Hey, so long as everyone's getting freaky about "stocking up" ... here's MMM list for the pantry:

[MrMickeysMom]

I can do this for our pantry, as I went through a vegetarian phase in the 80's... some stores are recommended because they are better priced

On hand in the pantry:

Rolled Oats (get em at places like Bulk foods, or ALDI)
dry pinto beans
dry chick peas (Indian food stores)
Rice (Indian food stores)
canned crushed and diced tomatoes
canned beets (ALDI)
canned string beans (ALDI)
dry pastas (ALDI)
Molasses
Wheat flour, White flour, Corn meal
Coffee bricks (vacuum packed)
dry milk
dried cranberries
dried figs
Veg oil
sesame seeds
sunflower seeds
peanuts
almonds
soy sauce
seeds to sprout (alfalfa)
Cereal (cheerios, grape nuts)
Brita water filters (buy the large jugs or taps to filter the water


Okay, that's all folks! Buy it a little at a time, and you'll have time to stock up!

[liberalmuse]

1. Thanks!

That's a really good list, and I think I'll stock up on some of that stuff this weekend.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. What is ALDI?

[sfwriter]

5. A supermarket chain... I see them in the Midwest.

[MrMickeysMom]

8. They're a chain of stores that are low budget and we've seen some good stuff...

I can't recall who runs this chain, but they seem to ship out of Illinois. They used to just have the dry good in the isle, but then started shelving frozen goods, smoked turkey legs, other things that are (yes) from China, such as salmon, and other fish.

You can smell the disinfectant in our local one, spotless, you bag your own and pay with either debit or cash. I go there and pick up things a little at the time. It's a real saver.

[BrklynLiberal]

16. Thanks. I thought it had something to do with the type of food

:shrug:

[MrMickeysMom]

23. Nah, but they sure do beat the other stores prices around here...

See that link below :-)

[Blue Diadem]

15. link here:

http://www.aldifoods.com/index_ENU_HTML.htm

I usually get my canned goods, simple spices and baking products there. Cereals are pretty good too.

I keep well stocked and haven't been there since before Easter. I'm just getting ready to go again to stock up for the winter.

[MrMickeysMom]

17. Was hoping someone would send that- Thanks

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. I'd add vitamins

especially if you have kids.

[MrMickeysMom]

14. True

[sarcasmo]

4. Peanut Butter, two year shelf life. Pop Tarts a year and a half.

My two personal favorites.

[sfwriter]

6. Twinkies, which have a half-life, not a shelf life... :-)

[Extend a Hand]

9. I nominate that comment for a duzy

:rofl:

[MrMickeysMom]

11. That's funny! I think ALDI has a pseudo brand of twinkies

They must qualify for carbon dating, too.

[ixion]

7. good list

I would add:

dried black beans
dried peas
dried lentils
corn meal

I also keep lamp oil around, albeit that's not edible. :)

molasses is a good idea... thanks. :hi:

[MrMickeysMom]

12. You're welcomed!

Yes, I used to have an oil lamp...

See, this is productive, isn't it?

:hi:

[malaise]

10. Eggs can last for months in pails of salt.

Salted fish is also great food. Get to know a small fisherman so you can find fresh fish from time to time. Noodles last forever as does rice and potatoes.

Plant vegetables and if you can setup a greenhouse indoors to plant during winter.

[MrMickeysMom]

13. Ya know, I'd like to figure out the indoor greenhouse thing, fer sure...

Only problem- where? I have a small house and 3 cats, SW PA gets cold, so, I was thinking if it was possible to greenhouse on my well covered front porch. I'll have to look into that.

Did you mean to say that you can put eggs into a pail of salt to last that long????

[malaise]

18. There's a great old book about preserving food like our

great grandparents did. Rural people in Jamaica bought eggs in summer when they were cheap and put them in pails of salt for the Christmas cake in December. A DUer said her people used to wipe each egg in lard before covering it with salt. I haven't tried that way yet but just plain salt lasts for ever. Remember to cool eggs to room temperature before putting them in salt. Works every time that's what we do when we lose power after hurricanes.

[ixion]

25. great tip, malaise

thanks! :hi:

I'd never heard that one before.

[Catherine Vincent]

26. Thanks for that tip. I didn't know that.

I love eggs. In fact, I may try that to test it out. How many months to store them in the salt before it goes bad?

[malaise]

31. If you use rock salt like our grandparents

that old book said up to a year. I'll dig up that link to the book tomorrow afternoon.
It has some great stuff about preserving food. People had to know how to preserve food in those days since there was no electricity.

[Mojorabbit]

33. I have four chickens

so my eggs are fresh. I need to stock up on chicken feed though.

[malaise]

35. Here's a good link

http://www.oldandsold.com/articles11/miscellaneous-recipes-13.shtml

#3 is the one most people use although we've never used salt butter but we only have to preserve for a short time.

[Catherine Vincent]

40. Thanks, Malaise!

:hi:

[RagAss]

19. All I need is....

garbanzo beans, hot sauce(Texas Pete's) and beer !

[MrMickeysMom]

21. You forgot something...

Bathroom deodorizer afterward!

:rofl:

[RagAss]

24. HAHHAHAHAHHA....That's a luxury !!!

:rofl: :rofl: :spray:

[libnnc]

20. I try to keep canned chicken

egg noodles, rice, chicken broth to make my own soup

[MrMickeysMom]

22. Ooh, that reminds me, I left out boulion cubes

vegetable, chicken and beef flavor, for that matter.

[Catherine Vincent]

27. Why are we supposed to be stocking up?

Will these items be expensive in the near future or just run out?

[MrMickeysMom]

29. Maybe both, but-

Mostly, I just picked up the vibe from a few OPs that people were expecting things to really blow out, and if that WERE the case, and all financial markets failed, well, it wouldn't take long for the stores to raise prices even further... so, why not stock up a little at a time on the inexpensive stuff that will get you through?

Basically, that's it.

[Gold Metal Flake]

28. Crazy idea?

Can you use those space bags, the ones you put clothes into and use the vacuum to suck air oit so it becomes compact, to put your cflour and grains into the prevent mold, fungus and insect contamination?

[MrMickeysMom]

30. Sure seems like you could

And it doesn't sound crazy at all. I don't have them, but I see them advertised all the time.

[Gold Metal Flake]

32. We do have them.

You can shrink up your winter parka, store it in a large pizza box. They don't leak, either. I was thinking they seem like just the ticket for whatever flour or grains you want to store for months. Once sealed in the bag and vacuumed, it should store fine in humid areas since the bags are watertight. I think I will try it.

[Mojorabbit]

34. I have a vacum sealer made for food

and the bags are food grade. Cost about a hundred bucks at costco but I bet you could find them cheaper on craigs list or goodwill.

[RebelOne]

36. You forgot the tuna fish and remember to store it under your bed. n/t

[conscious evolution]

37. Buy seed stocks also

Heirloom or non geneticly altered seeds are best.Stay away from seeds that need the sellers fertilizers or pesticides to grow.

[spinbaby]

38. You forgot the wine

And where's the chocolate?

These are essential food groups.

[ladyVet]

39. Ideas for frugal living are good in times like these.

Even if the market doesn't completely crash, people are having to make their money stretch farther. Saving money shopping is a good way, as is using less prepared foods, i.e. cooking from scratch.

I have a book that I use for cheap, good meals called "Good Recipes for Hard Times" by Louise Newton. It was published in 1975. It has recipes for almost anything, made from basic ingredients. (I learned to make biscuits from this book.) The author talks about various budget levels, and what to buy to build up your pantry.

This book saved my family when I divorced and had to live on one (low) income with two kids, car payment and house payment, etc. I used to check it out of the library every month or so, until I found a copy at a thrift store.

[MrMickeysMom]

41. Man, that sounds like a book that would sell well now...

I'll have to check it out.

Thanks :hi:

[sfwriter]

42. Creepy trip to Aldi today...

Out of flour, out of juice... two sacks of Masa left... no coffee...

It was like people were getting ready for a storm or something.

[Blarch]

43. Stock up ?

I have guns. And if the country does go mad max I will just take what I want, when I want. My old boss told me he had a whole 'emergency bag' set up for him and his wife..with survival supplies. I asked him if he had a gun, he said no. I then said ..."good, I know where to come for my ready made emergency bag, he said...you know, thats a great point, I am getting a gun.