I’ve become accustomed to sending followers a weekly newsletter about my Spectator columns, but this week I did not submit a column to The Spec. Just needed a breather. Typical me - that didn’t equate to stillness or boredom.
An upcoming column will be on “Food Safety in the Time of COVID”. Lots of research and reading and interesting interviews including one with Dr. Jeff Farber, Director of the Canadian Research Institute for Food Safety (CRIFS) at the University of Guelph.
This week, I’m sharing from my Distancing Diary.
My days unfold haphazardly with no predictable routine other than reading, writing, connecting with friends and family by phone, email, texting or social media. Calories and pounds are accumulating, and required counter-balancing exercise has been minimal. I just began adding exercise to my days last week, and my yoga teacher is now offering sessions via Zoom – which works quite well. If you’re using Zoom, do note the pitfalls of “zoom-bombing”.
As implied, there is cooking and eating going on, and yet when a friend wrote asking me whether I am “blissing in my kitchen”, I replied “not so much”. The various takeout and delivery foods we’ve been getting linked to Spec articles and supporting local small business are providing plenty of food.
But then I paused and took stock of what I had made in the last week. Rebar Granola and wonderful Date Orange Muffins (twice), 4 different kinds of cookies (Chocolate Kiss, Lemon, Belgian and Oatmeal – no one has complained about the latter but this is the fourth Oatmeal Cookie recipe I have tried over the years and I always find the results to be “meh”). Most of everything went into care packages sent to family in TO.
So, as you can see, not too much time in the kitchen – hahaha.
I have not succumbed to the sour dough starter craze and instead tried to make focaccia – supposedly one of the simplest breads. I used the recipe from the delightful Samin Nosrat. The result was disappointing – although she’s not. If you’ve binged everything else watch her series Salt Fat Acid Heat on Netflix. She’ll make you smile.
If you are keen on making bread, you can’t beat this recipe for Almost No-Knead Bread.
I tried Lemon Poppy-seed Pound Cake from NYT’s Melissa Clark. It was not stellar so I’ll hunt for a better recipe or keep making Cannoli Bread.
Have you tried making Dalgona Whipped Coffee? (Google it) It’s another pandemic obsession that I might attempt sometime.
I’ve also been making a new Goulash Soup (also twice), and dusted off my recipe for Bone Broth. (My third batch is in the slow cooker right now.) The bone broth trend (which arguably has been with us for centuries) became trendy again some years ago with various health claims that have since been debated and disputed. Even if it’s a placebo effect, I am noticing positive changes in my various “ailments” and am enjoying this daily treat. It becomes gelatinous when refrigerated. I simply warm it up, add a good pinch of turmeric and a wee bit of honey and enjoy.
The book I use has a website from which they sell prepared broth, but if you have bones, a slow cooker and 24 hours then it’s easy to make at home. (I’ll post the recipe asap. They share recipes, but not the one I use.)
Easter has always been spent with family, but this year it will be just us two empty-nesters. I’ve set the dining room table and we will enjoy a meal from one of my favourite restos in Hamilton Bon Temps - a half roast duck, smoked ham hock, house-made Mac and cheese, French beans with brown butter and almonds, brown sugar turnip with demi glacé, and duck fat roast potatoes.
Oddly, we have few “Easter food” traditions. The exception being braided egg bread “challah” from Quality Bakery. That bread has shown up on our table not only at Easter breakfast, but for every birthday party as the base for traditional Hungarian open-faced sandwiches. While I hope to one day make that bread, this year it was my Easter nostalgia purchase and it’s been open-faced ham sandwiches for the last few days.
Speaking of sandwiches, I backup photos on my iPhone to Google Photos which occasionally throws up a notification inviting me to see what I was doing on this day in ‘xyz’ year. On March 29, 2018 my retired friends were here for a tea party. It was fun to prepare – a kind of treat that leaves everyone smiling and in good spirits. I LOVE tea sandwiches and for several days after this reminder I was obsessed with eating (crustless) cucumber sandwiches - enjoying my own mini tea party.
Back to Easter… my brother should be fine with a house full of people working in isolation. My mother-in-law (turning 98 on Easter Monday) spent part of the pandemic in hospital and is now home being cared for by loving sons, with limits on other visitors because of COVID isolation. My mother is in Long Term Care. It seemed, at first, like a safe place to be – suddenly no more, but her care is too challenging to bring her out. My brother and I have been dropping goodies off for her at the front door of her LTC.
Daily she asks “When will this be over?” I have an app from the library - here’s their guess. At first they changed the due date for all my books to April 14, and now it’s been changed to July 6.
We missed the celebration of my daughter-in-law’s birthday – that would have been (and will one day) be good company and a great meal. There was a pandemic birthday party on our street. A procession of decorated cars, tooting their horns though I never could figure out who’s birthday it was. A nice gesture.
Speaking of my brother. Yesterday was Sibling Day and I didn’t post on that, but I’ll use this opportunity to say that we’ve made a great team in the course of the last decade’s journey and he’s a treasure.
My Mother knit that sweater!!
Whereas I spend money eating out, he saves it for musical theatre (and must be thrilled that he saw “Hamilton” before the world turned.) Reminds me that when I was in grade school we had to walk home for lunch which I ate with my mother in front of the TV watching “As the World Turns” and “Search for Tomorrow” – crazy titles - fitting for our current situation!
It was fun to make my brother laugh with this great UK pandemic adaptation of Les Mis. {Seriously Watch this! The Marsh Family from Faversham is magnificent!!]
I broke some rules during this period. Since childhood I have never been a fan of chain letters. Breaking the chain always came with warnings of dire consequences and once I realized they never happened I always opted out. During the pandemic I have been scooped up in two Recipe Share chains and have played along because I love the people who sent them. I have received not a single recipe from participating – maybe I’m not the only one on the planet who doesn’t play nice? Now that I think of it there have also been various forms of chains on social media, tag women you admire etc. etc. Sigh.
There is much to criticize about social media, but if you’re careful it does connect you daily with people you know and care about. In one poignant example, a blogger friend in Montréal lost her mother and as per Jewish custom the service happened quickly. None of the family were allowed to attend except by a FaceTime group chat. She shared that and I watched it. So sad. Meanwhile, a couple of friends have welcomed grandchildren into the world – with another on the way anytime soon. Yes, the world turns.
Babies are more cheerful news than much of what is on offer. I think most of us are trying to limit our exposure to news which might actually leave you misinformed, and maybe angry depending on who’s speaking. Overall, not cheerful. We love NYC where son #2 lived for almost a decade and scenes from that city are particularly gut-wrenching.
NYC: Governor’s Island 2017
And yet, it does seem that pandemics can bring out the best in people both in kindness and creativity and good humour.
Need proof? My creative (and athletic) niece paired up with her talented film-making brother to create this TikTok which should make you smile - maybe even laugh!
Many people report feeling helpless. Our movements are being restricted, but there is so much we can still do in attempts to make a difference. I am writing and ordering food from local entrepreneurs in an effort to help keep them afloat. I know someone making masks. I’ve been saying for weeks that regular people should be wearing regular masks but it was not until April 6 that Dr. Tam formally announced – “ok, I guess it doesn’t hurt”.
Mask patterns abound on the internet. They are easy to make and creative fabrics make them fun. I have pondered making some, but it’s not coming to the top of the “to do” list. Besides, I got stuck on one that requires a handkerchief and two hair elastics and no sewing (and is easily washed). That will do for now.
I REALLY thought I’d be doing Spring Cleaning. With the exception of a few cupboards this is not happening - yet. In recent months, I have also been inspired by “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family” by Margareta Magnusson. I’m beginning with my office. If COVID gets me - let my little space at least be purged and sorted. This is taking way longer than I hoped for a tiny room, and now I am stepping between and over piles of stuff I need to dispose of. Lots of books.
A great breakthrough is that I am finally tossing all the cards my mother saved from my wedding and shower. We emptied her house a couple of years ago and the collection has been taking up space here. The idea behind Death Cleaning is not the “joy” question. It’s more putting yourself in your kids’ shoes as they deal with your belongings and imagining them saying “Why in heaven’s name was she hanging on to this!?”
The sun is shining, and though a bit chilly my roses are coming back to life. Tulips we planted last fall are getting tall and will soon be joining the display of snowdrops and irises. May your Pandemic Days be safe and healthy!