July 26, 2020

Food Log during COVID-19 (March to July 2020)

I started my COVID food log on March 14, 2020 since I knew I would be cooking at home ALL of the time. And I like menu planning so I really leaned into it. I mapped out our meals for the week, keeping in mind what we had in the pantry, what was available in the stores and tried to keep some variety in our daily meals.

The food log kept me focused for a time but once we passed the three-month mark, it was clear that this was no short-term experience.

Yes, there is take-out; yes, there is out-door dining; yes, there is indoor dining (in some regions). But for me, the concern of others’ behaviors, as well as this invisible bubble I have to maintain all of the time (which we all know diminishes with alcohol) negates the joy of restaurant dining (again, for me).

Getting back to par of life pre-COVID is going to take a very long time. And so it’s time to put a full-stop on this food log. Like all diaries, I am sure it will be a helpful reference at some point but for now, it’s time to embrace that meal planning and cooking and eating during this pandemic cannot be contained within one post. It’s now my food life.

Sunday, July 26
Day #134: Corn Fried Rice, Mapo Tofu, Crispy Beef

Friday, July 24
Day #132: Cream Cheese-Chive Puffs, Creamy Gazpacho

Thursday, July 23
Day #131: Tomato Crostata

Tuesday, July 21
Day #129: BBQ Spare Ribs (oven-cooked, then grilled)

Thursday, July 16
Day #124: Grilled Salmon

Tuesday, July 14
Day #122: Pecan-Raisin Crackers (loaf and crackers)

Saturday, July 11
Day #119: Strawb erry-Pimms Sorbet, Crispy Panko Crusted Zucchini

Friday, July 10
Day #118: Muji Blood Orange & Lemon Sorbet, Zucchini & Mapo Tofu

Wednesday, July 8
Day #116: Blueberry Muffins

Tuesday, July 7
Day #115: Crispy Beef, Mapo Tofu

Monday, July 6
Day #114: Congee with Sour Plums and Seasoned Seaweed, Harusame Salad, Fried Rice

Sunday, July 5
Day #113: Gazpacho, Spaghetti w/Basil Pesto

Saturday, July 4
Day #112: Gnocchi with Blue Cheese in Brown Butter and Sage, Crispy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Friday, July 3
Day #111: Ozoni (Mochi in Dashi Broth), Salad with Feta, Dog with Ball

Thursday, July 2
Day #110: Boring Dog Day

Wednesday, July 1
Day #109: Pickled Turnip

Tuesday, June 30
Day #108: Butter and Bacon Egg Fettucini

Monday, June 29
Day#107: Pan-fried Zucchini, Gnocchi with Blue Cheese in Tomato Sauce

Sunday, June 28
Day #106: Bok Choy Sautee, Agedashi Tofu, Gyoza

Saturday, June 27

Day #105: More Leftovers! Hydrangeas and pooch

Friday, June 26

Day #104: Somen Noodles w/Shiso and Dipping Sauce; Pepperoni Pizza

Thursday, June 25

Day #103: Leftovers

Wednesday, June 24

Day #102: Lentil Salad, Hydrangea Still Life

Tuesday, June 23
Day #101: Strawberry Pimms Sorbet, Grilled Sausage, Zucchini and Onions

Monday, June 22

Day #100: “Pesto in Pieces” Pasta, Lettuce Salad with Tomato, Cucumber and Feta

Sunday, June 21

Day #99: Tomato & Basil Bruschetta, Braised Kale, Ginger & Garlic Fried Rice, Grilled Chicken Breast

Saturday, June 20

Day #98: Meatball Kebabs, Zucchini and Pepper Kebabs

Friday, June 19

Day #97: Chicken Larb, Chicken Pad Woo Sen, Braised Tofu with Chard

Thursday, June 18

Day #96: Shokupan with Blueberry Jam, Somen Lunch Set, Orange Sherbet

Wednesday, June 17

Day #95: Watermelon Radish Salad, Vegetable Rice Stew with Hot Mustard

Tuesday, June 16

Day #94: Beet and Feta Salad, Olive Bread

Monday, June 15

Day #93: Chicken Pot Pie, Mixed Roast Beets, Watermelon Pimms Sorbet

Sunday, June 14

Day #92: Brownies, Peonies Still Life

Saturday, June 13

Day #91: Chicken Katsu, Grilled Steak and Veggies with Lebanese Flatbread

Friday, June 12

Day #90: Roasted Fennel and Carrot Soup, Miso Congee with Egg

Thursday, June 11

Day #89: Watermelon Pimms Sorbet, Meatball Stromboli

Wednesday, June 10

Day #88: Tagliarelle with Bacon and Pine Nuts

Tuesday, June 9

Day #87: Yakisoba with Radicchio and Kale

Monday, June 8

Day #86: Sloppy Joes, Fries, Salad with Proscuitto

Sunday, June 7

Day #85: Gigli con Cavolfiore (Lily-Shaped Pasta with Cauliflower)

Saturday, June 6

Day #84: Lemon-Sake Sorbet, Grape Sorbet, Leftovers

Friday, June 5

Day #83: Sukiyaki, Braised Shimeji Mushrooms

Thursday, June 4

Day #82: Leftovers

Wednesday, June 3

Day #81: Tagliarelle with Proscuitto

Tuesday, June 2

Day #81: Strawberry Lemon Sorbet, Leftovers

Monday, June 1

Day #80: Snap Peas with Hot Chili Sauce, Gyoza, Brownies with Sea Salt

Sunday, May 31

Day #79: Everything & Za’atar Bagels, Mixed Greens and Tomato Salad, Spaghetti with Red Sauce & Fresh Mozzarella, Breakfast Egg/Bacon Sandwich

Saturday, May 30

Day #78: Braised Kale, Mixed Grill of Sausages, Peppers and Onions

Friday, May 29

Day #77: Crispy Cauliflower, Risotto, Crispy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Thursday, May 28

Day #76: Leftovers

Wednesday, May 27

Day #75: Fresh Mozzarella, Snap Peas and Mint Salad, Orange-Sake Sorbet, Hamburger

Tuesday, May 26

Day #74: Chopped Spinach with Garlic, Fresh Tagliatelle Al Ragu Bolognese

Monday, May 25

Day #73: Going back to the beginning (meal #1) with Falafel, Pita

Sunday, May 24

Day #72: Tofu and Seaweed Congee with Shichimi Pepper, Grilled Vegetable Torte, Baked Orzo Puttanesca

Saturday, May 23

Day #71: Roast Chicken and Vegetables (forgot to take pic), Fried Potatoes

Friday, May 22

Day #70: Lemon-Sake Sorbet, Sourdough Bread and Cheese

Thursday, May 21

Day #69: Sourdough Bread Baking Day, Guacamole and Chips

Wednesday, May 20

Day #68: Sourdough Bread Prep Day 2, Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday, May 19

Day #67: White Bean Chili, Long March Towards Sourdough Bread

Monday, May 18

Day #66: Hot Dogs (!), Sausage and Mozzarella Stromboli

Sunday, May 17

Day #65: Tomato & Fresh Mozzarella Bruschetta, Brown Rice and Arugula Salad, Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti

Saturday, May 16

Day #64: Brown Rice Chopped Salad, Chicken Scallopine with Roast Potatoes on ToiletPaper Plates, Grilled Red Snapper with Lemon and Butter in Foil

Friday, May 15

Day #63: Bean Sprout Namul, Warm Spinach & Bacon Salad, Chuka Bento (Beef Soboro, Veggie Fried Rice, Roast Broccoli), Red Snapper Sashimi

Thursday, May 14

Day #62: Blood Orange – Sake Sorbet

Wednesday, May 13

Day #61: Roast Brussels Sprouts, Grilled Chicken Tikka, Sour Cream Coffee Cake, Kappa and Ume-Shiso Maki, Soba with Scallions and Shiso

Tuesday, May 12

Day #60: Radicchio and Red Onion Slaw with Blood Orange, Ligurian Pesto with Spaghetti

Monday, May 11

Day #59: Dragonfruit, Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza

Sunday, May 10

Day #58: Croissants & Pain au Chocolate, Farro & Arugula Salad with Avocado

Saturday, May 9

Day #57: Strawberry Banana and Almond Smoothie, Swiss Chard with Black Olives, Sea Bass with Kimchi and Vegetables

Friday, May 8

Day #56: Gussed-up Instant Ramen, Pre-Workout Bars, Spinach-Ricotta Ravioli with Tomato Sauce, Homemade Sorta-Speedy Bread

Thursday, May 7

Day #55: Arugula and Tomato Salad with Ginger Dressing, Calbee Nori-Shio Chips

Wednesday, May 6

Day #54: Leftovers

Tuesday, May 5

Day #53: Tray o’ Shortbread, Grilled Flatbread, Lentil Salad, Carrot Hummus

Monday, May 4

Day #52: Tagliarelle with Cheese & Pepper, Roast Broccoli, Steamed Basmati Rice

Sunday, May 3

Day #51: Warm Soba Noodles

Saturday, May 2

Day #50: Rye Brownies with Sea Salt

Friday, May 1

Day #49: Mapo Tofu, Beef & Scallion Stir-Fry, Spicy Cucumber Salad

Thursday, April 30

Day #48: Tagliarelle Egg Pasta, Roasted Broccoli

Wednesday, April 29

Day #47: Wheat Crackers, Risotto, Green Beans with Walnuts

Tuesday, April 28

Day #46: Raisin-Pecan Crisps

Monday, April 27

Day #45: Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich with Morning Crossword, Rye Bread Loaves

Sunday, April 26

Day #44: Jumbo Meatballs with Tomato Sauce, Chopped Garlic Spinach, Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese

Saturday, April 25

Day #43: Natto Gohan, Vegan and Gluten-Free Brownie Bites, Maida Heatter’s Lemon Buttermilk Cake

Friday, April 24

Day #42: White Bolognese with Rigatoni, Miette’s Meatballs, Amazing Crispy & Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Thursday, April 23

Day #41: Lentil Soup, Fresh Mozzarella & Chopped Tomato Sandwich

Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day!)

Day #40: Spring Peas & Snow Peas, Braised Beef with Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday, April 21

Day #39: Beef Gyoza, Vegetarian Japchae

Monday, April 20

Day #38: Mini-Orange Pound Cake Loaves

Sunday, April 19

Day #37: Baked Orzo Puttanesca, Salty Shortbread Bites

Saturday, April 18

Day #36: Farro Salad with Cherries & Walnuts, Pecan-Golden Raisin Crisps, Chicken Pot Pie

Friday, April 17

Day #35: Everything Bagels

Thursday, April 16

Day #34: Creamless Yet Creamy Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Pan Pizza with Pepperoni, Red Pepper and Red Onion

Wednesday, April 15

Day #33: Vegetarian Japchae, Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Monday, April 13

Day #31: Oat Nut & Fruit Bars, Spaghetti with Cheese, Aleppo Pepper & Chives, Kale Salad with Feta

Sunday, April 12

Day #30: Crispy Chicken Tenders, Baked Potato with Whipped Feta and Chives, Chopped Kale Salad

Saturday, April 11

Day #29: XL Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, Spinach Sauté with Garlic, Jazzing up meals with Maurizio Cattellan and Pierpaolo Ferrari TOILETPAPER plates.

Friday, April 10

Day #28: Cream Cheese Pound Cake, American Cheese Melt

Thursday, April 9

Day #27: Marinated Shabu-Shabu Beef with Scallions, Snow Pea & Tofu Batons with Grilled Yellow Pepper, Butter-Soy Enoki Mushroom Sauté, Miso Soup, Steamed Rice

Wednesday, April 8

Day #26: Leftovers + Crispy Skillet Potatoes, Homemade Za’atar

Tuesday, April 7

Day #25: Tofu with Beef and Scallion, Vegetable Fried Rice

Monday, April 6

Dinner#24: Kale Salad, Lebanese Flatbread, EVOO and Za’atar

Sunday, April 5

Day #23: Grilled Chicken, Grilled Lebanese Flatbread, Jerusalem Salad + Regrowing Scallions (was only 2″ tall last week!)

Saturday, April 4

Day #22: Spaghetti Aglio E Olio (one with Aleppo Pepper; one with Parmesan cheese) , Kale Kalamata and Walnut Salad

Friday, April 3

Day #21: Beef, Barley and Vegetable Stew, Crispy Duck-Fat Roast Potatoes

Thursday, April 2

Individual Mini-Meatloaves, Green Beans with Walnuts, Basmati Rice

Wednesday, April 1

Sausage and Red Onion Pizza, Pepperoni Pizza + bonus pics of dough and sauce!

Tuesday, March 31

Toasted Roll with Cream Cheese & Everything Sprinkles, Farro Salad with Dried Cherries and Walnuts, Red Cabbage and Celery Slaw, Risotto with Chives