There’s a Storm a Comin’ – the Cooking Show!

When you are facing a power outage that could potentially last days (notice I said DAYS not hours), one thing you need is food that requires little or no preparation.  When Hurricane Opal hit we were without power for 6 days.  We lived on the back porch!  Because we like to camp, we have the luxury of camping equipment, including a camp stove that allows us to heat up soup and cook some things.  Thinking ahead, I decided I felt like cooking today and prepared some things that we can heat up pretty easily.  Please note these fall under the category of “comfort food” and not “health food.”  But during ice storms, calories and cholesterol are rendered totally ineffective.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Yes, Paula Deen, a WHOLE stick of butt-ah!

I boiled chicken breasts and thighs in about 10 cups of water to create the broth (I also added some chicken bouillion cubes).  Shred the chicken and add back to the pot.  Add salt, pepper, and oregano to taste. Add a stick of butter (yes, the WHOLE stick).  Add 2 cups of rice and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Add in onion – as much as you like.  Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is absorbed.  Add more water/broth as needed.  When the rice is cooked, add 8 – 12 ounces of cheese and stir until melted.

A big pot of yummy goodness!

Southern Cornbread

Corn Meal, Eggs, Oil, Buttermilk, and a Cast Iron Pan.

This is one I have no measurements for….put some corn meal in a bowl.  Add and egg – or two – depending on how much corn meal you used.  Add some oil.  Add some buttermilk.  Stir.  Too soupy?  Add more cornmeal.  Too dry?  Add more buttermilk.  Make sure your pan is well seasoned – I still spray mine with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake at 400 degrees until you get this:

A basket of hot, golden deliciousness....yummy!

Chocolate Chip Coconut Pecan Pies (an experiment)

Somewhere between Columbus and Albany, Georgia is a roadside produce stand.  On my last trip back from Florida I stopped and bought a jar of coconut pecan pie mix.  I mixed in a cup of chocolate chips and baked it in individual tart shells.  Himself loves chocolate chip pecan pie, so I decided to try this.  I’ll let you know how it turned out.  They look pretty tasty!

The cast of characters....

Ready for the oven....

They look and smell delicious!

Himself made a batch of his WONDERFUL chili – you’ve not had chili until you’ve had this stuff!  Major deliciousness going on here!

Too bad there's no smell-a-vision!

I don’t know how much ice we’re likely to get – the predictions range from one-half to over an inch.  I guess we are as ready as we’re gonna get.  At least we won’t starve!

Lisa Ann

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