Dinner for a Pandemic 14

Back when Venice, Italy canceled Carnival, or actually just before the festivities began I became concerned that we might get sick and started making chicken soup to freeze.

How naive to think that chicken soup would get us through if we actually came down with the virus.

But I didn't stop there. I made ratatouille, ham hock and bean soup, tomato sauce with meatballs and sausage, stuffed peppers, and we got staples at Costco: Italian sausage, pork loins, ground turkey and a couple of whole chickens and packages of chicken parts. Coffee, chicken stock, sliced ham for sandwiches, and a large bag of tortilla chips.

(No, I did not buy toilet paper.)

Tonight I thawed out the stuffed peppers and made some steamed broccoli on the side. A little red wine and a loaf of decent, but not great, bread to sop up the juices.

Watching the news each evening we are thankful that we have food to eat and are not living paycheck to paycheck or in a free food line.

Years of frugality has not only given us a cushion but has taught us what we can do without.

Fortunately Leon is still working, though his regular duty station, Kasha Katuwe/Tent Rocks has been closed since March 13. He is on patrol at other BLM properties, a lonely, boring job in desert wilderness, but it's a job.

There are about 1800 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico - one of the states with the lowest prevalence of infections so far.

I had to do some errands in town today. Most people are wearing masks, but not all. I was surprised how busy the shopping centers were. I bought some fresh veggies and some garden plants.

Well, time for dessert: a cup of decaf and a half of an apple turnover, from Sprouts.