Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

A hurricane is on the way, a blizzard looms on the horizon, or the high winds are in the forecast, there is a good likelihood that there will be a power outage. Maybe the power will be out for hours, days or even weeks. Time to prepare for the days ahead.

You’ve got your emergency preparedness kit and perfect pantry sorted out, so no worries about survival or rushing out to the market to face the panic buying of those less prepared than you. Now you can take this pre-storm time to prepare to be as comfortable as possible during the upcoming power outage. Bring the lanterns out and start preparing “Power Outage Turnovers.” These hardy turnovers will give you days of substantial, delicious meals that can be safe at room temperature. You can even avoid wasting food that would otherwise spoil when the refrigerator gives out without power by giving that food an extended life inside a delicious pastry case.

Prepare Well for the emergency / power outage

It may not be your preference to go through extreme weather or other emergency that takes down your power, but we can make the most of the situation with a bit of preparation. Prepare not only to survive, but to thrive.

Take care of food, water, warmth, comfort, communication and entertainment. Take a bit of time getting what you will want out and ready. Make sure you have a comfortable place to sleep and sit. Gather your lanterns. Charge your phones and extra phone chargers. Collect items that will enrich your time – books, playing cards, power-free projects (like knitting, cross-words or drawing), download movies or TV shows. And very importantly, make sure you have enough water/beverages and food at hand. In some areas, water stops pumping when power goes out, especially people on well water, so make sure you have enough not only for drinking but also for hygiene needs, and get your disinfectant wipes ready, too (more top tips and homemade wipe recipe available on Emergency Prep page). Make sure your food pantry stores have enough food that is good at room temperature (see ideas for creating the perfect food pantry on Pantry Prep page).

Power Outage Meals that don’t taste like “emergency food”

So now you have the basics, but lets actually eat well, eat delicious food that will keep us going. Look in the refrigerator or freezer to see if there is anything wonderful that may spoil if not cooked. Now could be a great time to cook it up and extend its life to eat later that day. And, if you put most cooked food into a pastry case, it will last even a couple extra days.

Coming from the practice around the world from South American Empanadas to Cornish Pastys, hardy food has been preserved and kept convenient to eat for lunches for miners and farmers around the world in delicious pastry cases. Of course, we love these foods today even if we are not down in a mine or even hiking or on a picnic. For example, if video gaming had an official food, it would probably be the Hot Pocket 😆. Anyway, we choose these foods because they are delicious and hardy. All these reasons make “Power Outage Turnovers” a perfect choice to make ahead of any forecast emergency or power outage.

My personal experience with eating well during a multi-day power outage

This past Summer, my community had a serious wind storm with some neighboring counties experiencing tornados. It brought my power down for four days and some of my neighbors power out for up to two weeks. Being prepared, as I was, made the experience a breeze. I had light, enrichment activities, the comfort of my home. The most enjoyable food I had was the coffee made by the neighbor on their special French press and the “power outage turnovers” I’d prepared when I heard the storm was coming. Even after four days, I always looked forward to my next meal of “Power Outage Turnovers.”

This winter, a blizzard threatened to put me and my family out of power for days. Again “power outage turnovers” came to the rescue. The video from the day of that blizzard is below, showing the making of these delicious meals that we enjoyed over the next few days.

The video recipe, filmed hours before a giant blizzard – see just how super easy and quick this recipe is to make

Keep this recipe at hand in your home, to be ready before any emergency

It may seem obvious, but we are lucky to have any forecast of an upcoming emergency. Weather related emergencies often give us enough time to make some turnovers beforehand with the food we have on hand, so keep this recipe in your pantry and puff pastry frozen in your freezer ready to cook these up when the occasion arises.

Prepare Well. Live Well.

So you love these “emergency” turnovers, its fine to make them for picnics, hiking, camping and even regular every day meals

Once you’ve eaten these, I think you’ll agree that they are lovely, casual meals to have any time. Even challenge the roll of Hot Pockets with your video gamer, to make these budget friendly, super easy, customized filling replacements!

Be inspired to try new fillings such as chili, stew, or your leftover (or as I call it “make ahead”) beef roast, potatoes and gravy. Make vegetarian ones with cauliflower cheese. Flirt with the idea of Mexican taco fillings, pizza toppings with loads of cheese, or flavorful curries inside. Make sandwich ones with turkey & cheese. And, definitely make dessert ones or breakfast pastry ones, with cherry, berry or apple fillings. All of these are delicious and just as super easy and quick to make as this “power outage turnover,” simply substituting the filling of your choice.

Enjoy!

What’s next?

Bookmark Ready and Thriving page on Emergency Preparedness and Extend Food Life, picking up tips now and keeping on top of new ideas to Prepare Well to Live Well.

SUBSCRIBE to Ready and Thriving YouTube channel and check back for more ways to keep prepared for emergencies and extend fresh food life.