For many, hurricane weather brings about a “Mother Goose” complex.
For some, that’s reorganizing the emergency supplies once every hour depending on what the weatherman decides to yell into the wind. For others, it’s organizing a congregation of friends for the first game night since sophomore year. And for others, there’s that instinctual need to cook superfluous amounts of canned chili and prepare endless stacks of peanut-butter-and-jelly or tuna sandwiches.
But with the power still working (for now), what can one do when all one has are several boxes of frozen hot pockets?
Pop Tart Oatmeal:
Typically, oatmeal is served with a hefty amount of brown sugar and cinnamon, but considering that both of those ingredients aren’t always around, especially when you figure you need them, you can substitute with Pop Tarts.
Heat up some oatmeal with water on the stove and chop up a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tart. Once the oatmeal is done cooking, sprinkle and mix in all the Pop Tart bits. Mix it in a little so that the heat from the oatmeal starts to melt the Pop Tart frosting, and then, sprinkle some sea salt on top and tuck in. It’s salty and sweet and brings childhood flair to the typically bland meal.
Peanut Butter Noodles:
Consider it a step to the side of those pad thai noodles we all love. Heat up a batch of whatever kind of pasta you might have left hiding in your cupboard. Then, take 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, 3 teaspoons of soy sauce, (if you have it) a teaspoon of seasame seed oil, a tablespoon of honey or agave, and a couple of shakes of chili or red pepper flakes. Mix the ingredients into a spicy, aromatic paste and pour your hot noodles on top. Stir it all together and enjoy.
It’s really an all-in-one deal: sweet and spicy and savory all at once, the heat of it sinks to the bottom of your stomach and keeps you smiling no matter how wet the bottom of your socks are from venturing out to the Hudson River Park when your parents told you not to.
Thomas Valls is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
