Summer is in its final stages and next Monday is August 1st. So, if you plan to beat the ants, you are already a little behind. The ant is smart and all summer long while we are tossing uneaten hot dogs and ribs to the ground, they are picking it up to store for the winter.
Living in Wisconsin will teach you a few things about storing up, you need to make sure you have the necessary items on hand for inclement weather. When you hear about a winter storm coming on the local news, most of the time it is late in the evening and already too late to go shopping.
So, let us do an inventory to ensure that we are prepared, here is my list of necessities for the colder months, a deep freezer is a wonderful start to store up extra food. You can buythese in all sizes, and they can be easily stored in the kitchen, hallway, or the basement.
Bread and cakes can be frozen, and they still taste fresh when thawed and you can even buy refrigerated products and packaged cookies, these freeze well also. Purchasing snack cakes in bulk can be kept in the freezer all year long and is easily accessible for children’s lunches or regular snack time.
Homemade soup and chili can be prepared in bulk and packaged in family size bowls and individually stored in smaller bowls for a quick lunch. I make at least four varieties of soup each winter and a pot of chili and freeze it this way. Also, make a few pans of cornbread and cut them into squares and store them in a freezer bag, that way you can take out a piece at a time.
Kleenex, paper towels, tissue paper and sanitary products are also essential products to stock up, same with soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and lotion. I do not buy less than three of each of these Items on a regular basis, but now my stock is low, and I am stocking up just like you guys.
Frozen everything, fruit, vegetables, ice cream, ice (I love bag ice), meats, butter, cheese, yes, you can freeze cheese and butter and anything else you can think of. I am old school, we froze everything, a gallon of milk, Hostess cupcakes, you name it. So, buy, freeze, enjoy, and repeat. Be wise and store up this season, you will not regret it.
Happy shopping!