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Across the Fence:  weather coming- what foods should I have...  |
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Carolinagirl
True Blue Farmgirl
486 Posts
Kim
Rutherfordton
NC
USA
486 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 7:06:44 PM
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It's possible that we'll have our first round of real winter weather there Thursday, possibly with ice... which means the possibility of power outages. It occured to me that I have no idea what I can keep around if there's power out and we need to eat... cold cuts and bread? cereal? What do y'all suggest?
Kim in NC (a real snow chicken) |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 7:30:35 PM
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Do you think you will still have power? Do you cook on gas or electric? Do you use a woodstove or fireplace in your house?
I'd go with thinkgs that will keep you warm and have comfort food qualties. Do you have any of the Mary Jane's mixes to which you would just add hot water? I'd be sure to have plenty of water on hand too, just in case the well or water lines to your house freeze. Remember, anything in your freezer will keep for about 3 days if you don't keep opening the freezer. Really think about how you will cook...then the what part will come easier.
Good luck and stay warm,
Sharon
Life is messy. Wear your apron! |
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jo Thompson
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Jo
the mountainside of the Chugach
in Alaska
USA
603 Posts |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 8:47:53 PM
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I think some of your favorites!! For me that would be good bread, cheese and cans of good soup..or like Sharon said..some of MaryJanes mixes. I adore the black bean and corn chowder..yum!!!!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 9:35:25 PM
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Water source: (3-5 5 gal. jugs) We also fill the tub so there is water to flush)
Heat source:(firewood, pellets, propane heater?)
Cooking source ( camp stove w/ propane to cook or fireplace)
Coolers: Helps cold stuff stay that way outside (milk, butter, eggs)
Foods: Nonperishable soups, bread, cheese, canned chicken or tuna, those noodle or rice pouches, cereal, pancake mix, trail mix,
anything you need to eat from your fridge before it spoils!
Oil Lamps/smokeless oil/replacement wicks and matches:
one for each room and several for main gathering areas. We also keep booklights w/batteries so you can read in the evening if you want.
Candles: use with caution.
Batteries and a Radio
Also charge any and all cell phone batteries in advance so you can eventually call out , even if the house phone isn't working.
Make sure any necessary Rx are filled and picked up.
I'm not sure how long your power stays out but that works for us for 3 days or so. I also usually bake when really bad weather is coming so we might have a pie or some cookies so we don't feel like we are in "survival" mode. Maybe silly, but we actually have fond memories of some of our "strandings" as long as we know everyone is safe, warm and dry.
Let's hope you don't need this, but it's good to be prepared!
with a happy heart |
Edited by - bramble on Jan 30 2007 9:46:20 PM |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2007 : 9:37:02 PM
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Hi Kim - We have had seven storms in seven weeks and we are expecting two more before Sunday. This is how we work it - fill as many containers with water. We also store water for the animals however we have also over the years taught them to eat snow if they have too. Next we have a electric stove but in case we lose power we have three different propane stoves. We even have a outdoor grill and pit so if we really need to heat things up we can do so. Do not forget propane (Like someone I know) We have two refrig's and one large freezer. If it gets really cold and you lose power have a way to place food in coolers outside. The food depends on how good you are at camping, if not too good for for canned and even something you can eat without cooking. The funny farm has had tons of practice at this but remember it is better to be prepared for the worst then to be without. I must say I also grew up with a mother who was bombed out six times in Germany so I was brought up with being prepared. I have even instilled this in my boys, one teaches outdoor winter survival skills. You will do fine Kim and know that as long as you have power you have us farmgirls to keep you warm.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com |
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Aunt George
True Blue Farmgirl
1476 Posts
Georgann
Midlothian
VA
1476 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 01:57:05 AM
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I hear ya Kim, we are supposed to get hit here in Virginia too. The southern states aren't as prepared as the northern and midwestern states. Our snow removal equipment is not as good as it is up north. We don't have the massive salt/cinder reserves like up north either. The suggestions by the farmgirls are right on. I have a wind up radio and a camp light that I keep plugged in at all times. Lots of quilts and blankets and don't forget the gum and batteries and games to play if needed. I do need to order some of MJ's just add water items. We usually will boil water and store in all of our thermos jugs. At least you will have hot water for tea or soup for a short while. Make sure you have full propane tanks for the outdoor grill so that you can cook something outside if needed.
http://auntgeorgeshouse.blogspot.com/index.html
Thanks for checking out my apron and sewing musings! |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 06:57:20 AM
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And have some of Georgann's wonderful skirts on hand to wear. I'm still gawking at your skirts, they are just beautiful. I love your quote on your blog too Georgann....
"My motto is "Clean enough to be healthy but dirty enough to be happy."
Blessings
Sarah |
Edited by - MustangSuzie on Jan 31 2007 06:58:14 AM |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 07:42:19 AM
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I usually keep some canned foods that could be heated right in the can if need be. things like ravoli, spagetti o's, baked beans, soups. I also have some dry soup mixes that you only need to add water to and heat. Make sure if you buy canned goods that you have a manual can opener and not an electric. We have a gas range and a wall mounted gas heater that both work without electricity. we are expecting snow and ice tonight too. Oh yeah we also stock up on LOTS of bottled water. We have some jugs but also we keep 4 flats of 20 ounce bottles in our pantry at all times. If jugs get opened and you don't use it all the water will get yucky after a while. With the 20 oz bottles we usually finish what we open so there is no worry about that. Also make sure you have batteries, flashlights, candles, mathches and lots of clean warm clothes and blankets. Do laundry TODAY if you are really worried!
Jewelry, art, baskets, etc.
www.willowtreecreek.com |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 07:53:26 AM
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Hi Kim. We are expecting the same thing here in Georgia. I always keep fruit on hand and veggies that can be eaten raw (carrots, celery, broccoli, etc) Water is a must- I keep gallon jugs in the pantry. Juice boxes are good, fruit snacks, deli meats, bread. Anything that is easy to fix. Make sure to keep a cooler handy just in case. We keep ours on the porch with ice in it. If it stays cold outside, we put our perishable food in it in teh event of a power loss. Also, I keep all of the standard emergency supplies in a box and haul that out so it is handy. We keep charcoal on hand so that if we do lose power, we can cook. If I think we are going to lose power, I put blankets up over the windows to keep whatever heat we may have in! Plus, it makes it very cozy in the house.
We may be wierd, but my family sort of looks forward to days like that. It gives us the opportunity to get closer and really rely on each other.
Stay warm!!
Karin |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 3:08:16 PM
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Paper plates, plastic cutlery and paper towels are good to have on hand-- we never use these for every day, but if the water freezes and the pipes burst or you're conserving water for some other reason, you won't have to worry about doing up the dishes every time you eat. I second the call to do laundry before the storm hits-- running out of socks in the middle of a 3-day blizzard is no fun. Keep a small shovel inside the house in case it gets really bad and you have to shovel yourself out. And don't forget to always have a fully-stocked first aid kit in the house.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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pinkroses
True Blue Farmgirl
2350 Posts
Sheila
Virginia
USA
2350 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 3:31:19 PM
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We are expecting our first really snow tommorrow too.
3 to 4 inches.
I went to the craft shope AcMoores. I had enough groicers.
You would have thought that it was Chirstmas again. Ha. Pinkroses |
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laluna
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
New York
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 4:38:48 PM
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Heh. Oh, to live where snow is an unusual event. We just *celebrated* the 30th anniversary of the Blizzard of '77 in the city of Buffalo this past weekend! In fact, snow arrived so late this year people were getting upset (especially the winter sport enthusiasts).
But to answer your question seriously, after the Friday, Oct. 13th "surprise" storm earlier this year when many people were without power for nearly a week, we went and bought ourselves a little generator (enough to run the fridge and electric-start water-heater, along with the furnace blower). And we heat with wood in our two wood-burning stoves (one larger furnace-type in the basement, another little Lopi in the living room), so staying warm is never an issue. I would have plenty of water on hand (we usually have an extra case of bottled water kicking around) and food that won't spoil. Oh, and candles :-) Good luck! |
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shelle
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Shelle
oklahoma
USA
404 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 9:59:43 PM
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I usually buy stuff for soups, and chili and make sure i have plenty of soft drinks, fruit and snacks on hand. Also make sure that you have plenty of staples like bread and milk so you dont have to make a run to the store for something small. Check that you have batteries, candles, and bottled water. I also make sure the laundry is all done up so that if we lose power I dont have to worry about that. I learned that one the hard way a few years ago. I also freeze some cheap aluminum pans of water in my deep freeze in case we loose power so that I can use it in my ice chest to save my perishables. One year when we were out of electricity for many days and ice was scarce I used icicles off the house to keep things cold in the ice chest. Sometimes you just have to improvise. I usually make sure I have a good supply of wood in the house for the fireplace so I dont have to go out in the snow to get it if I dont want to.
If you have an electric stove you may want to have more ready to eat food items on hand. I actually warmed up some things on the top of my fire place insert during an ice storm once when we had no power.
We are also experiencing the same weather that you are getting now. So I totally understand what you might be facing.
Good Luck
Shelle |
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Across the Fence: weather coming- what foods should I have... |
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weather coming- what foods should I have...
