The Prepping Thread - A Newer Beginning ;)

DigForVictory

Cheat. Start with at least one loaf in the freezer. Let technology do the heavy lifting & source a breadmaker. Or eschew such gadgets & enjoy baking your own? Long life unusually means all the nice bits removed...

[Deleted User]

Bread mix from the supermarket with a good long shelf life? I'll make soda bread if we're confined indoors and under a shutdown.  It only takes plain flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and some soured milk (bit of vinegar into skimmed milk left for 5 minutes to curdle works very well) it works with uht milk or reconstituted skimmed milk powder and you just mix all together, turn it out on to a board and knead it for a minute or so, chuck into a greased/oiled loaf tin or shape it into a round on a baking sheet and cut a deep cross in the top of the dough then bake it in the oven and you've a perfectly OK bread.  It doesn't keep as long as yeasted bread does but it toasts very well for a couple of days after it's made and is so very easy to do.  Another alternative is to make your own flatbreads which if they are like chapattis only take flour, water and a little fat rubbed in or oil mixed in. cook in a hot pan on the hob.

singlestep

I'd second the soda bread and flatbread recommendations. I follow Jack Monroe's soda bread recipe because I'm not great with baking and it has been fairly foolproof even for me! I usually keep some bread in the freezer too.*  There are some hot-dog style rolls or brioche type rolls that seem to last ages - through I rarely get them, they certainly helped tide one elderly neighbour over during the Beast from the East snow a couple of years back.

At this time of year I do like to have Co-op's part baked baguettes/bread rolls in in case of bad weather and low energy levels coinciding. It's not particularly MSE but get it because half of the packet is sealed from the other. I got some at the beginning of the month and the date is mid-April. 

*Our small freezer is currently full.  No space for getting rid of passengers in the flour or for spare bread.  Might have to look in to those other options!  And re-think the rest of my preps; somebody on the train was saying something about some shops running out of hand sanitiser and some disinfectants.

baggins11

I have also noticed hand sanitiser has been out of stock for over a week in my local supermarket. I had already bought what i need but it did make me think about other things I might need. So far I haven't bought face masks but I am worried I will regret not getting them.  It is all such a dilemma deciding what to get especially when on a budget.

I would also second part bake baguettes as they have a decent shelf life and I am told by my family they taste ok - we use them occasionally for packed lunches if I haven't had time to put the breadmaker on.  

It seems like there is definitely more awareness around.  Our school sent out a generic email on procedures when returning from various countries and one of my children said at least one student is absent from school self isolating having been in italy over half term.  

euronorris

We always keep bread in the freezer. We can have weeks where we barely eat it, and others where we fly through it.

Also, I love the part baked baguettes! They are lush, and we always use them for planned days out for our picnics. Bake them fresh in the morning, as soon as I get up that day, let them cool, then make sandwich and pack rest of picnic and off we go

baggins11

I have just had a text msg from my doctors with the generic travel/self isolation advice!  Seems like organised plans are being put in place.

euronorris

@baggins11 just checked my email, and have similar email from our local school/nursery (they are connected). No idea if other children have come back from italy etc. Here's hoping they haven't. 

MingVase

There's nothing wrong with wrapping a scarf around your lower face when in a crowded place and then loosening it out in the open. Much more comfortable than a face mask.

Zentimes

A face mask is mainly meant for people who are actually ill, to prevent them spreading their virus particles to anyone else. The only type that works has a respirator, and must be fitted properly. For most people they're pretty useless. I was checking some out on Ebay. They incorrectly advertised as being Coronavirus suitable (they weren't, they were simple dust masks for DIY). Beware of being scammed.

singlestep

I did invest in face masks, just a few. I'm prone to rubbing my face and my eyes without thinking and it's at least a barrier to remind me not to.  And, Zentimes says, to prevent me from spreading germs.  I've also got some clear safety glasses for the same reason.