The Death of a Cake during the time of COVID

I am devastated to find out that Costco (sob) is no longer  carrying its amazing half sheet cake.  The cake I have bought for high school and college graduations.  The cake I have bought for a colleague who was leaving.  The cake I have bought for friends birthdays. The cake I have bought for baby showers and engagement parties.  That beautiful cake with the delicious frosting and devastating cream center that could be personalized for any occasion.

The reasoning behind not baking this cake anymore is,  according to Costco  " is to limit personal contact and create more space for personal distancing and reduce services in certain departments"  Another particularly lame reason, to discourage crowds.  I order it when I have 8 to 10 people over and send cake home with whoever wants it. Last I heard we are in phase 2 and 3 so a gathering that small with social distancing is still ok.

Not only did they stop carrying it, they might not bring it back. (sob). I don't think it has anything to do with social distancing.  I think it has more to do with mathematics.  Lets see, the sheet cake serves 50 people and costs 20 dollars. The 10 inch round serves 12 and costs almost the same.  How many rounds would it take to feed 50 people and how much more would the consumer have to pay?

It is so sad that in this time of COVID not only do we have to wear masks, not hug dear ones, have no sporting events and have to social distance, we now have to face life with out the Costco half sheet cake.  I am not sure how this is going to work for me. Imight have to sell our Costco stock.

Competitive Eating

I have always viewed competitive eating competitions with a mixture of awe and disgust.  It is amazing that one person can eat that much food in a small period of time and not vomit.  It's also disgusting to think that one person can eat that much, not enjoy any of it because they are eating so fast their taste buds don't even get a chance to experience the food and eat that many calories.  

The Nathan's Hot Dog Eating competition is actually televised on ESPN.  I even watched it last year when Joey Chestnut won his 12th title for eating 71 dogs and buns. He won 12 times!!!!!!  It was the first and last time I will ever watch something like that.  

Since I was already on You Tube, I decided to see what else was out there relating to overeating, I mean competitive eating.  I found this guy eating a 16 piece Popeye's Family meal in 25 minutes. That is 16 pieces of fried chicken, 3 large sides and biscuits.  Here is what is really wrong with this whole competitive eating thing.

1. The fried chicken eating guy is so thin.  It just isn't fair to be able to eat that much and be that thin.  If I would walk into a Popeye's now and just breath in the air there I would gain 10 pounds that would go directly to my hips.
2. He ate over 8,000 calories in 25 minutes.  I will say that again.  He ate over 8,000 calories in 25 minutes. I generally try to keep my caloric intake to 1,200 calories a day.  That means he ate as many calories in 25 minutes as I eat in 6 and 1/2 days.
3. Lastly, can you really taste any part of chicken or the hot dogs? And how do you not vomit? I am pretty sure that to these folks taste is of little consequence. It's all about the amount and the speed. I rather eat less and enjoy more.

It makes me wonder if in this time of the COVID virus  ESPN is going to have more of this "sport"  since the Baseball season is shortened and who knows what the football and hockey season will look like. 

Travel In the Time of COVID

My husband and I recently went looking for property to build a house in Lancaster County.  I have always loved the area for its serene Amish charm.  There is something about being there that fills me with an inner peace.

On our way back, we stopped at Lancaster Central Market. It is the oldest continuously operating farmers' market in the country, dating back to 1889. All I can say is foodie alert!"

The market was quite busy with activity. You could tell that lots of locals were there stocking up on fresh veggies, meats, and bread for the week. This was a great indicator to me that the products were fresh and delicious.

We had a decent drive ahead of us, so we didn't buy any meat or produce BUT we did go to several of the bakeries in the market and picked up some amazingly delicious carb laden goodies. The cinnamon muffin was ginormous, really. Sometimes bigger isn’t better, but in this case, it absolutely was. The secret was in the crumb topping—rich with butter and brown sugar that melted on the tongue in every bite. The cake itself had ribbons of cinnamon and sugar running through it, perfectly balanced so the sweetness didn’t overpower the crumb topping. By the first bite, I had tears of joy running down my face!

 

The sweet potato bread was good as well.  It's a very dense bread with a hint of cinnamon and unlike any yeast bread I have had before. Its popularity was so apparent that in the five minutes it took for me to grab a cup of coffee, the original five loaves that I saw had dwindled to one.  

We stayed overnight which came with a few hiccups. The hotel, a Hilton property, completely botched our reservation—perhaps a result of their struggle to adjust after months of low occupancy. There was a BBQ restaurant with good reviews near the hotel. Much to our dismay, dinner wasn’t much better; by the time we opened our takeout containers, the meal had turned into a mushy mix of meat, potatoes, and vegetables. Not all the restaurant's fault, but still less than ideal.

If you’re ever in Lancaster area, don't miss a visit to the Central Market. From fresh produce to bakery delights, it’s a food lover’s paradise! My advice? Skip the overnight stay if possible and make it a day trip—you won’t regret it!

Satellite Imagery in the time of COVID

I have written before about my fascination with space and space ships.  Recently SpaceX launched a ship carrying two astronauts to the International Space Station and then after that several satellites to provide better internet service.  Their plan is to launch thousands.  Even though space appears to be vast, I often wonder if its getting crowded and cluttered with space junk.

None the less, now satellites are tracking countries to determine if they are recovering as fast as they say they are from the current COVID pandemic.  Hearing about that should not have been a surprise to me but it was.  Satellites have recorded images of iconic landmarks before the pandemic started and then recent images.  You can definitely see more people out and about before, less recently which shows people were most likely sheltering in place.

Homeland security and the CDC  and anyone else who has access, can use the images to track new structures that appear. In August a site in Wuhan China was an empty parking lot but by January it was a large facility. This was an indication that the virus was spreading and affecting a mass number of people.

When the pandemic spread to the Middle East, Iran played down the number of deaths in the country, however, satellite images showed mass graves being dug that indicated something completely different.

The saying use to be You Can't Fool Mother Nature, but in this day and age you Can't Fool a Satellite. Countries should not think just because they say that the virus is under control that this will be taken as the truth. Not with SpaceX and  Satellite images available that tell a different story.

Precariously placed buildings

I have a fear of heights. Many people do.  But building places on a precipice to me is fascinating and just a little bit crazy.  

Take for example The Hanging Temple in China.  It has been hanging around for more than 1,500 years.  The structure is kept in place with oak crossbeams fitted into holes chiseled int the cliffs.  The body of the building hangs from the middle of the cliff.  To think that people built this structure with basic tools and none of the technology we have today is sheer genius. The fact that it is just amazing. It is almost 100 feet in the air.

If I had the opportunity to visit would I?  I think I would.  But as with some of the other examples in this link I don't think I would stay very long.

Baking Ingredient Substitutions in the time of COVID

As a rule I do not stock buttermilk in my fridge.  I don't even like to buy it since I only use a cup or so in a recipe. Lately I steer clear of recipes with buttermilk because I don't want to waste it.

Same thing with cake flour.  I have so many types of flour in my pantry.  I have all purpose, self rising, wheat, so that the thought of one more flour does not make me happy nor does it make my pantry happy.

Cream of tartar is another ingredient that is annoying.  You usually use 1/4 tsp in a recipe and I usually don't make a lot of recipes calling for cream of tartar. I know it has a purpose in a recipe but I don't want to take up space on my spice rack with something I may use once a year, which by that time it probably has lost its pizzazz.

That is why I loved these kitchen hacks that suggest substitutions for items that you don't use as often when you bake.  Since we are doing so much more cooking and baking in this time of COVID, I thought you might like the substitutions as much as me.  Check out this link.

As my Nana would say waste not want not!

I Will Always Write Back

I am not sure what initially drew me to this book.  It was on a suggested young reader book list, but it was the title that grabbed my interest..  I guess it was the title and the fact that it made me think about how, as a kid, It also brought back memories on how I loved to write and receive letters when I was very young.  Writing was the major form of communication back then and over the years I had pen pals just like Martin and Caitlin.

The book is about contrast and how a single action can unknowingly change lives forever. Caitlin is a typical teen from Pennsylvania who lives in a comfortable neighborhood.    Martin on the other hand, comes from a struggling community in Zimbabwe.  Their lives couldn't be more different.  

One day their assignment is to write to a pen pal. For Caitlin, the assignment seems like a fun chance to connect with someone from another country. For Martin, it’s an honor.  They make a connection by talking about their lives.  Something clicks.  As Caitlin continues reading his letters, she begins to see beyond the surface and understand the reality of Martin’s life.

They start sending each other little gifts.  For Martin it is a sacrifice.  Even buying stamps to send the letters is a significant strain on the family budget.  But this connection is so important to him that he and his family are willing to do it. In one letter Caitlin encloses a twenty dollar bill.  Little did she know how important this gift would be to him and his family. Every time she sent even a small amount of cash it literally saved, he and his family from disaster.  At the time Zimbabwe was going through a crisis.

  

She had no idea that her small gifts, even just a twenty-dollar bill, would make an enormous difference sometimes saving Martin’s family from crisis and making a difference in two families.

This is a great read for teens and adults alike.

Writers and Lovers

When we first meet Casey she is reeling from the unexpected loss of her Mother and the break up of her recent relationship. I can certainly relate the loss of a Mom.  Mine was my best friend, cheer leader and amazing woman.  

Casey is a writer.  In fact, she has been writing a novel for the last six years.  She is one of the last of her wanna be writing friends that has not given up her dream to write.  She waits on tables which allows her time to write but in doing so she is forced to live in this moldy room she rents.  This by the way is the only thing she can afford since she has a mountain of college loan debt. She is literally at loose ends and ready to fall apart. 

I admire her.  So many people want to write a great novel, me included but sometimes even if you have the whole thing worked out, getting the characters through the story seems to be more difficult then you may have thought.

Two of my characters are still in hiding on opposite sides of the world.  I am still trying to have their paths cross in a very subtle way.   

Casey works really hard to get her life together.  You should read the book to see were her journey goes.

Melania The Art of Her Deal

I don't usually like to talk politics. I love my friends and family too much and one thing I have learned is if you want to get into a nasty situation with people, talk politics.  

I remember when I first met my Mother-In-Law she stared talking politics and I knew if I engaged in this debate with her it would be all over for me.  She asked me why I wouldn't comment and I told her the last thing I wanted was a fight.  Believe me the conversation would have gotten ugly. 

Now it is my husband and daughter.  They just go on and on and I try to stay out of it but sometimes I just can't.

Any way, There is a new book being released on June 16th written by a Washington Post reporter. Mary Jordan is not any reporter, she is a Pulitzer prize winning reporter, so for me that gives her some credibility.

One of the most fascinating parts of Trump's presidency, and there are so many, is the role of the First Lady.  Unlike the last couple of First ladies, you don't see her much at all not alone or with her husband. There are no pictures of them entertaining celebrities or foreign dignities at the White House.  You don't see them on a date at their favorite restaurant. 

Each of the First Ladies had a cause that they talked about.  Hilary Clinton was into many things but Health care and women's issues were two examples. Barbara Bush was heavily into literacy and started a Foundation.  Laura Bush also was into literacy. Michele Obama was into health and fitness.

The cause that Melania chose, an excellent cause near and dear to my heart was bullying.  But the press and many people including myself laughed about that because it seemed like she was married to the biggest bully on the planet. Yet,  had she wanted to, she could have made it work.  She didn't.  In fact, she is doing nothing to make this role her own.  

Unlike other posts on my blog, I don't usually talk about a book I have not read.  I am making an exception now.  I have pre-ordered the book so I really don't know anything more about the book except what was reported in the Washington Post.  Still I can't wait to read it.

So I am suggestion that you read the book with me.  You can follow this Link to pick up the book The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story Of Melania Trump.  After I read it I would love to hear comments because I will be posting again.

Amy Shummer and Chris Fisher cook in the Time of COVID

In case you missed it I think the Food Channel is running out of things to air because of COVID 19. The reason I make this statement is because recently I was watching this channel trying to get ideas on what to make that is new and refreshing and I noticed a new show Amy Shummer Learns to Cook .

It features her and her husband Chris who is a chef.  He had the arduous task of teaching her how to cook. He handled the lessons well since Amy bounces off walls and Chris reigns her in, but it is entertaining. 

My favorite recipe on their show was for the Paloma Don't even Know Ya.  Seems like Amy does a very good job at mixing the drinks. I have shared the recipe in this Post. The show is certainly not like anything the food network has done in the past.  In fact it makes me long for Rachel Ray or Giada De Laurentiis. Food Network appears to be pretty desperate but desperate times calls for desperate measures. If you keep telling yourself it's just entertainment then you can just sit back and enjoy it.

Please click on this link to see Amy and Chris talking with Seth Meyers about the show.

Tequila-Soaked Pineapple:

1 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into cubes

Half of a 750-milliliter bottle tequila

Cocktail:

3 ounces sparkling water

A splash fresh grapefruit juice

Slice of grapefruit, blood orange or pineapple, for garnish, optional

1. For the tequila-soaked pineapple: Put the pineapple in a large resealable container and pour the tequila over it. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
2. For the cocktail: Put ice in a rocks glass and add 2 ounces of the tequila from the tequila-soaked pineapple. Top with the sparkling water and a splash of grapefruit juice. In a separate glass, coarsely muddle a piece of the pineapple, then add to the rocks glass. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit, blood orange or pineapple if desired.

Dad and Daughter Dance in the time of COVID

Colorado Dance Dad spends quality time dancing with his daughter and son on what he calls Quarantine Monday.  His videos are going viral and if you haven't seen them I plan to share a few of the with you. But it is not just his dance moves during COVID.  He is also known as the donating dancing dad because he has been donating 50 meals to various local hospitals and he has donated ipads to local icu's so corona virus patients can connect with their loved ones who are quarantined.

Part of my job is to configure ipads and tablets to be used in hospitals.  Sometimes a chat on the ipad is the last time family will get the chance to see their loved one alive.  On the brighter side it allows nurses and physicians to have a video chat with their patient so that their medical care is more robust.


He is certainly sending out positive mojo.

Here are links I want to share.

Chris and his daughter Brooklyn boogie down.

Chris, his story and dance off with his son

The Chippendales accept challenge from Chris

Costco free munchies Moving past the time of COVID

I think there is light at the end of this COVID tunnel. Costco’s food court revival is truly a sign of better days ahead! The return of free samples and the legendary hot dog-pizza combo is enough to make any Costco regular rejoice. While seating may still be limited, the takeout option keeps the tradition alive.   If you live or work anywhere near a Costco, chances are you've timed a lunch visit just for the samples. After all, how economical is it to enjoy a free lunch made up of the many samples passed out?

But if the sample selection doesn't quite satisfy your taste, don’t worry Costco’s food court is making its comeback, The Food Court at Costco will once again open its walk-up windows so that we may partake of the foot long hot dog and the over-sized slice of pizza at $1.50 and $2.00 respectively.  Oh, and a soda comes with the hot dog.  It is by far the best lunch deal on the planet.  

My IT colleagues and I could hardly wait for lunch when we sometimes drove to the Costco down the road for our lunch break. IT people look forward to lunch not so much because we are hungry which we are but because we can legitimately take a break from looking at our laptops. Sadly, our office has moved, and Costco runs are a thing of the past. 

So, check your nearest store for the day the food court will open.  Mind you, you will not be able to sit and eat like you did in the good old days pre COVID, but you can carry out. After all isn't eating in your car something you have gotten use to?  (NOT)

A Silicon Valley Start Up - Bad Blood

Perhaps many of you have heard the story of Elizabeth Holmes.  The show 20/20 recently did an entire show about Elizabeth and her company Theranos.

The story is fascinating.  As good as 20/20 was at covering this story the book Bad Blood by John Carreyrou was even better.  He tells the story of a 19 year old Stamford Drop out who wanted to be the next Steve Jobs.

By the time she was twenty one she had raised six million dollars for her start up.  The company, according to her, was about to make this monumental break through. Her machine could use a minimal amount of blood, a finger stick really and perform many tests on this small sample.  I don't know about you but I have horrible veins and blood draws are something I don't look forward to. I would be thrilled to have a machine and the scientific technology to minimize my anguish. 

Imagine walking into a CVS and getting a pin prick that would provide a sample that would be used to run tests with results coming back quickly, maybe on the spot.  Not only could one test be performed but the machine her company designed could perform many tests.

She was a great at selling this idea.  CVS and others were jumping on the Elizabeth band wagon.  But somewhere along the way things started to fall apart and the house of cards she built fell. 


If you are in the mood for a good non fiction book, read this one.

Variations on the theme of Tater Tots Part 2 The fritatta

What a shock, once again I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep. 

I decided to make a breakfast frittata with one of my new favorite ingredients Tater tots.  There is just something about these puffs of potato that works for me. Frittatas are a wonderful way to use ingredients right from your fridge. 

All of you have made them, it's really nothing new but I liked the ingredients I used so I will share my combo with you.

I started off baking about two cups of tater tots until they were crispy.  

While they cook I diced a small red pepper and a small onion. 

I drained a 15.5 ounce can of black beans and dried them off. You will only need 1/2 can so save the other half to combine with fresh corn and some salsa to make mexican chicken.

I beat 6 eggs and 1/4 cup half and half together.

Once the tater tots are crispy, I layered the bottom of a greased 8 x 8 square baking dish.  

I added the diced veggies, at least a cup of cheddar and the black beans.

I then added the egg mixture and baked until the eggs were cooked all the way through. (center firm)  It takes about 45 minutes at 350.

The reason I like to make Frittatas is because they are very forgiving.  

Ways to Social Distance during COVID and Beyond

The number of COVID cases allegedly has stabilized and State Governors are easing the restrictions. Businesses are exploring different ways to open their stores but still be mindful of social distances. Many creative ideas are being born.  A cobbler in Romania (check out link) has crafted a size 75 shoe. It takes two days to make them so get your order in now. I imagine even Michael Jordan or Shaquille O'Neal could fit into this shoe after all they are made to order.

In Ocean City, Md a bar designed this go with you table to encourage distancing and I found a picture of a place that made a hat with pool noodles.

People can be very creative when they need to be.  I just got a chuckle seeing all the social distancing choices.

A trip to the Space Station

I have always been fascinated by space travel.  I am a big fan of science fiction books and I love to watch space related movies.   I can't tell you how many times I watched the Martian and read the book.

I was saddened when the 30 year old space shuttle program shut down after the Atlantis landed on July 21, 2011. The maintenance for the space craft, the economy, loss of interest and the perception that the program was not moving forward were some of the reason the program ended. It was truly the end of an era of wonderment and excitement.  

Still there is new hope.  The Dragon launched by a joint effort between SpaceX and Nasa docked with the International Space Station on May 31st. All it took was nineteen hours to get to the space station.  Amazing! It is the first time in nine years American astronauts were on an american made space shuttle that was launched from American soil. It's truly great to see the US moving forward again.


You can read all the facts in this link.

Filling Time during COVID

I haven't worked on a puzzle in years but a friend offered to loan one that she and her husband had recently worked on, I jumped at the chance.

I needed something to help me relax.  I couldn't sleep last night so I decided to start working on it.  There is definitely a strategy to completing a puzzle with 500 pieces or more.  I set out to find the outer pieces first and then divided the other pieces into piles according to the picture.  I got the entire puzzle frame before I decided I couldn't see straight and went to bed.

I know lots of you have been working on puzzles as well since there are none left on the shelves i stores.  Hope you are enjoying them as much as I am.

According to my Fitbit I got four hours of sleep.  Not good if you shoot for 8 hours but a lot better than none.

This is How it Always Was

This book is about a family, five boys and a Mom and Dad.  From the outside the family is just like any other family.  But instead of the being a rough and tumble little guy he chooses to wear a dress and wants to be a Princess.

The parents are amazing doing everything they can to make Claude feel comfortable in his skin. Some of the decisions they make are not particularly the best for their other children but they make them because they want to protect and keep them safe.

The one thing they decide is not to share Claude's secret when he identifies as a she.  But Hiding the true gender identity causes many problem for both the child and his family. 

I found myself reading the book through totally immersed in the character of Rosie, the Mom.  Being a Mom myself I was inspired by her courage, self doubt and love for her children when it came to making decisions.  

It's a great book and a great book club selection.