Quarantine Life Part II

Here we are on day (unsure, because I have lost track) of quarantine. Anyone else loosing it? Some days are better than others. So as we continue to sit inside move from room to room, clean out closets and cabinets(this has been refreshing), take as many walks as possible, and make our dogs wonder when we are leaving again, I thought I’d share some of the bright spots of social distancing.

Our neighborhood has had a food truck every week for the last couple of weeks which has been a fun break in cooking the 11,000 meals a week I am making. Gives us an excuse to go walk, and work for our dinner. Everyone is very respectful of social distancing and we sign up at times to go order to avoid crowds.

Brene Brown has a new podcast out—highly recommend giving that a listen!

Here is what we have watched on netflix: Tiger King(obvs), Once upon a Night in Hollywood(eh, it was ok), I will watch a few episodes of Chef’s Table at a time which I really enjoy, Spenser Confidential—we both really liked this. I have been keeping up with all things Bravo of course and enjoy every trashy moment.

I have started writing again! I wrote all the time as a teen, and on and off since college. I have a few journals I keep. I took a creative writing course and have been practicing my writing since. Making time for it renews my soul in a way I forgot it does(much like writing this blog does!).

A way to support my business:

The shop small shirts to support Magnolia Vine Events are still available! They are seriously the most comfortable t-shirt ever and we get about half of every sale. It is another small business doing this amazing campaign. It is available in great colors too!

If you want to grab your own go to: https://www.theswagstore.net/products/magnoliavineevents

Things you need to make:

Buy this mini waffle maker. Then make everything in it from now on. Here is my pimento cheese tater tot burger:

How to make your own:

1 bag tater tots

1 tomato

1 lb ground beef

Palmetto Pimento Cheese

Wickles Relish

Preheat your oven according the tater tot directions. You will need about 10 per “bun”. I cooked mine for about 5-7 min and then removed. Spray your mini waffle maker with cooking spray. Line it with about 10 tater tots and close the lid. You may need to lift the lid periodically and smash them together to form more of a waffle. I cooked them in the waffle maker about 3-4 min—just watch the color on them. To get them out of the waffle maker, I lifted it from the lid and dumped it onto the plate—when I tried to remove them with a fork they broke.

In the meantime, cook your burgers to your liking. We made ours more slider size so we got 6 patties out of our beef.

Once your burgers are cooked through add to your tater tot “bun”, and top with a slice of tomato, relish, and pimento cheese! Ketchup, mayo, mustard as you prefer.

I have also cooked a cinnamon roll in it, and chocolate chip waffles. 10/10 recommend. Go order this. You are welcome.

I also made Chrissy Teigen’s biscuits & best scrambled eggs ever from her second cookbook, Cravings: Hungry for More. The biscuits were good, I thought they needed just a smidge more salt & seasoning so I am going to make them again this week! Snag your copy of her first and second cookbook. They are two of my favorites I cook out of often.

Next up on things to make—this is by far the best sauce and ziti I have ever made. Here is what you need:

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 onion, diced(I didn’t have this on hand but normally would have added)

Minced garlic(eyeball your preference, I like about 3 tablespoons and then just taste test along the way)

1 Jar Barilla Savory Tomato Sauce

1 Can Tuttorosso crushed tomatoes(MUST be this brand)

1 box ziti noddles

8oz Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1 container shredded parm

1 container ricotta cheese

1 lb ground beef-if you want

Season with salt, pepper, and fresh basil

Saute the pepper, onion and garlic until the pepper is soft and onion is translucent. Add your jar of sauce & can of tomatoes(this will make alot of sauce so you will use some for the ziti and then probably freeze the rest). S&P to taste, add basil, and let simmer for 2-3 hrs.

Brown your ground beef, drain excess grease and then add to your sauce right before you assemble your ziti. Preheat your oven to 350.

Cook your noodles for about 9 min. I always salt my water before boiling. You don’t want them mushy because they will cook in the oven.

Once noodles are cooked, it is time to assemble! Place a layer of sauce in the bottom of your pan, then noodles, then big spread out spoonfuls of ricotta. Once it is melted a bit, you will want to stir it together—this allows ricotta to get into the whole dish! Sprinkle half your mozzarella & parm cheese. Repeat your layers. Top with cheese. Bake UNCOVERED for 30 min. Add a caesar salad, garlic bread and some extra sauce for dipping on the side. You will be in HEAVEN.

Things to read:

I haven’t read AS much since the last time I blogged but I have read two and half things at the time of writing this:

This will only hurt a little bit by Busy Phillips. I liked it fine. I appreciated her candor, honesty, and humor but it wasn’t revolutionary.

The Last House Guest — an easy fiction read. About half way through the story started to pick up speed and then after that I stayed up until I finished it because I just had to know. A little who done it, a little romance.

In the middle of Open Heart by Jessica Simpson. GO BUY THIS/BORROW. I have always loved her but her rawness in this is incredible. She shares so much more than the juicy stuff we saw play out in the headlines over the years. She also shares how much of her life had a lot of pain attached to it which is incredibly sad, but how she has risen is admirable.

No real quarantine projects to speak of at this time of writing. Lee did an insane amount of yard work and we are making progress there. I am still hoping we will paint the dining room, clean out the garage, and some grand ideas I have invented while we sit here for the rest of time.

We miss our family, our friends, and our regular routine but we know one day we will be back there. Until then I am going to sit in the backyard and pretend the ocean is crashing at my feet ;)