Sick Food Stockpile

I look at the post I wrote two weeks ago and it already feels so long ago.

That morning I was feeling my disappointment in the primary elections. Later in the week, I listened to the comments around campaign suspensions. I watched interviews with candidates still running. And rewatched Warren again and again and again.

I was aware of coronavirus being in the US, I'd even already bought the next pack of toilet paper that we need. When I went to the grocery store that week I stocked up a little bit more than usual. And in every grocery run after that. (Our cheese drawer is a little bit ridiculous right now.)

Now it feels like we're in the last gasp of breath before the storm. We know it's coming, but we don't know how bad it's really going to be. We social distance and shelter in place. We disinfect door handles and wash hands as soon as we enter the apartment. Take off the clothes we were wearing outside and put them in the laundry.

I wrote notes on post-its and left them around the floor.
Hi Neighbor,
Don't want you to feel abandoned during our social distancing. If you can't make a supply/grocery run, I'm happy to be on your list of people who may be able to help.
Sarah ###

My pantry is blessedly (or embarrassingly) full for someone who lives in an apartment. It's the way I've lived ever since I lived an hour away from the town where I did most of the grocery shopping and 100 miles away from Walmart. Even now, with a view of the grocery store from my window, I keep extra groceries in the closet. (In my defense, a lot of it is the different varieties of gluten free flour. And you don't want to run out of the right cereals, because the stores that sell those are farther away.)  This is how while the media reports of buying beans, rice, and canned tomatoes, I end up buying cheese, hummus, bananas, and wasabi. For us, it's mostly been a usual week's grocery run.

We have food in the apartment to last us for two weeks if (when?) we need to quarantine. The trick for now is anticipating what food we want if we're sick. Normally, the healthy person would go to the store to get the ginger ale, the bananas, the potatoes, or the rotisserie chicken. (I've even dashed in for those when I've been the sick one.) We won't do that this time.

Instead, I've set aside a box of food for if my time comes. Trying to guess what I'll want (that will also keep for however long it needs).

•  Rolled oats
•  Candied ginger
•  Raisins
•  Box of soup that's been in the pantry since we moved here
•  Dehydrated soup mix
•  Saltine crackers
•  Jar of applesauce
•  Carton of apple juice
•  Six pack of ginger ale

I left the tea (licorice!) in the cupboard. Ideally we'll have potatoes and bananas on hand. Scrambled eggs to be soft on my throat--does that mean making sure that I have at least a half dozen on hand? What about when I want toast with my eggs? I think this is when I message the neighbors I've only met through text and ask them to make a run for me? Or call someone from church for the same?

How are you holding up? What are you reaching for in the pantry or refrigerator? Are you saving anything special?

Saturday mornings, Spring 2020

Saturday morning pancakes are a breakfast tradition. While I am a firm believer that nothing will top Dad's multigrain masterpieces, I am proud that we found Alice Medrich's basic gluten free pancake recipe to experiment with for the celiac. (Flavor Flours is our go-to baking cookbook these days.)

During Lent this year, our household is giving up sweets. Which apparently means no Saturday morning pancakes? (This is not the tradition I grew up with.) Since it's the one breakfast that we eat together, I still wanted something special. Even though our fast is a practice of self-discipline, I still want to mark it with more than the daily cereal/oatmeal/yogurt/smoothie/grapefruit. So we brainstormed brunch level breakfast ideas that are 1) not-sweet, 2) gluten-free, and 3) vegetarian. Not surprisingly, eggs play a key role. More suggestions welcome!

Lenten Brunch Brainstorm

  •  Breakfast taco
  •  Huevos rancheros
  •  Huevos divorcidos
  •  Migas
  •  Eggs in purgatory*
  •  Tomato shakshuka*
  •  Green shakshuka*
  •  Cheesy souffle with salad*
  •  Omelette*
  •  Roasted veggie hash with fried egg
  •  Grits bowl with veggies and side of fruit
  •  Congee
  •  Baked oatmeal

*Means that I want a version served with good bread or toast. Please omit for those for whom this is poison.