On Storing Foods
As we approach the time when we may need to isolate ourselves from the infected (or if we end up being the infected), I've been thinking about what the hell I will eat if I can't go to the store for two weeks. I've come up with a plan that involved lots of pea soup and lentils, miso soup with dried mushrooms and seaweed, and some emergency foods, like whey protein. I should be able to use cabbage, root vegetables, and other winter vegetables, like squashes - if there are any at the store, to replace some of the other fresh vegetables that I eat. However, I realize now that I'm skipping two important things:
First, I will have at least a week when the fresh vegetables that I have bought will still be good. For cauliflower and cabbage, especially, I really should have plenty of time to eat them fresh. If I do a better job of storing the cucumbers, they will (obviously) stay fresh longer. So, it is time to get on that.
Second, we have a ton of jars here, and there are tons of traditional ways to preserve vegetables, even the ones I eat. I would like to try making some kind of pickle relish, sauerkraut, and Japanese pickled vegetables. Oh! There seems to be a kind of sauerkraut with beets! I don't love beets, but why the hell not try it. So, clearly, I have way more options than I thought. Tomorrow, I'll get to work on this, so that I can have a shopping list ready for Monday.
First, I will have at least a week when the fresh vegetables that I have bought will still be good. For cauliflower and cabbage, especially, I really should have plenty of time to eat them fresh. If I do a better job of storing the cucumbers, they will (obviously) stay fresh longer. So, it is time to get on that.
Second, we have a ton of jars here, and there are tons of traditional ways to preserve vegetables, even the ones I eat. I would like to try making some kind of pickle relish, sauerkraut, and Japanese pickled vegetables. Oh! There seems to be a kind of sauerkraut with beets! I don't love beets, but why the hell not try it. So, clearly, I have way more options than I thought. Tomorrow, I'll get to work on this, so that I can have a shopping list ready for Monday.