1 small chicken breast or thigh, raw 1/4 cup white rice, uncooked 1/2 cup chicken broth, or reconstituted bullion 1/2 cup frozen vegetables of choice 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon each thyme, marjoram, rosemary 2 drops hickory liquid smoke Salt to taste Rinse the uncooked rice, and add to the rice cooker bowl, with the broth, herbs, olive oil, liquid smoke, and salt. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and add to the rice cooker bowl with the frozen vegetables. Stir a little to combine the ingredients, place the lid on the rice cooker bowl, and set to cook until the rice absorbs the broth and the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

So, you have a kid in your life who's actually a young adult, poised to spread their wings and leave the nest to chase their own life's purpose... and they're having a blowout graduation party you need to show both up and out for with an amazing and also amazingly useful gift that won't completely break you, but will say "I love you, kid." Here's how to build a kitchen in miniature where there was no kitchen to begin with. That includes a car with a power jack, if the kid you're supporting is getting the fuck out of an awful home situation, and living out of their car for a minute while they're getting their feet underneath them. A couple of things in the list would need to be modified for a car situation, mostly the storage suggestions and the mini fridge, but this setup also makes cooking a full, nutritious meal in your car possible. Why would you do this for your kid when you can just buy them the deluxe meal plan and some granola bars for dorm snacks? One: they learn self-sufficiency. Being able to feed yourself real food you cooked yourself from scratch in any improvised situation is a survival skill they will appreciate in some weird situations in the future, as all the best "college lessons not learned in classrooms or labs" tend to be. Two: Maybe 1/4 of the items are consumable, and they're all pretty inexpensive still, even at 2026 prices. Everything else is a purchase that may not last them forever, but should at least get them through college, and possibly even their first apartment. Which means, you can get away with the most inexpensive meal plan, or even just Cash App them grocery money, which will end up saving you money in the long run. And Three: look, your kid may be going to college somewhere way more temperate than Michigan, but that's where I went to college, and having to dress to face the arctic tundra to head out for dinner is not the ideal. None of these links are sponsored content. Just suggestions, or examples of the kind of thing I'm talking about. I'm linking to Walmart and Amazon not for any "yay, corporate consumerism!" reasons, but because I know everyone has access to those two retailers in their communities. If you can find these things somewhere you feel better shopping at, please buy it there. Keep in mind that a lot of this stuff, especially the appliances, goes on back to school sale in late July or August, and that's also about the time when places like Aldi carry them seasonally. So if you have an in-going high school senior, that's the time to buy this stuff and hide it in a closet for their graduation party in the spring. Even if you're getting everything at 40-50% off, this is still a Very Large Gift, which means it's a great group gift with a lot of good ways to divide it up between group members who can afford to give more or less. The Electric Appliances: A small rice cooker with a steam basket. A compact electric griddle , like this Korean style two-part griddle. A toaster oven (I have this exact one, which happened to be purchased on back-to-school sale a couple of years back now). A small microwave . An electric kettle , and a pour-over coffee brewer . Unless they're the " quantity over quality " kind of coffee drinkers, I do remember being a college student... A mini-fridge with a good freezer. Other things you'll probably want to include: A set of drawers to hold the above small appliances while not in use, as well as their pantry and food prep items. A small, foldaway camp/grill table for extra food prep and cook space. A collapsible sink . A multi-outlet extension cord . Ideally, you'd put the drawers next to the mini-fridge, the rice cooker, griddle, and toaster oven are stored in one drawer when not being used, food prep items in another, and pantry items in the third, with the table and sink folded up behind the fridge or drawers. Ideally. The Kitchen Essentials: Note: as long as they have very specifically the above appliances, they don't need pots or pans to cook with. The rice cooker and electric kettle do double duty as your pots, and your griddle is your pans. Food Prep Items: A cutting board set and a knife set . A mixing bowl set . A measuring cup & spoon set . An unbreakable, microwave safe tableware set . A potholder and oven mitt set . A silicone bowl scraper set and a silicone spatula set . A can opener , wire whisk , and pair of tongs . Leftovers storage containers . And as for the consumables: Aluminum foil Paper towels Coffee filters Dish soap and a refillable dish wand The Pantry Stock: Obviously, we're getting the smallest amount they sell of everything, space is at a premium here. Salt & Pepper. Including a pour-able source. A "Kitchen Starter" Spice Set, like this one from Spice Supreme, this one from Badia, or this one that's a bit pricier but also more comprehensive and in convenient mini sizes from Simply Organic. Bullion cubes. Condiments: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, hot sauce, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, etc. Baking soda, baking powder, white and brown sugars, and all-purpose flour. Vinegars and oils: at the barest, I recommend olive oil, avocado or canola oil, one of these , white vinegar, and red wine vinegar. While you can make pancakes from scratch with all of the above, pancake mix is usually still appreciated, with maple syrup. Instant oats and favorite breakfast cereals. Peanut Butter or SunButter, and a favorite jelly flavor. White rice. Noodles. Coffee and/or tea. Microwave popcorn Canned goods. A couple each of: Beans. Whatever's a favorite. Black beans for DIY Chipotle bowls, chickpeas for a quick curry, red beans for mixing with Cajun seasonings and serving with rice... Meats (obviously optional for vegetarians) : tuna, SPAM, corned beef hash, etc. Vegetables, in particular crushed tomatoes and tomato paste (unless they're allergic, like I am). Not only are canned tomatoes needed for chili, their pantry has everything they need up there to turn these two cans into a red sauce for a fraction of the cost of a prepared spaghetti sauce. The Education: Yeah, they need to know how to use everything you're giving them. And they need paper copies. " Mini Rice Cooker Cookbook " " I Love My Rice Cooker " " Toaster Oven Perfection: A Smarter Way to Cook on a Smaller Scale " As for things to encourage your burgeoning adult to purchase on their grocery runs to stock their mini fridge: Pre-chopped vegetables. You're more likely to choose to cook for yourself amidst a crazy class and paper writing and work schedule if a major step in the recipe has been done for you already. Frozen fish fillets (very easy to cook in a rice cooker or toaster oven... if their floor will forgive them for cooking fish in the dorms), or chicken breasts/thighs (also easy to cook in a rice cooker or toaster oven, but you do need to thaw them before cooking). Salad kits. Again, keeping it simple and delicious means they'll actually want to eat it and prioritize eating it. Did you find this comprehensive gift/kitchen building guide useful? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

Thanksgiving was my first big challenge as an allergy eater, especially since my family's traditional meal is absolutely swimming in butter and cheese. I'm looking at my third Turkey Day cooking from scratch, and I do believe I have all the traditional flavors figured out, without the health concerns. Mains & The Fixins: Roasted Whole Turkey Maple Mustard Ham Glaze Turkey & Bacon Gravy Apple Maple Cranberry Sauce Appetizers: Meatballs (includes vegan version) with Michigan Gold Barbecue Sauce Midwestern Crudite Board Side Dishes: Bread & Sausage Stuffing Midwestern Style Green Bean Casserole Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Delicata Squash in a Balsamic Maple Glaze Quick Collard Greens in the Instant Pot Dinner Rolls Viral "Boiled Onion" Creamy Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes " Cheese" Sauce - whether you put it on macaroni, or a baked potato, here's how you make a dairy, soy, nut, and optionally gluten free "cheese" sauce. Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Three Bean Salad Desserts: Sweet Potato Pudding Pumpkin Oat Bars with Chocolate Topping Baked Apples or Pears Spiced Apple-Pear Jelly Dessert Berry Crumble Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Black Friday Breakfast: French Toast Casserole Breakfast Tamale Pie Casserole Maple Spice Instant Oatmeal Bagels, English Muffins, Sweet Rolls (it's all the same dough...) Leftovers: Midwestern Style Turkey Casserole Did you appreciate this allergy friendly Thanksgiving recipe roundup? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

5 cups all purpose flour (wheat, or gluten-free mix) 1 cup plain oats 1 cup pork lard, beef tallow, or flavorless cooking oil 1/2 cup brown sugar, or to taste 2 cups oat milk (or 1 cup oat milk + 1 cup dairy-free heavy whipping cream) 2 teaspoons raw apple cider vinegar 4 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 1/2-2 cups raisins or currants Preheat oven to 375 °F. Measure out your oat milk or oat milk/whipping cream mix, and add two teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar to the milk. Whisk together, and set aside, the mixture will start to foam a little as the milk sours. Sift your flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda into a large mixing bowl. Cut the lard or tallow into the flour mixture until it's the texture of sand, or mix the oil in until it's incorporated into the flour. Add the oats and raisins or currants into the bowl and mix thoroughly before adding the soured oat milk to the bowl and mixing/kneading everything together to make a dough. Turn your scone dough out onto a floured surface, and with a floured rolling pin roll to about 3/4" thick before cutting scones with a biscuit cutter or small drinking glass. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets, and bake until the bottoms are lightly golden brown, about 15-25 minutes, depending on the size of your scone and how crowded your oven is (more pans = more time). Yields 2 to 3 dozen, depending on the size you cut your scones. Can be served with your favorite fruit preserves, whipped dairy-free heavy whipping cream, or Jaffa Cake Spread . Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

yr Auntie is from Michigan, and has had a medical marijuana (MMJ) card since 2017, so this post is coming from a legal place, physically and metaphorically speaking! April 20th is approaching, and you want to celebrate... but you have a ton of food allergies, and would prefer to enjoy the vibe while not in the ER because you ate a dispo freebie you shouldn't have. So, you get yourself a Magical Butter Machine (not a sponsored link, but I have one and it's absolutely worth it) or your favorite infusion method (that link goes to a WikiHow page, if you don't have a favorite method), a quarter of your favorite strain, and 16oz of your favorite cooking fat: coconut oil, beef tallow, SunButter, olive oil, avocado oil, etc... This guide will be in two parts: recipes to use your infused fat in to create your own edibles, and recipes to combat the munchies or bring you down if you get a little too high 😅😅 The Edibles: So, you want gummies, but you're allergic to gelatin, vegan, or want to boost your dietary fiber? Try agar agar (a seaweed) based recipes like the Honeybee Jelly Squares (yeah, I know honey isn't vegan, you can make it maple chamomile peach flavored if you want). Best with 1/4 cup of infused coconut or avocado oil added to the recipe. So, you want to make magic brownies, but can't use dairy, egg, soy, nuts of any kind, or gluten? Try the Espresso Brownies with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of infused beef tallow or avocado oil replacing that much of the un-infused in the recipe. You can leave the coffee granules out of the recipe if you want... but we all know coffee and weed are the perfect pair ❤️❤️ If you'd rather get baked without doing any baking, try my No-Bake Fudge Balls with infused oil or honey instead, either the original version or the spiced and caffeinated Fully Loaded No-Bake Fudge Balls. You're not a brownie person? How about an Oatmeal Raisin Bar or a Chocolate Chip Cookie Bar? These recipes have smaller yields than the brownies, so I would recommend no more than 1/4 cup infused tallow or oil replacing the un-infused in the recipe... unless you and your people have some serious tolerance. So, you have a bunch of infused SunButter, and don't really want to just eat it by the spoonful out of the jar? Make some of it into SunButter Balls! Or perhaps use it as schmear on your morning toast or bagels? Or as the filling of a SunButter and Cinnamon Roll? All of the preceding recipes are just variations of my Master Dough Recipe, and I explain how to do all of them in the master dough master post. Or add a tablespoon to your morning smoothie. Non-sweet foods to use infused cooking fat in, for an "infused meal" : Roasted Whole Turkey (or roasted whole chickens) with gravy. I recommend baking a loaf of sandwich bread with the master dough or pinto bean bread, and use your roasted bird in the infused oil, and your gravy made with infused drippings, to make a hot chicken or hot turkey sandwich, an old diner favorite with enough bread to keep you from eating too much infused food. Serve with a scoop of mashed potatoes or rice on the side, which you can infuse or not at your discretion. Lentil Burgers, which can be grilled or pan fried, and eaten with buns made with the master dough recipe, above. The Viral "Boiled Onion", which you can roast alongside the turkey, or grill before you put the lentil burgers on. "Michigan Gold" Barbecue Sauce, with 1/4 cup of infused olive or avocado oil added to the recipe, can be used as an infused sauce on any barbecued meat (or the lentil burgers), or can be used to make Honey Mustard BBQ Baked Beans. The Munchies: You need lots of snacks around! Don't forget to have your Snackle Box ready for munchies on the fly, a Midwest Crudite spread for the crunch and the dippy-dip (that you can make with infused oil, if you want to!), and if you're hosting a group sesh, a BYO Tiny Sammies spread will inspire some seriously epic stoner sandwich creations. If you're having an infused cookout, and the main dishes and the desserts are all infused, you'll probably want some non-infused, carb-laden side dishes like a Hawaiian-style Macaroni Salad, Dill Pickle Potato Salad, Curried Potato Salad, or a Cornbread. If you'd like a non-mayonnaise based cookout salad, check out the Three-Bean Salad, that you can easily make days ahead so you can just pop it out of the refrigerator when dinner is served. If your celebratory sesh is around a campfire or bonfire, as so many in Michigan are, don't forget the hot dogs and buns! When it comes to hot dogs, spend the money and get the good stuff, particularly hot dogs or sausages made without nitrates. When it comes to buns, again, the master dough recipe covers how to make that, too. And if you want some dips for chips, check out my Fermented Not Salsa or Cowboy Caviar for tortilla chips, or my Creamy Barbecue Horseradish Dip for pork rinds. Did you appreciate this allergy friendly 420 recipe roundup? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

The scene: it's 2026. The price of food is the highest it's ever been in America, while wages have been stagnant for decades. The winter has been marked by deadly snow and ice storms and the wind chills are still sub-zero in the middle of February, which isn't keeping the protesters off the streets. Not like you can go out to eat anyway, your boo has so many food allergies, you can't trust you won't spend the rest of the night in the ER with them after a food oops... talk about a mood killer. yr Auntie may be very aromantic, but she's also very knowledgeable about two things - food, and romantic tropes. And one of those tropes is a home-cooked meal thinking specifically about their favorite foods and their dietary needs. Step 1: identify their dietary needs. Have them send you a text or email, or hand them your phone with the Notes app open, and have them write down their food allergies, so you have them to refer to as you're creating your menu and doing your shopping. If this meal is a Valentines surprise, honestly, it's not hard to come up with an excuse for this, you just in general don't want to kill your partner, after all. Like I said, I'm a trope expert at this point. It happens when you're an ace/aro anthropologist, you start to identify patterns as you're reading your books and watching your shows and movies... Anyway, based on said romantic tropes, I'll recommend a few menus for some Netflix and Chill dates, but I fully intend these to be inspirations to give you ideas on how to menu plan for your boo! Obviously, make sure you're cooking their favorite foods for them, maybe having a cute little date before Valentine's Day where they show you how they make their favorite food is in order, as they'll know how to cook to their allergies. And if you have questions on how to make something allergy-safe you don't want to ask them, there are many ways to get a hold of me in that "AuntieLinks" link up there. Dinner for Two, number 1: The Aphrodisiac Safecuterie Of course, the most commonly regarded aphrodisiac foods are also fairly common allergens, so obviously omit anything in this list that there's an allergy to: Chocolate Avocado Honey Figs Strawberries Oysters As for how to serve these ingredients: This chocolate pudding recipe incorporates chocolate, avocado, and honey, and is delicious served with sliced strawberries. If you want to serve chocolate candy, make sure it's from an allergen-free brand like Enjoy Life (not a sponsored link). If your boo can do wheat and soy, Fig Newtons are an option here. If they can't, there are many recipes for homemade versions out there, including gluten-free. Chocolate fondue for the strawberries and figs is an option here. Just melt 12oz of allergy safe chocolate chips with 1 1/4 cups plant milk, and 2 tablespoons of avocado oil in a double boiler (or in a heat-safe glass mixing bowl over a saucepan of water, like I do), and serve in a fondue pot over a tealight or small sterno to keep it hot and melty. For some easy homemade candies, check out the recipes for Chocolate Bark, Fruit Balls, SunButter Balls, and No-Bake Fudge Balls, two ways. For a savory bruschetta, make or buy a loaf of their favorite bread, and toast it to top with avocados and pickled onions, or the smoked oysters tapenade, both from the BYO Sammies Safecuterie Board. Dinner for Two, number 2: The Romantic Bistro Spaghetti (or the closest gluten free alternative, if needed) with Pumpkin Pasta Sauce. Meatballs, or chicken breasts or thighs in Dijon Marinade. Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Delicata Squash with a Maple Balsamic Glaze. Fresh artisan bread with herbed olive oil for dipping (that's just putting sea salt and Italian seasoning in a shallow bowl of olive oil, to dip your bread in) Espresso brownies. Dinner for Two, number 3: The Steak Dinner So, you really need to stretch your budget here, and can't splurge at all? Here's how to cook a cheap cut of steak so it's tender. You got some mid-grade steaks, and would like a good marinade? Try this Dijon Marinade. Cream of Mushroom Soup either served in as bread bowl, or with a side of dinner rolls. Creamy Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes. Your date can't have nightshades, like potatoes? Za'atar Rice. Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Delicata Squash with a Maple Balsamic Glaze. Baked Apples or Pears, or a Berry Crumble. Dinner for Two, number 4: The "Indoor Picnic:" I mean that, clear out your living room floor, put down a picnic blanket, pillows, the whole setup, and serve a picnic meal. Lentil Burgers, with hamburger buns. Honey Mustard BBQ Baked Beans. Dill Pickle Potato Salad. Classic Coleslaw. Hawaiian-style Macaroni Salad. Three Bean Salad. Don't forget the picnic snacks! Especially pork rinds and Creamy Barbecue Dip, and tomato-free "Not Salsa" and tortilla chips. Chocolate Pudding is a pretty classic picnic dessert, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, Oatmeal Raisin Bars, or a Berry Crumble are all also great dessert ideas. Did Auntie have your back with these Valentine's date meal idea recipe roundups? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

1/2 cup uncooked rice 1 cup broth or reconstituted bullion, your choice of flavor 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil 1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar 1/2 teaspoon Birria seasoning, or to taste 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder Salt to taste 1 15oz can black beans or pinto beans (optional) Chopped cilantro, diced onion, and lime wedges, for garnish (optional) Rinse your rice well under cold water, until the water runs clear, before adding the rice to the rice cooker bowl. Add your broth, oil, vinegar, and Birria seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt to the rice cooker bowl, and still well to disperse the seasonings. If you're using the beans, drain and rinse them well before adding them to the rice cooker bowl and mixing them in with the rest of the ingredients. Set your rice cooker to the "Cook" setting and cook until the rice absorbs all of the liquid, about 20-25 minutes. Turn your rice cooker off, and serve your cooked rice immediately with garnishes, if using. Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

2 cans of red kidney beans, undrained (preferably dark red kidney beans, but they're hard to find up north where I am) 2 cups Andouille sausage coins or 1 can of SPAM, cut into small cubes (optional) 2 ribs of celery, finely chopped 1 small/medium green pepper, finely chopped 1/2 white onion, finely chopped 8-10 oz. broth flavor of choice 3-5 tablespoons cooking oil or fat Cajun seasoning to taste Liquid smoke to taste Heat your cooking oil in your largest skillet or soup pot, and saute your onion, celery, and green pepper until the onion is translucent and the pepper and celery are tender. Add the meat to the pan, and saute until it's golden brown. De-glaze the pan with the broth, and add the entire contents of the cans of beans to the pan - the aquafaba, or bean juice will thicken the sauce. Add your Cajun seasoning and liquid smoke to taste, and allow the mixture to simmer and reduce down to a thick gravy. Serve with a scoop of cooked white rice, and a slice of cornbread and a bottle of Crystal hot sauce on the side. Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

1 15 oz can yellow corn 1 15 oz can black beans 1/3 cup finely diced red onion 1/2 teaspoon salt Everything from here is entirely optional, and based on your preferences, and what you have on hand when you're making this: 1 4 oz can green chiles 1-2 fresh jalapenos, finely diced 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 1 large avocado, cubed Rinse your corn and black beans and make sure there's no excess water in the strainer before adding them to a medium-sized mixing bowl with a lid. Add your onions and salt. Of everything that you're using of the above optional ingredients, put it in your mixing bowl with the rest of the salad ingredients. For the dressing: 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil Whisk together before adding to the salad bowl, and mixing in thoroughly with the rest of the ingredients. Cover, and let chill for 1-2 hours before serving with tortilla chips, or fresh tortilla for dipping. Be sure to mix the salad well just before serving, to freshly coat with the dressing. Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

1 1/2 cups water 1 1/2 teaspoons soy-free bullion powder 2 tablespoons coconut aminos 1 teaspoon lime juice 1/2 teaspoon roasted sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon fresh or powdered ginger (depending on what you have, and your taste preference) 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard 1/4 teaspoon white pepper Salt to taste Hot pepper, to taste In a small saucepot, whisk the bullion powder, garlic powder, ground mustard, white pepper, and hot pepper if using into the water, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Once the broth has come to a boil, remove from the heat and allow to rest for a minute or two before whisking the coconut aminos, lime juice, and sesame oil into the broth. Salt if needed, and serve immediately with hot noodles, or chill to serve with cold noodle dishes. Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

I write this as Michigan is four days into a six day blizzard event, and the event is headed all the way down the deep south to the Gulf Coast. Videos of empty grocery shelves are all over social media right now, particularly when it comes to bread and milk, and people south of the Mason-Dixon Line are sharing their Snowpocalypse grocery hauls... y'all are not used to this, and boy is it obvious. I am used to this. My mother taught me how to do this as a young child (this was part of how you trained your daughters to be tradwives back in the day). This is a normal survival skill up here. This is part of my "Building an Ingredients Kitchen" series because that's a huge part of it. You don't have to get ready if you stay ready. And blizzards aren't our only weather concern, the other eight months of the year we get to worry about severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. It's literally the only downside to living so close to Lake Michigan, the most perfect body of water in the world. I may be biased. The Basics: If possible, keep a steady drip of water going from every water faucet, to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting. Stock 1 gallon of potable water per person per day. That's the calculation for both drinking and cooking, you'll want to stock more for hygiene if that's something you need. If this is something you're storing long-term, be sure to re-up with a fresh supply every six months. If you have a generator, make sure you have the gas to run it for every predicted day of the storm, + a couple of days past to give the electrical crews time to work. Same for any propane, butane, or wood/wood pellet device you plan on using, have the same amount of fuel budgeted for each as you would a generator. Have fresh batteries in your smoke detectors, and at least one fresh fire extinguisher, and give the whole family a reminder on how to use it. House fires spike during blizzards, because people are burning tons of candles, and using old, faulty space heaters. Don't be a casualty. Have fresh, working carbon monoxide detectors in your space. CM poisoning deaths also spike, for all the reasons house fires do. Make sure you have a stocked first aid kit on hand, and that you refill all your prescriptions before the storm hits. Campers know: good lanterns, and battery charging packs, are necessary for no electricity situations. Headlamps are also good for midnight toilet runs. Make sure all of these have a fresh charge before the storm hits. Lanterns often double as battery chargers nowadays, but everyone with a phone needs a solar power battery charger on hand for emergencies... and outdoor activities in less turbulent times. Toilet paper. So dumb, right? We started buying the club sized box and just storing it - it'll all be used eventually, and we don't have to worry about panic buying. At least keep a few emergency rolls tucked away with your water. On the TP note... so your toilet is on an electric water source, and your tank won't fill with the power out? Drain the bowl, line it with a heavy-duty trash can liner and fill the liner 1/3 way with cat litter or cedar shavings. "If it's yellow, let it mellow" applies here, but you'll want to take the bag to the dumpster and set this up again after a BM. Speaking of candles and space heaters, and old Michigander trick: Get an unscented pillar candle (a 7 Day Candle in a glass jar will not work for this), and an empty METAL coffee can that the candle fits completely into, flame and all. Remove the paper label, the can will get hot. Place the candle in the coffee can, and light the candle. Obviously, don't put the lid on the coffee can unless you're storing this setup. One of these will heat a car. If you see an unlabeled metal coffee can with a new pillar candle and a lighter or matchbook inside in the backseat of a Michigander's car, now you know - they're preparing to be stuck in a ditch for 12 hours at -15 °F. You'll need more like four or five to heat a room. Again, carbon monoxide poisoning is an issue with this technique, make sure you vent your space regularly and have detectors close with fresh batteries. And you're dealing with an open flame, so all precautions apply - full supervision at all times, safe, non-flammable surface, etc. And do not use this in a tent! How to sleep warm: Wear all your warmest clothes. I'm talking 2-3 layers of sweaters, sweatpants, and socks, as well as your winter coat if needed. Do not forget to keep your head well covered at all times, that's where you lose the most heat. Concentrate your living to the main area of the house, literally close the doors to the bedrooms and any other rooms you're not using. Everyone sleeps in the living room. Preferably in the same bed. Other than the kitchen and one bathroom, that's where you're concentrated while the power is out, to maximize your body heat. If you camp, pitch your tent in the living room, and cover it with a few of your largest, warmest blankets. Everyone sleeps in the closed tent. The trapped body heat will keep the tent a comfortable temperature. Again, no candles in a tent! Now is the time to pull out every single blanket you own. More blankets do keep you warmer. Same for sleeping bags, if you have them. Make sure you use a few to cover the windows and any drafty doors. Keep in mind that blankets and sleeping bags work by trapping your body heat, which you lose from everywhere, even the bits in contact with your sleeping surface. Make sure you "burrito roll" yourself, or sleep in a heavy blanket "sandwich" so you're preserving all your body heat. The Pantry Stock: So, you missed the bread and milk... Not an issue if you have powdered milk, and bread flour and instant yeast on hand. But you have an electric oven? Do you have a grill? You can bake a sandwich loaf. Do you have a camp burner? You can make pita or tortilla. I highly recommend keeping at least a little backpacker's burner (not sponsored) ( another not sponsored option ) ( a not sponsored wood fuel option ) and fuel on hand for emergency situations, they're not an expensive investment, and they don't take a lot of space to store. Again, be mindful of carbon monoxide levels as you use it in an enclosed space! Use it near a cracked window and a detector! Your Pantry Stock List: Obviously, most of this is meant to be consumed regularly, you just want to keep it in amounts that will get you through at least a few days if you need to shelter in place, like in a blizzard. Essentially, make sure you never run out of these. Buy ahead when you're getting low. Powdered or shelf-stable milk. Shelf-stable powdered eggs, or ground flax seed for the folks with egg allergies. Canned meat products: tuna, sardines, smoked oysters, canned chicken, SPAM, corned beef, etc. Rice. I buy basmati, jasmine, and brown in 10lb bags for my regular consumption, but ymmv on how much rice you eat or how much pantry space you have. Beans and lentils. I keep dried green lentils, dried red lentils, dried green peas, and dried pinto beans on hand in 5lb jars, and red kidney, cannellini, chickpeas, and black beans in cans for quick, easy meals. Crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. I know, I know, this is a tomato-free blog, but it's a weird allergy, and chili is a classic snow day meal. Plus, you can make your own spaghetti sauce with these ingredients and some Italian Seasoning and a dash of red wine vinegar and olive oil, skip the expensive pre-made stuff in the jars. If you're like me and you do have a tomato allergy, I got you - here's recipes for Not Chili and Pumpkin Pasta Sauce . Noodles. Whatever noodles you like. Spaghetti noodles? Elbow mac? Rice noodles? Ramen? Fideo Noodles? Noodles. Flour & other baking mediums: I keep all-purpose flour, bread flour, yellow cornmeal, PAN arepa flour (I'm better at arepas than tortillas, so I keep this over masa harina), chickpea flour for a plant protein binder & scrambled egg substitute, tapioca flour for fruit pie filling, and sweet rice flour mostly for kimchi making. Obviously, I'm kind of excessive thanks to allergies and having to make everything from scratch, flour and cornmeal (or your favorite gluten-free baking mix, and millet flour, if you're gluten or corn free) alone is fine and will provide you with at least flatbread and pones throughout the storm. Salt, sugar, instant yeast, baking soda, and baking powder. Make sure you have fresh going into storm season. Cooking oil, white vinegar (also important for sanitizing!), and raw apple cider vinegar. Broth or bullion. Again, it's tradition up here to spend our snow days making and eating giant pots of soup. You want to be ready for spontaneous soup between September-March. Popcorn kernels. Why pay for the pre-popped, bagged stuff, when you can make it fresh and hot? SunButter, or peanut butter. And preserves, if you're PB&J (or SB&J) people. Coffee in a METAL can, and/or your favorite hot beverage. Kids love a good hot chocolate after coming in from playing in the snow, which if you stock ahead you may want to keep hidden until it magically appears when the snow flies. Pet food. They WILL eat you if there's nothing else to eat in an emergency situation. This all assumes a fully stocked spice cabinet , of course. The Freezer Stock: You may wonder why I would suggest stocking perishable foods for a snowstorm. That would be because the entire outdoors is your freezer during a snowstorm. As long as it's below 32 °F, you can store your frozen foods in a tote in your garage or on your patio, or in the trunk of your car. Just make sure you focus on eating it during the storm, and that you return it to a freezer (or at least a good ice-packed cooler) once it gets warmer again. Frozen vegetables. Just in case you get stuck before you can make a fresh food run. Frozen meat. Particularly your favorite meat for chili or your favorite soup. What to buy during that pre-pocalypse grocery run: Assuming you have all of the above on hand, of course. Fresh vegetables, especially what you need to make your planned snow day soups and casseroles (we're also Midwestern, we do those, too). Fresh meat, if you'd rather not eat what's in your freezer. Fresh fruits, for snacking. Marshmallows for hot chocolate. Double the marshmallows, as well as your favorite butter or butter substitute and favorite cereal if you want to make cereal "krispies" treats with the kids (or for yourself!). The recipe is on every marshmallow bag, and you can do it on a burner. What to buy during that pre-pocalypse Dollar Tree or Five Below run: A few pillar candles. You may want to bring your coffee can to make sure they're the right size. BBQ lighters or stove matches, for your gas burner and coffee can/candle setup. Cleansing wipes. You will not want to get wet if you have no heat in a snowstorm. Comfort snacks. Puzzle books & pencils. Jigsaw puzzles. Board games. A new deck of playing cards, or Uno, Old Maid, etc. Physical book copies. Coloring books with crayons/colored pencils. Craft kits. Art supplies. What to buy during that pre-pocalypse Party Store or dispo run: haha, that might be a bit specific to Michigan... What to download: Look, iPad kids are a reality. I'm not particularly proud of how some of my generation has been parenting, but I also have had to detox from screen addiction myself as a full adult, and that was tough af. I couldn't imagine dealing with it with the brain of a 5 year old. And an emergency situation is not the time to DT a toddler. Everyone, parental status regardless, should have a good solar powered battery charger on hand for an emergency. That's how you're going to keep your phone powered up so you can stay in touch with your loved ones, weather reports, and emergency services and notifications. And if you have an iPad kid, you're going to need at least 2 more for them. I'd say a main and a backup per iPad kid. Probably excessive, but I've seen what these kids do without their iPads right there... And you cannot expect to have internet access, so you will need to download everything they'll need for 3-5 days. TV show episodes & movies. Music playlists. Games. Anything else they use their tablet for. Remember to go into the storm with the tablet(s), headphones, and all chargers fully charged - solar chargers also have a quick wall charger option. Meanwhile, if you're a reasonable adult with a music service subscription, make sure you update your playlists and downloads before the storm hits, and charge your speakers and headphones. Downloaded music takes the teeniest of battery use, and having a good playlist makes those analog activities you picked up a lot more fun. Same goes for Mp3 players. If you're using a Discman, get LOTS of batteries, those things were huge battery sucks. Did you find this guide useful? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie

1/4 cup red lentils 1 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable broth 1 teaspoon Za'atar seasoning blend 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon lemon juice Salt to taste Pita chips and chopped parsley garnish (optional) Rinse your lentils and add them to the rice cooker bowl with the rest of the ingredients. Cover, and set to "cook," stirring the bowl occasionally as the lentils cook. The soup is ready when the "cook" cycle is finished, stir in the lemon juice, and serve immediately topped with chopped parsley and pita chips as garnish, if desired. Serves 1. Did you enjoy this recipe? Support yr very appreciative Auntie with a tip at ko-fi.com/yrauntie