Anyone doing any "storm" cooking?

[Hortensis]

We've been feeling pretty secure here in North Georgia, but it doesn't normally take all that much to take out our power, and more than enough may be coming way too close. We have a cranky old generator, but things have to be bad before we tackle it.

So, with 2 pounds of ground beef that my husband inexplicably purchased (I use very little), in the freezer, Irma's advance inspired me to make a big pot of chili. Would reheat easily on the little camp stove I have for kitchen backup, and I figure we could always eat it cold with chips. And it freezes well.

[katmondoo]

1. Me! I am cooking

Trying to use and cook up stuff in the freezer to use if electric goes out. I have been freezing solid ice to use in coolers. Can't wait until this is over, it is so nerve wracking. Here in Gainesville, FL

[Hortensis]

4. Gainesville, FLORIDA? Oh, of course you are. This whole thing is just so

stunning in its enormity. I'm counting on Irma becoming a fairly normal experience as she approaches Gainesville, GEORGIA, but I've been feeling "nerve-wracked" even though we are all sufficiently safely out of the way. Suddenly feeling a need to cook made me think of transition in childbirth, when nature makes mothers feel a need to go to nest.

Well, Irma's downgraded right now to a 3; even though she'll pick up again she is slowable and you have most of Florida, of course, to do that. Tuesday morning you'll be out a pretty, sunny day pulling branches to the curb, or whatever.

[Freddie]

2. No power for 5 days in Hurricane Sandy

Keep peanut butter and apples on hand. Tasty, nutritious, needs no refrigeration or cooking.

[Hortensis]

5. Oh, yes. Peanut butter and apples is always such a reliable favorite.

It's a really good point for stocking up, but I don't think even carving the apples on hand into something like this would satisfy my sudden urge to nest.

[elleng]

3. No plans for a while, leaving home for a few days Monday

so cleaning out fridge today and tomorrow. Thinking of a French Bistro in suburban DC for Wednesday lunch.

[Hortensis]

6. Sipping wine at a French Bistro is a whole different level of "survival."

Enjoy! Hard to imagine how you won't.

[elleng]

7. Definitely a different level!

And next door, MOVIES!

[Hortensis]

8. Lol, now that's just mean. Wait, I have a bunch right we've never seen

right here. Guess it's okay. Just don't post any spoilers.

[elleng]

9. Sorry, didn't intend to be mean.

I won't post spoilers; hope to see The Big Sick.

[Hortensis]

12. I was joking. Have a lovely time, of course.

[elleng]

13. Gotcha!

NOW really do have to get into the fridge!

[Phentex]

10. We will probably lose power tomorrow into Tuesday here (ATL). Last meal tonight

as in what do you want for your last meal? Grilled steaks, asparagus, and pan fried purple potatoes with shallots.

Candles, flashlights, dog food ready.

I've got two trees I'm worried about. Hopefully they'll both hang on!

[Hortensis]

11. Well, that's doing it right. :) I'm a major tree fan in a climate like this,

where almost all life is happier for them. Fingers crossed for their wellbeing in addition to yours and your home's. Neighbors down by the lake have evacuated to a relative's house because of some aging trees whose shade they treasure. One especially they'd been watching but putting off taking down until it had to be done. Turns out it had to be, but they didn't know it.

The chili's done, and I'll probably throw together some corn muffins, but that's for tomorrow. Tonight's shrimp scampi to use up some shrimp in case the power goes off.

Enjoy.

[csziggy]

14. Thawed out about ten pounds of chicken a two pounds of ground chuck

Marinated the chicken overnight and baked it yesterday. Chilled it overnight, cut into servings - it was leg quarters and some giant breast pieces - then froze in smaller batches. Made meatloaf - the plan was to chill, then slice and freeze the slices, but my husband voted that we eat it now, so we're already down to half a meatloaf.

That leaves mostly cooked stuff in the freezer, along with about ten + pounds of ice and five gallons of water frozen in jugs. There are a couple of pork tenderloins in sealed packages and two pounds of bacon - if the power is out for long enough that we run out of gas for the generator and all the ice melts, we will cook the tenderloins on the BBQ grill, maybe wrapped them in the bacon first.

As long as the generator is working, we can plug in the microwave to heat stuff. Then we'll really be roughing it, LOL!

[Phentex]

15. Hope you made out okay!

We're waiting for the rain. Gotta everything tied down. Or up, depending.

[csziggy]

16. Just got power back! Regular DSL, phone & TV still out

Working on tablet with Verizon hotspot. Desktop does not seem to have WiFi.

No damage, everybody, people, cat, horses fine. Irma petered out before she got up here.