Hurricane bbq

[just mike]

We're comin' up on hurricane season and need some ideas of what ya'll in the south cook or prepare to cook, etc.

We have an electric stove, so we will have to rely on outside cooking (oh d*mn!) Just curious if anybody came up with great meals during the nightmare. We were out of power for 8 days during the longest stretch, and it can get kinda hard figuring out something good to eat that doesn't come out of a can.

Lisa did a great stir fry in a wok over the "bunsen burner"/turkey fryer, but it took forever and was a big clean up. Not great when you have no running water.

Just trying to get my hurricane list together and need some help. We have coolers, but not really alot of storage. We need to store alot of daily necesseties. I'm guessing a big pork butt would be good and last a couple of days, but I might not have the weather to stand out and watch over it.

Fast, cheap, GOOD food!

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

[bigwheel]

I would stock up on Beanie Weenies and Sardines. Person could purt near live on that without having to strike a fire.

bigwheel

[just mike]

Uh.....yum?!?

[TB]

Don't knock it, Just Mike. I hear Bigwheel took first in Beenie Wiennes and third in Sardines during the Shakerag in May cookoff. :lol: :lol:

Listen, seems I recall you saying oncet you had a Weber kettle and a smoker (and another charcoal grill), so fast and good would be grilling I'm a thinking.

If it was me, I grill chicken breasts marinaded in Italian dressing (20 minutes or so) or halves, (1.5 hours indirect and slathered with BBQ sauce at the end), some smoked sausage and grilled veggies to go with the chicken. Pork Loin is good and quick (relatively) and can be sliced for sandwhiches. A ziplock bag or two full of grilled idems don't take up a lot of cooler room.

Tis also hard to beat the all American hot dog, the beloved hamboogler, and oh, yeah, heat some chili on the grill and have frito-chili-pies. DangitI'mhongryagain.

[TAR RIVER RAT]

I would stock up on Beanie Weenies and Sardines. Person could purt near live on that without having to strike a fire.

bigwheel..

During Floyd in 99 we lost power for days and probably ate the best in a long time. My @#$#@# generator bit the dust and had to clean out the freezer so I cooked about all of it and put in an ice chest that we could get ice for. My favorite neghbor got food too. Ribs, cornish game hens etc.
Get the mustard sardines as they will "fling a cravin" over anyone who sees you eating them, especially if you drip some down the front of your overhauls. :lol:
Tar

[triaddad]

I might suggest that you purchase a couple of cast iron dutch ovens. There's a great many main and side dishes that can cooked in them. BBQ on the grill, and potatoes and/or beans in the ovens, you'll be the envy of the neighborhood.

[just mike]

Didn't mean no disrespect!

Beanie weenies might be just the ticket, but sardines?........can't say that I was thinkin' that. Not my thing.

guess I can't be picky when it comes to hurricane food, but I just have so many other things to make sure that I have in order, that I just need ya'll to bring me back to the simple things.

TB, you're right, I have a couple of grills, and a covered porch to cook on (if the wind isn't runnin' at about 50-100 mph. Your suggestions are right on. I have to buy everything in advance, whatcha think about buying the meat, putting the marinade on it in the ziploc bac and throwing it in the freezer until I have to use it? Would you let it marinade for awhile before you freeze it or just put it in right away?

Not trying to be too "gourmet", but when nothing else is normal, real food feels like 5 star during a hurricane!

Ya know, hot dogs and hamburgers sound great! Gets me back to the simple things.

Thanks

Mike

[just mike]

I might suggest that you purchase a couple of cast iron dutch ovens. There's a great many main and side dishes that can cooked in them. BBQ on the grill, and potatoes and/or beans in the ovens, you'll be the envy of the neighborhood.

I have a couple of dutch ovens, if the weather permits, I would love to use them. What are your favorite recipes for sides or one pot main dishes?

(I haven't played with them much, my family just keeps buying me stuff to cook on....NO time to try it all!)

Thanks,
Mike

[FairWeatherSmoker]

I have a gas grill & 4 tanks of propane, 2 generators, 2 110V A/C, 10 5 gallon gas cans, lots of charcoal & wood & a freezer. It all worked fine the last time, I think it was September of last year. BUT we only lost power for 36 hours.

[just mike]

I have a gas grill & 4 tanks of propane, 2 generators, 2 110V A/C, 10 5 gallon gas cans, lots of charcoal & wood & a freezer. It all worked fine the last time, I think it was September of last year. BUT we only lost power for 36 hours.

Sounds like I'm coming home with you!

Mike

[david brace]

I can't imagine living like that...My hat is off to everyone who has made it thru that stuff. My daughter and granddaughter live on east coast of Flow-da and she tells me horror stories...

Up here it's a major incident if we lose power for 8 hours. Everryone is in a near-panic. But yet we deal with being snowed in sometimes for days...

DB

[M38A1]

Ramen noodle soups can be stored a really long time, don't take up much space, weigh next to nothing, only require water for cooking and can be eaten without cooking if needed.

A couple tray's from SAMS of Campbells Chunky soups is a fall back.

Somewhere in the past month or so I posted a starter prep list for events such as these...

[Oli]

I always have some in the freezer year round but I increase during hurricane season ....mainly because it is cookoff season and have lots of extras.
Cooked slice and vacuum sealed in small single meal portions
Cooked briskets 1/2 of a flat per bag vacuum sealed
The point in a bag vacuum sealed
Some chopped in a bag ready to eat vacuum sealed
Pinto beans vacuum sealed
I also get the the big bag of pancake mix from Sams that is about 5 bucks so you can eat pancakes for 8 - 10 months.. dont forget the syrup.

Propane and charcoal
BEER
AR-15 and ammo.

[david brace]

I heard of a guy who when he was leaving work he wrapped a few potatoes in foil and put them next to his engine block. By the time he got home they were cooked from the engine heat.

He did some other weird stuff like put dirty clothes in a container with water and detergent and carried it in his pickup. When he got to wherever he went the clothes were washed. I forgot what he said for rinsing and drying them...

DB

[just mike]

Pancakes................YUMMY!!!

Hadn't thought about those, thanks!

Thanks for all the suggestions, compiling my shopping list.........keep em' comin'!

Mike

[Bad Santa]

Puppy Peters, Spam, potted meat, sardines in mustard oil....yummy :D all can be eaten as is or in Ramen soup, soda crakers, peanut butter all these after you smoke, grill and eat what is thawing in freezer.
Beanie Weenies fine too, but only because there won't be no airconditioning and you'll be outside alot......

[just mike]

Propane and charcoal
BEER
AR-15 and ammo.
Try and touch MY generator!!! :)

[TB]

....
Propane and charcoal
BEER
AR-15 and ammo.
:shock:

[david brace]

Santa's menu sounds yum-o...sorta...you just have to think of the foods that don't spoil or not easily.

DB

[just mike]

Bad Santa..........

Splain.....puppy peters?!?

[just mike]

any suggestions on dutch oven dishes?

you guys are doin great! keep em comin'!

[Bad Santa]

Vienna sausages.....

[TB]

Vienna sausages.....
Well, I'll be danged! I've always taken you "litterly".

[Bad Santa]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[just mike]

Thanks for clearing that up.....I wuz skeered!

[Bad Santa]

Didn't ya know?.......They really are made from.......

[TB]

Well Mike, skeered is not a bad posture around Bad Santa. :lol:

[Bad Santa]

Best way to eat them canned meats to leave 'em in the hot sun for a couple a hours, that way all the gelatin will be nice juicy and the mustard oil n' sardines takes on a bouquet of it's own, the neighbors will be envious. :wink: Canned smoked oysters do well also.
I also fill plastic containers like 1 gal.,1/2 gal, large juice bottles etc with water and freeze them and leave in freezer amongst the shelves packed close together with the bag sucked meat and other items while power off,....will help extend defrosting time if door is not opened and closed much. Then become potable water when thawed, for drinking, to boil bagged meats and soups, etc. Generator to alternate between fans and freezer will help too.

[david brace]

I love those sardines in mustard. SOmetimes they are on sale for .25 a can...but once again I gonna give the GAGS to SPAM

DB

[just mike]

Bad Santa"]Best way to eat them canned meats to leave 'em in the hot sun for a couple a hours, that way all the gelatin will be nice juicy and the mustard oil n' sardines takes on a bouquet of it's own, the neighbors will be envious.

The frozen bottles are a great idea, but must admit you are one tough cookie! "Gelatin, meat, juicy, etc. I'm skeered of "the bouquet". You are an adventurous man! Thanks for the suggestions, but...I just don't know.

Gelatin...scares me! :)

Mike

[just mike]

Bad Santa,

[.....will help extend defrosting time if door is not opened and closed much. Then become potable water when thawed, for drinking, to boil bagged meats and soups, etc. Generator to alternate between fans and freezer will help too.

Thanks for the info! Have you been through the hurricane nightmare? You seem to have an insight.

Mike

[Bad Santa]

After you've eatin as many bad cookies, warm soured milk, and smelled deer farts all night as I have....canned meats are a treat, except for the Puppy Peters.....there for the bad lil boys 'n girls stockings. :evil:

[Bad Santa]

Yes been through many a hurricane and learned that ya gotta be flexible but ready...rode this last one out in the front seat of my vehicle on a highway going nowhere fast with 100,000 other scared, lost, angry, stuck souls.....a couple of dependable guns....a handgun, maybe a shotgun with short barrel with plenty of ammo for both...esp if you have jerry cans of gas and water and are stuck in traffic where other people, who are out of gas, no water, in 100 degree heat are gathered.....

[vinman]

I can't imagine living like that...My hat is off to everyone who has made it thru that stuff. My daughter and granddaughter live on east coast of Flow-da and she tells me horror stories...

Up here it's a major incident if we lose power for 8 hours. Everryone is in a near-panic. But yet we deal with being snowed in sometimes for days...

DB

You hafta remember that when we're snowed in, we still have a good place to keep food frozen. When the hurricanes are over, they have to cook or throw stuff away.
I hear stories of how people do it (or try to cope anyhow) nobody seems to have it down to a science as far as I know. Hurricanes suck!

[Bad Santa]

They do for a fact, at least the big ones....but the snow can be very hazardous down this way too....I remember one horrible cold snap that came along, temp plummeted down to 15 degrees, we got almost 3 inches of snow and sleet; and the roads froze over...people driving in it were crashing into everything and everybody like bumper cars at the fair...that was a scary winter!!

[david brace]

They do for a fact, at least the big ones....but the snow can be very hazardous down this way too....I remember one horrible cold snap that came along, temp plummeted down to 15 degrees, we got almost 3 inches of snow and sleet; and the rodes froze over...people driving in it were crashing into everything and everybody like bumper cars at the fair...that was a scary winter!!
You kidding me...the Girl Scouts don't even put their leggings on yet for that weather...not till it hits 10 BELOW... :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink: :wink:

DB

[just mike]

You got it vinman,

nobody seems to have it down to a science as far as I know. Hurricanes suck!

It's a hit & miss, and then you just work it out. That was the point of this post. Any great recipe ideas when you feel "doomed"?

When you can't even take a bath, you're "baking" in your own house and can't wash your clothes, everything stinks, a good meal is comforting.

I must say that I've been very blessed so far as to not having to be on the highway with everyone else going nowhere fast. Not knowing IF you have something to come home to.

I know that there have been ALOT of people that have been worse off than me, and I'm looking at this as just trying to eat good.

Mike

[BamaBBQ]

Heck, in Florida wild pig hunting is legal all year long, so all you need is a pit, a gun, some bullets and Texas BBQ rub and you can be in hog heaven, hurricane or no! :D

[TB]

...When you can't even take a bath, you're "baking" in your own house and can't wash your clothes, everything stinks, a good meal is comforting.

I must say that I've been very blessed so far as to not having to be on the highway with everyone else going nowhere fast. Not knowing IF you have something to come home to.

I know that there have been ALOT of people that have been worse off than me, and I'm looking at this as just trying to eat good.

Mike
Excellent thread, Mike. Nothing wrong and everything right with planning ahead to make a bad sittyation a little better.

[Zeeman]

We're comin' up on hurricane season and need some ideas of what ya'll in the south cook or prepare to cook, etc.

We have an electric stove, so we will have to rely on outside cooking (oh d*mn!) Just curious if anybody came up with great meals during the nightmare. We were out of power for 8 days during the longest stretch, and it can get kinda hard figuring out something good to eat that doesn't come out of a can.

Lisa did a great stir fry in a wok over the "bunsen burner"/turkey fryer, but it took forever and was a big clean up. Not great when you have no running water.

Just trying to get my hurricane list together and need some help. We have coolers, but not really alot of storage. We need to store alot of daily necesseties. I'm guessing a big pork butt would be good and last a couple of days, but I might not have the weather to stand out and watch over it.

Fast, cheap, GOOD food!

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml

Plus, have a supply of fuel on hand for your pit and propane burner (one large and one small pot to cook with);
Foam go-boxes;
20 pounds dry beans & 20 pounds rice;
(If you do not have a swimming pool, I'd double my water supply).
Fill all open freezer space & ice chests with ice and fill all gas containers and vehicles. (really comes in handy if you have a generator, even if only to power a fan at nite). Fill all bathtubs & sinks with water.

Folks around you will bring food to cook as it thaws out in their freezers. Make the best of it and cook for it them.

This is just some notes from our experience from Katina. We only lost electric for 9 days.
Best advice is to evacuate about 2-3 days before the officail call for it.
z

[Bad Santa]

Z, if I ever do a big skeedaddle again, I garontee I won't wait til told to go, don't ever want to get in that situation again, on the road with the family and stuck with no way of moving to anywhere at all and hundreds of thousands cars and folks going nowhere...... never again if can be helped.

[PhotoKirk]

Canned soups, MREs, lots of rice, SPAM, I need to re-stock.

[Zeeman]

Z, if I ever do a big skeedaddle again, I garontee I won't wait til told to go, don't ever want to get in that situation again, on the road with the family and stuck with no way of moving to anywhere at all and hundreds of thousands cars and folks going nowhere...... never again if can be helped.

"If it gets in da Gulf, Leave!" Don't wait for da crowd. I worked that into my plans many years ago for a 24 Hour Care Facility (250 people) south of here and evacuation of them is much easier now. The first one we waited till told to go, to late, 9 Hotards busses, special needs, 9 hours, 52 miles. Boy, what a family reuion dat was.
Now 2-3 before and return 2-3 day after everyone else. Works well on both ends.

Plus if da storm turns, you had a nice little gettaway with your honey :wink: