Covid 19, "Unemployed" and Stir Crazy

It has been 8 Days since Daffodil closed due to Covid 19.  

The weeks leading up to March 16, 2020 was absolutely surreal....  

One day, business as usual....  Weekends were crazy pizza parties.  We had just launched a new menu nearly two months ago.  We only had our new oven installed for a couple of weeks.  We were looking forward to Fall Leagues ending, with Spring leagues beginning.

Fall Leagues will not have that opportunity to finish out their season.  I miss my daily regulars.  Stew always sat in his spot closest to the POS at the counter every morning.  He is a retired individual, and quite sweet.  He even had his own little Reserved for Stew sign.  He quietly sat and read his book, even though he had read that book many times before - something an avid reader will relate to...  An author named Janet Evanovich.  He loaned me one of his books, and I've yet to actually crack it open and read it.  I have a couple of Kindles, and prefer my books in that format.  Less clutter in the bookcases.  Then there is Pete and his little group that also sat at the counter.  I find myself dying to hear the daily weird cooking/kitchen questions from Pete.  One day, it was how to cook snails.  Another day was how to cook beans properly.  I worry for Buzz, who had been in and out of the hospital and a rehab nursing home since before the holidays.  He was also a daily guest, less some days here and there due to illness.

Fast forward a little bit, and we noticed a drastic drop in guests coming in for parties and for food in general.  A little while later, catered events were canceling, then pizza parties...  The week before, I think I might have cooked five breakfasts, but continued to carry on with business as usual.

I was actually off the day that Governor Inslee made his recommendation that would cause the nation to go into a meltdown.  I was out doing some grocery shopping.  We didn't do that whole "the apocalypse is upon us" shopping frenzy.  We did, however, get a case of toilet paper.  For two people, this case of toilet paper should last us probably til the end of the year, unless a neighbor is in need of a roll.  Trying to find whole chickens was a bit of an issue, as well as ground beef.  I like to purchase meat in bulk, break it down myself, and then put it into the freezer.  I've done this for years, and when you're on a budget, every bit of savings counts.  Out of a pork tenderloin for $18 and some change, I was able to cut it into steaks, and used the FoodSaver to seal them into easy to store packages.  Out of that, I was able to net 9 meals for two.  I should have picked up the beef tenderloin as well.  I'll probably meander out to Costco again in the hopes of finding one.  I can make a lot of dinners for two out of one of those, and use the chain for a stew or a chili.

I want to go to the beach.  But before anybody says, "stay home!", let me explain...  I could go to the beach and just stay in my car.

So now that I have all the time in the world to actually make posts, I'll try my best to get daily updates in the World of Chef Sivi...  Hopefully some photos as well.