Emergency Preparedness...

In a world full of family safety concerns, I feel like the need to store food and other products is as important as ever. With concerns rising over terrorist activity interrupting supply chains or fears related to the potentially massive impacts of natural disasters on the availability and access to resources, emergency preparedness is a hot topic for modern America. If you’re prepared with a few key essentials, you won’t have to rely on other people to keep your family from starving.

The obvious stuff to keep in storage is food. Dried foods are a quick and easy way to feed your family, along with things like wheat to be able to make flour if it comes down to that. But what about preparing this food? When the power and gas lines are out, I would suggest some typeof portable stove. In order to prepare meals faster and save on the gas you have in storage you need a stove that boils water fast and can hook up to a large propane tank --- like a high-power Camp Chef stove. I’ve got one that I use all the time on the patio -- but in the back of my head, I always have planned that if something did happen I would be able to use it. So if you are thinking about improving your food storage, be sure to look into a Camp Chef stove. (www.campchef.com)

[Our Camp Chef Stove] arrived just in time for our annual trip to Winnepeg for the Winnipeg Folkfest. The stove was a source of amusement for some since it was rather "deluxe" by most standards.

On the last night of the Folkfest there was a big storm. High winds ripped through the Festival Campgrounds demolishing a great many campsites. Our tent was badly damaged and our screen house where the stove was totally destroyed. Poles bent and twisted and covering gone. The Tahoe Grill had been knocked over but appeared to be fine. We repaired our tent as best we could and spent the night listening to the torrential rains and watching the sky lit up by lightning.

In the morning, I crawled out of the tent and went to the remains of the screen house. I wasn't sure if the stove would light because it has been totally drenched. It lit on the first try and I proceeded to make coffee which we handed out to our fellow campers as they straggled in. Many had lost their tents and been forced to sleep in cars or in the open. Our group then proceeded to round up all the bacon and eggs we could find and served breakfast to about 30 people. It was greatly appreciated.

I have to commend you on your wonderful product. I love the stove and I look forward to using it at the folkfest for many years to come. The group we camp with is already planning the menu for next year.

Super Quick White Sauce Mix   Rating
Anonymous - July 29, 2005

Recipe taken from Emergency Food In A Nutshell by Leslie D. Probert & Lisa L. Harkness

Ingredients:

4 C. dry milk
4 C. dehydrated butter, sifted
4 C. flour
8 tsp. chicken bouillon
2 tsp. salt

How to Prepare:

Mix above ingredients together and store in covered container. (An empty #10 can with a lid works well.) Label and date; use within 6 months.

Thin white sauce:
1 C. warm water
1/3 C. white sauce mix

Medium white sauce:
1 C. warm water
1/2 C. white sauce mix

Thick white sauce:
1 C. warm water
3/4 C. white suace mix

Mix white sauce into water with wire whisk and continue stirring while sauce comes to boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat and simmer 1 minute. To hold sauce for a short time before using, simmer on low heat.

Bechamel Sauce:
Add a pinch of onion powder and 1 bay leaf to mixture before bringing to boil. Remove bay leaf after simmering sauce 1 minute.

Parsley Sauce:
Add 1 tsp. to 1 Tbsp. dried parsley before simmering.

Cream Soup Base:
This mix can be used as a cream soup base in any cream soup recipe.