Welcome to the weekly round up of posts that you might have missed this week on Smorgasbord.
I hope everyone is doing well despite the ‘virus’, floods, tornadoes, fake news and politics. It is so easy to become panicked when you see what might be ahead and the papers are doing a very good job of keeping us informed but also creating a fear culture.
Healthy living has never been so important and a fully functioning immune system over the next few weeks and possibly months is vital. Especially for those with underlying health issues, such as the elderly. Apart from washing hands in hot water and soap frequently and avoiding crowds etc, we do need to make sure that we have a nutritionally balanced diet to maintain a healthy immune system system.
The governments are going to do their best to keep food and essential household products on the shelves and we are going to have to trust that it will happen without panic buying.
Having seen the images of what some people are grabbing off the shelves,clearly beer, chocolate and crisps appear to be classified as essential food groups for some.
Whilst I am not rushing out to buy food or these essentials, it is a possibility that as we are in our later 60s, we will be considered at risk and might have to self-isolate even if we do not have the virus.
We used to get snowed in when we lived in the mountains in Spain during the winter months, and it even happened here for over a week the first year in this house in Ireland. I have always kept a basic survival larder that is sufficient to keep us going for at least a couple of weeks.
If you are faced with self-isolation and still want to maintain a healthy nutritional diet for you and the rest of the household here are some of my basics for two weeks should we have to manage without shopping. As you know I do not recommend the use of industrially manufactured foods in a normal diet and prefer the cook from scratch approach. However, at times you might have to fall back on to some canned goods and cereals, but if you choose the ones that are low in sugar then it is not going to cause you harm in the short term.
For other posts on the immune system, supplements, and health you can find more information in the Health Column Directory
I keep a week’s worth of fresh vegetables and fruit topped up every shop that I make and if they start to wilt, I will cook off and they keep for another few days in the fridge.
In the freezer- depending on the size and ours is quite small.
- I keep some frozen vegetables – carrots, broccoli and cauliflower mix, butternut squash, onion, mushrooms.
- Protein in the form of chicken, beef mince and fish.
- Butter and cheese (both keep for at least three months in the freezer if well wrapped)
- Some pre-prepared meals that offer a full nutritional balance – Brown Rice Pilaf
- Slow cooked stews of meat and vegetables in family sized portions.
- Fresh eggs can last about three weeks after their best buy date in the fridge
In the larder
- Tinned tuna, salmon and sardines.
- Tinned soups that can be used as a base for a more substantial meal.
- Marmite, honey and nut butter.
- Brown Rice, whole grain pasta, brown bread (I make my own Irish Soda Bread but you can buy ready prepared mixes). Good quality muesli and porridge oats. Wholegrain rice cakes and oat cakes.
- Dried beans and lentils
- Tinned tomatoes, tubes of tomato puree and garlic puree, dried herbs such as basil, oregano and turmeric. Jars of pasta sauce.
- PIckled vegetables such as beetroot.
- Olive oil and coconut oil.
- Jars of carrots, spinach and green beans (useful during power outages).
- Canned pears and mandarins in juice.
- Good quality fruit juice without added sugar I have cranberry, orange and apple.
- Dried apricots and walnuts.
- Long life milk – Dairy or coconut or almond milk.
- Tea – Black, Green and lemon and Ginger
- Water (although that is unlikely to be a problem)
- Some 80% dark chocolate.
I hope that has been of some help with regard to having a back up in your larder that will provide you with foods that will help maintain your immune system over a hopefully short period of time without access to shops. As always if you have any questions please let me know.
Time to get on with this week’s posts and as always my thanks to my guests and their amazing contributions.
Jazz Pianist and Composer Thelonious Sphere Monk with William Price King
Two more stories from this collection.
Poetry and Prose Mr. Sagittarius by M. J. Mallon
Examining Kitchen Cupboards by Stevie Turner
Historical Caribbean – Fireburn by Apple Gidley
Eradication War of Nytefall Book 4 Charles Yallowitz
Mystery – Bay of Secrets by J.A. Newman
Dog Tales Patty Fletcher, Poetry Natalie Ducey, Paranormal Thriller John W. Howell and Gwen Plano
Poetry Balroop Singh, Thriller Lucinda E. Clarke, Memoir D.G. Kaye
Children’s Deanie Humphrys Dunne, Fantasy Deborah Jay, Historical Andrew Joyce
Poetry – The Paintbox by Miriam Ivarson
Family History Marian Longenecker Beaman
Humanity – Are We Selfish by Balroop Singh
Live Like a Millionaire by Sharon Marchisello
Looking back at 2019 by Judy Penz Sheluk
Food Therapy – The Humble Potato
Whilst we are all concerned about the spread of Coronavirus, there is a danger lurking in the food that we eat, particularly that prepared by rogue takeaway kitchens.
Food Poisoning on the increase 2.5 million cases in UK 2019
March 2nd Book Recommendations from D.L. Finn, Annika Perry and Cathy Ryan
March 3rd Romania Pat Furstenberg, Review Liz Gauffreau, Fantasy Teagan Geneviene
Author Spotlight James J. Cudney, Book offer Darlene Foster, Funnies The Story Reading Ape
Legacy Sue Vincent, Afghanistan Mary Smith, Weather Carol Taylor
#Translations Miriam Hurdle, #Poetry Pamela Wight, #Books Jacqui Murray
More funnies from D. G. Kaye and some new material from Sally
More funnies from D. G. Kaye and some new material from Sally
Thank you for all the support which is very much appreciated.. I hope you will join me again next week .. thanks Sally.
More thanks, Sally. Wow! Hugs xx
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Thanks Joy..hugsx
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Thanks for the shout-out here, Sally (and the review of course!). I have many of these staples in my kitchen cupboards (I would have been able to answer that exam question!).
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lol… glad you are set up…hugsxx
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Great posts this week – lots to
Enjoy!
And…
You are right about the scare culture – such a fine line from easing awareness properly to where it seems like hype – and some pretty hearty tips — also —I think with the immune system it is important to mention that sugar “stops immune function” and so people really need to look at their relationship with sugar and look at what they eat — because some items that are processed like sugar when consumed (most crackers and even pasta becomes pull from immune function)
And I just would add to get good vitamin and mineral supplements too / I know this helped my immune system and I would
Not be here in blog world if supplements did not help me heal
And continue to keep my immune system strong —
And going to check out the foodborne illness link now –
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Thanks for reinforcing that.. my position too. It can be tough to put together a completely healthy alternative food supply without access to fresh food, but certainly crisps, chocolate and beer are not on the menu…thanks Sally
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Hahaha – I guess for some folks those are essentials in the survival pack – haha and Sure hope this virus is contained soon
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Me too… enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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😊💚
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Another great week, Sally. Thank you for hosting Gwen and me and also thanks for the emergency food supply list. I just need to add one more item, wine. 😁
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Many thanks for another super week, Sally. Always a pleasure and it’s great to be a part of it. All the best to you. Hugs
William
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Thank you William and Smorgasbord would not be the same without you..hugsxx
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Another great round up, Sally.
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Thank you Robbie..hugsx
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Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:
Time for another jam-packed weekly round-up post from Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord. Check this one out, for sure, and please consider passing it along for others to enjoy, as well. Thanks, and thanks to Sally, as always, for compiling these great round-up posts so we can catch up on everything we may have missed! 🙂 ❤
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Thank you so much for the lovely introduction Marcia and for sharing.. I do appreciate it very much.. ♥
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A great week, Sally and thanks, as always for the shout out. Your store cupboard and freezer list is useful. My son is here this weekend and he looked in my larder cupboard and commented that we’d be okay if we couldn’t shop for a month! He exaggerated, of course, but we’d manage for two weeks okay.
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Good to hear Mary… there is enough concern around without worrying about food in the short term..xxx
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Or toilet rolls!
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definitely not.. have no desire to go back to damp moss!!
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Your blog is a constant source of enjoyment, Sally. I guess that’s why I seldom miss a day.
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Thank you very much Pete and for the wonderful support..hugs
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Another fabulous week full of essential information, laughter, enjoyment, recommendations, reviews and more. Thank you for including me, Sally! ❤
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Thank you Miriam and delighted to share..♥
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💖💐
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A great list, we should store for healthiert life. I will put some recordings of famous jazz interpreters, and it will be done for me. Thank you, Sally!
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Great Michael… and glad you found useful.. happy listening..hugsx
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I will, Sally! You cant predict what will happen after this virus. In the past i thought Germans are masters of perfection. Now we are seeing, there is a lost in everything possible.
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It is tough to contain even under the strictest protocols Michael, once you have humans involved..xxx
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So true, Sally!
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Another great week Sally, Good advice on store cupboard essentials…I do hope people listen and stop stockpiling…Loo rolls don’t bother us here we use bum guns…the only ammunition being water…Pressed this for later today Hugs xxx
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bum guns.. that sounds like a post all on its own lol….thanks Carol…hugsxx
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Haha…every house has one…the poor mans bidet….Hope you are both keeping clear of the virus…Hugs xxx
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Deploying stealth tactics… and tea tree and silver…xxx
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Ditto… Hugs xx
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Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Weekly Round-Up March 1st – 7th 2020 – #Backup larders #Jazz, Books, Guests, Humour and Health | Retired? No one told me!
A great round-up! Thanks for including me. I love the animals and music video!!
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Delighted to have you here Darlene… hugsxx
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I appreciate being named among the others. Sally, you truly know how to “Smorgasbord.” Thank you!
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Delighted to have you over Marian..hugsx
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Excellent suggestions. I also always keep a large supply of my favorite tea bags, and peanut butter and wheat bread (the bread I freeze) that can always keep me going. And, ahem, I’m with John – some bottles of wine also. 🙂
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Great thanks Pamela and one must not forget the therapeutic value of alcohol…hugsxx♥
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Just had peanut butter with sourdough bread. It’s morning as I type this: tea or coffee, no wine yet! 🙂
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The day is but young Marian lol. xxx
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🙂 That’s my morning breakfast also! Sometimes rye bread, but I do love the sourdough. xo
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Warm sourdough with some mayo and sliced tomato and salt…x
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Ah, YES. Toasted sourdough for that perfect sandwich. Yummmmmmmmm. 🙂
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Sally, I was introduced to tomatoes for breakfast the first time we visited England, usually not a staple in the USA. Interesting though . . . !
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We ate in Spain with pulped tomatoes garlic and olive oil…on toasted sourdough.. great start to the morning..x
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