Prepping for the storm

Boilermaker Ben

All winter long, the storms have missed Chicago. An inch of snow here, three inches there, but nothing major. Turns out we're overdue, and will be getting it all at once. On the way home from work this afternoon, I'll be picking up a brisket, in anticipation of not being able to make it to work on Weds. Since I'm getting a cow belly, I figure I might also pick up a pig belly, and finally make some bacon.

Anyone else prepping for the storm?

Beli

Good planning Ben, keep warm

Ripnem

Ben,

It's been kinda routine. Get up, brush teeth, shovel or blow drive, shower, shave....

I say BRING IT ON! lets make things interesting around here. :laugh:

Boilermaker Ben

They're talking about Top 5 Chicago snow-storm material here. Gonna be fun. Our last big one was New Year's of '99, so it's been a while. I love storms, and am looking forward to this one...I'm also looking forward to finally cooking a brisket.

field hand

No special prep except for bringing in the small and covering the xl. The freezing rain has just started, 9am in STL area. Expecting 1/2" of ice and about a foot of snow. May be a day or two before the eggs get fired up.

Barry
Marthasville, MO

pci

From Iowa but in Ca. visiting my sister. I know what mid west storms can do so stay safe. Sound like the wind chills are going to be bad I hate it when the wind hurts. Brisket in a blizzard that should be fun.

Boilermaker Ben

Ick. The ice is the worst part. Thankfully, we aren't supposed to get any of that. My brother is in west-central Indiana, and right on the edge of the forecast ice band. Hopefully it will miss them. Give me two feet of snow any day, just no ice, please.

Little Steven

Ben,

Same in Toronto this year. We are supposed to be flying out Wednesday morning.

Steve

Boilermaker Ben

Ouch. Good luck with that. The weather maps for Weds show half the continent getting hit with some form of precipitation.

Little Steven

Yeah they are calling for a foot here now.

FrankC

It's been freezing rain here in eastern Nebraska. Tried to get out this morning, but the roads were like a skating rink. We're supposed to start getting snow later today, into Wednesday morning...about 8 inches.

Oh well, at least it's not as bad as last year!

fc

Gator Bait

 
Good luck with the storm Everyone! I loved them when I lived in New England. If your going to have a winter you might as well make it a good one. Back then I had an old Jeep Wagoneer with snow tires all the way around and driving in the storms was a pleasure, even fun.

An old friend up near Boston emailed me this . . .


I'm emailing this back to her . . . :laugh:


We make up for it in the summers wondering if we are going to be blown off the map by a hurricane. I think that no matter where you live there is some event that can spoil a perfectly good day. Even SoCal has it's earthquakes and June Gloom when the fogs roll in to think about.

Have a great day All,

Blair

 

2Fategghead

Hey Ben, Did you find a fresh pig belly to make bacon? Just wondering how much per pound if you don't mind me asking. I have been checking pricing and availability. So far I found $2.59 but, it's been salted so, I don't want it. Tim

Boilermaker Ben

Not yet. I'm about to go grab some lunch, and will start making phone calls to the butchers in the area. I'll let you know what I hear.

MemphisQue

I heard the ice is supposed to be bad north of us in MO. Hope they are wrong. We have had some devastating ice storms down here the past 15 years. Cold weather and no power is not a good combo.

MemphisQue

If the weather is too perfect where we live then most of us probably could not afford to live there.

Mr Holloway

Beer....check
shoulder thawing....check
fresh bag of lump....check

Snow day on Wednesday.....ah, check :evil:

Shane

Little Steven

Shane,

Beer is always #1 on the list of a good Canuck!

Steve

Boilermaker Ben

I only found one butcher nearby with pork belly in stock. Their price is $2.99/lb...but to give you an idea of their pricing, their untrimmed brisket was quoted at $6.98/lb...ouch. Still, they're near another butcher who has brisket in stock at $3.98/lb, so since I can get belly from them today, and brisket from the other guy at a somewhat reasonable price, I'll probably take it.

I did find cheaper brisket, but it's way out of my way, and that place doesn't have pork belly in stock.

On the way to the place that has the brisket is an asian market. I'm going to stop in and see if they have belly. I'll let you know if I find a better price.

2Fategghead

Thanks Ben. Dern I can buy bacon for $3. a pound and up. I may have to go with BBB or go the canuck way and get some loins.

Boilermaker Ben

You know, it's been a while since I've bought grocery-store bacon, so I haven't been looking at prices. But I was with family this weekend, and they were commenting that the price of bacon has been fluctuating wildly in the past several weeks. $3-4 per pound one week, and $7-8 per pound a few weeks later.

I found bacon at the asian market for $2.09/lb, but the actual piece I got turned out to be pretty disappointing. They did have very nice pieces on the shelf, but they were in 2" pieces. I asked for a whole belly, and when I got it home, it still had the skin on, and it was VERY lean. If I go there again, I'll ask to see the belly before they remove the ribs and package it for me.