Hurricane Cooking: Suggestions and Comfort Pasta

So, NYC is bracing for one of the worst storms in 100 years. NYC subways are shutting down at noon tomorrow. Mandatory evacuations for Jersey Shore areas and low-lying areas in NYC. No sports events, except Giants/Jets (because football fans are hardcore). Beaches are closed. Garden State Parkway re-routed. But, you know it's serious because Atlantic City is closing casinos. That's right. This hurricane is knocking out gambling!

So what do you do?

Well, fill your bathtub with water, just in case power goes and you have electric powered toilets and what not.

Avoid windows. Don't go outside.

Put extra ice in your freezer, and try to cook any perishable fridge items. You want to have enough food for at least 3 days, and you probably won't have power to cook...

Bread, water, canned food... I bought dark chocolate covered espresso beans, lentils, pasta, buckwheat honey, a baguette, hot chocolate powder, and a new granola I wanted to try. Shows how concerned I am! Haha.

Battery powered radios and flashlights, candles and matches.

Board games! Old-fashioned entertainment.

But.... remember, the media loves a good story. So while there are a lot of precautions, and you should take them, it doesn't seem like it will be as bad as they're making it sound. At least I hope not! Winds are down... doesn't seem like it will be that intense... Remember, Bloomberg took a lot of slack for the snow storm last Christmas, so better safe than sorry for the city. Fingers crossed!

So here's my recipe:

Chop up 4-5 garlic cloves
Chop up a yellow onion
Saute with a bit of olive oil.

Then, in another pan, add fresh basil, one can of diced tomatoes, fresh parsley, the onions and garlic, a few tablespoons of dry red wine, and a bit of salt to taste. Bring to a boil, and then let simmer until you are ready to use it.

Cook up some delicious whole grain noodles al dente. Add the sauce, sprinkle with fresh parm, and save the leftovers for the storm. Cold pasta salad works, too!

Have a fresh baguette on hand for dipping. :)

If you think it will be really bad... then:

Tuna in a can. Voila!