Yoor Blizzard Check List

 Tomorrow is going to a the Snowzilla of all snow storms. Are you prepared for the bad blizzard ahead? For some you still have until tomorrow morning to go out and food  shop.

Here's a checklist:
Bread __
Eggs__
Milk, plant and dairy based ___
Butter____

Fruits_____

Veggies____

Tea/Coffee________

The above are the basics where you can do a lot with them. Here' are the extras

Ingredients for any kind of chili_____
Beans__
Tomato sauce___
Pasta_______
Parmesan cheese______
American or Cheddar cheese slices _____
Mayo______

Bacon_______
Breakfast patties or sausages, vegan or meat____

Then there are the e fun foods

Hot cocoa mix or packets______

Frozen pizza_______

Soda /Flavored sparkling water______

Cookies_______
Snacks popcorn - potato chips - pretzels _____

Candy_______

Chips_____

Salsa______

Add whatever you want to the list. Print it out and bring it with you for any storm shopping. It'll come in handy during any snow storm.

Don't Give Up GIve This Lent

 Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent.For many it's giivng up favorite foods, namely sweets and snacks. Yeti nstead of giving up , why not give. It can be food ,it can be time to cook for those who are alone or can;t cook for themselves anymore. Givng up is good. Giving is better.

Sacrificing your time to make a hot lunch for an elderly neighbor is always good. There's nothing like a hot homemade soup and a sandwich. You can invite themover or make a container and bring it to their house or apartment to cook up. Include a salad and rolls for a heartier meal. The weather is hopefully going to improve aswe move towards Easter. it would be a perfect time for an early picnic, whether in the local park or even the backyard. Pack sandwiches and chips if they can have them (or grape tomatoes if you can find good ones) along with drinks for sunny lunch out. This is also the time for severe blizzards too. Make sure those that can't get to the stores are well stocked. Buy extra staples such as milk, eggs and butter along with soups and frozen dinners. Make sure they have plenty of water, juice coffee and tea too.If it's a neighbor you can easily run over with hot food and  eat with them. Have the kids shovel and salt their walks and driveways too. 

Another good act is sharing. As we all know food prices have gone through the roof. It's horrible for those who are just eking by. If you can buy them groceries. Some stores are featuring buy one or two get the third free. Take advantage of this. Some stories like Acme and Stop & Shop have these kind fo sales on sodas and water. deinitely take advantage of this and share the third carton.There are also occasional sales on bags of apples and oranges. Give these to friends and family with kids so the little ones can have nutritional snacks. Check to see of there are sales on more expensive ticket items like cold cuts and certain sweets. Buy two packages of coldcuts or if there's a rare sale on rotisserie chickens then get an extra for family and friends who are struggling. Also eveyone loves homemade food packages.There's nothing to creating an extra lasagna or casserole.Bake two loaves or bread or an extra batch of cookies Warmer days can be perfect for an cookout for everyone. Take them out to dinner or lunch too . Many places like Applebee's are offering free meals for kids , perfect for loved ones with little ones.

Don't give up this Lent. Give instead. Think of those who are food challenged or don;t have family or friends in their immeidate area. Give them your time and food.

What To Do During A Blizzard

 Tomorrow the East Coast will be wallowed by a mega blizzard with some areas in New England getting  slammed with three feet of snow. That means we're stuck inside. What to do? Turn to the kitchen for the answer.

A day in could be time spent rearranging your spice cabinet.It's time to throw away certain ones . Cinnamon is only good for six months. Chili powder has a two to three year shelf life. The same is true for powdered ginger and garlic powder. Most herbs like rosemary, sage and oregano last only three years at best. Nutmeg is one of those spices that lasts three to four years. Another good item to organize is your utensil drawers. Sort out the knives, forks and spoons along with steak knives and measuring spoons. Clean out the kitchen junk drawer. You may find some unexpected treasures there like the odd holiday cookie cutter or corn holders. Sort and pile what you find . Those twist ties you saved will come in handy as will those rubber bands, Clean out under the sink if you have the energy. Arrange those plastic grocery bags into ones you can reuse for shopping or for plastic . See if your cleansers are up to date or if you need any. Check to see if you have enough dish soap or dishwashing detergent. It may be days before you hit the supermarket again.

Two days in is also a good time to try all those recipes you've want to try  but didn't have the time. Just make sure you have the ingredients . Use those gadgets you received for the holidays and have yet to use them. It'll be a good weekend to do a dress rehearsal for those Super Bowl snacks too. Make that new wing recipe. Try your hand at the spinach artichoke dip. Have the family test out those French bread pizzas. You can also have a game night and make snacks and nibbles in advance. attempt making Tater Tots using instant mashed potatoes,eggs flour and bread crumbs. Pigs in blankets are always a fun dinner/snack, perfect for those breaks along with stuffed potato skins and sliders. Homemade cookies won;t go amiss. There's nothing like fresh chocolate chips or oatmeal raisin with a hot cup of tea as you watch the snow fall. You could also get ambitious and bake a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls, complete with cream cheese icing. Homemade candy is also a fun project. Freshly made fudge or peanut brittle is always a treat.

This is a definite weekend in. Turn to the kitchen for something to do. It can be reorganizing or cooking. It could be making treats or cookies and candies. Anything can be your inspiration for activity.

Your Blizzard Menu

 The first of the big blizzards is coming to the new York area and  that means staying home. We are used to it by now and it's a good time to make hearty meals.A hot steamy dish or pasta or chili can get your through a day of shoveling or just having fun. 

A crock pot is your best friend in this weather.  It's great for making rib sticking chilis and pastas. A good chili is one loaded with beans and ground beef. You can vary the beans, using pintos and kidney  along with black beans for extra flavor. If you want heat , then add a good tablespoon of hot pepper flakes. For a five alarm one, think about sliced jalapenos, chipotle, adobe and ancho. If you want a more veggie based, then add more onions and sliced green peppers. What to serve with it? rice is always a good choice but polenta is another hearty side.It is a cooling factor for spicy ones along with being great at sopping up the sauce. Of course you could also have a bed of saltines or tortilla chips. A different spin is white chili which is a blend of chicken or pork,mild Anaheim peppers and green or red peppers.It's topped with sour cream or guacamole. Your crockpot can be used for that second classic winter dish tomato sauce for pasta. A basic sauce is combining olive oil with tomato paste and sauce along with chopped onion and garlic. a dollop of honey gives it a mellow sweetness and balances out the tomatoes tang. The most obvious choice of pasta is spaghetti but penne and farfalle work well too.

If you don't want to use your crock pot, there 's the oven. Casseroles are a great winter dish and flavorful. Lasagna is the most famous and loved of all of the dishes. It's tasty layers of whatever you want, You can go with homemade sauce from your crock pot or jarred. Cheese can be ricotta or even cottage cheese. The meat can be sausage or ground beef or you can try a vegan version. Vegetables can be subbed in for meat. Try bell peppers and squash along with zucchini and broccoli. Another tasty casserole is baked mac and cheese .The traditional version is a deep dish layered affair, with a roux of flour butter and milk. Sharp cheddar  gives mac and cheese its' famed bite and tang. You can add a layer of bacon strips or bits for more flavor . Tuna casserole is one of the most famous dishes , going back to the 1950s. It's actually a simple mix of tuna, egg noodles and green peas.Cream of mushroom soup is the liquid used to moisten and flavor it while a topping of breadcrumbs give it crunch. For a different  spin on a hearty meal, think chowders. These chunky soups are perfect for a cold day. They can be made either in a crockpot, stove top pot or slow cooker. A tasty treat would be a lobster or shrimp chowder but you can also have a corn one or one laden with chicken.

Blizzard weather is here and with it comes the need for hearty meals. Create something that's rib sticking and satsifying. It'll get you and your family through the  blustery days ahead

Winter Storm Basics

January usually brings a whole host of weather problems. There's either blizzards, Nor'easters or just bone-numbing frigid cold. That means stocking up and staying in. What to get? basics? Fun stuff? Or a mix of both? A balanced mix is the answer.

Many home chefs freak out when they hear blizzard. They rush to the store and get the necessary, bread milk and eggs. This is great , These are the staples that you'll need, whether on their own or used as ingredients. Yet, you'll need more protein than just eggs/What you can do is buy a roast a day or two before a predicted monster snowstorm. Make it along with hearty sides such as mashed potatoes and broccoli au gratin. These leftovers will keep the family happy and fed until you can dig out. Also, a cold roast can be sliced into sandwiches for a couple of days afterward. Also, have cold cuts ready if there's a blackout  - which does happen during a heavy windstorm. Canned goods are a must. There's a lot you can do with canned veggies turning them into main dishes or sides. Try not to get fresh breads which either get moldy quick .  If the bread gets stale, don;t fret.They can be repurposed into breadcrumbs, stuffing or bread pudding A snow day in is also a good time to bake homemade loaves and rolls. You can also get those canisters of biscuits,  and breadsticks too. They're a nice side with a bowl of homemade soup. Save the cinnamon buns for a breakfast or brunch with the family.

Fun stuff can also be bought too. A snowy or blustery day inside can mean a fun baking or even candy making day. A day off can be spent making homemade pizzas. Be sure to have a can or two  of pizza sauce and mozzarella,,whether balls or shredded for topping. The kids will get a kick out of  baking cupcakes or cookies. Have confectioners sugar, butter,and food coloring handy to make colorful icings, along with sprinkles and  icing gels for writing., Buy a few tubes of slice and bake cookies  for   a nice, fresh from the oven batch. Candy making is a great way to keep tweens occupied during a day in. . Keep the pantry stocked with a bag of unshelled peanuts, granulated sugar and corn syrup to make peanut brittle and condensed milk and chocolate chips for making microwave fudge Flavored honeys are great in hot teas and for sore throats.  They can also be used to make tasty lollipops.Another must is having hot cocoa,the perfect warm up for after shoveling. Stock up on the premade mixes or tins of Drostes. Cut back on sodas but definitely have a pantry full of juices, especially orange. It's not only refreshing but gives the  family an extra boost of Vitamin C.

The pantry and fridge should be well stocked during a winter storm. Keep it balanced with nutritious and fun foods. It's a nice blend for a few days inside.

Snow Day Cooking Fun

It's another blizzard in another January. Luckily a snow day in means a lot of cooking and a lot of time for fun treats. Frolicking in the white stuff is fun  but there's also a good time to be had in the kitchen.

Start by making a fun breakfast. Omelet cups are super easy and super fun to  make. Take a greased muffin tin Start with a layer of two to three pressed Tater Tots and bake for five minutes at 375 F. The second layer is beaten eggs with a variety of different additions, from chopped ham to broccoli florets/ Top with a hearty sprinkling of cheddar cheese and bake for fifteen to twenty minutes  again at the same temp. Breakfast sandwiches are another fun way to start the day. Vary it with either soft boiled or scrambled eggs along with sausage sliced lengthwise or bacon. Finish with a slice of cheddar. Pancakes are always in demand too. Make it fun by adding chocolate chips and bananas or layering them with peanut butter and Nutella. Consider yourself lucky if you have a waffle maker. Nothing is better than fresh ones with butter and syrup. If it's just grown ups at breakfast add a slug of bourbon to the syrup to make it fun and frisky. This can also be swirled into a bowl of hot oatmeal or farina to jazz it up a bit, French toast is another tasty treat. Give it some oomph by stuffing it. This s just making a sandwich using sweetened cream cheese as the filling. The whole sandwich is then dipped in an egg and milk wash and baked  for ten to fifteen minutes in a  350 degree F oven. Serve with maple syrup or a homemade fruit coulis.This syrup is made by just heating  up jam and a few teaspoons of water in a sauce pan to create a smooth sauce.


A day inside means cooking and baking too. Lunch or dinner can be a homemade pizza. (which is always better than the frozen kind) Pizza dough is easy to make, being an easy blend of flour, yeast and water.Top with pizza sauce and mozzarella for a traditional one. Add anything from bacon bits to sliced onion for a more exciting pie.Use this blizzard to stay indoors and play with all those gadgets you received  for Christmas. Try out that pasta machine by making spaghetti or better yet, ravioli. The new crockpot can be used to make a pot of  chili or stew with dumplings. Bored kids will love making and decorating homemade cookies.. A simple sugar recipe is the easiest and the most versatile.  They can even make sandwich ones too , stuffed with buttercream. By now moms across the area should have the ingredients to  make a good old fashioned chocolate chip cookie. Nothing beats a  full plate  of them with milk after a romp in those flakes. Cake pops are another fun treat to try at home. Kids will love decorating them  as much as they'll love eating  them. Make sure there is plenty of  white, milk and dark chocolate chips to melt into  coatings along with different colored sugars, candy confetti along with silver dragees, shredded coconut and chopped nuts for decorating. You can also do this with cupcakes too. End the day with homemade cheese or kettle corn, again easy to make as it is to eat.

Don't worry about the cabin fever that accompanies a blizzard. Iit's a day to have fun in the kitchen. Be creative , whether it's making a meal or treat!

Blizzard Basics

Most of New York , New Jersey and even Connecticut are going through Lola, the mega blizzard of 2015. The last few days have been crazy at our local supermarkets as everyone prepares for this behemoth of a storm. Surprisingly a lot of people don't; know how to shop for one.They figure a day in eating snacks and baking slice and bake cookies but its' much more than that. Multi purpose and versatile basics need to be bought .

Bread , milk and eggs are always the three items that always go first. People tend to gravitate towards these, and they are versatile. After all these are the three ingredients needed to make French toast,- a great breakfast after an hour of shoveling. However they're all versatile on their own. Bread can be used to make sandwiches and grilled cheeses but it can also be used as a layer for strata that egg based casserole. Stale bread can be cubed and fried to make croutons .If you feel ambitious you can even make homemade stuffing with it. Eggs can be used for everything from soups to even sauces. Hard boiled eggs make a good snack and provide much needed protein to combat an unshovelled driveway. Milk again is another multiuse food. Use it for real old fashioned hot cocoa but also try it to make delicious cream soups  as well as in batters for both sweet and savory dishes. Add lemon juice to it to create buttermilk if you want buttermilk pancakes or buttermilk dressing.

Other blizzard must haves are pancake  and waffle mix, especially if you have kids.It's an instant breakfast and can feed a lot. Also there's nothing like starting off  a snowy day with fresh , homemade waffles. Pasta should already be in your pantry . Again this is a versatile staple that can be made with tomato sauce , Oriental sauces and veggies or just plain and buttered for a simple evening supper.Boullion cubes are another must. Everyone loves a good homemade soup, whether it has a beef, chicken or veggie base. There's also so much to make from a simple stock. If you're not that ambitious then get a variety of canned soups to accommodate everyone's tastes.Have the freezer stocked too (and if the blizzard knocks your electricity out, just remember it's winter. Store stuff in your car  or shed). Margarine and butter should be on the ready as is olive oil.Another should have are ingredients for stews. Stews are easy to make, and filling. They can also be reheated for two days of eating. Make dumplings for even heartier fare. Water should also be a stock up however  you ca n boil snow for drinking water if need be.Just makes sure it's fresh  fallen and white.

don't be phased by Lola. Instead be prepared foodwise for a few days indoors and away from the supermarket.Yoiu can get through this, well fed with good , homemade and nutritious food.

Blizzard Shopping

We're firmly entrenched in winter right now and that means there's a chance of a blizzard or two .The question are you ready? You may have the salt and the shovels but do you have what matters most - supplies.Even if you have a few of the meager basics you'll be OK.It's just a matter of having enough for three meals. The three items that sell out during any predicted weather problem are eggs, milk and bread.There 's a joke that people have the urge to make French toast during these times.It's just these food stuffs are so versatile.Bread can be used for sandwiches or toast.Eggs can be made into a variety of different dishes and figure largely in other dishes as well.Milk can be drunk by kids and adults and ,like eggs, is an ingredient in many dishes.There are other basic ingredients that you should have as well, namely soup.YOu can stock up on cans or get bouillon cubes and make your own. Microwave dinners are another plus if you've spent the day shoveling and don't want to cook a whole meal afterwards. Pasta and tomato paste are items you should have for a snowy day.It's easy to mAke a meal with these and everyone loves a hot spaghetti dinner. What else should you store up on? fruit is always good .There's nothing like loading up on Vitamin C with some oranges and tangerines. Bananas are a quick boost of energy , when you have to clear off the walk and driveway.For relaxation afterwards have a hot tea.Herbal teas are not only good for de-stressing but also for warming up.Hot cocoa is a must , especially if you have kids.You can go with packets or do the old school way with cocoa powder.Also have plenty of water to stay hydrated especially during shoveling.You also may want to buy a box or two of energy or power bars .These stave off any hunger no matter what you do and they're better snack than chips or cookies. Let it snow! Let it blizzard! As long as you have a well stocked kitchen you'll be set. Bring on the bad weather, and enjoy it with a cozy dinner!

Foodie In A BLizzard

This is the time for blizzards which we've seen recently today in the New York Metro area. .This is the time to have a well stocked pantry full of the basics. After all you're not only going to be stuck inside but you're also not going to reach your local stores for a day or two. Keep favorite foods at hand during these times.



Always have the basics on hand, these are eggs, milk bread and you can make an amazing amount of dishes with them. You can combine all three to make french toast or scramble the eggs with milk or toast for a hearty breakfast or lunch,. I also find that having anything canned, whether Spaghetti-o's or corn are also good. Another good thing to have is peanut butter. Eat some before you do a few rounds of snow shoveling for a burst of quick energy.



Of course a blizzard is the perfect time to snack as well. Have plenty of popcorn, chips and pretzels along with dips and soda for the long evening ahead. It's the perfect time to play board games and nosh. Cakes and cookies are also fun and surprisingly enough ice cream. For some reason during the snowiest weather there are some of us who crave a hot fudge or hot caramel sundae. Go figure. For others settle in with a sweet steamy cup of hot cocoa and enjoy a favorite show or book.



don;t let a blizzard throw you . have a well stocked pantry for when the weather turns arctic and a foot of snow is predicted. You'll be warm and safe - and most of all well fed during harsh weather.

Foodie In A Blizzard

Even though it's still fall, there are some parts of the world that are undergoing their first heavy snowfall. In other words its' blizzard season!This goes well with the holiday atmosphere yet it can strike panic in the hearts of foodies. What do we stock up on? What would be the best meal to make during these times? For that matter what's the heartiest meal to eat ?

The golden rule for any disaster is stock up on the food basics - eggs milk and bread. there's a lot you can do with these. ,from French toast to just scrambled eggs on toast. Also have coffee and tea along with some frozen dinners. (no joke here. You'll be exhausted after snow shoveling and won't want to make a home cooked meal) Another staple is pasta. It's easy to cook and there's nothing like a hearty spaghetti meal after a day outside. If you have room in your fridge also think about storing comfort foods like brisket. This makes for a nice pot roast which is the perfect cold weather meal. it's hearty and filling especially when served with its' own gravy and vegetables.

Of course a blizzard also means being stuck inside. have rolls of cookie dough at the ready for something to do. This also eliminates the extra chore of holiday baking. Snacks and soda are musts too. There's nothing like watching a movie on a snowy night, complete with a bowl of hot buttered popcorn . Also have chips and sour cream because the night could also turn into family game night where there' ;bound to be plenty of snacking.

Be a prepared foodie when those first heavy flakes start drifting downward. Have your fridge, freezer and pantry stocked not only with the basics but also with fave s to get you through the first big snow of the season. You can just stay in and eat - the perfect thing foodie thing to do during a blizzard!