[hellosailor]

sara-
Well, I tried tinned chicken for the first time last week. 2-for-1 sale at the supermarket so I figured if not now, when? Worked out to about $3.79 for two 12-ounce tins, beats the Costco price.

Damnest thing is that now I owe an apology to Jessica Simpson, the stuff really DOES look almost exactly like "Chicken of the Sea" TUNA. Tastes a bit like bland chicken, I suspect it flavored someone's soup before it got tinned.

Not bad, but...like tofu, I don't think I'd ever feel the urge to go out and buy it.

Babybels are nice, but pricey. I've found the larger (8oz?) waxed Gouda and Edam cheeses keep very nicely at a much lower price, of course the flavor is something entirely different.

Carl, you can get MREs online from many places, either "per case" or mixed meals per case. Discount Hunting Gear, Discount Hunting Boots, Discount Shoes, Discount Ammunition, Discount Ammo, Discount Boots, Military Surplus, Outdoor Gear At the Sportsman's Guide and Cheaper Than Dirt - America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter are two places that have been in business a long time with satisfied customers, but I'd rather find things in the supermarket than find highly processed long lists of ingredients that have to be shipped to me.

There are still a number of pre-WW1 cookbooks available, like The New Settlement Cookbook, that were written for new housewives who had just come to the US in the days before refrigerators. They cover all sorts of things from using a coal stove, to butchering meat, and especially how to keep foods SAFE TO EAT. The USDA also has many publications about that.