No matter which forecast model you view, our house is right in the middle of Sandy's path so here's what I made yesterday: chili, beef-vegetable-barley soup, a small baked ham, baked beans, non-mayo potato salad and broccoli-cranberry salad, four pumpkin coffee cakes, unsweetened iced tea. I didn't make but also have smoked turkey, potato rolls, apple juice and tuna pouches on hand. DH made a container of coffee concentrate.

Wishing you and all the CF members affected by the storm a safe week.

Just prior to or during a storm, I try to empty the freezer, but, then, I don't have a generator. Sandwiches are good (luncheon meats, tuna, maybe egg salad), and soups are good too. Agree with Ruthanna--a good roast would serve a lot of people and can be eaten hot or cold.

Take care! I'm on a barrier island in FL, and often make advanced plans for these storms. Shopping just before the storm might be frustrating--empty shelves. Good luck!!

Lots of canned soups here (We have a gas stove. So I can still use that if the power goes out), as well as crackers, nuts, dried fruits, apples, bananas, bread, granola bars, soda and water. I made two paska breads for breakfast in case we lose power. I also made cookies (but who needs an excuse to make cookies?) Maybe make a big carafe of hot coffee and / or tea ahead of time. Also remember things like hand sanitizers, paper plates, paper cups, plastic utensils. We're on a well. So if we lose power the pump goes out for the well.

This is what we've been stocking up on. The power is still on, but the wind is picking up here in north central Maryland.

Paper plates, bowls, plastic tableware, soups, hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, eggs, Egg Beaters, bacon, pancakes, hummus, yogurt, fruit snacks, Pirates Booty, cheese, crackers, cream cheese, variety of breads, pita, tomatoes, peppers, cukes, potatoes, little fruit cups, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, chili, stews, mac and cheese, and of course, Halloween candy.

I can cook on the gas cooktop, so we do eat hot food, but once the power goes out, so does the water.

Prepared, packaged foods are useful in the dark, they are easy to find, easy to eat and full of bad things that make you feel good.

Don't forget to do the laundry and run the dishwasher before the power goes out.

Good luck

Gusting hard here now... going to get worse before it gets better I'm afraid. Like Ruthanna, I am in the direct path of this beast.

I stocked up on paper plates, plastic ware, napkins etc. Made a big pot of chili and a pot of meatballs in sauce yesterday. Also have canned tuna, PB & Jelly & Fluff and Nutella stockpiled along with bread, crackers, pretzels, nuts, protein bars, apples, carrots, onions, cabbage for soup (I have a gas stove too). HOt digs in the freezer along with buns and a big chicken roasting right now.

Fare well everyone!

My meals are heart healthy - so cannot use most convenience foods - Think camping - boating - portable foods.
I have been cooking for the last few days - always lose power for many days - this is my menus items - to heat in microwave - generator - or toaster oven -
Anything with pasta - cook ahead - freeze in ziplocks - heats great in microwave
Spaghetti - whatever meat you want precooked - I used TJ's spaghetti sauce
Chili - huge batch cooked yesterday
Pork loin cooked and will be sliced for Bbgue - and fajitas
Grilled green peppers and onion for fajitas - and whatever
Made salsa this morning
Made soup and will have turkey Ruebens
Jambalaya
Making Burritos now -
Rostersie chicken is my go to staple
I am going to try to make some apple crisp now and precook some minute rice -

I live on the river, but I am high - but trees are close- and water is rising --- and Sandy isn't here yet. rain is horizontal - airports closed - wind picking up - but amazingly we still have power!

I hate going thru these storms at night!

Get ready - be safe!

Yes - do laundry! and keep the dishwasher running - and Remember - don't stuff food down the garage disposal when the power goes out - Why do I NEVER remember this!

The wind is picking up, a lot, and streets down by the harbor are closed because of flooding.

My meals are heart healthy too, but with my DD, DSIL and grandkids here, there's a lot of not-so-heart-healthy, but really tempting, foods in the house, now. Portion control

We've been filling everything we can with water. I've got the tubs and buckets in the house and trashcans, storage boxes, garbage cans, whatever, on the porch filled too. That is gray water, perfect for flushing. The water in the house is for heating and washing up, the Poland Spring is for drinking. Lots of soda and juices.

The line of cars to get to the parking lot of the mega-liquor store on Saturday was around the block (we can't buy liquor on Sunday!!?). Glad to know how the neighbors are spending their time!

Looks as if the track has shifted a little to the south of us, possibly taking us into the 60-mph wind area instead of the 75. This storm is so huge I guess it doesn't matter if we're 20 miles or 70 miles away from the path.
I haven't really cooked much for the occasion, just made granola yesterday. We have lots of bread and milk. Trying to plan the logistics. Do I take the milk, yogurt, etc. out of fridge when the power goes out, or do I try to guess when that will be and get it into the cooler beforehand, so I can leave the fridge closed and keep the stuff in it good for a day. Triage!
I'll be able to cook on the gas stove burners but not in the oven. Old gas stoves had oven that kept working, an advantage when you have no heat.
I just really hope our local water plant can keep supplying water.
We were very cold last Halloween for the three days we had no power, so I'm dreading the possibly much longer time without it this week.
Just very, very glad my daughter and son-in-law in Connecticut took down the huge old tree next to their house. Hurricane Irene blew down a branch that was 18 inches in diameter, so they regretfully got rid of the tree to be safe.

I don't understand some of the posts. I thought the idea was foods for when you don't have power/refrigeration and possibly no cooking options or limited. Maybe you're planning on using generators for keeping the refrigerator and freezer going? I certainly wouldn't bank on a gas stove either since the size of this storm has the potential to disrupt gas service too. Knock out a house in the neighborhood and burp a gasline and it's out. I'd figure on a camp stove and grill more if I were in that situation. I'd look for foods that need no refrigeration and worry less about perfect nutrition. PB/J, summer sausage, jerky, canned vegs, breads, crackers, cheese, some things like celery, radishes, cauliflower, apples, grapes, etc, granola type bars. Yeah, candy bars, donuts... why not? :D

I'd get or have already made some ice for cooler(s) for some things. A good cooler can go for days.

Don't forget prescriptions, medicines, first aid kit, supplies for pets too. I always have bottled water but would stock up for something like this.

-Collect all thermal containers together (Thermos bottles, coffee urns, etc.... You can fill them with hot water to use for instant hot beverages, instant soup, instant oatmeal, a bit of washing up (people or dishes). During an ice storm we filled 2 water bottles with hot water to warm the bed. The next morning we used the still warm water to wash and shave.

Food leftovers can be stored in Thermos bottles (just make sure it is HOT when you place them in the Thermos).

-Check out "Cooking in a Thermos" information: http://www.thermoscooking.com/

-Keep in mind the water in your hot water tank will remain hot/warm for 12-18 hours after utilities go out.

-Sanitize your bath tub/s and fill them with water and add a little bleach to it to prevent bacteria growth. It can be used for toilet flushing, hand washing, etc. You may also want to secure a 5-gallon bucket to use as a make-shift toilet. Line the bucket with plastic bags and use chemicals designed for RV toilets after use.

We keep a 72-hour Emergency Kit with food from all the food groups that doesn't require heating or refrigeration. Things like pudding cups, fruit cups, fruit juice, V-8 or tomato juice, canned meat and meat spreads, crackers, granola, nuts, trail mix... Individual coffee creamers or shelf-stable Half and Half Creamers come in handy and can be used instead of milk in cereal, hot beverages, etc. Even flavored liquid coffee creamers can be used on cereal.

-If you happen to have a chafing dish and cans of sterno, you can safely do some indoor cooking. But with any open flames (candles, oil lamps, etc.), they consume a lot of oxygen and it's suggested to open a window slightly for oxygen to exchange.

From "Apocalypse Chow" How to Eat Well When the Power Goes Out - by Jon Robertson with Robin Robertson.

Almost-Instant Black Bean Chili

Two 15.5 oz. cans black beans, drained (and rinsed, if possible)
One 16-oz. jar salsa
2-3 T. chili powder, or to taste
1 T. dehydrated minced onion
One 8-oz. can corn, drained
One c. water, or as needed

Combine the ingredients in a saucepan, reserving half the corn. Cover and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally. Add as much water as needed to create a sauce and prevent mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

Reduce heat to medium and simmer, dtirring frequently until heated through, long enough to cook off any raw taste from the chili powder, about 15-minutes.

Canned potatoes are handy. You can drain and use them for fried potatoes, or as a base for potato salad. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Beat\-the\-Blahs Basic Black Bean Patties One 16\-oz. can diced white potatoes, drained One 15\-5 oz. can black beans, drained (and rinsed, if possible) 1 T. dehydrated minced onion 1 t. dried parsley 1/4 c. dried bread crumbs Salt and pepper 2 T. olive oil In large bowl mash the potatoes and beans with a potato ricer or masher until broken up. Add the onion, parsley, and bread crumbs, and then salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined. Divide the mixture into six equal portions and use your hands to shape into patties. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the bean patties until golden brown on both sides, about 5\-minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with your favorite sauce. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Skillet Peach Crumble 2/3 c. rolled oats 1/4 c. light brown sugar or natural sweetener 1 T. peanut butter 1 T. canola oil 1 t. ground cinnamon One 28\-oz. can sliced peaches, drained In medium bowl combine the oats, sugar, peanut butter, oil, and cinnamon. Mix well and cook in a 10\-inch skillet over medium heat until toasted, stirring frequently to avoid burning, about 5 minutes. Scrape topping mixture back into bowl. In the same skillet spread the peach slices in the same direction in concentric rows. Sprinkle the reserved topping on top of the fruit. Cover and cook over low heat until hot, about 10\-minutes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fire\-roasted Blueberry Cobbler One 16\-oz. can blueberry pie filling 1 pinch cinnamon 1 t. lemon juice or lemon zest 1\-3/4 c. unbleached all\-purpose flour 1/2 c. sugar 2 t. baking powder 1 pinch salt 1 c. milk 2 T. canola oil Combine the pie filling, cinnamon, and lemon juice in the 10\-inch skillet and place over a medium flame. In a bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk and oil, mixing until just combined. Spread the batter evenly over the blueberry mixture. Cover and cook until the batter becomes firm and cake\-like, about 15\-minutes. turn off heat and let stand covered for another 5\-10 minutes. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Breads you can make on a stove\-top. Old\-Fashioned Stove\-top Biscuits (makes about 1 dozen biscuits) 2 c. all\-purpose flour 4 t. baking powder 1 t. salt 1/4 c. chilled lard (or other fat) 1 c. whole milk 1/4 c. lard (or other fat) for frying In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the chilled lard and cut it in with a pastry cutter or rub with your fingertips until the mixture is meal. Add the milk and mix until the dough is smooth. Pinch off 12 pieces of dough of equal size, form each piece into a ball, and flatten the balls with your hands to about 1/4\-inch thick. In a medium\-size cast\-iron skillet, melt 2 T. of lard over medium\-low heat, and half the flattened balls, fry till both sides of the biscuits are browned, about 12\-minutes in all, and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining 2 T. lard and remaining dough balls. Serve hot. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Soda Farls 2 c. all\-purpose flour 1/4 t. salt 1 t. baking soda 1 c. buttermilk (sour milk or fresh milk will also work) In a bowl combine dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and pour the buttermilk into the depression. Combine mixture from the sides of the well starting near the top. Knock some of the flour mixture into the buttermilk and combine with a fork. Keep adding more of the flour until you can't stir with a fork anymore and use your hands forming the dough into a ball. Place on a floured surface and with your hands pat out then turn making sure there is flour on the surface. Use a rolling pin and form into a flattened circle about 1/2pinch thick that will fit in your skillet. Preheat a heavy or iron skillet until it is hot. Sprinkle a little flour into the hot pan and put the farl in. Make a cut in the farl that does not go all the way through to separat it in quarters like a cross or plus sign. Cook the farl for 6\-8 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove from skillet and serve hot or cold. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The link below is for tortillas, the ultimate emergency bread you can make on nearly any type of emergency cooking source in a skillet/griddle. They can be used for all meals and snacks. Spread with peanut butter and jelly. Heat until crispy for tortilla chips. Top with cinnamon and sugar, applesauce, canned pie filling, vanilla pudding and banana slices...... \-Grainlady Here is a link that might be useful: [Kansas Wheat Commission \- Native American Tortillas in a Bag](http://kswheat.com/recipes.php?id=117)

Have gas stove, so can manually light burners if power goes out. Wondering if oven can be manually lit... like stove I remember from 50's?? Not that I'm feeling the need to BAKE or anything like that. Think a jam packed freezer isn't a BAD thing if power goes out... will take a lot longer for stuff to start thawing. If/when power goes out, will only open fridge/freezer when totally necessary.

Kinda right in path of storm here in NJ... luckily NOT near the shore. Rancocas Creek, thru middle of Mount Holly will surely flood out the middle of town... does during heavy summer t-storms.

No school today or tomorrow... think ALL NJ schools are closed, at least today.

Heard story on talk radio that kinda pissed me off. Talk show host said was out shopping as normal on Saturday at M's. AT counter there was a box of flashlights... only one left in box... for $18. She said SAME exact flashlight is at W for around THREE $$!

Wish I could just crawl under covers and sleep thru this mess... but know that's not gonna happen. Would be nicer if not by myself... thinking playing cards by candle/lamp light would be a good distraction.

Thanks for the recipes Grainlady.

The wind is howling now, at least it's still light. I hate listening in the dark, and it gets dark so early. It's going to be a long night.

We have a gas cooktop, gas grill, camp stove and generator. Having a generator is like returning to the land of the living after a few days without power, like we experienced during the June storm.

My son is in western Virginia, he just got an emergency blizzard warning for the next 24 hours, and my DD is blocked in to her condo by flooding.

My response to amck, the OP, was specific to my situation and the use of a generator to operate the fridge & freezer and microwave & toaster oven sparingly. She said she has a generator, so food preparation before the power goes out is the key.

Some of us simply do not have the luxury of risking incredibly poor nutrition due to health issues, therefore being prepared with the proper food is one less issue getting thru an already stressful situation.

If it isn't too late, please remember to stock up on food for all your pets. After Katrina, feeding our animals was a huge concern.

"-----Have gas stove, so can manually light burners if power goes out. Wondering if oven can be manually lit... "

No! Don't do that!

Many gas ovens use a "glowbar" type ignitor electrically in series with an oven gas valve, not a spark type ignitor for the stove burners.

You can damage the glowbar ignitor if you put a fire to try to start the oven.

dcarch

If the power goes off, my oven turns off even if it's already on.

Thank you for the great tips and suggestions. I was stalled trying to make a list and your responses got me back in gear. We lost power shortly before I left for the store. It came back after a couple hours and I have been taking advantage getting meals prepared for simple reheating. The winds are really howling now and I feel that each minute we continue to have electricity is a gift.