Seasoning Packet - Suggestions?

originally posted by: Flyingclaydisk
I can't speak for you, but I'm certainly not going to live my life in misery, eating high protein FEMA survival bars/cakes every day (which amount to packaged sawdust)!!

Maybe I'm missing something but you really only have to worry about the weight of spices or their packaging, til you get home or have to eat bland food for a few weeks, worst case.

Where is the survival attitude if you can't push through something that you say might take as little as a few hours?

I think like you. It seems a waste to toss them, but I really don't know what to do with them. I just tried to find the youtube vid that some guy posted about the small things you can add to your preps. One of the things he mentioned was the little dehydrated veggies you find in the soup mixes (I think it's Yakisoba brand). He saves them to be able to add to something bland. I agree with you, sometimes it's the little things that will help with morale or whatever. I don't need coffee, but if I had it when I was super stressed out due to some upheaval in my world, it would be a godsend (even if it tasted bad). Same idea. Plain rice is good for hunger, but if it had a bit more added to it, it could help on a comfort level, which would help mental and attitudinal states.

I've been saving all kinds of little things, with the idea that I would put them together somehow in a bug out bag or a car kit or whatever, but alas they still sit in my bag that I keep to put all these things in til I get around to allocating them.

a reply to: IgnoranceIsntBlisss

Old Bay goes great on popcorn. And who doesn't need popcorn for the end of the world?

I love these.

They're on Amazon too and go a long way for all sorts of things like mac n cheese and soups and even seasoning tea or plain old hot or cold water.

originally posted by: vonclod
a reply to: intrptr

What is life without a little spice?
I like Old Bay..goes with most anything, dried garlic too.

Lots of spice to life.

Storing it long term is more problematic. If you store anything it should be in nitrogen filled, enamel lined, number ten cans. Selection for longevity becomes more important. Who wants to store expensive spices that way?

a reply to: intrptr

I tend to envisage different scenarios based on location.

City and town folk will have it the worst as stampedes, looting and anarchy cause massacres and massive casualties. Gridlocks, rotting bodies, standing water and stench etc. Bottlenecks and rampant disease being transmitted by flies. I imagine something like Cormac McCarthy's Road or even I am Legend. Whoever lives through it will find it a visceral experience.

Depending on the cause of our SHTF scenario, it's a good bet the people living out in the isolated rural areas of Earth will have the best chances of survival. That one reminds me of something like a Canticle for Leibowitz with a future generation severed from technology and returning to mysticism.

It seems a reasonable idea to plan for the latter scenario with some seasonings. Then again, depending on cause, herbs and spices might still be growable in rural areas.

a reply to: Kandinsky

I tend to envisage different scenarios based on location.

Same here. I was addressing OPs in that he plans on making it to somewhere remote. Every conceivable scenario in my mind makes that more problematic than like you said, being there already.

The rural folk will be sitting in their self sustained retreats, listening to the reports coming over the shortwave set. Sadly, I won't be one of those.

That would be some real popcorn porn...

The best scenario is one that isn't global destructive, like in "Lucifer's Hammer", but more slower. The best place is up in the hills, around the bend from a single mountain road that has the bridge knocked out by dynamite. The locals will be isolated from any bands that make it that far.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

You could use rice plus add some crushed up ants to provide protein and the seasoning would help stomach it as well as mask the bland ant taste

a reply to: intrptr

The best scenario is one that isn't global destructive, like in "Lucifer's Hammer", but more slower. The best place is up in the hills, around the bend from a single mountain road that has the bridge knocked out by dynamite. The locals will be isolated from any bands that make it that far.

Agreed

It'd be good to have practical people who know about mechanics and building. It'd be ironic to find a community who couldn't repair or build anything. Imagine the value of books? Of reading? How would someone build a printing press from scratch? These are the things that scare me. Even as our symphonies and broadcasts echo and dissipate out into space, we'd be regressing to something like the Bronze Age.

a reply to: Kandinsky

These are the things that scare me. Even as our symphonies and broadcasts echo and dissipate out into space, we'd be regressing to something like the Bronze Age.

Don't be, you're human, you'll be alright.

I used to be more frightened during the 80s when Reagan got elected. He ramped up the cold war by advancing the military industrial complex. I became totally enmeshed in the Survival movement of that era. Its the same today.

What I realized is they want us to be more afraid and consume more, spend more on security, defense and goods.

Always bear in mind kitten, its just a ride...

a reply to: intrptr

Luckily history is a subject I've studied and, if you ever get bored, I recommend Hill's The World Turned Upside Down. It's a snapshot of very dark times when a lot of people thought the world would end and radical beliefs were born.

It's history that soothes anxiety because the ball keeps spinning and doesn't care who's along for the ride. Dinosaurs, Neanders or Sapiens have all had their time in the sunshine and maybe ours will pass too.

As long as something sentient remains to admire existence, it'll be fine. Although we have a natural affinity for the value of humanity and its creativity, ruthless objectivity notes we're not much more than a spark from a greater fire.

a reply to: Kandinsky

Thanks for the link. Its a book, so it'll have to go on the waiting list. Currently wrapped up in another world turned upside down, "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" by William Shirer.

Definitely spicy.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk
Dude, they're worth keeping.
Not sure where you are, but in my neck of the woods, there is plenty of water, everywhere.

Not sure (haven't been around for a minute) if you've ever drank boiled water that didn't come from a clear northern stream.
If you haven't, trust me, that nasty muck water might be sterilized, but that doesn't make it taste good.

I keep vac-packed seasonings in my BOB's, although I don't use those packets, too much sodium and msg.

A little sprinkle of it on whatever, fish, frog, rabbit, etc. will end up being mentaly comforting.
Even a simple broth can be very comforting on a cold night.

Mrs. Dash

Just add salt to taste.

You're welcome.

Seasoning really is the difference in making a lot of meats palatable. Goes from a bland "meh" to a slightly spicy "this is delicious" and there's not too much complicated to it. Poultry and ground beef dishes seem to get the most benefit from this. Some of the basics seem to last a long time on the shelf as they're dry goods anyways.

The ones I'd try to always have around as the basics are: salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika. You can pretty much go by smell to figure out what you need to do with the exception of salt. Of course some experience helps. A lot of those are also in pre-mixes as "chicken seasoning" or "hamburger seasoning", but having them separate gives you more freedom with how stuff can taste.

There's some other seasonings, but those tend to be more for pastries or sweets like ginger or cinnamon. Then of course there's other stuff with lesser shelf-live but those fall more under dressings or sauces. Worstershire, soy, ketchup, mustard, bbq, etc. Still good to have as some kitchen basics.