Hurricane staples and luxuy foods post-hurricane.

Well, Hurricane Ike. You got us. Power lines are down all over. Beautiful huge old oak trees have turned into dangerous obstacles, and I don't get to see my students again until at least Thursday.

The foodie in me was very ready to get back to my own kitchen with running water and a working stove after two days basking in the hospitality of someone with a larger safer home with boarded up windows. Refried beans, tortilla chips, Lone Star beer, Hershey's bars, and trail mix, and clementines were the staple foods of our hurricane experience.

Last night, we got power back and made linguine with home-made sauce and these great eggplant rolls. It was so nice to be able to use an oven again.

EGGPLANT, SMOKED MOZZARELLA AND BASIL ROLLS

• 1 large eggplant
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
• 6 ounces smoked mozzarella cheese cut into 8 slices
• 2 plum tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices
• 8 large basil leaves
• balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
• salt and freshly ground pepper
  Serves 4
  
  1) Cut the eggplant lengthways into 10 thin slices and discard the two outermost slices. Sprinkle the slices with salt and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse, then pat dry with paper towel.
  2) Preheat the broiler and line the rack with foil. Place the eggplant slices on the grill rack and brush liberally with oil. Broil for 8-10 minutes until tender and golden, turning once.
  3) Remove the eggplant slices from the broiler, then place a slice of mozzarella and tomato and a basil leaf in the center of the each eggplant slice, and season to taste. Fold the eggplant over the filling and broil seam-side down until heated through and the mozzarella begins to melt. Serve drizzled with olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar, if using.

After enjoying a filling and enjoyable meal with some chardonnay, it was starting to feel like we didn't just have a hurricane. This morning, the ultimate luxury. We could use our stove to make coffee. Wonderful. We also made some apple spice pancakes. Just take my classic whole wheat pancake recipe, and add some cinnamon, nutmeg, and a diced apple. It was good. Top it with apple sauce.

APPLE SPICE PANCAKES

• 1 1/4 c. wheat flour
• 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1 1/4 c. skim milk (Thankfully, we had some dried milk we could mix with bottled water since our milk spoiled during the storm.)
• 1 apple, finely diced
• a healthy amount of shakes of cinnamon and nutmeg

Mix it all together, cook it on your stove top. Top with apple sauce or maple syrup.

Hope you're all safe and sound.