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We got hit with a big winter storm last week and with it came school closures, canceled flights and power failures. Roughly 90,000 homes in Ontario were left without electricity for two days, because hydro crews couldn't get to the problem due to the road conditions.
We woke up this morning to another dump of 5 inches of snow. But the twist today is that we will get freezing rain later this morning. and then another 5 inches of snow this afternoon. That is when the real fun begins. Many tree branches just can't withstand that weight and we will likely see our streets littered with them and many of them will take power lines down with them.
How do you keep body and soul together in the cold and dark? Jon Robertson and Robin Robertson, authors of the cleverly titled Apocalypse Chow: How to Eat Well When the Power Goes Out (2005, Simon Spotlight Entertainment) have some tips for you. They live in a hurricane area and much of their experience comes from that particular type of natural disaster, but the premise works for anybody who may find themselves cut adrift from the power grid. Here are some of their survival tips:1. Invest in a butane burner: The first thing you need to cook is a heat source. We have one that closes into a little suitcase and it truly is a lifesaver. We learned from bitter experience at our cottage that you cannot make coffee on a barbecue. It works very efficiently, but keep some extra canisters of butane on hand as a precaution.
2. Make a 5 day "wine box": They suggest taking a wine carton and filling it with enough food to last three to four people for five days. Tuck it away in a closet or basement, and bring it out when you need it. Items such as canned beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and vegetables, as well as soy milk and dried pasta are included. You can make some pretty delicious meals out of this stuff-no need to revert to canned spaghetti.
3. Eat up the perishables in your refrigerator: Before you open that 5 day box, cook any meat as soon as you can. Then work your way through the vegetables, eating the faster-spoiling items first. Don't keep opening the fridge to see if everything is still cold. You will let the cold out and the heat in and your food will spoil.
4. Don't open the freezer: Frozen food will defrost (but stay cold) for three or four days. If you are still without power then, you can start using up that food.
5. Stock MREs: If you are really worried about how long the power will be out, you can have what they call "MREs" (meals ready to eat) at hand. These are meals in pouches that you can cook in boiling water. You can also have dehydrated foods like the ones campers eat. These require adding water to reconstitute them.
Whether you are facing weird weather, or simply remodeling your home, this book can help you out. They have tips beyond culinary matters. including disaster supply kits and what to put in them. as well as safety tips during blackouts.
Difficulty level: Easy
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