SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
LOL, do any of us ever get completely finished organizing? Just when I think I'm done, something else pops up that needs redoing.
Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: May 29 ~ June 4, 2022
- Thread starter ReneeT
- Start date
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
You are well on top of things.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I know where everything is located, but it all can stand to be more organized. I've been telling Cary that I need help with some rearranging on a couple of higher shelves in the pantry room. I don't like to climb, and he's so much taller than I am. I'm always looking for ways to better organize.
briches
Veteran Member
Continuing to uplift you in my prayers!
WanderLore
Veteran Member
On it Moldy
Ya'll are making me cry. I am SO BLESSED to have the awesome support I do - my cancer team (radiation therapists, oncologist, speech therapist, acupuncturist), my family (especially DH and 2 of my DDs), my work friends (that have offered so much and have told me they have a driving schedule of who takes me when - when I get to the point I cant' drive), my RL friends, and my online friends.
It means so much. I can't comprehend how people could do this alone.
It means so much. I can't comprehend how people could do this alone.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
While I am in the process of converting lots of ground beef from my freezer into shelf stable canned meat, I'm quickly running out of storage space. I have enough veggies, canned meats, sauces, gravy mixes, rice, pasta, etc. to have a huge variety of ingredients and menu options for the long haul. With the remaining storage space, I have left in my house, I'm considering just buying "meals in a can" such as soups and stews to finish with. Will continue to replace everything else as it's used, but for new storage, it's soups and stews.
Do any of you store soups and stews? If so, what brands do you like? We've never been really big on soup or stew. I have a few cans of Campbell's Chunky soups, but we haven't tried them, yet. Any other "meals in a can" that you like that I haven't thought of? We absolutely hate any and all of the Chef Boyardee canned products.
Do any of you store soups and stews? If so, what brands do you like? We've never been really big on soup or stew. I have a few cans of Campbell's Chunky soups, but we haven't tried them, yet. Any other "meals in a can" that you like that I haven't thought of? We absolutely hate any and all of the Chef Boyardee canned products.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I have a lot of chili already stored. We like chili with beans over white rice topped with shredded cheddar and green onions. I have chili with no beans for chili dogs. I count chili as one of my canned meats, along with Spam, tuna, canned chicken, etc.
Never tried canned tamales. Only what we get at our favorite Mexican place.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
actually canned tamales are not bad. I can eat them right out of the can. I also have several other chef boyardee canned meal in one that I'll eat, I don't know about DH.
As for soups and stews, there are very few soups that I can stand and the only one DH will eat is chicken noodle when he's sick. I do like Progresso Split Pea, and I think its Annies Tomato Bisque, puts any other tomato soup to shame, but I will eat regular tomato soup. As for stews, any of the canned one make me gag, but DH will eat it, that along with Chili w/beans. I do have some canned Lentil soup that is alright, but then again I love lentils.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Cary got sick off of Dinty Moore's Beef Stew one time, and he hasn't eaten any kind of stew since then. He just doesn't care for those type of meals. He's a meat and potatoes man, but for storage, if I can find a few cans of stew and soup that he will eat, I want to add those to our overall food storage plan.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
There is a brand at D25 store called Southgate, they have decent chili and also beef stew, it smells better than any other canned stew.
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
The aldi brand beef stew isn't bad. It's what I feed the chickens in the winter when the weather stays at zero for a couple days. Dh has used it as a base before and added stew beef and potatoes to make somewhat homemade beef stew.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Clam chowder
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Cary is allergic to clams. I've never eaten any clam chowder. I've heard it's really good, though.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thanks to All for your much appreciated suggestions. Tomorrow is shopping day, and I wanted to get ya'lls inputs, before buying up a bunch of stuff. I guess I'll just have to look over what's available and choose something I think Cary will eat. I'm not as picky as he is. Maybe, I can get him to pick out something that he might like to try. He knows the purpose for me wanting to buy soup or "meals in a can".
Good news! My car is fixed. Our mechanic called this afternoon and told us we can pick it up tomorrow afternoon. Just needed freon in the ac. Apparently, there was a small leak. Less than $100 to fix! That was a huge relief.
Good news! My car is fixed. Our mechanic called this afternoon and told us we can pick it up tomorrow afternoon. Just needed freon in the ac. Apparently, there was a small leak. Less than $100 to fix! That was a huge relief.
TxGal
Day by day
We'll second Annie's Tomato Bisque! It is well worth the price, I believe now it's north of $4.00.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Did the first of the month shop today. Gas is now $4.79! So I figured I would stay local. Lord. Prices.
5 lb bag of navel oranges: $13.99
1 tiny ear of corn: $1.00 EACH
Cheapest generic loaf of white bread: $3.00
Stuff like this. I didn't get much at all at the grocery. Went to Dollar General. Prices were better.
We don't need a lot but still have to have things we can't produce.
Imitation crab meat was only $2.25. So I got a pack and a dollar box of crackers. Made the boys crab dip and crackers for lunch, which they really liked. Just the crab meat, little sour cream and cream cheese, 1/8 c water, salt and pepper. Heat up and mash it. Pretty good.
I had a whole chicken I cooked and made big tub of chicken salad for sandwiches.
Gardens are doing fantastic! Hopefully will have some groceries coming in before long.
5 lb bag of navel oranges: $13.99
1 tiny ear of corn: $1.00 EACH
Cheapest generic loaf of white bread: $3.00
Stuff like this. I didn't get much at all at the grocery. Went to Dollar General. Prices were better.
We don't need a lot but still have to have things we can't produce.
Imitation crab meat was only $2.25. So I got a pack and a dollar box of crackers. Made the boys crab dip and crackers for lunch, which they really liked. Just the crab meat, little sour cream and cream cheese, 1/8 c water, salt and pepper. Heat up and mash it. Pretty good.
I had a whole chicken I cooked and made big tub of chicken salad for sandwiches.
Gardens are doing fantastic! Hopefully will have some groceries coming in before long.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
2.53 on walmart.com
Glad you had a better day, Moldy..........may there be many more in Jesus' Name be blessed......
I loathe/detest canned food......but I can't can (too unstable to lift, load, and work it all) and have no one to help me do anything really.......sons won't help me organize or even stack in boxes......sigh........but I decided to buy something pre-cooked which is still tasty and somewhat nutritious......Chef Boyardee equals dung IMO.....bought some pre-cooked East Indian packets...Maya Kaimal chana masala, Tasty Bite vegetable tikka masala, and some ready to eat rice (not Minute Maid)...mostly organic soups to mix/match with other fillers...no pre-cooked pastas......yuck IMO.......the pouches of Indian food usually have a good shelf life and IMO stores longer than that in proper conditions...tomato based products all darken eventually...so I haven't gone nutz with them..........I do store soups for "those" I feel led to help........hope it isn't all the neighbors ! My sons are on my list.......perhaps they'll help MOM when their stomachs rumble..........
I loathe/detest canned food......but I can't can (too unstable to lift, load, and work it all) and have no one to help me do anything really.......sons won't help me organize or even stack in boxes......sigh........but I decided to buy something pre-cooked which is still tasty and somewhat nutritious......Chef Boyardee equals dung IMO.....bought some pre-cooked East Indian packets...Maya Kaimal chana masala, Tasty Bite vegetable tikka masala, and some ready to eat rice (not Minute Maid)...mostly organic soups to mix/match with other fillers...no pre-cooked pastas......yuck IMO.......the pouches of Indian food usually have a good shelf life and IMO stores longer than that in proper conditions...tomato based products all darken eventually...so I haven't gone nutz with them..........I do store soups for "those" I feel led to help........hope it isn't all the neighbors ! My sons are on my list.......perhaps they'll help MOM when their stomachs rumble..........
TxGal
Day by day
Wow, that's a great price! It must be regional pricing, it doesn't even show up on line at the nearest big Walmart (about an hour away).
Thank you all for your participation in this thread - I really appreciate all the ideas I get from you folks!
Big black clouds were starting to pile up quickly in the west when I got off work this morning; but I had a couple of things to do at work before I could leave - fit test (N-95 mask), weekly covid test, and a chat with the librarian - then I headed for the door.
First, I hit Rural King for dog and cat food - and let me tell you, I had a heck of a time finding the dog food - those turkeys changed the picture of the dog that was on the bag of the type I get! I was walking up and down the aisle muttering "Where is the Border Collie, dang it?!" and finally had to pull out my phone to look at the photo I'd taken of the bag to see what type it was - hmmph! Then I had to tote a 40# bag of sunflower seeds half way down an aisle to the buggy because said aisle was blocked by a hand truck and a row of skids of other stuff so I couldn't get the buggy through. I grabbed 40# of pure cane sugar - it had new packaging too (I tell you - they are all out to get me!) It now comes in a white bag and is Rural King brand, rather than brown bag Farmer's Pride. I did make it to the seed racks without any probelm so a couple of packets of bean seed ended up in the buggy, and I was finally on my way to the checkout and out the door.
I'd arranged to meet up with a lady who has a booth at the Farmer's Market on Fridays to pick up some elderberry plants so headed that direction; then zipped into WM for chicken for the feral cat, kid snacks and fruit. I'd wanted to stock up on spaghetti sauce too, but they didn't have the type that we liked, so I will check again later - or maybe see if the small local grocery store can order me a case like they did of pudding mix... There was an older lady outside standing at the taxi pick up point when I went in to the store, I'd nodded and told her 'Good Morning' as I went in; she was still waiting there when I came back out, so I asked her if she needed a ride - she was going mostly the same direction I was so it was no big deal to deke over a couple of blocks and drop her off; maybe it saved her a few bucks too.
Glad I went to WM before I went to Aldi as Aldi's chicken section was pretty skimpy. I picked up my fridge basics there, and then made a quick dive into the small local grocery store for fresh meat before finally hitting the country road to home. Got home, unloaded the car, took another look at the storm clouds building up and getting closer in the west and decided that getting compost from the sale barn was likely a lost cause, so grabbed a quick shower and fell into bed.
Speaking of Aldi, and the previous posts about soups - I'm not a fan of canned soup. About the only canned soup I buy for my use would be the cream of chicken or cream of mushroom that I occasionally use in cassaroles - a case of each will easily last me a year unless Hubby goes on a tuna cassarole kick. Hubby does like the large 28 oz cans of soup from Aldi - Deutshce Kuche brand; and the ones he likes are Hearty Pea soup, Harvest Potato, and Fall Harvest Vegetable. I think that they are seasonal though, so won't likely be found again until closer to fall. Each can will feed him three lunches with his usual sides of fruit and a biscuit or corn bread. I do can pints of soup at home - usually ham and bean, chicken and veggie, or beef and veggie. I use frozen mixed veggies (peas, carrots, corn, green beans) plus fresh potatoes, and usually pick up small bags of frozen limas, field peas, and okra to mix in with the mixed frozen veggies. I use chicken broth for the liquid in the chicken soup, and (very) diluted onion soup mix for the liquid in the beef soups.
Back to today:
Woke up early this afternoon and found out that the storm had blown over without dropping any rain, so was grumbling at myself for not going to the sale barn, but decided that the way the morning had gone, I'd more than likely just saved myself more aggravation, and I probably needed the sleep worse than I needed the compost anyway...
Mercury goes out of retrograde tomorrow, so maybe things will start running a little bit more according to plan for a bit!! According to MY plan anyway; the Lord might have a different plan in mind
There are a few showers forecast for tomorrow morning, but if it doesn't rain before I get up, I will try to make it to the sale barn for compost. I'll have to tarp the load and leave it until Saturday or Sunday to unload as I work Thu/Fri nights. I also need to get the rest of the stuff in the front garden planted if I can. I want to go over the back garden with the tiller one more time to hopefully kill off any creeping Charlie that survived my cousin's tilling last weekend; then will plant my sunflowers and sweet corn.
Well, I keep dozing off as I'm trying to type this, so I reckon my nap must have worn off; guess I'd I'd better post this and head to bed...
Take care all; stay safe out there!
Big black clouds were starting to pile up quickly in the west when I got off work this morning; but I had a couple of things to do at work before I could leave - fit test (N-95 mask), weekly covid test, and a chat with the librarian - then I headed for the door.
First, I hit Rural King for dog and cat food - and let me tell you, I had a heck of a time finding the dog food - those turkeys changed the picture of the dog that was on the bag of the type I get! I was walking up and down the aisle muttering "Where is the Border Collie, dang it?!" and finally had to pull out my phone to look at the photo I'd taken of the bag to see what type it was - hmmph! Then I had to tote a 40# bag of sunflower seeds half way down an aisle to the buggy because said aisle was blocked by a hand truck and a row of skids of other stuff so I couldn't get the buggy through. I grabbed 40# of pure cane sugar - it had new packaging too (I tell you - they are all out to get me!) It now comes in a white bag and is Rural King brand, rather than brown bag Farmer's Pride. I did make it to the seed racks without any probelm so a couple of packets of bean seed ended up in the buggy, and I was finally on my way to the checkout and out the door.
I'd arranged to meet up with a lady who has a booth at the Farmer's Market on Fridays to pick up some elderberry plants so headed that direction; then zipped into WM for chicken for the feral cat, kid snacks and fruit. I'd wanted to stock up on spaghetti sauce too, but they didn't have the type that we liked, so I will check again later - or maybe see if the small local grocery store can order me a case like they did of pudding mix... There was an older lady outside standing at the taxi pick up point when I went in to the store, I'd nodded and told her 'Good Morning' as I went in; she was still waiting there when I came back out, so I asked her if she needed a ride - she was going mostly the same direction I was so it was no big deal to deke over a couple of blocks and drop her off; maybe it saved her a few bucks too.
Glad I went to WM before I went to Aldi as Aldi's chicken section was pretty skimpy. I picked up my fridge basics there, and then made a quick dive into the small local grocery store for fresh meat before finally hitting the country road to home. Got home, unloaded the car, took another look at the storm clouds building up and getting closer in the west and decided that getting compost from the sale barn was likely a lost cause, so grabbed a quick shower and fell into bed.
Speaking of Aldi, and the previous posts about soups - I'm not a fan of canned soup. About the only canned soup I buy for my use would be the cream of chicken or cream of mushroom that I occasionally use in cassaroles - a case of each will easily last me a year unless Hubby goes on a tuna cassarole kick. Hubby does like the large 28 oz cans of soup from Aldi - Deutshce Kuche brand; and the ones he likes are Hearty Pea soup, Harvest Potato, and Fall Harvest Vegetable. I think that they are seasonal though, so won't likely be found again until closer to fall. Each can will feed him three lunches with his usual sides of fruit and a biscuit or corn bread. I do can pints of soup at home - usually ham and bean, chicken and veggie, or beef and veggie. I use frozen mixed veggies (peas, carrots, corn, green beans) plus fresh potatoes, and usually pick up small bags of frozen limas, field peas, and okra to mix in with the mixed frozen veggies. I use chicken broth for the liquid in the chicken soup, and (very) diluted onion soup mix for the liquid in the beef soups.
Back to today:
Woke up early this afternoon and found out that the storm had blown over without dropping any rain, so was grumbling at myself for not going to the sale barn, but decided that the way the morning had gone, I'd more than likely just saved myself more aggravation, and I probably needed the sleep worse than I needed the compost anyway...
Mercury goes out of retrograde tomorrow, so maybe things will start running a little bit more according to plan for a bit!! According to MY plan anyway; the Lord might have a different plan in mind
There are a few showers forecast for tomorrow morning, but if it doesn't rain before I get up, I will try to make it to the sale barn for compost. I'll have to tarp the load and leave it until Saturday or Sunday to unload as I work Thu/Fri nights. I also need to get the rest of the stuff in the front garden planted if I can. I want to go over the back garden with the tiller one more time to hopefully kill off any creeping Charlie that survived my cousin's tilling last weekend; then will plant my sunflowers and sweet corn.
Well, I keep dozing off as I'm trying to type this, so I reckon my nap must have worn off; guess I'd I'd better post this and head to bed...
Take care all; stay safe out there!
JasmineAndLace
Senior Member
I like to keep canned soups on hand. The ones I store are Campbell's Chunky and Amy's Organic. Amy's have some low sodium types, too, so that is good for keeping sodium consumption down. In addition to canned chicken, beef and tuna, I also buy Hormel canned smoked ham. It comes in 5 ounce cans and is good to use in scalloped potatoes and ham and beans. Sometimes I just open a can and slice it for ham and cheese sandwiches.
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
I actually really like the Hormel Compleats chicken and mashed potatoes. I know they're not good for me, but back when I was working 14 hrs. a day, I just wanted something fast to eat and go to bed.
The velveeta microwave cups aren't bad, I stir some bacon bits in the top.
Of course, YMMV...
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
Well, I'm forgetting that I can can my own soups and stews now. Duh! Taco soup and chicken noodle is about the only kind Cary likes (homemade, of course). Maybe, I can make up a big batch of that and can it. That would solve my problem. That's something I know he will eat.
Question.....If I decide to can my own soup, would using frozen/canned veggies become too mushy during the canning process? What part do you can, and what ingredients should you wait to add when you're ready to open it and eat? I don't know the first thing about canning soups.
Question.....If I decide to can my own soup, would using frozen/canned veggies become too mushy during the canning process? What part do you can, and what ingredients should you wait to add when you're ready to open it and eat? I don't know the first thing about canning soups.
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I keep some of those around here. A very fast meal for me and its gluten-free.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
How long of a shelf life do they have? I wouldn't want those, unless they can be kept for a year, at least. I like to buy longer shelf stable products. I might check into them just to see what's available. Wouldn't hurt to have a few if we find some we like.
drafter
Veteran Member
This week we’re prepping for the future by getting our roof replaced. Fresh paint on the barn and outbuildings. A new “gorilla cart” to be able to better haul stuff around the property. A new chicken coop that will hopefully be predator proof this time since we already lost two chickens in the old cobbled together coop that was here. Also bought some perimeter light/alarms to keep track of movement on the property. Still hoping to get a small orchard planted later this fall. So many projects.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I use the small cans of smoked ham when I make scalloped potatoes. That's our meat for that night. I just made that 2 nights ago. We eat only out of my pantry to keep things in good rotation. I'll be replacing a few of those cans of ham, today. I use one, and buy 2 to replace.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Still can't get the second shelving unit up in my 10x12 walk in closet. The hot water heater closet is next to the area I want the shelves and when the hot water heater connection failed and flooded badly it soaked that wall and part of the floor. I've still got a fan on the area to help dry it out. When it dries DH is going to paint kilnz on it and then over lay it with cedar boards. so my organizing in my closet is put on hold for the time being. Now I need to get busy in my pantry room.
I've been eating too many processed foods and my feet have been swollen and it raised my BP. I'm drinking lemon water and taking beet root powder and only eating eggs and fresh veggies. The swelling in my feet has subsided and my BP is better but not yet where it needs to be. My body is just not use to eating so much processed foods. I've put the remaining Nathans in the freezer for better times. I'll probably be in deep do do if the only meat protein I can get comes out of a can.
I've been eating too many processed foods and my feet have been swollen and it raised my BP. I'm drinking lemon water and taking beet root powder and only eating eggs and fresh veggies. The swelling in my feet has subsided and my BP is better but not yet where it needs to be. My body is just not use to eating so much processed foods. I've put the remaining Nathans in the freezer for better times. I'll probably be in deep do do if the only meat protein I can get comes out of a can.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
The small cans of ham of Butterfield case of 12 are still a good price at $11.40 on wm.com, at least in my area anyway. I have several cases.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I may order those instead of buying the individual cans, Judy. Thanks for letting me know.
Cary does have BP problems, and has to take medication for it. I don't use the canned meats all the time, and it's mostly the chicken that I get at Sam's. I have to limit how much processed foods he gets, so I only use the ham, Spam, and other canned meats sparingly.
Almost ready to leave to pick up my car, and on to do our grocery shopping. Looks like storms are in our forecast for today. Hope they wait, until we get back home. I hate shopping in the rain.
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I just looked at one in the pantry and the "best by" date was still over a year away. Plus obviously they would very likely still be good after that date too.
WanderLore
Veteran Member
Keystone is good can meat. Only thing hubs could eat like that when he was on dialysis.
Rained again this morning. Little hike this Sunday. Only 3 miles away. Can't afford anything more than that.
Rained again this morning. Little hike this Sunday. Only 3 miles away. Can't afford anything more than that.
Marseydoats
Veteran Member
I stopped eating them for awhile and had some that were 2 years past date (the spaghetti). I figured that I'd have to give them to the chickens, but they were fine.
Well, no sale barn compost (loader got called to work at a different sale barn) and no putting plants in the garden right now - they are spraying herbicide in the field across the road. I'm - weirdly - tired enough that I might go ahead and go back to bed in a little bit to take my pre-work nap early; then try to get my plants in late this afternoon after the wind has settled some or changed direction. I can also try to get them in tomorrow morning after work. I need to run to daughter's house sometime either tomorrow or early Saturday morning to empty her fridge and then restock whatever I throw out. I'll add a couple of those 'breakfast bowl' frozen meals in so the boys can fix their own breakfast meals when they wake up after they get home from their trip; then I'll pick them up after I've had a few hours of post-work sleep. Saturday is daughter's birthday, so I'm sure she'll want to get a little peaceful sleep (aka: no video games blaring, no kids arguing, no dog barking, etc... before her friends come over to sit around the fire pit and swim in the pool. I imagine I'll have the boys that evening and into Sunday.
Hubby doesn't complain of the veggies in the home canned soup getting mushy, SB. The only time I really eat the home canned soup is if I dump a jar in a small baking dish, bring it up to bubbling in the oven, then drop biscuit dough on top so it's kinda like a pot pie, maybe, sort of... I put the veggies that I want to use in to the pint jars frozen, add potatoes on top of them, then the raw meat, followed by the liquid I choose to use - broth or watered down onion soup mix. They go in the canner for 60 minutes, so cook and can at the same time. I'm not sure what length of time you would do quarts. I also can beef stew by lightly browning the chunks of beef and adding them to the jar of potatoes, carrots, and celery; very thinned down brown gravy mix is the liquid I add - it does not thicken it a lot so no concerns about 'canning gravy'.
Many of the processed foods have too much sodium in them to suit us, so I store more 'ingredients' than I do whole meals, other than some canned soups - and most of those I consider to be an 'ingredient' lol! I do have a few grab and go things on the shelf like Mountain house, but we don't really like them, so not a lot. I may pick up a few of the different 'Compleats' the next time I am at the store - I think Dollar General has them. I can try them out at work. I'd like to be able to keep more than Mountain House in my locker. I discovered that - at least at night - the coffee machines at work function even if we are on generator power. I have tried making some of the Knorr packet meals at work by dumping them in to a large styrofoam cup and adding 200* water from the coffee machine, and slapping a lid on, then wrapping it - it works in a pinch, but if you use the Alfredo or Stroganoff ones everything is kinda stuck together as it's difficult to stir. The chicken fried rice and Teriyaki noodle ones come out better, but a bit of freeze dried chicken is nice to have to add in. I now keep an Artic brand wide mouth insulated metal container in my work locker to fix the those meals in; it works pretty good, but if you are using meat (pre-cooked only) you need to add it after the rice or noodles have already soaked up most of the liquid.
Well, off to bed for me; grandog is already snoozing on the rug by my bed so I don't think he'll mind
Take care all; have a great day!
Hubby doesn't complain of the veggies in the home canned soup getting mushy, SB. The only time I really eat the home canned soup is if I dump a jar in a small baking dish, bring it up to bubbling in the oven, then drop biscuit dough on top so it's kinda like a pot pie, maybe, sort of... I put the veggies that I want to use in to the pint jars frozen, add potatoes on top of them, then the raw meat, followed by the liquid I choose to use - broth or watered down onion soup mix. They go in the canner for 60 minutes, so cook and can at the same time. I'm not sure what length of time you would do quarts. I also can beef stew by lightly browning the chunks of beef and adding them to the jar of potatoes, carrots, and celery; very thinned down brown gravy mix is the liquid I add - it does not thicken it a lot so no concerns about 'canning gravy'.
Many of the processed foods have too much sodium in them to suit us, so I store more 'ingredients' than I do whole meals, other than some canned soups - and most of those I consider to be an 'ingredient' lol! I do have a few grab and go things on the shelf like Mountain house, but we don't really like them, so not a lot. I may pick up a few of the different 'Compleats' the next time I am at the store - I think Dollar General has them. I can try them out at work. I'd like to be able to keep more than Mountain House in my locker. I discovered that - at least at night - the coffee machines at work function even if we are on generator power. I have tried making some of the Knorr packet meals at work by dumping them in to a large styrofoam cup and adding 200* water from the coffee machine, and slapping a lid on, then wrapping it - it works in a pinch, but if you use the Alfredo or Stroganoff ones everything is kinda stuck together as it's difficult to stir. The chicken fried rice and Teriyaki noodle ones come out better, but a bit of freeze dried chicken is nice to have to add in. I now keep an Artic brand wide mouth insulated metal container in my work locker to fix the those meals in; it works pretty good, but if you are using meat (pre-cooked only) you need to add it after the rice or noodles have already soaked up most of the liquid.
Well, off to bed for me; grandog is already snoozing on the rug by my bed so I don't think he'll mind
Take care all; have a great day!