Lesson #10 Cold food sucks
Our house has no gas. As I mentioned I had no generator. I had no butane camping burners or other such stoves. I don’t even own a BBQ grill (not that I could have found charcoal to put in it after the first 12 hours). I could have tried to cook awkwardly over the fire in the fireplace, but mostly ate cold food. Yeah, you can survive on cold canned stew quite well – just don’t plan to enjoy it.

I think that one of the least expensive ways to have prevented this would be to keep an eye open at Garage sales or larger second hand shops or Ebay for a covered chafing dish. Lots of folks pitch then out when they "declutter". I bought one for 2 bucks, fire it up with sterno (about $2 for 3 cans) and I actually have used it to entertain. Cooking right at the table is a big hit... you should taste my seafood nuburg!
Anyway, it is a kitchen appliance that has fallen out of favor, provides a great cooking surface with either direct Sterno flame or as a double boiler and it is energy effcient.
I know I could have done something with that canned stew. Swing by your local China town, pick up a 2 level 6 inch bamboo steamer (I paid - wait for it- $2 for mine) and now you can fry, steam or double boil for a very low investment.

And while you are looking for a chafing dish, look for a cast iron Dutch oven w/ lid... Most women "declutter" these when they upgrade to Allclad. I picked up one ($4) and almost everthing I have cooked in it has come out great. I wouldn't hesitate to use it over burning wood embers in my fireplace. I even use it on my BBQ as well.
That way your fiance doesn't have to watch as you put her new Allclad pot in the fireplace!