Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Getting Ready for the Storm of the Decade

Photo (c) Flickr User kkrisus
I arrived at my mom's this morning after a tiring, but uneventful red-eye flight from San Francisco. Unfortunately, it seems as though a massive blizzard is headed our way, and it looks very likely my drive down to the QVC training will be iced out.

As anyone from these parts will tell you, rain is no problem, snow is no problem, but an ice storm is another thing altogether. Freezing rain collects on trees and power lines, causing catastrophic damage as gravity and Murphy's Law do their thing. Not to mention that when it comes driving surfaces, a sheet of black ice really sucks.

I hear the blizzard will slam 2/3rds of the country over the next 3 days, so if you're in its frigid path, please be careful! In happier news, I'll be attempting to film a Super Bowl-themed clam casino dip recipe tomorrow. Stay warm and stay tuned!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a great time for the emergency what's-in-the-pantry recipe!

Flour? Canned beans? Ketchup? Spam?
Vinegar? Cooked over a generator-fired hot plate?

Susan said...

We will be getting the tail-end of that storm. Expected to drop 10-15 centimeters of snow by Wednesday night. We're pretty much used to snow storms, I just don't like when the snow is that wet heavy (snowman-making) snow. Sure kids love it but its bad on the roof. The ice... ugh! I won't even get started on that!

Be safe! Take care.

KrisD said...

Welcome to our weekly storm! Stay warm and safe.

blogagog said...

Ice storms are so destructive. and yet they are the prettiest site you'll ever see. Something about a forest of shiny, glistening trees just takes your breath away.

Chris K. said...

In March 1992 I spent spring break at home in Rochester, NY, during an ice storm that destroyed a full third of the region's tree canopy. The power was out for two weeks and I had the flu and bronchitis.

I remember the sound of ice cracking through tree limbs all across our neighborhood. It sounded like fireworks. My brothers spent a week bailing cold water out of the sump drain in the basement in shifts, to keep it from flooding. My father had to drive to Pennsylvania to find a gas-powered generator.

That was when I decided to move away from upstate New York.

Anonymous said...

It's only what, a month or so into winter and I'm sick of the snow and ice already.

I want to move to that 1/3 of the country where it never snows. Ever!

Kearby's Kitchen said...

I'm in Carrollton, Texas, about 30 miles from Jerry World (aka Cowboys Stadium), where the Super Bowl is taking place. Our whole area got blanketed with a thick layer of sleet and ice in the early a.m. Both major airports had periods of closure today, school districts were all closed, even the Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail was down due to the weather conditions. The NFL Super Bowl Committee planned really well for inclement weather, though. They were able to get the teams, the media, and the assorted NFL folks out to the stadium for media day.

Stay warm and safe!

Jack Parker said...

Not even fame is worth risking life and limb for so I'm glad to hear you'll be staying put. Hey, if you have to get snowed in, getting snowed in with mom isn't a bad thing. She'll have hot chocolate ready for you when you're done building a snow fort. :)

Here in Minneapolis we got off with only 7 inches of snow - no ice. But, with all the salting and plowing of the roads, that means lots of huge potholes in the roads and freeways this spring. They've already said that they're slashing the budget and warned that many of those potholes will go unfixed. :::sigh:::

Anonymous said...

Long time viewer, first time commentator!! Love your recipes Chef John.

Grabbed this short video as I was leaving school tonight :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTZ3IQwf10A

R.A.S.

oliver said...

I knew I recognized that photo... I live in Iowa City! What an odd coincidence. ha! We definitely got our fair share of snow. Your recipes are great, I've been cooking my way through them. Keep 'em coming!

Kevin said...

You know.. you Americans really should start putting your powerlines underground like most developed countries in Europe did around the 50s

Chef John said...

lol...you Europeans and your inferiority complex. Classic.