How many times have I heard that line from Richard when he asks if we have “X”? Probably a jillion times.
Richard says this line with respect and a level of awe.
I guess the motto, “Be Prepared” really stuck with me. It also helped being Bill and Marie Hickerson’s daughter. They also had a little piece of land to grow food, a very well stocked pantry and freezer, and always saved for a rainy day.
In full support of social isolation to do our part to flatten the COVID-19 graph line, we are staying home. We have only ventured out to purchase food Those foods are mostly perishable foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits.
Our freezer and pantry are always stocked for two to three months of foods and household supplies.
There are items we have to “be prepared” for most anything. Here they are:
Dry Milk. We are not big milk drinkers, but we do cook with milk. I make a quart at a time. Use what we need for a recipe. Freeze the rest.
Canned Evaporated Milk. This provides a richer milk substitute that dry milk. This is evaporated milk; not sweetened condensed milk.
Vinegars. (Plain, Apple Cider, Rice). Just “Duck Duck GO” (the search engine that does not track you at https://duckduckgo.com/) vinegar uses. My favorite is 1 and ½ tablespoons of plain vinegar to 1 cup milk to make buttermilk. Let the mixture sit a while. Then use a buttermilk substitute in recipes.
Dried Staples. These include such items as flours, sugars, dried garlic, Italian seasonings (parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme), and, chicken and beef bouillon cubes. These basic can be used to season meats, veggies, soups, and stews.
Frozen Leftovers. There’s typically just two of us at our home cooked meals. When Richard makes his “To-Die-for-Chicken Wings,” or I make my Homemade Copycat Shake and Bake®, we will enjoy them for a meal and a snack. After that, whatever is leftover goes into the freezer. When we want a soup or stew for supper or if I make a stock, I use these leftovers. I also use the ends of tomatoes, carrot peels, and the leafy parts of celery for my stocks, simply straining when finished.
Be Prepared, Folks. We are in this through April 2020.
Vicky, I enjoyed reading this. Bill and Marie Hickerson taught you well.