1. Combine the fish, oatmeal, salt, lemon-pepper seasoning, and egg in a bowl, and mix well.
2. Preheat a large iron skillet with the butter or oil in it over medium fire.
3. Roll the fish mixture into 1½-inch balls and place them in the hot skillet. Brown each side of the balls well.
4. Remove from the heat and place on a plate. Serve immediately.
Yields about 15 balls.
Curried Rice
This is a great side dish to carry with you in your pack. You can mix up the dry ingredients, and put single servings in resealable plastic bags. Otherwise, make it as directed.
• 2 cups water
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes
• 2 cups instant rice
• 1 tablespoon curry powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ tablespoon granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
1. Bring the water and bouillon cubes to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium fire and remove from the fire.
2. Add all the other ingredients and cover.
3. Let sit covered for 5 minutes or until the rice is tender.
Yields 4 servings.
Savory Sweet Potato Wedges
• 2 fresh or canned sweet potatoes
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Oil for skillet
1. Cut the sweet potatoes into wedges, and put them in a bowl. Drizzle the oil over them, and sprinkle with the salt, pepper, and rosemary. Toss to combine.
2. Preheat a greased iron skillet over medium fire. Fry the wedges, browning on each side until tender. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
Yields 4 servings.
Fried Cabbage
• 1 quart canned cabbage
• 1 cup cubed canned ham
• 1 medium onion, sliced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
1. Preheat a greased iron skillet over medium fire.
2. Add all the ingredients and fry until the cabbage and onions are tender.
Yields about 6 servings.
Sourdough Starter
A sourdough starter is a survivalist’s best friend; from it, you can make myriad delicious breads and dessert recipes. It doesn’t require yeast, and if you keep it going, you can use the same starter for years.
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2½ cups lukewarm water
1. Put the flour in a glass container. Add the water and stir together until mixed. Cover mixture with a towel and set it in a warm place. Make sure that it isn’t too hot and there aren’t any drafts that will chill the mixture.
2. In 4–6 days, you’ll notice that it’s bubbling and smelling wonderfully yeasty. It’s now ready. Keep it going by stirring in 2 cups of flour and about ¾ cup of lukewarm water whenever you use a cup of the starter.
Yields 1 batch of starter.
Personal Hygiene Items
It may seem now that if you’re in a survival situation, you won’t be worrying much about smelling good. That may be true for the first few days. After that, however, the niceties will become luxuries to you. If you talk to survivors of great disasters or war, they will tell you that often even small amounts of deodorant, shampoo, or toothpaste were more valuable than food.
Although you probably won’t have access to many of these ingredients post-disaster, they’re great to make and keep in your emergency supply for both personal use and for barter. They’re all chemical-free and actually good for you, so making your own is just one more way to be healthier and less dependent upon commercial substances.
You’ll note that coconut oil is a key component in several of these, and though it’s a little expensive, its health benefits are amazing. Since it has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, it’s a great base for many personal hygiene products. Use organic, unrefined oil when possible. If you don’t want the coconut smell, use expeller-pressed oil so it doesn’t lose its efficacy through heating.
Deodorant
Coconut oil hovers between liquid and solid at room temperature, so it will probably be a bit liquid once you start working with it. That’s normal. Although this isn’t an antiperspirant, once you wear it for a while and your body becomes accustomed to not depending on chemical inhibitors, you’ll notice that you won’t produce as much underarm sweat.
• ¼ cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 7 tablespoons coconut oil, approximately
1. Combine the arrowroot and baking soda, and then add the coconut oil 1 tablespoon at a time until a nice thick paste forms, similar to store-bought deodorant.
2. Store in a jar or other container, and just smooth a teaspoon or two under each armpit.
Yields about 1 cup.
Body Lotion Bars
These are similar to bars of soap, but when you rub it on your skin, it leaves a nice layer of moisturizer. Feel free to add essential oils for health or scent properties. These have a nice coconut, nutty scent just the way they are.
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1/3 cup shea, mango, cocoa, kokum, or illipe butter, or any combination of these
• 1/3 cup beeswax
• 1 teaspoon vitamin e oil
• A few drops of essential oil (optional)
1. Line a muffin pan with parchment paper, or use mini loaf pans lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper. You could also use soap molds or basically any kind of container you’d like to use to shape these bars.
2. Combine all the ingredients except the essential oils in a glass canning jar, and place it in a pan of warm water. Heat over medium fire until the water is starting to simmer, and then remove from the heat. Stir mixture and let it warm to the point of melting. When liquefied, stir well and then add the essential oil.
3. Pour into your molds and allow to cool completely before removing. Store in resealable plastic bags or airtight plastic containers.
4. When you want to use a lotion bar, just run it over your skin for a nice layer of moisturizing lotion.
Yields about 3 bars, using muffin tins filled halfway.
Antiseptic Ointment
This ointment is all-natural and has antibacterial, antifungal, antibiotic, antiviral, and analgesic properties.
• 2 ounces beeswax, softened
• 1 cup coconut or almond oil
• ½ teaspoon tea tree oil
• ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
• 1 ounce jojoba oil
• 24 drops lavender essential oil
• 12 drops lemon essential oil
1. Combine all the ingredients, warming slightly to liquefy the mixture so the oils meld.
2. Store in an airtight tin or jar, and use on cuts, skin irritations, or any other condition that requires a salve.