a way to get hot foods and drinks into your family members. If you have your #10 can stove that is a great start. Consider making foil dinners. This will help to use up foods in the fridge and any that may be defrosting in the freezer. For directions to make foil dinners see: http://blog.totallyready.com/seven-steps-week-10/03/31/

Dinners can be placed on coals in your barbecue grill or in the coals of your fireplace. If you have a roaring fire going, which will be too hot to make dinners,  you can shovel out some coals into a Dutch oven, place the dinners on top of coals and cover with a few more coals. Be sure to place Dutch oven on a fire proof surface such as your stove top. This is also a good way to bake potatoes or yams.

A few Recipes:

Cheeseburger Dinner

Baby carrots cut in half or thinly sliced carrots

1 1/2 pounds Ground beef or ground turkey or a combination of both

Shredded Cheddar cheese

Minced onion or a little dehydrated onion

1 C Steak sauce

1 C Ketchup

Potatoes, thinly sliced

Combine steak sauce and ketchup. Combine meat, onion, 1 C sauce mix, and mix well. Form into patties. Place patty on foil. Sprinkle with cheese. Layer carrots and potatoes on top. Top with remaining sauce. Following the directions for foil dinners fold. Cook in coals about 20 minutes. Be very careful when opening, the contents will be very hot! Makes four dinners.

Taco Time

1 1/2 lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 oz. can tomato sauce

14 oz. can tomatoes diced

15 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

Black olives

Grated cheddar cheese

2 Tbsp. chili powder **

1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves**

** or Taco Seasoning packet

Combine tomatoes and tomato sauce. Combine meat, onion, seasonings, 1 C tomato mixture, and mix well. Form into patties. Place patty on foil. Sprinkle with cheese. Add beans and olives. Top with remaining sauce. Following the directions for foil dinners fold. Cook in coals about 20 minutes. Be very careful when opening, the contents will be very hot! Makes four dinners.

For a warm breakfast make your own instant oatmeal.

Instant Oatmeal

1 C quick oatmeal

1 T. Brown sugar

¼ C dried fruit

1 T powered milk

3/4 C boiling water

1. Combine oatmeal, brown sugar, dried fruit, and dry milk in cereal bowl.

2. Pour ½ C boiling water over mixed.

3. Let stand to thicken. Add more water if necessary. Enjoy.

Prepare now and stay safe and warm.

http://blog.totallyready.com/tip-of-the-week-winter-travel-when-you-get-stranded/02/05/

http://blog.totallyready.com/tip-of-the-week-winter-storms/01/29/

http://blog.totallyready.com/its-a-blustery-dayget-your-home-ready-for-wind-and-power-outages/10/13/

2 Responses to “More Storms On Their Way a Few More Tips For Preparing and Cooking Without Power”

1. admin says:

   February 10, 2010 at 12:46 pm

   Peg wrote:
   Install a full house surge protector. It only costs about $25 and is easy to install. (You do still have to use surge protectors inside, but this is an extra level of protection).

   Good idea!
2. Jean Hansen RN says:

   February 10, 2010 at 2:43 pm

   last year we gave all our adult children a propane camping cook stove and refills of the propane-so far no ones needed to use them due to power outages -but we all feel better knowing everyone will enjoy hot water and food.
   Many in our Washington Dc area are having BBQ’s with the thawing meat from their freezers- just hope they all do it outside.:)