Hi, everyone. Sorry I haven’t blogged as much lately. I’ve been busy trying to write while also freaking out over the news. First off, I hope that all of you are safe, well, and (unless you have a job deemed “essential”) staying inside. Staying inside saves lives, so as much as you are able, PLEASE. Stay inside.
To those with jobs that make this impossible, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again to all you first responders, doctors, nurses, medical and hospital staff, medical housekeeping, pharmacists, grocery store clerks, grocery delivery drivers, medical supply companies, businesses that weren’t medical supply companies, but have stepped up to start making medical supplies, warehouse workers, delivery drivers, cooks, and so many more, THANK YOU. You are the heroes of this moment.
Speaking of cooks, my actual, professional bio has a line in it that says “hates to cook” because, under normal circumstances, that’s true. For one, I’m not that good at cooking. For another, my husband is a VERY good cook. When we first met, he worked as a line chef for a couple restaurants, so unless it’s something very easy like Hamburger Helper, Tacos, Man-which, or the like, he cooks. Not me. The joke in our house is that I only cook for people I don’t like because the results usually aren’t that good. However…being quarantined to #FlattenTheCurve has changed all that.
Who knew that during a terrible international crisis, I’d turn to stress-cooking? Not me, that’s for sure, but here we are. In fact, in the past ten days alone, I have made:
2 batches of homemade lasagna
1 gallon of homemade crock-pot pork chili
2 chicken divan casseroles
1 batch box-mix brownies
1 batch box-mix red velvet cupcakes
1 batch box-mix blueberry muffins
1 batch homemade vanilla icing
Pecan praline pancakes
It’s official: I have turned into my mother. All of her “you should learn how to cook!” nagging over decades didn’t work, but my staying at home for quarantine apparently has. She’s laughing at me from above, I just know it.
Now, don’t be alarmed. I haven’t eaten all of the above yet. Most of the chili was divided and frozen for later, as was one of the chicken divan casseroles. Plus, the red velvet cupcakes didn’t turn out well, so most of those ended up in the trash. But the rest…yeah. The below gif pretty much describes what happened:
Finally, to honor the saying “pics or it didn’t happen!” here’s one of the lasagnas I made:
That’s it from me for now. Once again, I hope that all of you are staying safe, staying well, and (for those who can) staying inside. Cyber-hugs to all.
I used to like to cook and then I had a kid. A picky-eater. Sucks ALL the fun out of it.
Good job adulting there! 👍
I’m baking as well. I just made no bake pb oatmeal walnut cookies. They are drying right now.
That lasagna looks amazing!! What’s a chicken divan casserole, sounds interesting!! Keep staying safe!!
It’s a recipe my mom used to make. Don’t know where she got it from. Here it is below, if you’re interested, but a warning: Mom wasn’t big on low-fat meals ;). However, it’s very easy, and the soups can be switched out for cream of mushroom, cream of celery, etc. if that’s what you have in your pantry versus what’s below.
Chicken divan recipe
4 – 5 breasts cooked boneless chicken, cut up into pieces
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can condensed cream of broccoli soup
1 can condensed broccoli cheese soup
1/2 cup mayo
1 soup-can size of water
French’s onion rings
2 or 3 bags frozen broccoli florets, rinsed and drained
Whisk together soups, water and mayo. Then, layer one large pan or two small pans first with soup mixture, then chicken, then broccoli, then soup again. Top lightly with fried onions (add more later.) Bake at 350 for 45 – 50 minutes if fresh not frozen. When bubbling, add remaining onion crunchies, and bake another 5 or so minutes until browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving to allow sauce to thicken.
Hope you’re staying safe!
I was rereading Shades of Wicked and I was wondering, has Leila seen Bones or Ian’s worst sin?
She says she saw Ian’s when she discovered him blank BUT I re-read their precious interactions & it wasn’t said. Would love to know both!
Yes, Leila saw Ian’s because of their extended time together in Into The Fire, but she didn’t see Bones’s because she was only around him a couple times, and she was either wearing her gloves, or deliberately didn’t touch him.
Well chicken pot pie for dinner, ham and beans are done and a big pot of soup is simmering away because I can’t NOT do something. My husbands job is essential soooo cooking dinner for the next 7 years is my stress relief. I need another freezer……
Good to hear from you Jeaniene and that you’re staying safely inside like me. I must say, your lasagna looked good. Thanks for being my favorite author and please stay safe and healthy!
Impressive! The lasagna looks great! I’m going to try the chicken divan recipe. It sounds great.
I’m really impressed with your energy!
Hugs!
I am like Garfield… I love lasagna and yours looks good! I have been off work for five weeks now and wondering if I will be going back to work on May 1 or under the extended stay at home through May 30. I hope to find out today. I live in IL and the new order with modifications just happened yesterday so hope to find out ASAP since my hours and schedule have become very incompatible with work unless they do shifts where my hours will fit, the big reason for finding out soon.
Been sorting through lots of clutter/boxes and making a lot of progress… thought it would have to wait for me to retire in a bit over 5 1/2 years; at least, I hope I will be able to! Been cooking lots of meals and keeping up with the dishes which is not as regular and often when I work.
I have made chili, beef with dill gravy, roast pork, chicken and dumpling stew that has been a family recipe for at least 4 generations… the dumplings are made with saltine crackers… if anyone is interested, I will share… prime rib roast, meatloaf, frozen batter fish, chicken fricassee with chive dumplings (took hours so very rarely made, but so good), corned beef and cabbage, ham with scalloped potatoes, baked salmon with breading that is absolutely delicious (another recipe I am willing to share), and plan on making what I call my signature dish which is manicotti crepes… instead of using the pre-made pasta, I make crepes, add the filling and roll… everything else is the same as the recipe… it’s a little lighter than using pasta and way easier to fill. Made many more things, but feel like I have been rather long winded here… sorry!
I do have a recipe very similar to the chicken divan that has asparagus, though have made with broccoli, that is topped with cheese, then crushed Ritz crackers at the very top. Loved making it with cream of onion soup that is no longer carried at the stores around me.
I wish I had a sewing machine and the needed materials and knew how to sew… would love to make masks. It will be mandatory very soon and not sure if and when the things I ordered will come… hopefully before I need to go back to work! Saw many cute ones online that were quite expensive and would take awhile to get… it’s becoming a fashion and a business opportunity for some… though many seem to be from different countries. One of my daughters, in MN, saw empty shelves where there used to be the cloth and supplies needed to make masks. Been looking for a can of Lysol for 6 weeks now, but at least I have toilet paper! Saw a funny meme that the reason why toilet paper has been so badly needed was that many may be cooking for the very first time or have to eat their own cooking! The meme was funnier, but that was the gist.
Hope all of you stay safe, healthy, and have all that you need!