I read something recently on another blog and I want your opinion about it....really. It's
here. There are many versions of it all around the blogosphere. Some authors are obviously more extreme than others, however, the USDA links
here and
here are undeniably real. You, the readers of my blog, are so much more mainstream in lives and families that I wanted your thoughts.
Now, if you were to decide in the next few months that you were going to start stockpiling or storing extra food, here are a few suggestions.
1. Grains. Rice, pasta and oats are probably the most easily obtained. Corn and wheat would be good choices, too. Then, you have to decide if you are going to eat them all cooked or if you want a grain mill, too.
2. Sugar. Honey, brown sugar, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, jell-o, pudding mixes, kool-aid, dessert mixes, corn syrup, maple syrup, jams and jellies are probably your best bets.
3. Oil. Olive oil is the most healthy, but do you like your cakes made with it? Shortening has a horrible reputation, what with transfats and all. Canola, vegetable, and corn oils are other alternatives, but are not deemed healthy by some. Mayonnaise or miracle whip and peanut butter rounds out this category (though the peanut butter can also be considered a protein source).
4. Proteins. Beans, lentils and dried peas are good for long term storage. Canned meats and nuts are great to round out a diet. If meat goes on sale, consider canning it yourself.
5. Milk. There aren't many people who enjoy reconstituted powdered milk. However, it can be added to breads, casseroles, etc with little disruption in taste. Canned milk is another one to consider. I have seen shelf stable milk on the juice aisle in grocery stores. It tastes the most like the milk most of us are used to. You may also think about velveeta, cheez-whiz and cheddar soups as cheese substitutes.
6. Fruits. Canned, dehydrated or freeze dried last the longest. When you drain the canned fruit, save the juice for baking.
7. Vegetables. As with the fruit, canned is the easiest and most familiar. If possible, plant a garden this year and preserve as much as you are able.
8. Spices. Besides salt, which you will need for baking (and the iodine content), have a variety of things to flavor your food. Cinnamon, vanilla, basil, oregano; pick those spices and herbs that your family likes, plus maybe some new ones for fun.
9. Cream Soups. These can turn almost any canned food, grain or bean into a great casserole.
10. Condiments. Ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, soy sauce, salad dressings, marinades, anything you can think of to camouflage new foods and make them comfortable to your family.
11. Leaveners: Yeast, baking soda, baking powder. Can't bake much without them!
12. Extras. What is your family used to eating? In an emergency situation, children and the elderly tend to balk at new things. In fact, the idea that they will eat when they are hungry enough doesn't always hold true. Sometimes they just shut down. Have some famliar foods on hand. That may include dried cereal, hard candy, pop, popcorn, fruit snacks, etc.
I am not by any means a "doomsday-er." I certainly would never want to create panic in anyone's mind. I just want some opinions and thoughts.
Homemade Wheat Thins: 
