The Cook’s Kitchen

Growing up in south Texas in the 60’s and 70’s gives one plenty of exposure to a variety of regional food.  Seafood like crab, shrimp and redfish from the home-waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Tex-Mex versions of enchiladas, tamales, fajitas and of course barbecue that consisted mostly of brisket, chicken and sausages was at my fingertips.  It would be quite enjoyable to reminisce about any one of these childhood memories but I was reminded of some other experiences after reading an article in this mornings newspaper on the subject of hurricanes.  You may not realize this but hurricane season comes to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts every year from June through November and forecasters are predicting that at least one major hurricane will strike our shores this season. 

When I lived in Texas, my family did not evacuate for hurricanes, instead we opted to ride-em-out.  It was very exciting.  The standard drill was to board up the house, break out the white-gas lanterns, flashlights and blankets, move anything like lawn furniture and flower pots into the garage, fill the bathtubs and any other containers with water, then go shopping.  The plan was to plan for the unexpected.  That being said, here is a 1960’s era shopping list of things we purchased in the calm before the storm.  Some of these items (like coffee, candy, cigarettes and beer) were purchased in quantity and used for trading for ice or gasoline.

• coffee, tea, instant cocoa
• dried and canned milk
• dried potatoes, beans, macaroni and rice
• flour, sugar, baking powder, oatmeal
• salt, pepper, red pepper, chili powder
• canned beef and ham
• canned vegetables and fruit
• peanut butter, honey, nuts, raisins, popcorn
• canned shortening
• chocolate bars and hard candies
• aspirin, iodine, laxative, bug dope, bandages, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, razor blades
• aluminum foil
• charcoal and  lighter, candles, batteries.
• cigarettes, lighter fluid and flints
• beer
• ice

The three storms I went through were Carla (1961), Beulah (1967) and Celia (1970).  Celia was just about a direct hit on Corpus Christi Texas and besides wind and water damage we were left without electricity for more than 30 days.  Ice was in very short supply and cost about three times the normal price.  Gas stoves still worked and everybody in the neighborhood had a barbecue pit or a grill.  Some grills were the  new “gas grills” which were piped into natural gas (not propane tanks). The first week was about the finest eating you could imagine.  Since you knew everyone on the block, there were big group dinners.  The best (meaning the most expensive) of everything from the freezers was eaten first so it would not spoil.  Of course, the seafood went first, followed by the steaks, and so on down the line.  As I recall, fried shrimp was my all-time favorite back then.  It still is today. Housewives with working ovens baked everything from bread to cookies and the men did most of the outdoor cooking. Everyone shared their food and also pitched in to help clean up the damage. As is often the case, the best in everyone comes out when it is needed the most.

Usually we only seem to hear about the bad things that result from storms, tornado’s or earthquakes, so I hope you enjoyed this flashback into my past.