Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: Jan 18-24, 2026

[philkar]

I'm so sorry...I started not to respond but I was afraid you'd try canning them in an instapot. My comprehension isn't as sharp as it use to be.

No worries!

 

[patriotgal]

Got my activation for the Texas emergency phone system today. Fortunately there are plenty of young ones that want to work long hours thru the weekend. Got rid of a client today. It was painless for me. Exited on good terms. They begged me to stay but as DH said, there ain't enough money. I only worked 2 hours for them and it was a nightmare. A supervisor took it upon herself to turn off my phone at closing time even though I was working on a serious issue involving a young woman at the hospital. I would have used my own phone if necessary. I don't do "hard" stops. If I am taking care of someone, I am on the line until done. Thank God my main client is nothing like that.

DH made the groc run. Produce, fruit, and the $5 for $25 Meats. He said store filled up while he was there. I will start filling bathtubs with water as we get closer. Generator is new and elec start. We do have the house hookup for it. Praying we don't need it.

I have plenty of books to read if internet goes down and I can't work. Have a brushpile I would love to light up.

Be warm and safe everyone.

 

[moldy]

Watch lighting up that brush pile if you don't have a way to put it out! Fires in this kind of weather are frightening!

we are not in the 'bad' swath down south, but we should get a little snow (I'm thankful for!) and hopefully not much wind. If it could hold off until Friday night, that would be great (hey - I can hope!). Therapy is going well, and as long as we have power (and even if we don't) I have plenty to do.

 

[patriotgal]

Watch lighting up that brush pile if you don't have a way to put it out! Fires in this kind of weather are frightening!

we are not in the 'bad' swath down south, but we should get a little snow (I'm thankful for!) and hopefully not much wind. If it could hold off until Friday night, that would be great (hey - I can hope!). Therapy is going well, and as long as we have power (and even if we don't) I have plenty to do.

I was thinking an after the snow lighting....

 

[bracketquant]

I've been too good about rotating my beans. I do have some in the super pails that are the old style...guess I should crack one of those open. What I'm seeing in the beans now sounds like it could be what you described. It is definitely something in the drying process that I first noticed a few years back. The skin is shiny and tends to crack and curl up.

I tried to grow pinto beans last year but had no luck. Of course they were on the end of the purple hull pea rows that the rabbits decimated. Thankfully, I'm getting a fence around the whole garden this year and I'm going to give it one more try.

I don't get the overcooked texture when I can fresh peas and beans, just the dried ones. If I could find organic dried beans, I might find something better to can.

Ten years ago, I never had an issue with mushy beans. There's no telling how many different brands I've tried. I know I'm picky but unless I'm making refried beans, I want them well done but not disintegrating. I was always comparing them to the perfect ones my mother canned but last year I looked in her canning book that came with her first pressure canner fifty or sixty yeas ago...it's well worn because she used it all the time. The time it gave for quart jars of pintos was 75 minutes, the same as pints. I'm sure it was a typo but her beans were perfect and we never got botulism, thank goodness!

I grow lots of beans. How they dry down is often dependent on the weather. If there is a lot of rain just before the dry down stage, the beans can really plump up, and then when drying down, the skins will often crack, wrinkle and curl. I have a few varieties where nearly 100% of the beans will crack with such late season rainy weather.

If growing your own, the absolute first thing that I would read up on is white mold.

I prefer pole beans and half runners over bush beans. Bush beans simply have low production on a per plant basis. But, mechanical harvesting, and all at once maturity, makes them practical where mega-farming practices come into play.

 

[Wildwood]

I was thinking an after the snow lighting....

Would be a good time. On this side of the state we have been under a burn ban forever it seems. We did get a little rain this morning...slow but very light. The coming snow will fix all that and I can't wait. We still burn our garbage.

Our forecast keeps changing, so I have no idea how bad it will get here.

Yes, Walmart was crazy, today. No one seemed to be in panic mode. There was a seriousness to everyone, though. Lots of folks on their phones. I guess they were calling back home letting someone know that Walmart was out of what they wanted. Shopping for us this morning was worse than any Christmas Eve shopping I've ever encountered.

Ours is a very small super center in a small town even though people come in from all the small communities around us. Sometimes I go out there and don't see a single shopper I know. I just wasn't expecting anything like that this far out from the storm. We could go for months without going out there and have during COVID but I do like to eat mostly fresh and I like to pick out my own groceries when I can.

DH insists on working tomorrow so it will be Friday morning when we make our final run. Tomorrow I will finish up washing sheets and covers and getting the grands stuff moved out of our extra bedroom in case someone needs it. I'll also clean out the fridge and start cooking. I mentioned earlier I'm baking a ham. I've decided on potato salad to go with it so I'll go ahead and make that and some baked beans. I'll do all that and probably also make the stew, pimento cheese and cornbread and maybe bake a chicken. If there is room in the fridge, I'll do a double batch of macaroni and cheese.

Friday morning I'm going to make a big pan of biscuits and just enough eggs for a quick brunch. DH likes left over biscuits. Also, I anticipate feeding extra folks. I'll also fill the tub with water for flushing and wash whatever dirty clothes we have. Our electric could be out for days or even weeks if it's bad all over. Also, since I'm doing all this precooking, I'm going to consider the next week after a mini vacation for me since I probably won't have to cook much at all. It seems like I spend every spare second in that kitchen.

 

[hd5574]

So far our forecast is for massive snow...one even 24" plus...
Which is fine we are super dry..and would love a deep snow...but after it drops they are calling for zero one night....which is extreme for here..
We had a horrible ice storm a few years back..hundreds of trees and power poles were snapped....had trouble traveling for a few days...but we had no power for two weeks....all of you under ice warnings we are praying for you ..

Remember that there is heat tape for water lines...

Did a grocery run today to BJs...wholesale club...and Giant Food..the topped the gas tank in truck...DH will top off gas cans very close ..to us...an I may make a run to a close store for even a few more fresh veggies and fruit..

 

[Wildwood]

I grow lots of beans. How they dry down is often dependent on the weather. If there is a lot of rain just before the dry down stage, the beans can really plump up, and then when drying down, the skins will often crack, wrinkle and curl. I have a few varieties where nearly 100% of the beans will crack with such late season rainy weather.

If growing your own, the absolute first thing that I would read up on is white mold.

I prefer pole beans and half runners over bush beans. Bush beans simply have low production on a per plant basis. But, mechanical harvesting, and all at once maturity, makes them practical where mega-farming practices come into play.

I grow a lot of beans and peas and also prefer pole beans. I will do half runners but not a huge fan of bush beans. I do follow a guy on YouTube that grows bush beans in raised beds and does succession planting since most are determinate. I am really taken with his method and would give them a try under those circumstances but my days of bending over to gather bush beans or peas are gone. I will say this though, I grew purple hull bush and purple hull pole peas year before last in my garden because I wanted to compare taste and texture canned and cooked fresh and also yield. Those bush peas won but not enough difference for the added stooping over factor but if I had another big raised bed so I could gather them standing up, I'd do it. I did get two rounds out of those bush peas but the second wasn't as prolific. Another thing, the supposed bush peas were really something between bush and half runners in my opinion but the taste was straight from my childhood.,

I do have two 25 ft. long raised beds but I grow sweet potatoes in one and bell peppers in the other with a trellis between the two of arched cattle panels where I grow most of my cucumbers. They work so well that I hate to move them but if I had another 25 foot bed, I'd try bush beans since I wouldn't have to bend over to pick them. This guy I follow, grows them out quick and cans more than you could believe but he is a master gardener and replants right away for another round. It just takes way too long to fill a raised bed that big and it's all DH and I can do to keep the two we have topped off with dirt. It takes several tractor loads every year just to maintain them but they are easy on the old knees.

I will read up on white mold but I don't think I've ever had an issue with it. I dry a small quantity of my yield, eat some fresh and can the rest. The beans/peas are usually pretty and shiny dried...well as pretty as a dried purple hull can be lol. The beans I referred to in my post were store bought. I'm trying to grow the pintos myself but it's been a struggle.

The bottom picture at the link is a picture of my purple hull pole peas.

Edited to add...on the top picture, far right is the left side of my greasy grits beans for that year. They are a strange bean. They are pole beans but do two or three flushes of beans and they are done. You can see that they are starting to go downhill a little. They are fickle for my area. I'm in Arkansas and they are a Kentucky bean but so good if you have a summer that is not scorching hot.

Planting - My garden with the sandy soil...mostly vertical

These are pictures of my garden. 2023...this is most of my garden from the front view. There are three rows to the right that aren't in the picture and more garden behind it including two 25 ft. long raised beds and a big squash bed. This was after the flood in 2022...tomatoes on the left...

www.timebomb2000.com

 

[WanderLore]

Plumber was just here and it is just a small hole and in of the skinny water pipes, easy fix. He's going to replace the spigot handle. Both easy fixes will be done this afternoon $250!!! Thank you Lord

 

[WanderLore]

It's looking pretty bad you guys please be safe everybody

 

[school marm]

I read all your posts about the massive storm/s coming and wonder what planet I've been transferred to. We should have several feet of snow on the ground, but there's only a skiff left of the three inches we got two weeks ago. The temperatures have been 10-12 degrees above normal most of the winter. Sure, we're still burning wood 24/7 in the stove, but I think DH will have to haul most of what he stacked against the house back down to the main woodpile in the spring. We can't have it up here during fire season, and at this rate it will be starting in April instead of June.

I have a few ladies coming over today for a preparedness meeting. It's our first one, so we'll see how it goes, how frequently they want to do this, etc.

Stay safe out there. All of you affected by the storms, stay home if you can. Too many crazies out there, and crazy weather will make them worse.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I haven't checked our weather forecast this morning, yet. My computer has been wonky. If we are still going to get a severe ice storm, I'm taking tomorrow to make last minute preps. I want to wash everything that is dirty and get them dried, folded, and put away. I might have to make two big loads. We'll go ahead and get our showers tomorrow night, in case we lose electricity or water. We can take sponge baths with water from our stored potable water and heat it on the wood stove or heater. I got out our camping coffee pot this morning, and I'll wash and clean it up, too. Wood stove makes good coffee in a camp coffee pot. I'll also be pulling anything out of the freezers that we might need and put it all in the fridge or fridge freezer. That way, the generator will only have to keep the fridge bumped up. If the power outage last too long, the freezers will get bumped, too. The generator is filled with gas and ready to go if needed. Saturday morning, I'll put a big pot of chicken noodle soup on the wood stove to simmer all day. We'll be able to eat on that for 3 days, plus, my homemade breads which I'll get out of the freezer ahead of time. We can use the bread for grilled sandwiches, too.

I'm doing all my house cleaning, today.

 

[WanderLore]

Having cowboy coffee now.

 

[Wildwood]

Max Velocity is my main go to on YouTube for the weather. His latest video just confirms my fears. There are so many people in my area that just don't have the funds to be prepared that it breaks my heart. We've rode out a couple storms here that were as bad as this sounds but we had wood heat. We no longer have that.

This is his latest video and he's suppose to put up another one between now and noon.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWQm4nwAPxU


For the northwest quarter of Arkansas and a little south, I like this guy and his buddies. You know it's serious when all three get together.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh8dmssxyz0

 

[Meemur]

Prayers said for everyone!

My $0.02:

- Remember to full up the gas tanks on your cars.
- Do you have a working AM/FM/Weather radio? Extra points if it is a table top or pocket radio. Do you have extra batteries for it?

Even if you can't go anywhere, being able to warm up in your car (make sure the tailpipe is clear) or re-charge power banks (do you have the correct charging cords for the car?) can make a huge difference.

A working AM/FM/Weather radio can be a comfort and a source of news if the power/phones are out.

I'm watching the weather, too. The northern shift of the storm may bring us more snow, which is fine! We have the salt, sand, and plows to move it. I have food, water, and plenty to do inside.

Wishing everyone a productive day. It's in the 20s here. I'm going walking at the mall.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I'm taking a lunch/coffee break. Been cleaning all morning, plus chopping a big bag of bell peppers I bought yesterday, for the freezer. They made one gallon more of chopped peppers I have in the freezer. We can't seem to grow anything but the green bell peppers, here, and I like the red, yellow, and orange ones, too. I have to buy those.

I haven't had time to check our latest forecast, but from everything I've been seeing so far, it's going to still be bad here. I remembered to get out paper plates, bowls, and plastic forks, spoons, and knives from storage a while ago. Less dishes to wash when you have no running water is a blessing. The last 2 bad ice storms we had here, our community water went down both times, so I'm planning for it to go down this time, too. Both times the main water pump at the community well froze solid and broke main water lines when it finally thawed. Plus, water lines broke from frozen pipes all around in the community. Here in the South, water lines are only buried a few inches under the ground. Not much insulation when the ground freezes inches down.

 

[nomifyle]

We are shuffling around trying to find stuff. Its been a year since I've done much of anything and DH is not good at putting some things back where they were. He's not feeling well but trying to get the realy necessary things done. Right Now I hear the generator so maybe that will be alright. Added: he can't keep it running, but we have a smaller one that will run half the house, which is better than nothing. I also have several usb powered light bulbs and several small battery things that I keep charged. Can also charge with the Jackery. And I have a ton of these Lanterns. I don't like sitting in the dark. https://www.amazon.com/Lichamp-Lant...-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Cant find my Gas One burner, I used it a couple of years ago and he doesn't know where he put it. I have a couple of alternatives but not as good. May get another one but they have gone up in price and it would not help for this storm. Got two cases of the fuel for it.

One Buddy heater was in the cabin and the other still in the box in the she shed. I had squiriled away the connector to a larger tank for the second Buddy. in my office and could put my hand right on it.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

We have just been upgraded to an Ice Storm Warning starting tomorrow afternoon at 6pm. Looks like the icing will start tomorrow night through Sunday. 1/2 inch of ice with 7-8 inches of snow.

 

[hd5574]

Wildwood..thanks for that weather channel..he is very good..

We got that evil witch governor...sworn in on the 17th...welcome to Virginia..
Well she wanted to be governor so let's see how she does with this storm in her face
In her first week...since she has basically declared us a sanctuary state...no help in criminal illegals....they already have people organizing to be in the streets...they are busy writing bills to raise all kinds of taxes..on everything they can think of...Trump may not give her any federal funds...for a disaster...????

Well it looks like Virginia is really in the bullseye for some of the worst of this storm..we in our area of the state are forecast to get first some very heavy snow...about 12 to 15 inches then sleet and freezing rain..the more south you go the more ice ...actually the largest area of the state will get massive ice....will have some snow and then an ice storm from hell...and temperatures after the storm will dive in a deep freeze..it will be a nightmare..of tangled trees, pokes and power lines

We are about as prepared as any can be...we had no power for 2 weeks few years ago...had the generator that will do most everything...but learned a lot and refined our plan..l
We have a huge pile of ashes from the woodstove...ashes work like kitty litter on ice and snow....if we get lots of ice we will spread ashes in our driveway..rather long one...ashes in your car will you get unstuck....and they are free..and really work..

We got the battery back up system last fall..huge...will run the well and the house..have dish sat tv...weather radios...can charge the battery system if power goes out with our gas generator or solar panels after storm passes..

Have lots of fire wood..propane gas stove for cooking..with back up propane for stove...the generator will power everything if need be..lots of cans of gas..
We also have a big buddy a couple of small buddies and a baby buddy...and tons of 20 gallon propane tanks and 1 lb tanks for the baby one..
We have been in this old house about 26 years....and over the years we have added things for storms like this and severe temperature drops..

We are praying for all who are not as prepared for bad weather as we are..
Please everyone stay warm and safe..and be careful ice is no joke

 

[Wildwood]

I'm taking a lunch/coffee break. Been cleaning all morning, plus chopping a big bag of bell peppers I bought yesterday, for the freezer. They made one gallon more of chopped peppers I have in the freezer. We can't seem to grow anything but the green bell peppers, here, and I like the red, yellow, and orange ones, too. I have to buy those.

The peppers have to stay on the stalk to turn colors. All bell peppers start out green as far as I know. Seeds from a bell pepper will not germinate unless you leave them on the stalk until they turn colors. Also, different types of bell pepper turn different colors. Everything I raise ultimately turns red. I use to get different colors but I now raise just two varieties. One is more like a Marconi but to me, a Marconi is just a funny shaped bell pepper lol.

Wildwood..thanks for that weather channel..he is very good..

You are welcome, I like him a lot. DH has been trying to get me to change to him for a while and I've officially switched.

That's good to know about the ashes. The only thing I would be mindful of is ashes and water make lye so it could be caustic...really dangerous for eyes and skin. The process takes a while so you should be good if you wash it off your vehicle as soon as you can.

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I only grow green bell peppers. I let them stay on the stalk until they are fully matured. They get huge. I've tried to grow different colors, but they begin to rot on the stalk or are very small by the time they get the desired color. I gave up a few years ago trying to grow them. By small, I mean the size of a small lemon.

 

[anna43]

Currently 15º/feels like -17º with 22 mph wind. Hibernation continues! High tomorrow -6º and Saturday high 1º. I didn't have to get my mail as a neighbor was out and offered to bring it in for me. I accepted and we had tea and muffins so she could warm up. She'd just been out delivering Meals on Wheels.

I had dishes to do and got them taken care of and now need to do the dusting. I have glass topped coffee and end tables and I really hate cleaning them plus then having to dust the wood part. Every year I think I'll replace them, but I haven't found any that I like than I can afford.

 

[summerthyme]

I only grow green bell peppers. I let them stay on the stalk until they are fully matured. They get huge. I've tried to grow different colors, but they begin to rot on the stalk or are very small by the time they get the desired color. I gave up a few years ago trying to grow them. By small, I mean the size of a small lemon.

AFAIK, there is no variety of pepper that stays green...they all turn colors eventually as they ripening. I suspect your heat is more than they can handle...you could try using shade cloth for a few hours in mid afternoon. But its probably more trouble than it's worth for you.

I ought to send you some seeds from a variety we love... I call it "Tropical Sunset"...it originally started as a Yellow Belle, but crossed with (I think) an orange 4 lobed bell a few years ago. I've been standardizing it ever since.

In 2024, we had a stretch of really bad weather in late June, and the peppers stopped setting fruit. Most of my plants only produced a few large bells. As soon as the weather moderated, the Tropical Sunset plants put on (literally) a hundred more blossoms...I've got pictures of the new growth, and anywhere from 30-50 baby peppers on each plant.

They *aren't* a green pepper! They start out pale yellow, then deeper yellow, then a gorgeous tropical orange, and eventually ripen to a bright, lipstick red. Often, there will be multiple peppers of every color on the same plant!

They are milder flavored than most green peppers...we prefer them after they start turning color at least slightly.

Summerthyme

 

[WanderLore]

Plumber here. Prayers all goes well

 

[hd5574]

Wildwood
We have used wood ashes on ice for years...it does not take a lot but they "dry' the surface and give a grit to the surface...never had any paint or other problems with them..I imagine they are concentrated enough to cause a problem...just don't use where you might track into the house cause they are dirty mess if that happens..they just go away with the melt of ice and snow...or a rain...

 

[WanderLore]

He needs another part so went to get it. Prayers this will fix it. The main pipe coming in has to be fixed.
He will have to shut the whole house power down as there is no markings on breaker box for the main water pump.
We use ash from coal stove on porch if needed.
I'm exhausted

 

[Meemur]

Prayers said for the plumber's success.

 

[WanderLore]

Thank you!

 

[SouthernBreeze]

I've used shade cloth almost every summer on my pepper plants. If the sun doesn't get them the shade cloth causes the humidity to cook them on the stalks. I have a pretty decent crop of bell peppers each year, but not this year. If I can get them to set fruit and get to that dark green stage and sizable, I consider myself lucky. They begin to wrinkle up and rot if I leave them on the stalk longer than that.

This past Fall, I bought a basket of organic red, yellow, and orange peppers for the freezer. I have read that the colored peppers are more nutritious than just plain green. That's why I wanted those. I would probably have better luck buying them from the farmer's market stand than I would growing them myself. He has great produce year after year.

 

[anna43]

Got the food box and it was somewhat disappointing but still worthwhile.

Pork Tenderloin - small, expired 1/17/26, will use it soon
Great Northern Beans - can't use will pass on
Avocados - 1 one of the smallest I've ever seen
Apples - Red delicious 3# bag, I'll watch closely to make sure they didn't freeze
Eggs - 1 dozen brown eggs expire 2/3/26, I love brown colored eggs, and yes, I know they are the same as white
Vegetable Oil - will pass on
Rotini Pasta - 16 oz. - put into garage to freeze before storing
Tomato Sauce - can
Peanut Butter
Masa Harina Corn Flour - started to put into the freezer and decided to use the garage instead, will be 10º colder than
freezer overnight i.e. -16. I don't like weather that's colder than the deep freeze but will use it.
Whole Kernal Corn - can
Grape Fruit Spread - gave to guy who picked up for me - not allowed dark grapes
Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce - weird 7 oz. foil packet, doesn't sound appetizing
1% Milk - one 1 quart of shelf stable, I'll give to neighbor who is starting a pantry and uses 1%
Cheesy Tuna Skillet Mealkit -- no tuna included, I'll pass on, these "helper" products are always too salty for me
Mixed Vegetables - can
Pecans 1# bag
Canned Chickpeas - will pass on
Onions - two of the smallest storage onions I've ever seen, it would take 5 to make 1 medium onion
Honey Nut Cheerios - extra size box, expires 12/26

Do any of you use 1% milk? To me it's colored water. I really need onions so that was a disappointment, I have some in freezer so I'm okay. I'm not sure what to do with one tiny avocado. Everything will be used by someone.

 

[Meemur]

No, I don't use 1% milk. I buy a pint of half and half around holidays for use in coffee/cooking, especially if I have guests.

I don't eat boxed cereal, in general. I cook a bowl of oatmeal or make granola, which I soften in Greek yogurt.

That said, I'd find a way to use everything in the box you got, Anna, if I had to, but I'd probably try to trade for more cottos and chickpeas. These are good mashed together with a squirt of lemon. Add some ham . . . yum! I use that mixture to stuff pita pockets.

I've got apples, onions, potatoes, winter squash, carrots (in sand) in the basement. I think I'm good for awhile, yet. I need to eat more of the squash.

 

[moldy]

This past Fall, I bought a basket of organic red, yellow, and orange peppers for the freezer. I have read that the colored peppers are more nutritious than just plain green. That's why I wanted those.

Different colors of produce have different antioxidants - I imagine that yellow ones have some carotenoids, the red ones probably have some anthocyanins, etc.

DH texted me and told me to get what I needed for the weekend due to the storm (although we aren't supposed to get much). I got some Doritos ( I can't even remember the last time I bought some) since I want taco soup for the weekend. Therapy and work went well. Depending on the weather, I may not make it to therapy (its about 80 miles each way). We'll see.

 

[Wildwood]

Wildwood
We have used wood ashes on ice for years...it does not take a lot but they "dry' the surface and give a grit to the surface...never had any paint or other problems with them..I imagine they are concentrated enough to cause a problem...just don't use where you might track into the house cause they are dirty mess if that happens..they just go away with the melt of ice and snow...or a rain...

I'm definitely going to gather some to keep in my vehicle and I can see why it works. Our ice and snow have been sparse in the last few years but I expect that is about to change.

 

[Meemur]

When I was out earlier, I:

- Checked the furnace vent (absolutely clear)
- Topped off my gas tank
- Got in extra steps
- Checked on a neighbor (mailed her bills / picked up several grocery items)
- Ran my car around for a bit

Before I go to bed, I will:

- Check the CO detectors
- Change the furnace filter
- Hang the wool blankets over the sliding door
- Make sure all of the heat vents are open (my cat lies on them and they'll close)
- Take a shower

We have the option of working from home tomorrow, which I'm going to do. If we hadn't had the option,
I would've called in sick. Short of a quick walk to check the furnace vent, I'm not going outside, and I'm
certainly not going to drive anywhere in an elderly car during these these temps!

Just about all of the schools and colleges in the state are closed tomorrow, and many businesses aren't
going to open until noon.

Prayers said for everyone!

 

[hd5574]

Made a quick run to Walmart and Food Lion...just wanted to grab a few more fresh things..
we walked around through the grocery part of Walmart..that section was picked clean..bread milk gone...meat case nearly empty...no one stocking...we got an extra bag of cat food for the barn cats...got some organic peppers celery for a pot of bean soup..and pepper for a meat loaf..
Food Lion was the same the way..also one stocking..NO...milk..still had a few eggs..but a little water..had the things we went for...
Things are a mess..in both stores

They keep lowering our ...night time temperatures for days out...so I want more scratch meals with the ingredients on hand..plus they are starting to mention another winter storm for next weekend

 

[summerthyme]

I'm thawing 3, boneless pork loins..figured a good use of a below zero and windy/stormy weekend was to make a big batch of pork stew, then can it. I've got a backup propane stove in the shop below the apartment, so if our power goes off, I can finish the project anyway.

And it will help heat and humidify the apartment in the early phases!

I'm just hoping the ewes will hold off lambing until this round is over!

Summerthyme

 

[hd5574]

The pot of soup will add humidy... esp with the wood heat..
We have the non electric propane stove...so cooking is not a problem
Anything to add heat and moisture to the house is a huge plus..

 

[patriotgal]

Everything that needs to be charged is fully charged. I had DH pick me up an ups power supply for my computer setup. If we get ice the power is likely to be blipping before it actually goes.

More propane coming tomorrow. I can light the burners on the gas cook stove. We can camp out in the living room if we have to. If it gets really bad, I am expecting the Grands to make the trip through the fields and woods to stay with us. They have no backup heat.

Hoping this isn't going to be as bad as expected but afraid it is going to be ugly.

 

[hd5574]

Got the food box and it was somewhat disappointing but still worthwhile.

Pork Tenderloin - small, expired 1/17/26, will use it soon
Great Northern Beans - can't use will pass on
Avocados - 1 one of the smallest I've ever seen
Apples - Red delicious 3# bag, I'll watch closely to make sure they didn't freeze
Eggs - 1 dozen brown eggs expire 2/3/26, I love brown colored eggs, and yes, I know they are the same as white
Vegetable Oil - will pass on
Rotini Pasta - 16 oz. - put into garage to freeze before storing
Tomato Sauce - can
Peanut Butter
Masa Harina Corn Flour - started to put into the freezer and decided to use the garage instead, will be 10º colder than
freezer overnight i.e. -16. I don't like weather that's colder than the deep freeze but will use it.
Whole Kernal Corn - can
Grape Fruit Spread - gave to guy who picked up for me - not allowed dark grapes
Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce - weird 7 oz. foil packet, doesn't sound appetizing
1% Milk - one 1 quart of shelf stable, I'll give to neighbor who

Do any of you use 1% milk? To me it's colored water. I really need onions so that was a disappointment, I have some in freezer so I'm okay. I'm not sure what to do with one tiny avocado. Everything will be used by someone.

Never ...we use whole milk, half and half, heavy cream...and butter..whole milk yogurt..whole milk cream cheese..nothing light in this house...

 

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I'm thawing 3, boneless pork loins..figured a good use of a below zero and windy/stormy weekend was to make a big batch of pork stew, then can it. I've got a backup propane stove in the shop below the apartment, so if our power goes off, I can finish the project anyway.

And it will help heat and humidify the apartment in the early phases!

I'm just hoping the ewes will hold off lambing until this round is over!

Summerthyme

3 whole pork loins? Here, that's about 27 pounds of pork.