BY #30: Favorites mean a lot

My BY for the day: Campbell's chicken noodle soup (add water)

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Saltines, and oh yes, if it were available, cheese...

You may have noticed that I very rarely mention the brand name of products, but I do so here for a specific reason. One of my children loves, loves, loves, Campbell's chicken noodle soup. We all like it, but this child is my pickiest eater, and yet it seems like there is always a "yes" when this particular brand is an option. Hopefully, there would be a way to heat it in an emergency situation, because we haven't tried it cold...still, having a favorite has to increase the odds for actual food consumption, right? :)

Along with BY #29, where the subject was adding things to improve what you are having (check the great comments there!) storing brands that you know that people you are responsible for will like will make things a lot easier when it comes time to eating them, emergency situation or not.

In our case we won't forget the Campbell's chicken noodle soup--what will you be sure to include?

 

BY #29: On the differing tastes thing...

My BY for the day: Can of black olives

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Chili, or tamales, maybe. Something that was substantial to eat, because olives aren't much of a meal, truth be told.

Oh, but my children love olives--and if they were tired of everything else, they might be a little more interested in whatever it was with a few olives thrown in. To be honest, I'll have to throw in another can of soup or what have you next time I stock up on more cans to make up for this BY, but I think there is a point to be made. What would cheer you up if you were in the middle of an emergency and living off canned foods? What would make your meal just a little better? What could you open that the people that you are responsible for would like enough that they would eat a can of that even if they were tired of canned food?

According to this series, whatever it is has to be in a can, so here I'm going with black olives. I think the can was $.98, and yeah, I'm thinking that whenever we open it, it will be enjoyed...

What about you? Everyone has their own tastes and preferences. Do you have anything that comes canned that is not really a meal, but is something that would either enhance a meal, or bring a smile to those tired of canned food already? Would love to hear what you would buy for your shelf... :)

BY #28: Short and sweet

My BY for the day: Can of chili

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Crackers, tamales, baked potatoes? The great thing about chili is that if you store enough for the number of people you are feeding, it is a meal all by itself...

And that's about all I have to say about that... :)

BY #27: Making your cans s-t-r-e-t-c-h

My BY for the day: Can of chicken broth

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Heat, and the ingredients in the recipe left under BY #25 by Ejemory, who kindly gives a simple recipe for dumplings that is as follows:


"My mom used Bisquick for her dumplings and that's what I used for a while. Then I found a recipe (and I am afraid I don't remember where) and found out I could do it for less money.
3 T shortening
1 1/2 c flour (one of the few times I prefer good old white all purpose flour)
2 t baking powder
3/4 t salt
3/4 c milk

Cut shortening into flour, baking powder, and salt until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in milk. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto hot meat or vegetables in boiling stew. Cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer. Enjoy.

You can substitute oil for the shortening, whole wheat flour for the white, and powdered milk for regular milk. "

Or, the ingredients in the recipe for noodles, also left by Ejemory (have I mentioned that Ejemory's comments are awesome?) also under the post for BY #25 (Have you noticed that BY #25 is on fire when it comes to comments?):

"Chicken and noodles. Homemade noodles aren't difficult, just a little time-consuming.

1 c flour (again I like white all purpose flour for this)
1 t salt
1 egg
Mix well together. Add cream or milk (or even water) a tablespoonful at a time until you have a fairly stiff dough. Knead several times till all ingredients are incorporated. Let dough rest for 10 minutes or so. If you plan to leave it for more than just a few minutes, cover with plastic wrap. Roll dough out thin and cut into strips. You can immediately cook them in boiling water or broth or you can thoroughly dry them and use them another time. Ok, I know what I'm making for dinner the next time I cook this week!"

Thanks so much again, Ejemory!

If, in addition to your cans you add some basic ingredients, like flour, salt, baking powder, etc., (and maybe in the case of the noodles, some dried eggs) you can make simple recipes like those above, and have a more filling meal, and really s-t-r-e-t-c-h your cans to last longer. Emergencies do not always include a loss of power, and it is good to have some easy, few ingredient recipes on hand to use when you can. It's also good to have an alternative way to heat food (grill, firepit, etc.) if you can work this into your preparation resources, but it sure is nice when the power stays on...

Hope everyone's BYs are going well! We're about 1/2 way through the series....







 

BY #26: A two-in-a-row (for a reason)

My BY for the day: Canned chicken

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Oh, anything that was mentioned in the comments on BY #25... :)

Thanks to Ejemory, who may have unknowingly encouraged me to have canned carrots as one of my future BYs by adding this comment:

"Chicken and dumplings! Of course, I would want it hot. I use a can of canned chicken, a can of carrots, a can of potatoes (ah, potatoes again!), a couple of cans of chicken broth and whatever else I feel like adding. I make dumplings and place on top of the boiling soup, 10 minutes uncovered and 10 minutes covered. Yum!"

Sounds good if you have heat to make it with, and if you know how to make dumplings. Looks like I have more to learn... :)

Thanks also to TM Frugal Gourmet, at TM Preparedness, who left this comment:

"Ha ha!! I will hopefully be canning chicken here at home next week! Too funny. As you may rememember, I can a lot of our food to make sure we can eat it with out having things "added".
I can: chicken, turkey, pulled pork, stew meat, hamburger, etc.. that is all pressure canner stuff. I also make my own broths and can those as well.
So what to do with it? EASY!!!
Chicken salad (mayo, mustard, pickles)
Chicken gravy (make a cream of chicken soup basically)
Chicken soup
Chicken pot pie
BBQ Chicken pizza
Noodle casseroles
Baked potatoes topped with ranch, canned chicken and bacon (favorite around here!!)
Pockets (bread dough stuffed with meat, cheese, and sauce, sealed and baked)
Chicken and Dumplings
Quesadillas

Lots of stuff.. :)"

I'm especially intrigued by the chicken on potatoes, since if you didn't have the traditional heating methods you could wrap them in foil and cook them in the coals of a fire and the like. I had thought about doing that with chili, since we have chili on potatoes sometimes anyway, but the combination of chicken, bacon, and ranch sounds good...

Ah, more reasons I say it pays to read the comments...Thanks again to Ejemory and TM Frugal Gourmet!



 

Buying ahead, blogging ahead: BY #25 for Dec. 2

My BY for the day: Canned chicken

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Perhaps some of that bread that is hopefully stored in the freezer, or some of those crackers that were stored to go along with some of those cans of soup. Mini sandwiches of sorts... Or throw it in with some Ramen noodles if you have heat. Ah, gotta love options... )

What would you eat with your canned chicken? The more ideas the merrier...

BY #24: Something a little different...

My BY for the day: Can of refried beans

If I were adding anything to go along with this, it would be: Corn chips, or taco or tostada shells to spread the beans on. At the moment I don't know what the shelf life on the corn chips, etc., but they would be easy to rotate if you serve tacos or nachos at your house occasionally. Yeah, I think that some kind of corn item would definitely enhance the cold refried bean experience, but even if you don't add anything to this, the beans would be filling just eating them with a spoon.

I have bought another can of soup ahead, but I thought I would wait at least a couple of days to post another one... :) Hope you are enjoying your weekend!