Four Easy Recipes to Make Without Power
Winter storms got you down? The recent flurry of blizzards and snow storms that have pelted the Washington DC area have included power outages and blackouts. So what to do about food when you have no power and no access to the grocery store? Here are four recipes that are easy to make using ingredients already available in your pantry and that do not require the use of any electrical appliances:
1.The Roman. When in Rome…do as the Romans do, and create an “aperitivi platter” of sliced meats and crunch vegetables to snack on as you watch DVDs during the snowstorm or read by the firelight. Take breadsticks and wrap the ends with prosciutto or thinly-sliced salami. Spear a piece of mozzarella or Pecorino cheese on the end of the breadstick. Drizzle lightly with olive and toss some crushed black pepper on top of everything. Line on a platter and surround the breadsticks with canned artichoke hearts (drained), cubes of cheese, broccoli florets, baby carrots, and roasted red peppers. In a separate small bowl, mix 1 cup of mayonnaise with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, 2-3 garlic cloves (crushed and pounded into a paste), salt, pepper, and a touch of Dijon mustard; serve this make-shift aioli with the breadsticks and raw vegetables.
2. The Catch-All. A salad in the winter? Why not? Greens are always good for you and this salad, which requires no cooking, can be an excellent side dish or stand-alone meal. Mix salad greens in a large bowl with any ingredients that you may have available in your refrigerator or pantry, including, but not limited to: cubed or thinly-sliced deli meats including roast turkey, salami, prosciutto, and/or ham; sliced tomatoes; canned corn (drained); canned artichoke hearts (drained); thinly-sliced red onion; chopped deli cheeses including mozzarella; sliced avocado; olives. Toss all the ingredients together and top with a quick dressing made of 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, black pepper, salt, crushed red pepper, and a small toss of red wine vinegar. Serve with some crusty bread.
3.The Tropical. Want a snack that reminds you of warmer climes? Take some crackers (preferably bite-sized) and line them up on a platter. In a bowl, mix 1 cup of sour cream with 1 avocado (sliced and mashed into a pulp) along with salt, pepper, a squirt of lime juice, and some chopped cilantro. In a separate bowl, mix together canned corn (drained), diced tomatoes, diced mango or pineapple (if you have any), cilantro, and some salt and pepper. Place a spoonful of the avocado sour cream on each cracker and top with the impromptu salsa you just created. Serve with some fruit juice or (if you’re feeling ambitious) a mixed fruit cocktail.
4.The Elvis. Elvis Presley reportedly loved fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Here’s an updated non-fried take on his favorite. Take 4 pieces of sliced bread (white will do, but wheat is better). Smear a light coating of peanut butter onto each slice of bread. Drizzle some honey on the peanut butter. Quarter each slice of peanut butter-covered bread, and top each quarter with some thinly-sliced bananas. Top with some crumbled vanilla wafer cookies and serve as a snack.
ENJOY!
Amit, James, and Raj
