What Would I Take?
If it comes to it. . . .
I have the luxury to abstractly think about this: If my city and neighborhood were exploding all around me would I stay or would I go? Either way, but especially if I go, what would I want to keep beside me?
The requirements are clear: Passport, whatever money is at hand, phone and charger, meds, a toothbrush, essential clothes with attention to good socks and the most versatile sweater. Perhaps a few photographs. As much water as can be carted.
This may be naïve to even consider given the necessity to make quick decisions. But I know my kitchen and where things are. The thought of leaving behind the ingredients to recreate the flavors of my birthplace seems impossible. They are my strength, the way I navigate and cope, these small essentials that would provide a sense of control over at least one aspect of my immediate circumstances. And along the road to wherever I end up they would still a hunger after moving on from food stations and the inevitable forage in foreign markets for important flavors to afford one source of comfort for myself and my fellow displaced.
I will hurriedly wrap up these:
Any herbs I can rip out of the frozen ground.
Probably cayenne pepper, cumin or a curry mix, and sumac to enliven blandness.
Garlic bulbs and shallots should be easy to find but take a handful of bulbs just in case.
Travel-size salt and pepper if I have them, if not pour some in individual sandwich bags.
A small bag of flour, although I’d consider Bisquick.
A small sack of rice.
Every loaf of bread in the house.
The two blocks of cheese in the refrigerator.
All the crackers, cookies, nuts, and dried fruit in the cabinets.
Mull over bottles of sauces but decide they'll be too heavy and, besides easy to reconstitute.
But definitely, the new jar of my favorite brand of strawberry jam and the smaller jar of peanut butter will come along.
Tea bags and ground coffee.
My Leatherman and the better of the two medium-size knives
The lightest of my pots or skillets in case, like the Afghanistan, Iranian, and Syrian refugees caught in the woods between Belarus and Poland last November, I’d have to cook out in the open.
A box of matches to start a fire.
Some questions for you before you go. . . .
The above reflects the recipe for my cooking life. What would yours be?
What recipe would you long to, must, make if you were far away from your home?
You're more pragmatic than me. I'd be worrying about my historic cookbook collection! But know I'd have to leave it (and my violins) behind. I'd probably grab my laptop (it has my book on it!), dog food, and whatever food we could eat cold. Maybe my electric tea kettle, two travel mugs, and some tea bags. If I could find electricity (worst case scenario there's a 3 prong plug in my car) and some water, we could always have a hot beverage. I'd probably also bring my two beloved expensive kitchen knives and my husband would bring our first aid kit, water bottles, hiking packs, and survival stuff like fire starting kit and emergency blankets. He's always more prepared than me.
Well, that settles it, we'll just have to meet up and share resources. But, yeah, my books...my husband said he'd bring a very thick book because who knows how long the time will be! I'm with him but he'd have to carry mine