The Brexit Cupboard Part 2

[PerverseConverse]

Following on from the fantastic thread of the weekend, I thought we'd continue discussing our brexit cupboards and boxes here. Here's to all the preppers and their cupboards, no matter what they contain. (Keep quiet about your stash in real life).

Need to catch up on the thread but just to say I've used Moo long life semi skimmed milk to make macaroni cheese and angel delight and it's worked a treat. No obvious difference at all so I'll be getting more in.

Back from two supermarkets. It is all in the flat. The next job is making it all disappear before the children get back. That requires more stair climbing. I have already climbed 12-14 flights of stairs bringing it in and am a bit reluctant to move at present.

Oh and there is a piece on Brexit stocking up on R4 tomorrow, 9am. With people who haven't heard about not telling anyone you are forward purchasing.

Neither the politician nor the pharmasist was reassuring tbh

I think the agenda is keep everyone calm for as long as possible. the minute they tell households to stockpile that goes out of the window.

I agree @redhat

If they had told people a couple of months ago there would have been time to stock up gradually, if they say it now there will be people rushing out and clearing shelves. I think the message is getting out to more and more people. The gradual realisation that stocking up is a good idea means that there is no sudden rush. But leaves the unconnected and vulnerable and poor in the shit.

Hopefully the more people who have stocked up, the less pressure there will be if there are shortages, but I expect some will try to get even more, as that is the nature of people.

If they had told people a couple of months ago there would have been time to stock up gradually,
I don't know, I think it would just have caused a mass panic then instead, and then empty shops would have panicked people more so they kept panic-buying for longer as well as inconveniencing normal shoppers. This way plenty of people have been quietly stocking up so that if the proverbial hits the fan there will be fewer panic buyers and the regular shoppers won't need to buy anything because they'll be already sorted, leaving more for the unprepared.

Ive cleared out an under stairs cupboard where I had an empty bookcase and have filled it with all my tins, cartons, water, tea, and detergents. I can now use the plastic boxes for packet things.

Well, I listened to Broadcasting House and the Minister for ItsallFine and wasn't convinced. Sounded like major arse coverage to me. Also sounds like they are doing a lot of planning and preparation. I wonder why they think it's necessary if everything is so brilliant and "forward purchasing " is just Project Fear.

just gradually adding to mine, aiming to have enough basic essentials to get us through to mid-April. Got some UHT milk today, bloody DH pointed out I could have frozen real milk!!! Bastard, he's right. OTH if no power due to zombies/snow then I will have the last laugh as I am horrible without my early morning tea and then coffee.

The thing with freezing milk is that you need the freezer space.

Does anyone have a list of specific things which might be in short supply or are we all just guessing? Other than fruit and veg which is labelled with the country of origin, I have little idea where the things we commonly buy come from.

Going by the just in time delivery system, it could be anything. People are stocking up on stuff they think is important. For me powdered milk and coffee. For the children, sweetcorn, peas, carrots and pasta with stir in sauce. Dd's soya milk.

If you buy stuff you would use or are happy donating to the food bank, then it will not go to waste.

Read one of Bellini's 3 day posts.

Does anyone have a list of specific things which might be in short supply or are we all just guessing?

Any massive change to supply chains will have unpredictable consequences, and shortages will probably not be distributed evenly across the country.

Wheat for bread and liquid milk are produced locally so "should" be OK but they are also among the first products that people will panic-buy. And the UK imports a lot of butter and cheese, so if milk is diverted to making other products that will eventually cause shortages.

The UK has a massive fruit and veg deficit with over half imported - that proportion will be higher in April because the new crops won't be ready.

And the Uk is heavily dependent on imports of materials used to grow, process, package and distribute food.

Now is the time to experiment with new recipes using shelf stable and long life foods. Then stock up on those. I agree that things might be a bit samey for a few weeks so I've got lots of biscuits, sweets, crisps and chocolate as treats.

Spices and herbs would help with the potential monotonous food if things do go pear shaped. Someone on the. Credit Crunch threads makes a large amount of lentil soup for the week and adds different spices when it’s reheated.

It is difficult to guess what you are going to be able to get when. I have frozen mushrooms and aubergines as a base for three meals. I need to add a layer of onions on top of each box as I was too shattered to do that.

I will do the same with carrots, mushrooms and onions to make a different type of meal. At the middle to end of March I will stock up the fridge with long lasting veg to keep us going for a couple of weeks, then will revert to frozen if fresh is in short supply in the shops.

I have tinned peas and sweetcorn and carrots which can be used for a couple of meal types. I think I may need more. They are good for taking on holiday and for when I am feeling poorly and not able to shop, or kids are ill.

I am not sure how many I have got. I need to check one of the storage places as children arrived home mid stashing and it was covered up again pretty sharply. I have at least 6 tins of carrots but definitely need more.

I grew three tiny aubergines on the kitchen window sill one year. Not very productive. Must try harder this year. It gets very hot 40 + degrees in the sun, so need things that can withstand the heat.

Still on my list to buy: tomato puree, still the sodding domestos, fish fingers and AAA batteries.

Then top up the rest, mainly tinned veg.

Bellini's 3 day posts? Sorry, but I don't know and can't find what you are referring to Blackeyed.

She means this @wowfudge :

Imagine you are snowed in for three days. What will you and your family actually eat? Get freezer friendly and/or shelf stable versions of that. What are your hygiene needs - toothpaste, sanpro, shampoo etc. Make-up too if it makes you feel good.
Think about snacks and treats. And entertainment. Because being stuck indoors is boring.
Why 3 days? It's doable and storable and keeps you away from the shops while you suss out how things are locally. Want to do more? Plenty of advice on MN.

Ah - thank you

I think this week is quite useful in highlighting foods that will need extra stocks to account for school holidays (assuming other areas are also on half term this week.)

I've found the kids are eating more and smaller meals and we're running low on items to take out and about for picnics etc. (I thought I had loads of juice and snacks in but clearly not.)

Teenage son is also prone to cooking his own 'snacks' (man sized meals) when he's been out with his mates so I need to stock up on items he will cook.

Am also going to get more jam in stock as it's an easy long lasting sandwich filler and can be mixed with long life yoghurt/custards etc for a dessert snack.

Using a lot more bread, spread, drinks, crisps and eggs this week too.

I have finally finished! Last trip out today to get Moo milk which was taste tested by all four children and it passed!
I've stashed 15 cartons along the top of our kitchen wall units as it's bulky.

I've frozen 30 eggs in threes and frozen butter and 2.5kg of cheese.

I stocked up on cheese sauce mix so my macaroni cheese will start off cheesy before I add my frozen cheese.

Not sure if I have enough bread flour, I have about 8 big bags which will make about 12 loaves. There are a lot of us to feed and hungry boys eat for England.

Hoping I've not forgotten anything vital.

Pet food still to source although tuna works out cheaper as it's pure protein and they eat less. Not sure I want to part with my Brexit tuna for the cat just yet.

Any idea how alternative dairy free products might be effected such as vegan cheeses and nut milks etc? They are already expensive and hard to budget in and a bit worried that they may become unaffordable. Have been trying to stock up on these, milk have enough to last till december but cheese only about 3 months worth if we cook 2 cheese meals a week.

I've got cheese specifically to freeze today along with a packet of bean feast, tinned mushy peas, and dried mango. I'll go back tomorrow for more tea bags, fabric softener and more dried fruit as they get through lots of dried mango.