Goodies To Get You Through A Long Term Power Outage!
"Alice or you in Wonderland" may now mean that everyone in the land is wondering whether or not there will be any power. When we combine that question with the difficulties of a severe storm that we may have to face, it can appear to be a dismal situation. If we have to be without power for any length of time it would be a good thing to help one another get through it with a little snack here and there to boost morale.
One idea that comes to mind that also stretches your buying power is to pay attention to the sales after the major holidays. M&M’s, Snickers, Reeses and many other candy-lover favorites in their holiday packaging and colors will be drastically marked down after the holiday! I have not discovered that holiday-colored M&M’s taste differently from regular-colored M&M’s, but I have discovered a great difference in price right after a holiday. These types of commercial candies keep very nicely in gallon jars with tight fitting lids. They easily have a shelf life of several months, (a little more if you keep them in the freezer), but that has to be qualified: ONLY IF THEY ARE NOT DISCOVERED AND SNITCHED. Personally, I don’t want to use my freezer space this way. Jars work fine. Chocolate may turn white after a few months of storage, but it does not affect its flavor. The candies with nuts in them will not keep as long as others because of the problems with bugs and rancidity. For more great keys to storage see Preparedness Principles, Chapter 5.
Snack and treat recipes that require little or no cooking may provide some solutions for power outages. Here are a couple for you to try on an emergency stove or in the fireplace.
Crispy Rice Squares
1/4 C butter or margarine
1 10 oz. Pkg. marshmallows or 40 regular marshmallows or 4 C mini marshmallows
5 C crisped rice cereal
Melt margarine over low heat and add marshmallows. Stir until melted and cook approximately 3 minutes. Add crisped rice and stir well. Press into a greased 13x9x2 inch pan. If using your hands to press into the pan, grease or oil your hands and remember the mixture will be extremely hot.
No Bake Cookies
2 C sugar
1 cube butter or margarine
1/4 C cocoa
1/2 C milk (reconstituted works)
3 C quick oats (or rolled oats)
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix sugar, margarine, and milk together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil for one minute. Mix with oats, cocoa, vanilla and nuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper or aluminum foil.