Food Storage: Our Meal Ideas (So Far)

Like I said, Liesa’s book is inspired.

She got me to realize that I can mesh what we actually eat with food storage. I just need to keep up the work and planning I’ve been doing to adapt recipes, etc.

Some meals will come completely from food storage, others will have fresh ingredients in addition to food storage.

I’ve had a bit of a hard time because we don’t typically eat a lot of prepackaged or canned items. (Which is why I love the idea of the freeze dried and dehydrated items to use in place of fresh fruit and veggies in recipes.)

Depending on the season I will change our menus up a little to include fresh produce–and leave some wiggle room for special occasions and such.

Here’s a list of meals that we already eat that will work with food storage:

(This is a work-in-progress, pardon the roughness of the list.)

Corn Chip Soup
Food storage items: bottled green salsa, canned chicken, black beans, chicken broth
Fresh: cilantro, chips, lime, shredded cheese, sour cream

Lentil Soup
FS: lentils, chicken broth, canned tomatoes, dried herbs, balsamic vinegar
Fresh: carrots, onions, celery

Chili with Polenta
FS: dried beans, canned tomatoes, dried chilies, spices, cornmeal
Fresh: garnishes, onion

Split Pea Soup
FS: split peas, chicken broth
Fresh: ham bone, carrots, onions

Thai Coconut-Chicken Soup
FS: dried mushrooms, chicken broth, coconut milk, dried lemongrass, canned chicken (if not using fresh), jasmine rice
Fresh: chicken (if not using canned)

Butter Balti Chicken with Curried Lentils
FS: spices, nuts, canned tomatoes, basmati rice, lentils,
Fresh: chicken, onions, yogurt

Beef Stroganoff
FS: dried mushrooms (or fresh), canned beef chunks (or fresh stew meat), red wine, beef broth, egg noodles, possibly Watkins mushroom soup base
Fresh: mushrooms, beef, sour cream, onions

Chicken Paprikash with Spaetzle
FS: flour, spices, bottled roasted red peppers, tomato sauce, canned chicken (if not using fresh), powdered eggs, powdered milk, bread crumbs
Fresh: eggs, milk, chicken, red peppers (if not using dried or bottled)

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
FS: canned chicken, BBQ sauce, ingredients for homemade buns (flour, powdered milk and eggs, yeast, sugar or honey)
Fresh: garnishes and sides

Chicken or Turkey Enchiladas (Two Ways)
*Eat with black beans and rice from long-term storage*

-Creamy-
FS: flour, powdered butter, canned milk, chicken bouillion cubes, bottled salsa, canned chicken, masa (if making homemade tortillas), canned chicken or turkey
Fresh: shredded cheese, sour cream, other garnishes, corn tortillas

-Red Sauce-
FS: dried chilies, tomato sauce, canned chicken or turkey, masa (for homemade tortillas), spices
Fresh: onions, garnishes, corn tortillas, shredded cheese

Roasted Red Pepper Bisque
FS: bottled roasted red peppers, chicken broth
Fresh: Shrimp (optional, but good), Romano cheese, cream

Cream of Tomato Soup
FS: canned tomatoes, chicken broth, dried herbs, evaporated milk (or canned cream), croutons
Fresh: garnishes

Tomato-Artichoke Soup
FS: bottled or canned artichoke hearts, canned tomatoes, chicken broth
Fresh: grated Parmesan cheese

Pizza
FS: canned tomatoes, flour, olive oil, yeast, olives, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, other toppings, dried herbs
Fresh: mozzarella (and other cheeses), pepperoni, fresh veggies

Spaghetti with Marinara and Homemade Rolls/Bread
FS: pasta, canned tomatoes, olive oil, flour, powdered milk, sugar
Fresh: herbs, garlic, grated Parmesan cheese

Chicken, Beef or Tofu Teryaki with Peanut Noodles
FS: noodles, peanut butter, sauces and spices
Fresh: chicken ,beef, or tofu, sliced veggies

Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Topping
FS: flour, shortening, baking powder, buttermilk powder, chicken bouillion, powdered milk, canned chicken (if not using fresh), dehydrated veggies (carrots, onions, celery, peas)
Fresh: chicken breasts, carrots, celery, onions, peas

Tilapia with Tomatillo Sauce
FS: bottled green salsa (hopefully homemade), rice, black beans, dehydrated or canned corn (if not using fresh)
Fresh: tilapia filets, corn, cilantro

The list will get longer and hopefully include wheat berries, oat, and other long-term food storage items.

(And YES, we eat a lot of soup.)