Post-Apocalyptic Recipes?

Hey, all! This is probably the geekiest question this forum has yet seen ; I'm hoping the local foodies will take it in good spirits.

I'm co-host of a locally produced podcast called All Games Considered http://www.agcpodcast.info. We cover news and views relating to that geekiest of hobbies: role-playing games. Yes, that's games like Dungeons and Dragons.

One of the segments I produce for the show is called the RPG Buffet http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/RPGBuffet. The Buffet is a group of role-playing enthusiasts who meet once a month to try out a different role-playing game each month. We then review the game we played for the show.

We're also food fans. When we first started doing this a few years ago we'd just bring take-out food, but then we decided to start having a pot-luck, and then that evolved into planned meals, with at least one menu item that thematically reflects the game we played in some way. So we've done such things as tomato-basil soup and garlic bread for a game about vampires, cocktail party hors d'oeurves and martinis for a game where you play super-spies (because James Bond always seems to wind up at a cocktail party), and devil's food cake for a game where you play demon hunters. We share our menu and recipes with the listeners.

The July game will be a post-apocalyptic horror game. Think of shows like Jeremiah, The Day After mini-series from the '80s, or the recently-cancelled Jericho (CBS). Movies like Mad Max, I Am Legend, Judge Dredd, and On The Beach also fall in this genre.

We've been racking our brains to think of a recipe (or recipes) that tie in to the post-apocalyptic genre in some fashion. I've been nosing around some of the survivalist web sites, but they're pretty short on recipes (and loooooooooong on conspiracy theories). We'd rather not have our meal consist of MREs or beef jerky!

So I come here to see if maybe you guys had some suggestions for a post-apocalyptic dish?

It has been suggested that we do something with locally-produced ingredients, because in any post-apocalyptic situation, humans would have to eat what they could grow themselves. It's also been suggested that we look for recipes featuring ingredients that can be stored long-term, like dried legumes. But beyond that, we haven't come up with anything.

I'd love to hear your suggestions! Thanks in advance,

Marsha White (not the other Marsha. who's much cooler than me anyway)

Wow, after an endorsement like that, how can I resist this project? And I seem to have some free time on my hands, anyway. Heh.

I love this whole idea of a game-themed potluck, but this particular theme is very challenging, especially if you want to eschew (rather than chew) the freeze-dried, last-forever sorts of foods that are unappealing at best until desperation has set in.

I'm a big Stephen King fan, and there's a scene in the book "Desperation" (don't bother with the movie, it blew) where our band of main characters have hidden themselves away from a supernaturally psychotic state trooper in an abandoned movie theater during a vicious sandstorm. One of the characters is a retired veterinarian who's led them there because it's where he and his fellow alcoholic reprobate buddies hang out to drink and play cards. They have a store of supplies that includes cheap booze, tinned sardines and Ritz crackers. Everyone's so hungry that even these meager rations are like manna from heaven. Now, of course you guys don't want to sit around and eat sardines directly from a can - but! I think it might be a good idea to incorporate edibles that come in cans and jars and boxes. And I think hearty cold hors d'oeuvres are the way to go.

How about some delicious shelf-stable wheat crackers topped with roasted red peppers from a jar, a few capers, and some fancy tinned white anchovy filets, drizzled with a fantastic olive oil?

Bagel crisps come in all flavors these days, and they last practically forever until they're opened. Try topping a sea salt bagel crisp with a tapenade of cured ham, chopped green and black olives, a good balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Or - if you're feeling cheeky, you could substitute Spam for the ham *ducks*

If it's just post-apocalypse, there may still be bread in the deserted markets. Make some pumpernickel toast points and top them with smoked salmon (which comes in a sealed plastic package) and a nice horseradish/dill cream cheese spread. You have to use the cream cheese up before it spoils from non-refrigeration, right? Yeah, yeah, I know - cheating a little, but still defensible.

You see where I'm going with this. I'd recommend stopping by Lotsa Pasta - they have a lot of great gourmet items in bottles, jars and cans in the middle section of the store. You could definitely get some inspiration there. And you could decorate the spread with canned food, and make a cocktail that incorporates Tang!

I want in on this! I joined your yahoo group. Plus it looks like you have LOTS of women and the men I play with always groan at my pink dice.

I think you need something spit-roasted and everyone should get a can of surprise. By that, I mean everyone should get a can of something with no label and they have to eat straight from the can.

But Marsha's ideas would taste better.

Wow, after an endorsement like that, how can I resist this project?

I was hoping you'd chime in!

...How about some delicious shelf-stable wheat crackers topped with roasted red peppers from a jar, a few capers, and some fancy tinned white anchovy filets, drizzled with a fantastic olive oil?

Bagel crisps come in all flavors these days, and they last practically forever until they're opened. Try topping a sea salt bagel crisp with a tapenade of cured ham, chopped green and black olives, a good balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Or - if you're feeling cheeky, you could substitute Spam for the ham *ducks*...

You see where I'm going with this. I'd recommend stopping by Lotsa Pasta - they have a lot of great gourmet items in bottles, jars and cans in the middle section of the store. You could definitely get some inspiration there. And you could decorate the spread with canned food, and make a cocktail that incorporates Tang!

Marsha, those are some AWESOME suggestions! We could do a shelf-stable canape' theme! With crackers, bagel crisps, and toast made from homemade bread (I'm going to be experimenting with Bittman's No-Knead bread recipe (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/dining/08mini.html) this weekend), and all sorts of toppings out of cans. I'm not far from Lotsa Potsa--heck, I pass them on the way to work every day--so I will definitely put this to the group.

Keep the ideas coming!

Potted Meat (doctored up, of course) and Fava beans on pita chips

Curried Red Lentil Salad

Homemade Pickles (to use up the last of the cucumbers)

Growlers of a good microbrew or homebrewed beer

Bacon-wrapped Water Chestnuts

I want in on this! I joined your yahoo group. Plus it looks like you have LOTS of women and the men I play with always groan at my pink dice.

Hey, Shelli! I'm sorry, but right now we are full-up on our membership. We just can't squeeze in any more gamers. But thanks for your interest. (And be sure to listen to the podcast!

Also: YES! Another gamer with pink dice! *happy dance* I'm going to stock up on some more myself when I got to Gen Con in August.

I think you need something spit-roasted and everyone should get a can of surprise. By that, I mean everyone should get a can of something with no label and they have to eat straight from the can.

If half the group didn't have food sensitivity issues, I'd be willing to suggest the Surprise! Canned Menu. But we've got one person who's diabetic, another who has a intolerance to fish and shellfish, and a third with a bona-fide food allergy (as in, she goes into anaphylactic shock when exposed) to onion family products--leeks, chives, and of course onion. So surprises are a no-no.

Roasting something on a spit is certainly not out of the question, however. We grilled lamb last month, because in the fantasy adventure we played (the Deryni RPG, if you've heard of it), the gamemaster told us that our characters would be escorting a caravan of nobles to a certain kingdom. That meant they'd eating on the road, which meant cooking over an open fire. So we butterflied some lamb and went to town! We love grilling out when the weather permits, so maybe we can get our hands on some wild game or fowl--quail, pigeon, venison. If push comes to shove, there's always Cornish hen or chicken, I guess.

One more: an ersatz Nicoise canape with decent canned tuna, canned white potato slices, olives and canned green beans - if you season it well, it could taste good!

I'm seeing the Buffet members in a couple of hours, because today is our annual outing to Huber's (we're doing a wine and cheese and fresh fruit menu for tonight's game). I will be sure to pass on the suggestions so far!

Thanks again, and keep 'em coming!

In a post-apocalyptic world one thing would be for sure: there would be none of the farm species we currently enjoy as staples. Dependant upon humans for too long they simply have lost the survival skills of their wild cousins. There would be exceptions to this rule (the longhorn,) but by-and-large we would have to sustain ourselves on wild game. Depending upon how it all went down, other species might also have disappeared (ie. a nuclear holocaust would wipe out surface dwellers, where as subterraneans would fare better.) Wild game is tough, so that would effect cooking techniques. Here is a few ideas:

Burgoo of mole, field mouse and possum with dried beans, mushrooms and foraged greens

Jerked Bat on a skewer with root vegetable ragout (assuming they were protected by cave walls)

Smoked Carp with Ramp salad and fried Kudzu

Bugs would be on the menu, as they have the highest mutanogenic rate. Supposedly they have a nutty taste:

Toasted Cockroach Salad with baby field greens and a wild berry vinaigrette

For dessert, a lesson from Family Guy: Twinkies have the half-life of carbon...

Twinkie Parfait with canned fruit, coconut cream and coffee syrup


For your meal, just substitute normal land game meats for the critters. Mutton, rabbit, venison or boar should do just fine. To approximate the roaches, try poaching shell- on pistachios in a 1/3 combination of soy, worcestershire and kitchen bouquet to water for a few hours, until the nut turns creamy...

Good Luck! and remind me, did I leave my Rod of Seven Parts in my Dwarven Stronghold? or did I drop it camping the Death Squad on Velious?

;D

In a post-apocalyptic world one thing would be for sure: there would be none of the farm species we currently enjoy as staples. Dependant upon humans for too long they simply have lost the survival skills of their wild cousins. There would be exceptions to this rule (the longhorn,) but by-and-large we would have to sustain ourselves on wild game. Depending upon how it all went down, other species might also have disappeared (ie. a nuclear holocaust would wipe out surface dwellers, where as subterraneans would fare better.) Wild game is tough, so that would effect cooking techniques. Here is a few ideas:D

I have been watching "Life After People". can't think of the channel it's on, but this very aspect was discussed. Extrememly interesting ideas, if you haven't seen it.

In a post-apocalyptic world one thing would be for sure: there would be none of the farm species we currently enjoy as staples. Dependant upon humans for too long they simply have lost the survival skills of their wild cousins. There would be exceptions to this rule (the longhorn,) but by-and-large we would have to sustain ourselves on wild game...

For your meal, just substitute normal land game meats for the critters. Mutton, rabbit, venison or boar should do just fine. To approximate the roaches, try poaching shell- on pistachios in a 1/3 combination of soy, worcestershire and kitchen bouquet to water for a few hours, until the nut turns creamy...

I've got some rabbit in my freezer, and mutton's easy to come by. Someone suggested doing a burgoo with those meats. It fits the theme perfectly, since burgoo uses traditionally foraged ingredients, such as game and wild vegetables.

For dessert, a lesson from Family Guy: Twinkies have the half-life of carbon...

Twinkie Parfait with canned fruit, coconut cream and coffee syrup

That was the first thing that was brought up last night! I like the recipe suggestion--that could be an excellent dessert.

So--budget permitting--we may go with a mishmash in July. Canape' de shelf-stable ingredients, Road-Kill Burgoo, and Carbon-Dated Twinkie Parfait.

Good Luck! and remind me, did I leave my Rod of Seven Parts in my Dwarven Stronghold? or did I drop it camping the Death Squad on Velious?

;D

It's in the Temple of Elemental Evil, next to the Hand of Vecna. Should be a cinch to recover.

Folks, I think we may have a winner. A suggestion from one of the RPG forums: fleshworms.

http://imakeprojects.com/Projects/fleshworms/

Strips of pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and roasted.




If nothing else, I WILL make this for our annual Hallowe'en horror game.

It's in the Temple of Elemental Evil, next to the Hand of Vecna. Should be a cinch to recover.

Haha! That dam lich just refuses to die!

Looks great! Tell us how it goes...

I have the odd desire to go play World Of Warcraft, now...

Me and Rick play WoW. lol

How about like in "The Host" where they make a clear broth soup with (wild) onions? You could do hard bread rolls with it. Maybe chicken broth with chunks of onions or rutebegas or turnips?

You could probably find recipes for dried/salted fish.