The past few days on the East Coast have been intense. I hope everyone affected by Sandy got through the storm safely. I admit I was among those who expected it to be overhyped, but it turned out to be serious.
On Saturday I spent the afternoon cooking for a Kitchit catering event and, between dishes, started assembling a DIY edible Halloween costume for a party that night. I’d long imagined a punny “Bagels and Locks” outfit but never had the patience to pull it off. Since I was already headed to the market, this year I finally put it together using mostly kitchen supplies and a few locks from the hardware store. Tin foil skirt: check. Cooking twine bagel bikini: check. Cheesecloth bustier: too much.
Sunday brought a hangover-induced lockdown for me, and by Monday I was stir-crazy. I stayed inside with the rest of New York and used the day to clear out the freezer. I made a large pot of stock from leftover chicken bones from the catering gig, had spaghetti with stray bolognese for lunch, and for dinner threw together a quick miso red curry stew with random vegetables I had on hand. While adding herbs and checking the timer for rice, the power went out.
I was grateful I keep decorative candles around. I ate the curry by candlelight with slightly undercooked rice. It needed a squeeze of lime, but I didn’t want to open the fridge and let cool air escape. With electronics running low, I covered the stew and went to bed early, planning to see how things looked in the morning. They didn’t change much.
The weather improved, but I had no clear sense of what was happening, so I wrapped my laptop in three plastic bags, packed it in a backpack, and walked uptown to my parents’ apartment. I felt lucky to have family just 40 blocks away and even luckier when I stopped in a deli near 34th and learned much of downtown was still dark.
The Upper West Side seemed to be in better shape than other areas, and my parents’ place quickly turned into a refuge for many downtown friends. I made lentil soup, we watched the news, and we charged what devices we could. My dad and I then drove to my apartment to grab clothes, rescue the stew, and clear out the fridge—since it was likely I would be staying with my parents for a while.
It felt strange to celebrate Halloween while so many were dealing with hardship. Still, I’m incredibly grateful that my friends and family are safe and that I spent so much of the week surrounded by people I care about.
If you’re celebrating tonight, enjoy. In the spirit of black and orange and Food Network’s Fall Fest pepper week, here’s a recipe I love: cauliflower steaks served with a simple, vibrant romesco sauce.
What did you cook during Sandy? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments.
xo
Phoebe
Romesco
print recipe
Ingredients
- ½ pound roasted red peppers
- ¼ cup blanched whole almonds
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 tablespoon sherry or red wine vinegar
- ¼ – ½ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
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In a small food processor, pulse the roasted peppers, almonds, and garlic until finely chopped. Add the vinegar and puree until combined.
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With the processor running, stream in the olive oil until the sauce is smooth. Season with salt and red pepper flakes, pulse once more, and serve. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
If you make this, tag @phoebelapine and #feedmephoebe – I’d love to see it!
