After having packed and moved so much stuff, there are things I’ll never have to by again. Not really . . I don’t have a lifetime supply of anything except yarn and fabric. I have plenty of home canned meats and veggies. What I didn’t move was junk food/comfort food. I don’t keep a lot of that kind of stuff anyway because it doesn’t keep that great and it isn’t something we couldn’t live without. I could store it in the freezer but my freezers were always full of other stuff.
When we had an ice storm in Louisiana in 1997 and our power was out for 7 days, all the neighbors got together with camp stoves, grills and smokers and, as food defrosted in freezers, everyone cooked up what they had and shared it with everyone else. I don’t remember anything except the brownies! One lady had worked with Boy Scouts and knew how to make a solar oven with aluminum foil and I don’t know what else but she made several solar ovens and those with brownie mix chipped in and we had a big batch of brownies. That was true comfort food when everyone needed it. Yes, we need nourishing foods but we also need comfort food.
This weekend Addie was so happy to make brownies. I remembered that I had unpacked one package of brownie mix and she was happy to stir them up, lick the bowl, wash the bowl and eat the brownies. That reminded me to add comfort food to my grocery order this week. Not being a chocolate fan, I’ll eat a brownie or two but muffins are my choice – warm, with a little butter; even cut in half and toasted in a skillet when they’re a day or two old.
Three packs of brownie mix but lots more muffin mixes.
I don’t think any of us can guess what Fall and Winter will be like – Covid, weather, who knows what may happen, but I want to be sure and get re-stocked on any supplies I may be low on so that if we feel more comfortable staying home and not going out, we’ll have everything we need. Don’t get me wrong – brownie and muffin mixes are not the mainstays of my preps but they are important! 🙂
Up in the top of the pantry where I see them and won’t forget about them but where I have to grab the step stool (and think about whether I really want them) before I get them down.
Lee Young says
Recently for my husband’s birthday, I decided I’d make brownies…the mix had been in the pantry for awhile, so I mixed them up but detected a very slight rancid odor. Tasted the batter and it didn’t seem to be ‘off’, so went ahead and baked them. While baking, that rancid smell got worse and worse. After taking from the oven and letting cool, I decided to again taste them. Oh, sure enough, they were rancid and had to be tossed. I was so disappointed. I looked at the date on the box…2014…oh my, well, hadn’t realized they’d been here that long! Best buy/expiration dates are not something I pay much attention to (could get on a soap box about them, lol). But moral of my story, don’t let them sit around TOO long and I should use up the mixes sooner. Clearly we don’t eat many boxed mix dessert items.
Judy Laquidara says
I normally will throw something out right off the bat if I detect a rancid odor. Vince is the one saying “I don’t smell anything! Let’s use it.” He will usually eat it anyway though 2014 might be a little old for even Vince. Too bad the smell wasn’t bad enough for you to throw them out before baking them. That makes me more determined to throw things out if they seem bad.
Laura says
Although I live where the winters are mild, I agree that stocking up is the way to go. Who knows what this fall and winter will bring!
Laura says
Oh, and thanks for the permission to buy all my favorite baking mixes! 🙂
Judy Laquidara says
If you need permission for junk food, I’m your girl! 🙂
Judy Laquidara says
After the past nine or ten months, I can’t even think about what COULD happen. I just want to stay at home and pretend the world is a happy place.
Deb Praus says
I found an excellent comfort (read obsessive here) food. Cinnamon Chip Scones. The recipe is on the back of Hershey’s Cinnamon Chips. They are in the baking aisle and look just like the bags of chocolate chips. 15 min prep and bake. Not much taste difference adding the walnuts or not. They freeze well. I put 2 in a sandwich bag, throw in freezer. When taking them out, leave bag sealed and put in microwave for 30 seconds (mine is 1100 watts) and they taste fresh baked. I literally have to give them away to neighbors and friends or I will eat the 3x a day.
Judy Laquidara says
That sounds great! Thanks. Just added cinnamon chips to my next grocery order.
Sara Fridley says
I also don’t keep a lot of mixes – other than brownies and muffins. We love a nice warm muffin. And I guess I do keep gravy mixes and ranch mix because they show up in some recipes. You’ve reminded me to check – and horrors!!! I’m out of brownie mix. I will add them to my next grocery order.
Susan Nixon says
And you can always make that stuff with the pounds of flour, sugar etc. from scratch!
Judy Laquidara says
Yes, but sometimes we want something quick. I do often make them from scratch but I always keep the mixes on hand too.
Nelle Coursey says
I made a German Chocolate Pound Cake for my new next door neighbors. It was cooled off but he said he could smell it and he was going to go have a piece of it right then! He was so happy to have it! Even if I do say so, it is really good!! Everyone thinks of “German Chocolate Cake” when I tell them what it is. Then they tell me they like it a lot better than just the G.C. Cake!!
Judy Laquidara says
I think I need that recipe. German Chocolate Cake is one chocolate I do like!
Sandi B says
I’d love that recipe, as well.