Food Storage Gourmet Style

The goal of my food storage program has always been to create out-of-the-ordinary (gourmet) meals. I want gourmet dinners which include ingredients that do not require refrigeration. Over the years I have tried replacing 'regular' ingredients with their food storage cousins in an attempt to create gourmet recipes without much success. I also have lots of recipe books that focus on cooking with food storage. I have found that most of these recipes are very basic and add variety through the use of many different spices. Well, I can't eat spices. Haven't been able to my entire life. So, my results have only been marginally successful. 

But, good news has arrived! My friend, Chef Tess, has created a cookbook that answers my food storage cooking problems!

See all the tabs? They don't come with the book. I added them next to each recipe I am going to try! I must say that this book is amazing! We won't be eating nearly as much macaroni and cheese. Instead, I am going to serve Instant Cheesy Broccoli Rice (page 84) or maybe Cheesy Turkey Noodle Casserole (page 51).

Do you get tired of oatmeal for breakfast? How about Carrot Cake Breakfast Pudding (page 73) or Spiced Samoan Coconut-Cream Farina with Mango (page 80). This recipe uses Honeyville's Tropical Monsoon smoothie mix. I will admit, when I ordered Stephanie's book I also ordered this smoothie mix. It is fabulous!  It arrived about 2 weeks ago and the can is half gone! I do so love a Pina Colada smoothie for breakfast!

Let me stop here and say that I am not doing this review just because I consider Stephanie my friend. If that were the case, I would have just sent her an email congratulating her on the book and left it at that. This cookbook is above and beyond every other food storage cookbook that I have. I am very impressed with all the creative recipes.  I really feel that it will move my food storage cooking to a new level. 

Want to know more? There is a snack section that includes different cracker recipes, rolls, sweet rolls and freezer breads. On page 94 is Tess-A-Roni, a make-it-yourself substitute of the Rice-a-Roni box stuff you can find at the grocery store. Stephanie has also listed different flavored versions on page 95! We have always loved the grocery store stuff at our house, I can't wait to try the food storage version! 

We used to store quite a bit of Stove Top Stuffing Mix in our food storage. Not any more! Stephanie has a homemade version on page 98. (Another two items I can cross off the list of what I must purchase at the store - I am thrilled!!!)

Growing a garden means you can have a fresh salad anytime you want it - spring, summer or fall. This usually means adding bottles of salad dressing to your food storage program. Since salad dressing doesn't have a very long shelf life, I replace them frequently (even the powdered packets).  This is a waste, I know, but I really didn't have a good alternative.  Well, Stephanie shows you how to make your own salad dressing from basic food storage ingredients! French, buttermilk ranch, and a vinaigrette with many variations are all in this book.

There are many spicy recipes you may want to try: Beefy Taco Rice, Classic Chili, Southwest Sweet Potato Gratin, and Bean and Rice Fajita Casserole; just to mention a few. There is also a dessert section and a very large gourmet mix section with all kinds of mouth watering desserts like Pecan Turtle Brownies, White Chocolate Sun-Dried Cherry Almond Chewy Cookies or Lemon Sour Cream Pound Cake with Mixed Berry Cream Glaze. Oh, and I shouldn't forget to mention that there is a section that covers making candy as well! All made with food storage ingredients! Wow! 

Some of the dessert recipes do list real butter as an ingredient. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that you can make your own real butter with shelf stable cream. So, you can have these wonderful desserts and still use all shelf stable ingredients.

Do yourself a favor, go to the Honeyville web site and order this book. If you would like to, you can do that from here (I don't get any compensation for it). You won't be sorry. The book will not disappoint you!

This book is gourmet food storage at its best!