Pantries and Pandemics

by Jan Drexler

Last week was a doozy, wasn't it?

We were all prepared for the change to daylight savings time, a full moon (it was a beauty, wasn't it?) and Friday the 13th (really, a non-event for me.) But were any of us prepared for the SPEED of the pandemic panic???

Think about it. In the comments on last Monday's post, no one, NO ONE, mentioned the corona virus, school closings, quarantine, a National Emergency....all of that was on the radar out there somewhere, but it wasn't an issue yet.

By Wednesday, Cate Nolan talked about how to survive a possible quarantine in the city (you can read her post here) and on Thursday, Ruth Logan Herne shared about the flu and emergency preparedness on the farm (you can read her post here.) Things just exploded from there.

My dear husband and I tried to do our regular grocery shopping on Friday - between the pandemic panic and a snowstorm in the forecast, the place was packed. We left. We didn't need groceries (we were just going to pick up a few things that were on sale) because our pantry is stocked.

And I'm not the only one. I was talking to my neighbor on Friday evening, and she said they were stocked up, too. We both agreed: when you live in the country and in the North, that's just the way you do things.

I've talked about my pantry in a few other posts. It saw us through the Blizzard of 2013 (you can read about that HERE) and it sees us through the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally every year (you can read about that HERE.)

But the main thing I want to talk about today is USING all that food you've been stocking up on for the past week. Because you have purchased and stored that food for a reason.

And now that reason is here. Whether you're expecting to be quarantined or you're quarantining yourself voluntarily, most of us are going to find ourselves relying on our pantries over the next couple weeks. 

Maybe your stores are packed full of people - germ-carrying people - and you don't need to add your purchasing power in the midst of all that. Maybe your stores are running out of certain items. Maybe you are fighting the flu or a cold, or your immune system is compromised... Or maybe you just want to stay home.

So, today is the day to sit down and PLAN how you're going to use what you've stored.

1. Start with an inventory. You can't plan to use it if you don't know you have it! Count how many cans of tuna, how many pounds of flour and sugar, etc. And don't forget your freezer and refrigerator!

2. Then brainstorm several meals you usually prepare with the food you have on hand. As you do this, assign the foods you need for each meal. For instance, if you're going to make tuna noodle casserole, subtract the ingredients (1 can of tuna, 1 can of mushroom soup, 1 package of noodles and 1/2 package of frozen peas) from your inventory.

3. Look at the food items you have left in your inventory and look for recipes to use them. One great resource is Betty Crocker's "101 Meals You Can Make with Pantry Staples." Go there and scroll through the pages to get ideas.

Your goal is to have fourteen days worth of meals planned. Don't forget to plan for leftovers, too. Last night's leftover casserole makes a great lunch for today.

4. Now, assign your planned meals to days on the calendar. Be sure to use up your perishables first! 

Note: Don't forget to plan healthy meals. As much as you might like them, three meals in a row of only hamburgers isn't healthy. Add in those veggies and fruits! The goal is to stay well, isn't it? 

5. Be creative! Combine foods that you might not have considered before, like this recipe for Quick Pumpkin Pear Soup that I shared a few years ago.

So, how are we feeling about all this?

I hope you are confident and challenged to rise to whatever situation you will need to face. That isn't only a prayer for now - March 2020 - but for always. Being prepared calms the heart and reduces anxiety.

Jan Drexler is an author by day who is addicted to counted cross stitch and sauntering through the Hills with her dear husband and their puppies - goofy corgi Jack and baby border collie Sam. You can find Jan's books and other fun things on her website: www.JanDrexler.com.