With food shortages, more food distribution plants burning, increasing grocery prices and the ever present labor shortages I feel strongly that this year we need to shop and prepare for our holiday family meals like never before. After much consideration I finally broke down and bought myself a freeze dryer. I've had so much fun preparing and freeze drying all of my holiday dips (ranch, bacon-onion, spinach-artichoke, shrimp). I'm going to prepare and freeze dry all of my dressings, hot cocoa, and various side dishes we traditionally have during the holidays. I have been freeze drying all of the bananas, apples, berries and fresh fruit I can that will make wonderful holiday desserts......when I can get my husband to quit eating them as snacks.
I also do alot of canning but with space so limited and hurricane season still upon us I'm holding off until October.
We aren't huge turkey fans but I will try to get my turkey on my next weekend off. I will debone, stuff like you would a roast, and use the carcass to make my stock for the gravy. The hams will be basted, baked and sliced as well. This will all be vacuum sealed and put into the freezer until needed.
Am I the only one feeling apprehensive about availability of many things this winter? With this drought across the breadbasket of America, increased fertilizer and shipping it's not looking great. It took 5 trips to various stores to finally get my hands on corn starch. I'm not generally a doomer but just like preparing year round for holidays I do try to keep a good pantry for the "just in case" situations (illness, job loss, catastrophes). Family holiday meals are too important to me to leave to chance. If things improve then I've lost nothing. If things continue to decline then I pray we will not feel the harsh impact as severely.
I am two years into rebuilding our home lost in Laura & Delta. I know all too well the problems with availability, labor shortages and triple price increases. Forgive me for being a pessimist but it's been a very rough few years so I don't want to leave anything to chance. Money can't buy what isn't there. We've paid top dollar and still can't seem to get professional craftsmen to even show up once the supplies are finally obtained. It took 11 months to receive my refrigerator, microwave and stove once bought and paid for.
What are some of the holiday treats, meals and beverages you can buy, prepare and safely store for your holidays?
I also do alot of canning but with space so limited and hurricane season still upon us I'm holding off until October.
We aren't huge turkey fans but I will try to get my turkey on my next weekend off. I will debone, stuff like you would a roast, and use the carcass to make my stock for the gravy. The hams will be basted, baked and sliced as well. This will all be vacuum sealed and put into the freezer until needed.
Am I the only one feeling apprehensive about availability of many things this winter? With this drought across the breadbasket of America, increased fertilizer and shipping it's not looking great. It took 5 trips to various stores to finally get my hands on corn starch. I'm not generally a doomer but just like preparing year round for holidays I do try to keep a good pantry for the "just in case" situations (illness, job loss, catastrophes). Family holiday meals are too important to me to leave to chance. If things improve then I've lost nothing. If things continue to decline then I pray we will not feel the harsh impact as severely.
I am two years into rebuilding our home lost in Laura & Delta. I know all too well the problems with availability, labor shortages and triple price increases. Forgive me for being a pessimist but it's been a very rough few years so I don't want to leave anything to chance. Money can't buy what isn't there. We've paid top dollar and still can't seem to get professional craftsmen to even show up once the supplies are finally obtained. It took 11 months to receive my refrigerator, microwave and stove once bought and paid for.
What are some of the holiday treats, meals and beverages you can buy, prepare and safely store for your holidays?