This quarantine can be hard on our emotions and our lifestyles, but I am finding it isn’t all bad. It is surely hard to have our lives turned upside down and my heart goes out to the first responders and those who are on the front lines. I am doing my best to savor the time with my family, and doing a lot of simple things to make it through. Here are some ways that my family and I are making the most of this quarantine:
-Baking and trying new recipes: Being home has given me ample time to bake and prepare recipes that are more time consuming than our regular fare. It is nice to be able to slowly chop, stir, and cut fresh herbs…all those “long” recipes are now therapeutic and lovely! I have been making carrot muffins, and chocolate chip cookies, and they are happily being gobbled up by my little ones!
-Learning to sketch: Yes, I was definitely one of the people who started a new hobby when this all began, and I am loving it! I am learning to sketch botanicals, and although I am new at it, I am finding it to be so relaxing and a beautiful way to clear my mind. Coloring and drawing isn’t just for kids; it is perfect for us adults, too!
-Homemade pizza and movie nights: We used to do a homemade pizza and movie night every Friday. As our children have gotten older, it became harder to keep up this tradition, but we are back to it! I love this homemade pizza dough recipe (below), and I finish it off with ice cream and homemade caramel sauce (I love THIS recipe from Broma Bakery).
Pizza Dough:
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
Pinch of sugar
Stir together and let sit 5 min.
Whisk together
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon Salt
Then stir in 2 tablespoons oil
Mix all together
Let rise for 45 min-1 hour
Press out on a floured work surface. Top your pizza with your favorite toppings.
Preheat pizza stone
30 min at 450 degrees.
Bake for about 15 min.
Or
Lightly oil and flour a pizza pan and bake for 12-19 min