I have lots of beans and rice and and and and, but I did not have a lot of comfort food stored. I have begun to buy pie filling, pudding, add water only brownie mix, already made cake frosting, cooking chocolate and chocolate chips . Jars of nuts, fruit snacks, pretzels, ice-cream mix ( great additive for powdered milk ), Kool-Aid ( can you believe the price of a package of Kool-Aid now? ) packaged whipped topping mix, Jello, candy sprinkles, and lots of real vanilla. Did I miss anything?

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 19, 1999

Answers

Our local Longs Drugstore has been having sales on snack size candy for Haloween. They are just the right size for something sweet now and then. I have bought 10 bags already and will buy more as more sales come up.

-- Homeschooling Grandma (mlaymon@glenn-co.k12.ca.us), September 19, 1999.

Hot chocolate mix, Hershey's syrup, breakfast cereal (I buy 6 boxes at a time when on sale), salsa, peanut butter and jelly, Ritz/saltine crackers, LOTS of seasonings, gravy packets, boulion cubes/goop in a jar, onion & garlic powders, soy sauce, mustard, cinnamon, pop tarts, toasted sesame oil, Tang/generic, vitamins, raisins, tuna, pickle relish and mayo (for all that tuna), malt-o-meal ++, blah, blah, blah - have fun!

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), September 19, 1999.

You are right. After months and months of buying basics I gradually started the 'comfort food' mode while not neglecting the other important items of course:

Licorice Hersheys liquid chocolate (add to almost anything!) Dried fruits (mangos, papayas, raisins, dates, pineapple, wasabe peas, etc.) Corn nuts (in sealed airtight containers, hope it works) Sunflower seeds Trail mixes Breakfast cereals made of whole grain and 'fun' sugar stuff condensed and evaporated milks for desserts cookies crackers Fruit snacks and will now look at sales on haloween candies

It felt nice to indulge in a few niceties to ration during difficult times. It will help family morale a lot.

Just keepin' on, keepin' on

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 19, 1999.

Years ago we had a neighborhood potluck when we were cut off from the rest of the world by mother nature. The red cross had brought in a couple of huge cans of tapioca and chocolate pudding, those were the GREAT culinary memories from that time. Don't underestimate the power of 'comfort foods'.

-- flora (***@__._), September 20, 1999.

Chocolate,chocolate & more chocolate. !!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), September 20, 1999.

marachino Cherries, Apple Candy Mix, Carmel for Carmel Corn, Pumpkin pie filling, canned egg nog (this is both for Christmas 00 and for when you can't get anything down the sick person's throat as it has ALL KINDS of sugars and actually GOOD stuff [why else do you think it's so DAMN fattening!?]), Candy Corn, whatever you buy for THIS year's Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas for the kids.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 20, 1999.

I have also been buying lots of Halloween chocolate. How are you storing it? So far I have put it all in my freezer. I am wondering about dry-canning chocolate with an oxygen absorber. This is a very important question to me as chocolate is like life saving medication.

-- a mom (fresh@chocolate.com), September 20, 1999.

I hate to be such a goodie two shoes, but I don't eat this stuff. My idea of a "treat" is sen sen and I'm trying to buy about 50 packages. It's the least yucky way to refresh the palate that I can think of. Chocolate? Sure, I like it from time to time, but I can live without it. Im trying to think of a treat to store, but really, nah...

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

Whatever it is for me has to be very low in sugar. (And don't think I don't miss chocolate!) Peak Frean's biscuits/cookies are about the only treat I can have these days--the arrowroot, rich tea and wholewheat ones. Nope, not gonna have anything with artifical sweeteners and the special diabetic cookies with fructose or whatever taste terrible. Bummer. Sweetie will just have to learn to do without doughnuts.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 20, 1999.

Months ago I wrote a bit about the book "How to Cook a Wolf" by the delightful MFK Fisher. It was written during wartime rationing; the wolf she refers to is the one who comes knocking at the door. There are chapters on nutritious surival slop, but the one I thought about while reading this thread is where she mentions a bit of fat conveying so much feeling. She mentioned something like 'cheez whiz' on crackers. I know it may sound gross to many of us nowadays, but...

--Got Velveeta?

-- flora (***@__._), September 20, 1999.

What is sen sen? I have to confess I have never heard of it. Chocolate will be a big time barter item or become very expensive if available.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 20, 1999.

In addition to all of the above (yum!) there is something I discovered in the Hispanic foods section of my local supermarket (SFW) last week. Got two cans (luxury item) but plan to get more a little at a time. It is canned cream...real cream. First time I've ever seen this product.

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

flora,

I, too would like to know, what is "sen sen". (I'm already well aquainted with just plain old SIN, thank you.)

I have put away a few pounds of small peppermints as they have multiple uses, and a lot of sugar. And although it's not food, I'm squirrelling away extra pipe tobacco. What's a rainy morning fishing without a pipe?

I am also watching for the smaller cans of "rubber cheeze" at Sams. (They call it nacho cheeze.)

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 20, 1999.

Lon,

I'm glad you tore yourself away from the sin sin girls over that thar 'other' forum!

Mara's the sen sen gal...so come on now & spill already, you've got at least three of us that feel like we're missing out on something fun.

-- flora (***@__._), September 20, 1999.

Thanks for the posting. I'd add popcorn, ju-ju-be candy, and raisins to the items already posted. The comfort food items really make the difference between mere survival and enjoying life. Canned pumpkin (and evaporated milk) for pumpkin pies and pumpkin pudding is already a staple in our household!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 20, 1999.

OOPS, flora.

I don't know if it was the thought of the sin sin girls over at the classic forum, or of Hershey's special dark chocolate that befuddled my brain, but I suspect the later.

So come on Mara, there's a public outcry, now: "what is sen sen"?

BTW, I've gone somewhat heavily into canned fruit as well. And a couple of huge bottles of strong vanilla from Mexico (el cheapo).

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 20, 1999.

I've gradually acumulated "extras" whenever i buy food- I buy most of our stuff at "dented can" type stores- so you never know what will be there each time- have picked up lots of pb and J, pancake syrup, pudding mix, spices, plus some ketshup, olives, soy sauce and other nice things to cook with. Still need chocolate though- good reminder re: Halloween stuff- good excuse to stock up!

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), September 20, 1999.

Olives, canned nuts, chocolate bars, Lemonade mix, Coke, preloaded ammo, tea's, a new SW radio, Family Walkie talkies, a wheel barrow that can carry water.......

These things are not required, but they will be nice to have.

-- helium (heliumavid@yahoo.com), September 20, 1999.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe all you people don't know what sen-sen is? Am I really that old? Are y'all really that young?

Sen-Sen is a brand name for a "breath freshener" that used to have a reputation as an alcoholic's friend. The candies themselves are tiny little rectangles about 3/16"x1/8", thin wafers of power-packing licorice! Suck on one and you won't taste anything else for HOURS.

We used to eat 'em by the boxful in junior high. Back when the Beach Boys were popular LOL.

-- mommacarestx (harringtondesignX@earthlink.net), September 20, 1999.

Momma, I am old enuff to remember Sen Sen...especially the licroice flavor. Was talking to a friend the other day about it and neither one of us has seen it in years. Do you know where to get it?

A comfort food that I have happened on and Chubby Hubby likes in his lunch is canned pudding. The brand name is THANK YOU. It comes in 15.5oz cans (the kind that need a can opener) Flavors are Rice, Tapiocac, Choc and Vanilla. Made with skim milk and no preservatives. We like the Tapioca and the Rice. Bought two cases of each at WinnDixie here in Florida. Also, last winter when I was canning and vacupaking, I made all kinds of cookies, put into 1/2 gal canning jars and vacupaked. They will soon be a year old. Guess I had better 'test' a jar. Also made about 6 pts of various kinds of jar cakes. My comfort food in the winter is Florida navel oranges and I can ride my bike to a big grove of them to buy from the farmer. I make lots of orange marmalade to tide me over the rest of the year. Also have a key lime tree and a kumquat tree. These will keep scurvy away from the door if we run out of Vit C.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

Thats 60 pts of jar cakes, not 6! I too have brownie mix and cake mixes stashed away and lots of muffin mixes. God forbid that we have to make something from scratch. LOL Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

Comfort foods can actually be good for you, too. I have stocked up on lots of different types of whole wheat crackers and jars of peanut butter (have to have type with preservatives). No prep. nutrition!! I make peanut butter balls with honey and dried milk and presto!! Healty and good!! Add a few chocolate chips to above and Presto!! Healthy and good.

When we had a wind storm power outage a while back all I could think about was a cup of hot chocolate. Have some of that too. Also, since it is imported, coffee beans to grind for hot coffee.

America's favorite candy bar (and my husband's) is a Snickers. Have that too.

Once the major nutrition items are taken care of, I have found it relaxing to concentrate more on familiar and comfort foods. Also, crackers and some peanut butter are a great thing to had an unprepared neighbor as it does need preparation and will keep a body going. They make great barter items as well.

-- Leslie (***@***.net), September 20, 1999.

Elaine, I too have found the canned cream (Nestle) in the Hispanic section of the supermarket. We had that in England. It was great fun for my brother and I to roll the can back and forth on the floor between us until you couldn't hear anything. Presto! Whipped cream. Well, rolled cream, anyway.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 20, 1999.

I am always amazed at how much I can learn from this board. Aren't we great!

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), September 20, 1999.

So, this is where Lon is hanging out these days! Get back over there with the other sin-sin girls. :-)

I guess I must be old, because I remember sen-sen, too. Altoid mints have nothing on sen-sen! LOL! Numb tongue from either!

Flora, you reminded me of something with the Velveeta comment. One of the things I have stocked (in case we can't get cheese) is the Velveeta Shells and Cheese. We like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but it requires butter and milk. It is more expensive, but the only thing Velveeta requires, is cooking the shells.

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 21, 1999.

Gayla, just WHAT do you want from me anyhow?

I posted twice on this forum yesterday, and even posted once on the "prostitute pontification and posturing" thread (against all good judgement and at great personal risk, I might add).

And, I remember sen sen, now. I think my mother used it. No...no, make that, HER mother. :

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 21, 1999.

If I remember correctly, "sen sen" is even mentioned in the song "Trouble in River City" from "The Music Man."

-- Don (whytocay@hotmail.com), September 21, 1999.

Don, my husband loves that movie! I remember something about "sin" right here in River City.... hmmm.... now I'll have to go watch the movie. He'll be thrilled! :-)

LON! You visited the prostitute thread? GASP! I'm shocked! I will NOT wear my cave girl outfit for you any more! (I better go see what you said.) :-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 23, 1999.

Gayla,

It's too late to see what I said on the "P" thread. They've already been busted and closed down. Just for the record, though, I kept my eyes closed the whole time, and didn't touch anything. Promise!

This is a grat thread, by the way. Stockpiling beans and rice is O.K., but, just not .... glamorous. But chocolate, and gummy bears, and party mints, well, that's more like it!

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 23, 1999.

PS, Gayla,

If you will e-mail me I'll tell you about a great salvage grocery store, north of Houston.

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), September 23, 1999.

Borden's Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk - just place the can, as is, into a pot of boiling water for 30 min. Result: the greatest caramel you have ever tasted. This is on no diet I have ever seen, need I add.

Maple syrup in the round Canadian pint cans is the real Mc Coy. Keeps well, transfer to bottle when open. One treat I loved as a kid was to take hot maple syrup and ladle it over freshly fallen snow gathered in a large pot. Turns into maple taffy.

-- Richard (richardc@ultranet.com), September 26, 1999.