Cooking Without Power
When the power goes out, you have several options for preparing meals – 1) find a restaurant with power (this may not always be possible especially in widespread disaster), 2) use a grill, hibachi, Dutch oven, or camp stove (this must be done outside and can require special cookware), 3) prepare “heat only” foods like canned soup, stew, chili or “just add water” foods like instant soup or oatmeal on a canned heat stove, 4) prepare raw foods or canned foods that do not need heating, or 5) prepare easy to cook meals on a one burner butane stove. All options are viable (except maybe #1!) if prepared for adequately.
Option 5 has many advantages. The butane stove will accommodate larger size cookware than will the canned heat stove and normal kitchen cookware can be used. The butane stove can be used indoors with good ventilation. The gas flame is easier to regulate than canned heat and is hotter. These advantages allow the preparation of recipes rather than just heating up of canned foods thus giving more variety to menus while the power is out.
The following is a list of recipes found in Pantry Cooking: Unlocking Your Pantry’s Potential that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less (to conserve fuel). An additional list includes those that can be prepared in 20 minutes or less if you have quick cooking rice available or canned lentils. Some recipes should be prepared the first day or two after the power goes out in order to use ingredients such as mayonnaise that would need to be discarded if the power remains out for more than a day and you have no way to refrigerate food. The last list includes recipes archived on this web site. Look for new additions to that list. When choosing recipes, keep in mind that leftovers cannot be stored if the power remains off and there is no ice to cool and keep them.
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Appetizers, Beverages |
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Bean Dip |
Spiced Citrus Tea |
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Antipasto |
Orange Cranberry Juice Cocktail |
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Breakfast |
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Apple Topping |
Chocolate Sugar |
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Cinnamon Sugar |
Indian Meal |
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Peanut Butter and Fruit |
Quick Wheat Mix Pancakes |
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Main Dishes |
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Chicken-Potato Cakes |
Extra-Quick Tuna Rarebit |
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Noodled Tuna Patties |
Chicken a la King |
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Deviled Ham Stuffed Peaches |
Mushroom Rarebit |
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Vegetarian Burger Mix |
Olive Cheese Sauce |
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Sausage and Corn |
Ham and Cheese Noodles |
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Turkey Bulgur Pilaf |
Herbed Buckwheat |
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Tuna Chow Mein |
Clam Sauce |
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Creamed Tuna |
Quick Pasta Sauce |
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Dried Beef and Mushroom Sauce |
Mac and Tom |
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Mexican Beans and Chicken |
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Soups and Stews |
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Blackeye Pea Soup |
Sopa de la Casa |
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Creamed Corn Soup |
Vegetable Soup |
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Creamy Green Bean Soup |
Quick Vegetable Soup |
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Mexican Vegetable Soup |
Quick Stew |
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Pork and Bean Soup |
Clam Chowder |
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Potato Soup |
Chicken Corn Chowder |
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Pumpkin Bisque |
Corn Chowder |
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Quick Supper Soup |
Turkey Corn Chowder |
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Salads and Side Dishes |
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Ambrosia Salad |
Peas with Mushrooms |
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Mashed Potato Salad |
Southwest Green Beans |
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Potato Salad |
Italian Beans |
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Italian Pasta Salad |
Green Beans and Bacon Chips |
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Fruited Chicken Salad |
Green Beans and Mushrooms |
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Cranberry Applesauce |
Browned Garlic Potatoes |
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Cinnamon Pineapple |
Confetti Potatoes |
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Mixed Fruit Compote |
Bean Sprout Stir-fry |
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Stewed Tomatoes and Corn |
Cinnamon Buckwheat |
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Breads and Sandwiches |
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Whole Wheat Skillet Bread |
Pork and Beans on Buns |
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Cornmeal Cakes |
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Desserts |
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Apple-Raisin Compote |
Fudge Logs |
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Graham Cracker Creams |
Peanut Butter Balls |
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If you have quick cooking rice: |
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Chicken and Rice Skillet |
Creamed Chicken and Chestnuts |
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Chinese Fried Rice |
Chili and Rice |
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Polynesian Treat |
Quick Rice Pudding |
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If you have canned lentils: |
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| Lentil Burgers | |
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In the Recipe Archives at www.simplyprepared.com: |
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| Nature Trail Mix | Tuna White Bean Salad |
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Mexican Three Bean Salad |
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| Tropical Fruit Salsa |
Baby Vegetable Toss |
| Seven Grain Cereal | Garlic Couscous |
| Chunky Oatmeal | Cheese and Chive Mashed Potatoes |
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Multigrain Pancakes |
Herbed Rice |
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Spiced Tuna Sandwich Filling |
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| Tuna Sandwich Filling | |
| Sausage and Bowties | Turkey Sandwich Filling |
| Baked Potato Soup | Trail Mix Clusters |
| Spicy Asian Chicken Noodle Soup | |
| Potato Tomato Soup | Apricot Almond Clusters |
| Pantry Fideo | Berry Chocolates |
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If you have quick cooking rice: |
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If you have cooked wheat to use: |
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Wheat Sausage |
Wheat Hamburger Hash |