The Dangers of Backup Food Supplies (HUMOR)
A few months ago some friends were going to Sam's Club and asked if I wanted to go. As you know, I'm huge on making sure you have plenty of backup food supplies - especially right now. So although there isn't much packaged foods I eat, I figured, hey it's a good idea to stock up on almost anything really. It could be traded for fresh foods.
There could be a National emergency any moment. Why not?
I've never been to a Sam's Club and after the initial overwhelm - OMG - that place is insane. I realized those clubs might be why Americans are so overweight. The entire place is screaming at you "Super Size Me"!
OK, so you know, it probably is a good place to stock up on things. A case of tuna fish, mayonaise, mustard, quinoa, beans... I was finding a few things that made some sense. And they occaisonally had organic options.
I did the trendy thing and got some toilet paper.
Then I saw this big bucket of Biscotti's. And I thought, "Oh! that would be such great comfort food. You know? When the lights are out and everyone is farting from eating so many beans... I could pull out these biscotti's and be super happy and popular".
So a couple of months go by and I'm in the closet where the biscotti are stashed.
Hmm, I'm thinking.
If I turn out the lights and put my phone in airplane mode, it could be like a National emergency, couldn't it?
You know the golden rule of all preps is to test them out before you need them, right?
And the expiration date is May 2021. What if I forgot them again and they expired - wouldn't that be such a shame?
So I brewed up a cup of coffee because the acidity of coffee cancels out all the carbohydrates in biscotti. I read that on the internet somewhere so it must be true.
Oh my, I almost never eat such junk and you know what? It was delightful. Before I knew it 6 of them were gone. It's a good thing they are individually wrapped as that helped to slow me down. Did I really eat that many? Hmm, I'm living alone right now, but I wonder, could it have been possible that some else might have eaten them?
The good news is, I got really sick of them after that initial 6. And two days later... I really have to put them back in the closet and get them off the kitchen counter - I ate 7 more. Honestly, I did have to dunk them in strong coffee to make them taste reasonably well. I couldn't eat them on their own.
And there went my New Years resolutions. Only two weeks into the New Year. sigh. But thats better than most people who blow their resolutions a week into the New Year. And there are people who actually blow it the next day. So I'll feel good about holding off for two weeks.
What the heck got into me?
But I did learn something. I've realized that if I am going to store biscottis I also need to store strong coffee to go with them.
But the other good news is I really am sick of them now.
And they are safely back in the closet. And I still have enough for the next National emergency. Whenever that my be.
Comments
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@Marjory Wildcraft It is difficult to chose wisely when stocking food supplies. Love the humor but it does highlight a stocking up issue.
This year I stocked up heavily on teas. Since drinking more tea varieties I have found its difficult to drink coffee any more. For a two pot a day person to lose interest in coffee that is amazing. Now I have 5 tins of coffee I don't need or want. Its bartering time!~
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I now think of the glyphosate in the wheat of these products so I can resist buying them. And the GMO soybeans in the chocolate....
I did find some reasonably healthy products at Costco that indulge my sweet tooth and/or let me feel that I am spoiling myself when feeling stressed.
I am trying to drink herbal teas to relax in the evenings instead of my beer, but that battle is still fully engaged.
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I know this is not the point of the story, but now I really want a gingerbread almond biscotti. I'll have to see if I can come up with a gluten-free version. Thankfully biscotti are already pretty low in sugar.
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Moths attacked some of my cookies, and all the pasta and rice. Bought some big plastic bins now. Now I'm craving biscotti lol!
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I always liked biscotti with cold milk.
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Big stores with many bulk options, one must plan by perhaps writing a list. Those stores are overwhelming thus I’d stick to the organic options. I’m not much a Big store shopper. What I need is sold at a local farm that I support. A nice read, thanks for sharing your Big experience! @Marjory Wildcraft
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A friend of mine told me she packed chocolate in her bug-out bag, but it's not there anymore. Surprise! You have to keep your priorities straight:)
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Yeah... Sam's Club is dangerous for me. I buy wine by the case, cheese by the 5-10 pound wheel and all kinds of olives and pickles. They have big bottles of Conch y Toro for like $7... that is Mendoza family wine... and there are little stations where ladies feed you small bites of sausage... I can do myself a mischief there!
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Well, a wine and beer brewing certification has been on my wish list for some time now! LOL.
Oh! and according to the internet, strong coffee erases GMO wheat too (grin).
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@Sharie if you put dried bay leaves with the grain and bean stores it inhibites those little moths from hatching. The eggs are in virtually everything you buy so the trick is to prevent hatching. Sounds gross but hey, extra protein right? 😂
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Oh, I could totally do that... I've only been brewing beer and making wine for 25 years or so! That would be a longer format... maybe 5 hours or so... could be a bit longer. I'll contact Nikki and get started ASAP!
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@seeker.nancy - Central Texas Nice to know. I almost always put bay leaves in beans while they're cooking. Putting them together in storage would save a step at the preparation stage, and keep the bugs out.
I freeze everything at least 24 hours before storing them to reduce infestations.
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@Marjory Wildcraft @judsoncarroll4 I would love a wine and beer brewing certification.
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"It was delightful. Before I knew it 6 of them were gone. It's a good thing they are individually wrapped as that helped to slow me down. Did I really eat that many?"
I recall reading somewhere, "These 100 calorie packs are great! I ate four of them." :-)
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@Marjory Wildcraft I think that you are very sensible to thoroughly test your food storage. 😁 Everyone should be so well disciplined.
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Oh than you for your support @Melissa Swartz ! LOL.
Hmm, I wonder what other comfort foods I should buy and test out next?
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@Marjory Wildcraft Ice cream would be a good test.
However, my healthy side enjoys things like frozen cherries that I can eat frozen as is, or thaw and top off with whipped cream.
As long as you have the freezer space....
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When our beagle was alive, my husband used to take her with him when would drive through for a coffee, and the folks would always give him a small biscotti and a cup with some whipped cream in it for her. She loved it! Still a fun memory, even all these years later. :)
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Prepping prepared food is tricky especially when you're gluten free and keto haha. We store meat, veggies, fruit and we do store grains and beans since my husband eats them and I would too in an emergency. I have to be careful about anything tempting though. Because I have raided my supplies before haha.
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Hahaha, yes, my mom is really good at "testing" her stored goods and then realizing that she doesn't have them anymore.
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judsoncarroll4 Any chance you could include hard cider in that class? Would love to learn that too.
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This is hillarious! Farting and eating biscotti- right on😁
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funny how I've never been able to store chocolate for more than an hour.
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@Marjory Wildcraft I hear chocolate has a very short storage life and should be devoured as fast as possible. I would test this but it never makes it to the shelf.
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Strange, my chocolate never seems to make it out the car after purchase.😉
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I love Costco! I always go with my dad (well I did before the pandemic and now I rarely leave my house). I love how everything is in bulk and I can store it (especially noodles (I am Italian so I love pasta)).
Also I think the brewing course would be awesome!
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@Cornelius you don't buy enough!
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@Marjory Wildcraft Probably not! lol
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