This is how you Begin
Yesterday I promised to post each day to help you get started with your food storage if you have not been working on the Seven Steps. The question I get most often when I make a presentation or hold a seminar is “how do I get started?” This is how…
Yesterday you dated all the items in your home that you only replace occasionally. You will use this information in a few weeks.
Today I want you to sit down with your family and ask them what their 10 favorite meals are, meals you make. Make sure every family member has a say and that you include breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. This will become the basis to begin your storage program.
Once you have a list sit down and list every item needed to make those meals. Make hash marks next to each item. If two recipes include pasta there will be two hash marks next to pasta. Don’t forget the spices needed. If a recipe includes fresh fruits or vegetables list those too. Take your time with this, you’ll be glad you did.
A lot of the meals my family loves have perishable foods like tomatoes, carrots, bell peppers, etc. These things I can only by every 2 weeks or so. Is it sensible to start food storage that has these ingredients in them? What if I won’t be able to get these ingredients when I need to use the food storage?
Thanks,
Megan
Megan,
I know this is a challenge but you just have to begin thinking a little differently. I have been working on a cook book for a while now and I am finally done with 2 chapters. I think I may just publish those and add to them a chapter at a time. I have recipes with the storage substitute for fresh items. You need to look at your recipes and determine if there are items you could store that would make those dishes similar to the fresh version. Then don’t store a year’s worth but just enough for several weeks. That would give you a little time for the emergency to pass or for you to plant a garden! For example we have one in our family who loves grilled cheese so we store processed cheese(like Velveeta) it would come close enough to make her happy. For tacos you could use canned meat, processed cheese, bottled salsa, and I have even drained diced tomatoes to use in place of fresh and they worked well. Nothing is perfect but it’s better to have something you can work with than nothing, if the store shelves are empty, or the wallet is.