Emergency Candle from Crisco

Make an Emergency Candle Out of a Tub of Crisco

Candles are always good to have on hand in case the power goes out, but if you get caught without any in your house, you can make a dead simple candle with a tub of shortening and a piece of string.

We've featured a number of DIY lamps for those emergency situations, but it's hard to get any simpler than this. Just pull out a tub of shortening, put a piece of string in the middle, and light it up. Not only will it burn, it'll last for 45 days—enough to get you through a zombie apocalypse or two. eHow recommends using a candle wick, but you should be able to use regular old string, too—some people even say a rolled up piece of paper makes a good wick. For the full step-by-step, check out eHow's guide, and for more tips and tricks hit the link below. Photo by Amy Stephenson.