A recent post reminded me of an important poor skill that I’m sure many of us use in some form or other, the emergency cupboard. The stuff we keep just in case there’s a period (due to funds, illness, disaster, whatever) where going to the grocery store is just not an option. It’s generally non-perishable stuff, but I’m sure it includes frozen foods for some of you.
It might be food you use every day, but when you go to the store, you don’t just buy for the week, you make sure you have “enough”. What do you make sure to keep on hand? How long is enough for you?
For me, it’s 2-3 weeks of rice, about 1-2 weeks worth of assorted noodles (soba, ramen, egg noodles, sometimes pasta), some dried beans (often pinto, black and split lentil), some canned beans (often garbanzo and kidney), a large bottle of peanut oil, and another of cheap olive oil, a few cans of soup, a few canned vegetables (corn, mushrooms) and a dizzying array of spices and sealed sauces that’s far too long to list here (anything from salsa to char siu, Ms. Dash to five spice powder). I figure I can go two weeks with no problems (not even boredom) on my cupboard alone, and longer if I get some fresh veggies (or multivitamins in a real pinch).
What’s in your cupboard?