Snowpocalypse is what they’re calling the blizzard that hit the DC area yesterday, and it’s not far wrong: 20+ inches of snow on the ground, and it’s still coming. If you’re one of the unlucky 210,000 people without power, it’s pretty miserable.
The roads are bad, and the government let us know that it won’t even try to plow local streets until after the snow stops. One thoroughfare near us is blocked by several fallen trees (yes, that’s a road in the picture); other main roads are covered in slush that may soon turn to ice.
But we’re lucky to still have power (so far, so good), we’ve got nowhere to go, and I’m excited to spend a weekend hunkered down and eating good food. How better to spend a blizzard than by baking?
Other people seemed to have the same idea. Our local grocery stores on Thursday night were out of things like bread and milk (for the panicked pantry-stocker), chips and beer (for the panicked sports fan – no one’s going shopping between now and the Superbowl), and dangerously low on chocolate chips (which was my priority). Fortunately, Nathan secured us some chocolate chips, and we’re well stocked to spend the weekend eating.
If you’re snowed in, now or in the future, here are some of my favorite storm survival techniques:
- Hot cocoa is a must. None of the instant powdered stuff, please. Put milk in a saucepan, add cocoa powder and sugar (in roughly equal quantities for your standard cocoa – make it sweeter or more chocolatey depending on your preferences), and heat it until it’s steaming. Or, add pieces of real chocolate for an even richer drink. Then spice it up with cinnamon or cayenne (for a Mexican flavor), mint or almond extract, or your favorite liquor (rum, kahlua, and Bailey’s are some of my favorites), and enjoy.
- Cookies! I made a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough last night, formed it into rolls, wrapped it in plastic, and chilled it in the fridge. Now it’s ready for us to slice off and bake cookies anytime, and have fresh hot cookies whenever we want them. But really, in a snowstorm, any sort of cookie will do.
- Bread can be an all-day activity, and is satisfying in an entirely different way that cookies. I’m making pretzels.
- Soup of any kind. Tomato soup, lentil soup, vegetable soup, all perfect.
- Chili. I’m making chili tomorrow for my coworker’s Superbowl chili cookoff, but I would make it anyway. If I can’t make it to the party because the roads still aren’t clear, I WILL make it anyway.
- Macaroni and cheese. Need I say more?
- Baked potatoes, which we had last night loaded with cheese and broccoli.
- Something extravagant – because, has there ever been a better time to spend all day in the kitchen? It’s the perfect excuse to try your hand at pasta-making, make a four-course French dinner, or simmer a curry for hours on the stove. Make enchiladas with homemade tortillas and sauce. Use one of the 5 gallons of milk you stocked up on to make your own cheese.
Wherever you are, if you’re in this storm, you’re not going anywhere. So flip through your cookbooks, and make something tasty!
Are you stuck in the snowpocalypse this weekend? What are you making?
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Snowpocalypse! Yesterday, David and I started a batch of coffee mead (which involved brewing the coffee by cold press, meaning that we actually started the night before), and I also made some yogurt. Cookies and hot cocoa were had, of course, as well as grilled cheese in the waffle maker. Right now, David is making waffles for real, and there are more cookies and cornbread in the plans.
Chili seems to be a standard snow food. D’s neighbor made a bunch and invited us over (but it had meat, of course).