Greetings from club quarantine!   How are things in your clubhouse right now?

When I sat down to write this morning, I had something more meaningful to say to begin my post.  But is that what you really need, I thought to myself?  If I write serious thoughts in the opening line would you just click away?  Who would blame you?  Personally, I want to be entertained and reasonably distracted from time to time, while staying informed to the extent that is possible.  Information seems to be a moving target, up for interpretation.

Speaking of entertainment and distraction, the other evening after we’d watched an episode of The English Game on Netflix, I decided to go rogue and watch Jerry Seinfeld’s newly released comedy show by myself.  Nobody else was in the mood and I didn’t really want to wait.  I laughed out loud for a good part of the hour, especially when Jerry takes his time dissecting marriage.  Have you ever noticed he’s a bit of a yeller?  I love it.  It felt so good, and a little naughty to laugh that hard.  Another fun watch are David Lebovitz’s Instagram Lives that usually occur mid-day when he is in his Paris kitchen mixing cocktails from his newest book.  I especially enjoy when his partner Romain gets into the kitchen and cooks alongside.

But ok, here was what popped into my head during my early hours.  It was actually a song from Hamilton.  At one point in the song, The Schuyler Sisters, the words say “Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now”.  Of course those words meant something completely different in the context of the musical.  But having woken up this morning with a little bit of a sunk feeling in my head and heart as we face another day largely indoors, I was grateful that once again music saved my day as it often does.  While there are so many challenges about this time for so many people, it’s also an extraordinary time to witness and be a part of, something that will become a huge part of our human history.   For me, that is some of the bright side and that’s all I want to say about that today.

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It’s Mother’s Day on Sunday and I’ve compiled some past recipes from the blog below that perhaps your family could make for you this weekend (if you are among those to be celebrated).  Or, if you are lucky and able to spend some time with your Mom you could consider making one of these dishes.  But before we get to that, let me share with you a few things we’ve made in our kitchen during the past two weeks of quarantine (and a few purchases) just in case any of them inspire you.  I continue to keep my diary of meals and we haven’t repeated too many things just yet.

Not pictured, we made a variation on this Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma from NYTimes Cooking using boneless chicken breasts because it’s what we had on hand.  My friend, Sheila told me about a recipe from Pinch of Yum for Miracle No Knead Bread that she is making multiple times weekly for her family of 5 and let me tell you it was so easy and delicious.  One daughter suggested it may have been the best thing I made during quarantine ha ha!  I will make it again soon for sure…

I needed to use up some cauliflower and was lucky to have a can of coconut milk in my pantry, so I made this Cauliflower Tikka Masala from Sprouted Kitchen.  I added half a bag of frozen haricot vert from Whole Foods that I wanted to use up as well and the flavors were so good.  I made some Easy Vegan Naan from Minimalist Baker to go with the stew…

PS – big shout out to my friend Leila who gifted me with a huge roll of parchment paper and a bag of yeast after reading my post a few weeks ago.  None of this bread would have been possible without that gift!!!

Our older daughter offered to make Zucchini Lasagna for us this past week and who would say no thank you to that!  Not me, and I’m so glad she did.  It was scrumptious and a welcome break from kitchen duties for chef in chief.  She adapted this recipe from Dinner At the Zoo…

Younger daughter also made us a yummy Cinco de Mayo feast last weekend, not pictured because we were enjoying her homemade jalapeño margaritas!

For the first time during quarantine, we got take out!  My fab web designer’s son, Gavin is a professional chef and together with his girlfriend started WeCo Hospitality that offers a weekly menu of dinners that can be picked up or delivered from Woods Hill Table in West Concord, Massachusetts.  We got their Falafel dinner that came with tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, sauces, and pita.  We were very happy…

Quinoa Tabbouleh…

Veggie Stir Frys, Pasta many ways and recently, Fiddleheads and Steamed Artichokes have rounded out our menus.  What’s interesting is that there are rarely leftovers for lunch the next day so there is some improvisation going on mid-day with everyone mostly on their own.  I whipped up this soup using zucchini scraps and some spinach that needed to be used up and topped it with some homemade croutons using, you guessed it, bread that needed to go…

And back to bread, I used my coveted yeast to make some pizza dough so we could have something with our steamed artichokes.  This pizza was brushed with some garlic oil (just minced garlic warmed in some olive oil), topped with some minced parsley, mozzarella and finely grated parmesan and drizzled with olive oil before baking in the bottom rack at 425 for about 15 – 20 minutes.  Tasted just like the Flatbread pizza!

Make this easy-peasy Chocolate Fudge Cake – you will not be disappointed.

Bought this Steam Mop and am thrilled to bits.  It’s out of stock now but keep checking back if you are interested.

Finally purchased some Blue Light Blocking Glasses because my screen time is way up and think wearing them is positively impacting my sleep!

Ok, so let’s get to those Mother’s Day ideas.  Here they are…

Asparagus, Ham and Gruyere Tart made with store-bought puff pastry could be breakfast or lunch…

Or maybe a Frittata?  Brussels Sprouts, Bacon and Gruyere or Sausage, Corn and Spinach (shown)…

Rhubarb should be available so perhaps this Rhubarb Almond Crumb Cake (shown) or The Best Blueberry Muffins?

Maybe you’d like a Lunch/Brunch option that includes salad?  Grilled Asparagus & Beet Salad is pretty and delish…

So is Farro, Citrus and Arugula Salad…

Or a simple but very flavorful Falafel Bulgur Salad (all the flavor of a falafel but with none of the work)…

And a few options for dinner starting with Blackened Salmon Nicoise Salad…

Israeli Couscous Primavera…

Seared Scallops with Corn and Bacon…

Or fire up the grill and make Za’atar Chicken with Lemon Yogurt…

I think several of these dishes may be on our table soon.  Or maybe I am just hungry.  Time for breakfast here.

Happy Mother’s Day and if you think of it please drop me a note and let me know what you are cooking.  Let’s all inspire each other to keep things interesting and tasty in our kitchens.

Until next time…