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Questions and Answers
by Sally Strackbein
updated 03/27/1999
Y2K Kitchen isn't even a month old and I am overwhelmed by the response. The people who write to me could be my neighbors and friends. I want to reach out to each one. I realized today that by answering
each email individually, I am not accomplishing what I set out to do. I want to share my experience, both successes and failures and I want to share what I am learning along the way. What one person
asked, others probably want to know too, so I will answer the questions here.
Disclaimer:
If you need expert advice, go to an expert. I am not a doctor, lawyer, economist, financial planner or psychologist. I am a computer programmer and amateur cook. My answers are only my opinions.
Q: Is it possible to get any recipes that you had on your site previously?
A: No, the site didn't exist before the last week in February, 1999. This is all there is.
Q: What are "Just Whites"?
A:
Just Whites are powdered egg whites. They are found in the baking section of the grocery store. They come in a bluish green and white can about half the size of a 1 pound coffee can. Ask the store manager.
Q: Years ago I knew a woman that canned meats. I would like to see some recipes on your site for this. I would also like to read info on canning. Can you give me info on safe ways to can and
preserve?
A:
My site is geared to those who don't have the time or the inclination to do their own canning. I used to can when I lived in California and had apricot trees in my yard. My apricots always tasted better than the ones you buy in the store. I haven't canned for years Try:
www.home-canning.com
Q: I was reading a website about the uses of plastic bags
and remembered that they said DO NOT use kitchen trash bags to store anything in because the bags are treated with a pesticide. Could you look into this?
A:
I bought several boxes of various brands of the standard white kitchen garbage bags. They say, "Not recommended for food storage." I called the 800 numbers on the boxes and was told that they are not recommended because they are not airtight. I asked specifically about insecticide and was told that no insecticide is used. They said it was OK to use the bags for food in its original packaging. Please call for yourself and verify that any bags you use are not harmful.
Q: Do you still think anything meaningful will be done beyond the local community level?
A:
No, no one in any level higher than very local seems to have gotten past the talking stage. The inertia is too great. By the time elected officials realize that their constituents are going to be very angry and not vote for them again, it will be too late to do anything. The large non-profit organizations seem to have "we've always done it that way" syndrome. The problem is that they have never done Y2K before and it's different. That's why I tell you to prepare for yourself since no one else will prepare for you!
Q: As a professional computer person many may listen to you and respect your opinion. … I attempt to casually probe others for their awareness on Y2K…
A: This isn't really a
question, but I'll answer it anyway. I consider Y2K like a fire in a building. If I see a fire, I will sound the alarm. Y2K is an emergency ready to happen. I wiggle Y2K into conversations everywhere
. At the checkout counter people will notice all the cans in my cart and comment. I tell them I am stocking up for Y2K. Most of the time they ask a question. I have then educated 3 people; the person
ahead of me, the person behind me and the checker. I am a really private person, so this has been difficult for me to do. Each time becomes easier. I try not to be obnoxious about it.
Any intelligent person can speak about Y2K. We've all seen the chaos when a store or bank's computers are down, just ask people to think about what it would be like if 5% of the computers in their
lives were down. Rattle off the list:
Electric company
Water company
Telephone company
Post office
Supermarket
Gas Station
Internet provider
Air traffic control
Traffic signals
Pharmacy
Doctor's office
911
Fast food restaurants
Anything - everything (well - almost) is affected by computers
Q: I have a question, how long ahead of time can I buy canned goods? What is the shelf life of say, canned chili? I feel the same way as you, if there is no crisis, then a lot of hungry
people at food banks will get a bonus next year. But for now I want to prepare.
A: Some canned food has an expiration date on it. For those that are coded in weird ways, you can find a
can code decoder at:
www.novay2k.org/preparations.htm
A friend of mine called the 800
numbers for the various companies and came up with this document. You will need a Microsoft Word viewer if you don't have MS Word. The viewer is free from Microsoft.
Q: If you are interested in contacting a manufacturer of *** call 1-800-nnn-nnnn. They have ***available.
A:
A lot of truly wonderful products can be ordered by phone, mail or the Internet, but I buy from merchants I know and trust. I do not recommend anything I have not tested myself. My experience tells me that products are not always what they are advertised to be. My suggestion is to
buy from the stores you already go to and trust.
www.y2kkitchen.com Copyright © Sally Strackbein sally@y2kkitchen.com
Get more! Buy Y2K Kitchen - The Book (703)262-0300 voice/fax
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