No electricity/water prep meals

[Olivetoil]

I'm quite new to prepping but with two small children feel a responsibility to be prepared in case of emergency/snowed in etc but I realised all my prep relies on having access to electricity for cooking or at least the ability to boil water.

In case of no electricity/water supplies going off do you have alternative food that is useful to store or do you have alternate cooking facilities like a camping stove? Just trying to think what's best for this type of event

I'm sure the more experienced preppers will be along shortly with suggestions, but as a fellow newbie to this, I have obtained a camping stove and about 24 hours worth of gas to go with it. I've also researched cooking with tea candles, making those wee scout candles and how to make an oven out of some tinfoil and a cardboard box! Hopefully won't need to use any of them.

We also have lots of soup, that can be eaten cold at a push.

Thanks for the reply stuntegg and hello to a fellow prepper newbie!

Think all the experienced preppers must be busy actually prepping

Since posting have been thinking I own a garden pizza oven thing (never been out of the box!) but that could be used if I get a camping kettle for boiling water at least.

Still scratching my head at longer life food that doesn't need to be cooked but maybe tins of tuna and things like soups and beans which just need to be heated are a good start.

I wish there was a beginners shopping list although I'm sure I'll get ideas if I hunt these threads!

Barbeque. Every year there is a news story of someone cooking their turkey on the barbeque. You could do potatoes wrapped in foil in the dying coals. If you can oil water you can make couscous, or mugshots pasta or cuppa soupor pot noodles.

Unless you have something like a multi fuel stove , you should consider any "off grid" cooking to be done outside.
Barbecue is the most familiar. You could look at what's called a Dutch oven. This is a cast iron pot with an inverted lid. You put it on an open fire and make sure that some embers are put on the lid. Google it to get a better look.

Go camping for a weekend?
You will find out first hand what it's like!
(Speaking as an owner of an ancient touring caravan)

Great ideas thanks. Particularly going camping! It's almost a practice run! Reading other threads I've now also invested in

Wind up torch
Solar/wind up radio
Water purification tablets
Reusable sanpro (as a back up although thinking this may the way forward)

All good for potential camping trips in the future

Had a look at Dutch ovens too. Almost like a big casserole dish which can be used in the oven too so will put that on the wish list

reuseable san pro recommendations?

Not sure how to link but I've added 'bloom and nora' bamboo fleece washable sanitary towels that have wings with a button to hold in place. There are quite a few different brands but these seem to get good reviews. Ordered them from amazon. I don't like tampons (sorry for tmi) but if you did I know a lot of people opt for the moon cup.

I have bought a few samples via Etsy (for my dd who is about to start and says she's up for it - her choice, obviously). However, I have pulled together materials and patterns to make bespoke ones for her. She loves the idea of topper materials that are cute and that she can choose. I wish there'd been so much info available when I still had periods.
We discussed cups recently but she didn't like the idea for now.

Op, make sure you learn some fire making and water purification skills. Obviously be massively careful about a fire in any back garden or yard you have. We have a barbecue but I also bought a cheap fire pit for us recently. I plan to use it more in the warmer weather with our Dutch oven. I love chilli so will try some of that.
Also, there's a thing called a sun oven . Obviously that is weather dependent but I bought a cheap camping one last year which looks like an opened freezer bag with a plastic sheet to hold it open. I actually made a delicious pasta sauce in it last summer. The trick was to keep popping outside and turning it to keep facing the sun. No fuel costs at all. Understandably limited use but an interesting extra option. I also have a "wonderbag" - you can make versions of this yourself if you can be arsed. Basically heat something on a heat source to get it to temperature then put it in the bag off the heat source to cook in its own heat. Like a hay box of old.
Interesting options to think about.
Focus on what your kids actually eat.

Great tips bellinisurge I've been reading your posts in other threads too. You are a wealth of knowledge! I'm definitely going to enhance my coping skills under the guise of camping, which I think we'll enjoy anyway. I can see me being on here and YouTube a lot!