With the power out and nearby restaurants and markets closed, meal planning and preparation becomes a central part of survival. This is especially tricky for those that don’t normally cook at home. Here are a few tips and recipes for making delicious food in the dark.

Tip #1: Use fresh food in your refrigerator first

By using the fresh food first, you’ll get all the nutritional benefits and won’t have to pitch it later. Stir-frys are an easy way to whip up a delicious meal that contains a lot of fresh produce.

Recipe: Bottom Drawer Stir-Fry

Heat a large saute pan or wok. Add 1 TBSP oil until hot but not smoking. Add chopped onions, peppers, beans, broccoli, spinach, carrots, mushrooms, and any other fresh produce in the drawer. Stir until tender. Combine in a separate bowl 1 tsp each of mustard, soy sauce and honey and pour over the veggies. Toss until coated. Season with black pepper and serve.

Alternate: If you have meat on hand–such as sandwich meat , sausage or leftovers–dice and add any of these to the stir fry for extra flavor.

Tip #2: Use dairy items before they spoil

The dairy items in your refrigerator and freezer won’t keep for more than one day or two at most (unless its freezing outside). That means it might be time to allow yourself ice cream for breakfast.

Recipe 2: Hot Cereal with Ice Cream

Follow the cooking directions on the package of hot cereal (Cream of Wheat, oatmeal, etc). Instead of adding milk and then sweetening, use a vanilla-based ice cream. It will add a sweet, creamy texture that is almost guilt-free. If you still have some ice cream leftover, add a dollop to your morning coffee to makeup for that latte you’re missing.

Look for more power outage cooking tips and recipes coming soon.