Shopping With the Wife of a Prepper

Today's (or rather Mondays) blog beginnings looked like this:

Shopping With the Wife of a Prepper

TOPIC - self sufficiency means making your budget work no matter how small, poor man’s prepping, 10 (?) Prep items you can buy in a regular store for a $1 or less for your bug out bag.

KEY POINTS - small, lightweight, easily prepared or used, easy to pack. When you shop on a teeny budget you cannot be a food snob and go around insisting everything be organic, fresh, and non-GMO because the harsh reality is that you'd have a teeny set of choices and a difficult time of it in an emergency. Yes, you can buy rice, beans, and etc. then mix your spices and bag them all up but in an emergency they will take more water and more fuel due to a longer cooking time. These suggestions are for B.O.B.'s and situations where cooking fuel or water may be limited and you need a meal quickly.

Take pictures of item, price tags, cooking requirements, etc...

Odometer readings (?) For taxes

Follow at end with easy recipe--BLACK BEAN AND CORN SOUP

TO DO...Verify prices and take pictures of the following--

·         Noodle mixes, I am thinking particularly of Knorr brand because they generally require only water (usually 2 cups) and cook great in 10-12 minutes at altitude $.89

·         Rice mix--again Knorr brand specifically takes only water and cooks great at altitude $.89

·         Idahoan brand Potato flakes--come in small packs and assorted flavors, use 2 cups boiling water $.99

·         Canned Tuna (chicken is good too but costs more) $.85(?)

·         Canned foods such as fruit, veggies, and beans. Price varies $.66-$.98

·         The college student standbys of instant soups, Ramen and boxed macaroni and cheese prices vary but can be as little as $.17

·         Sample sized Shampoo, tooth paste, deodorant and wipes

·         Small quantity generic meds-acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antihistamines $.88

·         Small box Band-Aids, peroxide/rubbing alcohol

·         Depending on where you shop instant coffee and creamer($ store usually) $1.00

INCLUDE NOTE--Dollar stores have great essentials for Sh.I.P. like multi-pack toothbrushes, full size toothpaste, soap, first aid items, buckets, bungee cords, baggies, foil, playing cards, food and even paper plates and plastic utensils too! This saves on water and plates will burn.

Needless to say life happened and my planned blog did not happen...So what you get to see is my preliminary process in attempting to create a more in depth blog. A brief outline, a to-do list, and any specific thoughts or notes worth including. Much that was planned fell by the side of the road this week. No worries, it all shall come about at some point in the future. A well-documented shopping blog is to be included.

All is not lost though. I can still leave you with a short simple recipe I hit upon awhile back when our cupboards were essentially bare. This is good by itself as a meal or as a side dish with fajitas or quesadillas. I have served it with tortilla chips, tortillas and flat bread with cream cheese, and with corn bread. I haven't tried it but it would probably be great with sopapillas too.

This is also a great one pan emergency cooking recipe providing you have a hand powered can opener as it can be eaten cold.

BLACK BEAN AND CORN SOUP

·         1 12-15 oz. can black beans drained but not rinsed

·         1 12-15 oz. Can cream style corn

·         Tomato Salsa to taste--I just pour it in, I'm guessing maybe 1/2 cup but it is a crucial ingredient as it is the only seasoning!

·         Sprinkle top with shredded cheese if desired.

Combine all ingredients and heat thoroughly. It tastes ok cold with tortilla chips but is awesome when warm. Oh one more thing ~ this is not overly spicy unless you choose to use a very spicy salsa. The choice is yours.

Wifeofaprepper

As always you can join the Facebook group, like the Facebook community page, and visit the website. All of these are conveniently called “Kaya Self Sufficiency”. I hope you have enjoyed this post and I hope you are getting better at providing as much as you can for yourself and for your family, group, or community.