Cooking up a Recipe for Survival

I am sorry it has been so long since I posted anything but I have been catering and planning Weddings and Birthday Parties...Also I have a lot of Photo's but no way to get them from my camera to the computer!...lol

This week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has claimed March 3-9  as National Severe Weather Preparedness week...as such I thought I would post some different kinds of "Recipes"...Three that they did NOT have on their site. Please feel free to copy this, share it, print it up...That is what I am doing this for!

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/news/130303_swpw_intro.html

I pose these questions to you...
What would you do if the power went out for 3 days...or two weeks?
What would you have in the house if someone got hurt?....
         hurt bad and YOU need to stabilize them until the Emergency Service could get to you in say 2 hours?
How long can you stay warm/cool?
How long can you feed/cook for your family, and have light/heat without power?

Ask your self this and find the answers...You need to think about this.  You know what the weather around you is like...it does not take a lot of money to be prepared...(trust me I have been poor for most of my adult life) If you buy a little each time you can get everything you need...and just replenish it as you use it (like rotating the food so it does not expire).

Keep all of this stuff in a box or in a backpack so you can grab it and run if you need to. I cannot repeat this part to much...Keep all of this in one place so if you have to grab it and run, you have it. A cupboard in the kitchen or in your closet on a shelf that is easily accessible. If possible put it where you would run to (like the basement or the room with no windows (for tornadoes). Put it all in a plastic tote if you need to.  One of my friends has it all in his coffee table...

These "recipes" are for when you are without  power or a way to get food and water for a few days. In other words, a snow storm, ice storm, some one hits a power pole and knocks it out...or heaven forbid, A Tornado (Capital letter T).

You will need:
1. Food, water, and Cooking/Heating Fuel.
2. A good Medical Kit (small and a large one)
3. A pack with changes of clothes.


Being without  power or a way to get food and water for a few days can be scary but if you stay calm and have these "recipes" made ahead you can at least minimize the impact.
A power outage can be a real pain, and if it lasts for several days, it can be dangerous. Be prepared by keeping a stock of supplies on hand, and know what to do if your power goes out. If you live in a region with a lot of storms make sure to listen to the radio regularly so that you can keep up to date on possible outages.

Food, water, and warmth are all very important during a power outage, especially if you have kids or are elderly. Keep a stock of easily cooked food and dry ready to eat foods on hand. Canned goods (don't forget a can opener!), peanut butter, and crackers are excellent choices, because they can be stored for extended periods. Dried fruit, nuts, and vacuum packed foods designed for camping are also a great ideal. If you have pets- dry or canned food for them as well.

Keep plenty of bottled water around the house, and if you have advance warning of the outage, fill up the bathtub and the sinks, if your water comes from a well (since the pump wont work without power.) or if you are use to having your pipes freeze!  This water can be used to flush the toilet, do dishes, and wash in.

Below is an example of a printable list to help prepare for outages/disaster. Modify this list to meet your family's needs (for example if you have a baby be sure to include diapers and wet wipes...and rotate the diapers so they are the right size!) One friend has cash in his emergency pack because no electricity means the debit card and credit card swipers don't work!

Keep all of this in one place so if you have to grab it and run, you have it. A cupboard in the kitchen or in your closet on a shelf that is easily accessible. Think of any other things you might need? add it in there!

#1 and #2 should all fit in one backpack (Excluding the water and food).  

#3 should be in it's own backpack.  The food should be in 1 back pack per person for easy carrying or all in one tote/box for a family)

Every month pull this out, check it, rotate stock, 

                       be sure every one in the house knows where it is!

If you have a place to store these items do so:

A generator
A can of Gas                                    
          (for your generator or car to get out of town)
A can of kerosene (for a Kerosene heater)
Kerosene Heater
Charcoal or Propane for a grill                    
           (Stock up at the end of the season at 1/2 price)
 Wood (or keep a stack of fallen limbs cut to size in a empty garbage can
           or in a neat stack on your property if you can.          (Free)
Grill (or old Coffee Can Grill- will show you how to make one at the end of this blog!)
A pair of tin Snips with the coffee can to make an emergency grill



1.  Recipe for Emergency supplies:
Radio                                                                                (5.99 at a dollar store)
Old Back Packs or a box                                                  (Free)
Flash light - with Extra batteries                                          (1.00)(2.00 for extra batteries)
Wash cloths (24 at Walmart)                                              (4.00)
1 bar of soap per person                                                     (2.00)
Bottle of dish soap                                                               (1.00)
Baby Powder (for your hair if you can't wash it)                   (1.00)
Underarm deodorant                                                           (1.00)
Bucket with handles from Dollar Tree
            (make sure it fits in the bottom of the backpack)     (1.00)
Pad of paper, pen and a pencil                                           (1.00)
Scissors                                                                             (1.00)
Roll of Duck Tape                                                              (3.00)
A couple of large pieces of aluminum foil,
                                     folded in a baggie                           (1.00)
Candles(we keep a gallon zip lock bag full of candle ends)   (Free)
A way to light them(matches and/or several lighters)           (1.00)
A zip lock baggie of lint from your dryer (Fire Starter)         (Free)
a box of disposable cutlery (forks, knives, spoons)              (1.00)
Stack of plastic cups (wash your cups from fast food)          (Free)
Paper/foam plates                                                               (1.00)
Empty zip lock bags to keep bugs
           out of open crackers, cereal, etc...                           (1.00)
Cell phone-                                                                         (9.99)
    If possible have a spare battery for that and be sure it is charged.
Keep your old milk bottles and fill em with tap water
         to wash with. Dump out and refill every month.           (Free)
A pot with a handle on it to boil water and cook in.              (5.00 new)
           Rotate the food every month into your cupboards: so that this does not cost you extra 

it is part of your everyday shopping.

 1A  The food!:
Bottled water for each person/animal in the house hold
        (I do 3 per person X 14)                                            (24 bottles 3.00)
A big jar of Peanut butter                                                   (3.00)
Jar of Jelly                                                                          (2.00)
A couple of Boxes of crackers                                                (2.00)
Box of cookies (Nilla Waffers are a good example)             (2.00)
Box of sweet Cereal that can be eaten dry                           (2.00)
A hand held can opener from Dollar Tree                            (1.00) 2 is a good idea!
2 weeks worth of canned goods that can be eaten cold        (about 35.00 per person or less)
        Examples of Dry/cannned foods you can pack:
        Ravioli, potted meats, tuna salad in a pouch, fruit,
        apple sauce, dry fruits and nuts, Ramen Noodles etc...
        (3 cans/pouches per person per day (Each Person =  3 X 14 items)
Ladies: personal hygiene products (stress makes you start!)   (6.00)
Big bag of dry pet food                                                        (5.00)
If you have children in diapers:
Diapers that fit them
Wet wipes
Diaper rash cream
Baby food
Trash bags for Dirty Diapers!
Think of any other things you might need? add it in there!

2. Recipe for a good Medical Kit-   To start,  make a small med kit  (-Band aids, tweezers, pain killers, Hydrogen peroxide, gauze pads and tape) and any Medicine your family needs (insulin, inhalers, antibiotics, ADHD meds they are taking...etc...) put it all in an old purse (the kind that has a long strap you can sling over your shoulder ) and paint a white square on it with a big red cross. As you can afford it add to it because you really need a good one- a large one. Start small and add a item to it each month...Go to http://www.freecycle.com and ask for what you need, you can get it all for free just for asking. It may take a while but eventually you will get it! If not below is a list of what the American Red cross recommends you should buy.

http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit/anatomy

The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:

• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)-Band Aids
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space blanket)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• Tweezers
• First aid instruction booklet

3. Recipe for Emergency Spare clothes:
Get at least 2 changes of clothes for each person (2 of each -shirt, pants, underwear, socks and a pair of shoes.. and a set of sweats/pj's-in case you end up in an emergency shelter!)  You know that shirt you were going to throw out because you spilled paint on it and the stain won't come out after washing it? put that in the pack! You won't miss it, it is clean (stains don't count in an emergency) and it fits!
Oh and throw a couple of dryer sheets in there to help things not smell musty. If you can add a Blanket for each person.

When you get a new jacket or coat, add your old one to the emergency pack in case your house is gone and you need a coat in winter!

Think if I lost everything what would I need to keep me going until the disaster is over!  Other things you could add (coloring books and crayons, a couple of your favorite books, drawing paper, old game boy system with a couple of games, spare batteries (remember no electricity), decks of cards, a small board game (checkers, chess, etc.).

Well I hope this helps at least one person...Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long post! May it help you to keep you and your loved ones safe.


P.S. Here is the Emergency Grill I told you about earlier.
 Someone sent this to me on my face book so I am passing the info on to you:
To make a grill all you need is a large (#10) tin can, tin snips, aluminium foil, some charcoal or wood and a small rack.
Take a clean Large tin can, with tin snips, cut down to about 3 1/2 inches from the bottom of the can. Wear gloves or be verrrrrry careful to not cut yourself. Pull the strips out till they look like a flower. Cover with aluminum foil and fill with charcoal or wood. Get the coals burning...when the coals are hot put a rack over it (your oven rack would work if you put it on bricks for stability) and you have an emergency cooker.

Party Potato Puffs

Well Super Bowl is coming up and I am trying recipes for the Party. I don't watch the game, just the halftime show. Us non sportsy people just play cards or board games while the Fans are in the living room yelling at the TV...But that's fine, a Party is all about having fun. I saw this recipe on Pinterest.com and thought,
"I could do that with fresh instant potatoes for the game day."  I played with the recipe until it tasted good to me. You can add seasoning (garlic, horseradish, Italian herbs, etc.) to make it a little different from the leftovers you had sitting in the fridge.  I make my potatoes with cream cheese and throw in everything but the kitchen sink for Loaded potatoes!

I tried some of them in cupcake liners to see if it would be cleaner coming out of the pans....don't... it just sticks to the liners...Bleh.  These taste really good hot or cold but you HAVE to take them out of the muffin tins RIGHT AWAY or they stick even with the food release. Use your favorite recipe for mashed potatoes or get the flavored instant ones (four cheese or Roasted Garlic would be Ahhhhsome!) Play with the recipe, try different cheeses and see what becomes your family's favorite.

2 cups leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup Parmesan cheese
3 eggs
2 chopped green onions
non stick food spray
bowl
2-  12 hole Mini-Muffin tins
a spoon and a fork


I found it was easier to microwave the potatoes so they were warm but not hot (so they do not cook the raw eggs). Otherwise it is difficult to stir them. Take a large bowl, crack 3 eggs in it and whisk it with the fork. Add the Parmesan Cheese to the mix and stir.  Chop your green onions (I used just the greens but you can use both the green and the white parts) and add them to the eggs. Add the mashed potatoes TO the egg mixture a bit at a time and stir (this way if you have too much of the mashed potatoes you can stop) . The mixture should be thick but not stiff.(If it is too runny add more potatoes) Take your food release and spray both Muffin Tins liberally. Spoon the mixture into the tin filling them to the top. (I use the fork to scrape the mix from the spoon into the tins.) Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.Be sure to flip them out right away and set them on a plate or they will stick to the pan.  Serve with Sour cream, ranch dip, fiesta dip or just the way they are. These can be done ahead and put in the fridge until you are ready to bake them or cook them first then refrigerate, zap em in the microwave to reheat them.

Step By Step

I used Leftover loaded mash potatoes but you can use fresh instant if you want.

I found it was easier to microwave the potatoes so they were warm but not hot. Otherwise it is difficult to stir them.  If they are to hot, let them cool down a bit (so they do not cook the raw eggs).  

Take a large bowl, crack 3 eggs in it and whisk it with the fork. 

Add the Parmesan Cheese to the mix and stir.

Chop your green onions (I used just the greens but you can use both the green and the white parts) and add them to the eggs. 

Add the mashed potatoes TO the egg mixture a bit at a time and stir

(this way if you have too much of the mashed potatoes you can stop) . 

The mixture should be thick but not stiff. (If it is too runny add more potatoes) 

Take your food release and spray both Muffin Tins liberally. Spoon the mixture into the tin filling them to the top. (I use the fork to scrape the mix from the spoon into the tins.) Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Be sure to flip them out right away and set them on a plate or they will stick to the pan.  

Serve with Sour cream, ranch dip, fiesta dip or just the way they are. 

These can be done ahead and put in the fridge until you are ready to bake them or cook them first then refrigerate, zap em in the microwave to reheat them.

Have fun!

Scottish Armored eggs

Well I am attending The Maiden's Ball (an SCA.org) event this weekend and we were wondering what to take with us for lunch. My friends were wanting me to make these...Though I don't know what we will be taking yet, It did make me think I should put these up on the Blog though!

These are awesome for any party and with the Superbowl and Mardi Gras coming up these are perfect!

You will need: 

1 dozen eggs, (hard boiled and peeled)

24 slices of bacon, 

water, 

2 pots, 

oil, 

toothpicks, 

Paper towels,

a couple of plates 

metal slotted spoon or tongs

(I usually make a double batch because of all the people who show up.)

For the Sausage  variation: You will need 3 lbs of sausage and some bread crumbs instead of the bacon. For the deviled egg variation: you will also need a fork, a bowl, Mayonnaise/Mustard, and your favorite spices for your own deviled egg recipe.

You can make these ahead of time and cook them when everyone arrives or just cook them and put them in the fridge then serve them cold...

First take a pot and hard boil the eggs. After they are cooked take them off the heat and pour off the hot water and let them sit in cold water for a while. Now that they are cooled off enough to handle them, peel them and put them on a paper towel. Pat them dry. (any water on them will make the oil bubble over) Take a slice of bacon and wrap it around the egg from top to bottom and back again, and pin it in place with a tooth pick. Hmmmm...that's not enough bacon...lets take a slice of bacon and wrap it around the middle and back again (so the egg is completely covered).  Now, pin it in place with a second toothpick. Once all the eggs are done you can place the plate in the fridge until you are ready to cook the eggs. Take a pot (or a Fry baby if you have one) and heat the oil...once the oil is hot - put two eggs in the hot oil, making sure they are completely covered by the oil...Keep adding ONE egg at a time so the oil does not bubble over..when the bacon is crispy it is time to pull them out of the oil and put them on a plate with a paper towel on it to absorb the excess oil. Continue until all the eggs are finished. They are ready to serve. Like I said hot or cold these are great! One of my friends saw this on my Facebook page and told me I needed to start a blog but I had no idea what a blog was...it wasn't until my friend Harmony showed me Pinterest.com and said please make these and...YOU...NEED...TO...START...A...BLOG!.... Thank you to her, her sister Paige, and her mom Melody for getting me to start this.   Anyway, this is why the pictures here are older, and NOT professional at all but still the recipe is AAAAaaaawsome! 

A couple of variations on this is to use your favorite Deviled egg recipe, Devil the eggs, then put the 2 halves of the egg back together and continuing with the recipe...Or wrap the egg in sausage, then roll it in breadcrumbs, now deep fry that baby!

Health safety note:Remember not to put the cooked eggs back on the plate the raw ones were on...You do not want to contaminate the cooked food with raw pork.  

Step by step.....

First take a pot and hard boil the eggs. when they are cooked take them off the heat and pour off the hot water and let them sit in cold water for a while. When they are cooled off enough to handle them, peel them and put them on a paper towel. 

Pat them dry. (any water on them will make the oil bubble over and it will burn you)

 Take a slice of bacon and wrap it around the egg from top to bottom and back again, and pin it in place with a tooth pick. Take a second slice of bacon and wrap it around the middle and back again 

(so the egg is completely covered).  Pin it in place with a second toothpick. 

Set it aside and repeat this step till all the eggs are covered.

Once all the eggs are done you can place the plate in the fridge until you are ready to cook the eggs. Take a pot (or a Fry baby if you have one) and heat the oil...once the oil is hot - put two eggs in the hot oil, making sure they are completely covered by the oil...Keep adding one egg at a time - Wait for the bubbles to die down and make sure the oil is not near the top of the fryer/pot before adding another egg...

this is so the oil does not bubble over and burn you.

Health safety note:Remember not to put the cooked eggs back on the plate the raw ones were on...You do not want to contaminate the cooked food with raw pork. 

When the bacon is crispy (about 2 to 3 minutes) it is time to pull them out of the oil using a slotted spoon or a pair of tongs and put them on a plate with a paper towel on it to absorb the excess oil. Continue until all the eggs are finished. Wait a minute before removing the tooth picks so you do not burn yourself....

If your party has alcohol...remove the toothpick so no one pokes the inside of their mouth!

These are hot all the way through even though they have been in the fridge.

They are ready to serve. (but you have to try one to be sure...right?...)

Variations on this:
You can wrap the boiled eggs in sausage, then roll them in bread crumbs and deep fry them if you want something slightly different. Fry one first then cut it open to be sure the sausage is cooked all the way through...the thicker the sausage layer the longer you have to cook it...time it... but start at 21/2 minutes.

                                                                                        

or use your favorite Deviled egg recipe, Devil the eggs, then put the 2 halves of the egg back together and continuing with the recipe...