Cooking in a COVID World

Now that we've been sheltering-in-place for over eight weeks, there's some common themes- we've all been reading, binge-watching tv and eating.

I don't know about you, but I have made a homecooked meal almost every night since mid-March. (March 14th to be exact- we ate at Ocean Prime on Friday, March 13th for our Lenten fish.) I've made some really great meals, and there have been a few clunkers.

One of my favorites was a Panera Copycat Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, a recipe I found on Pinterest. It was very good, and a terrific way to use up rotisserie chicken. I love a good soup, and since it is barely hitting 39 degrees on May 9th in NYC, I may make it again tonight.

Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

My husband enjoyed Clinton Kelly's Chicken Thigh Osso Bucco, which has a rich flavor profile and is easy to make. It was such a big hit, we've had it twice already.

The latest new recipe I made is one I saw on Rachael Ray this week- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner. It was a good way to use up salt potatoes that I got from a Wegmans' InstaCart order, and it was so easy to make. I added Tzatziki with Pita and Zucchini Croquettes from Greek Eats restaurant (their takeout procedure was so easy- order and pay online, go to the restaurant and a bag was sitting on a table with my name on it, pick it up and go) and we had Greek night. No ouzo, though, wine instead.

Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Dinner

Shake Shack is one of my special treats, and Goldbelly had a special on their website- $49 for eight burgers. They send you the burger patties, rolls, American cheese slices and Shack Sauce. I followed the directions to a T, and I have to say, it was even better than getting them at the restaurant! The meat mixture from Pat LaFrieda makes all the difference. We loved it so much, we may have to order it again.

Wilbur and Cindy Lou

We really miss barbequeing, and one of our friends dropped off sausage that she grilled at home. She bought some bread from an Italian bakery and we had the most delicious sausage sandwiches. It was very kind of her and she even brought her basset hounds Cindy Lou and Wilbur to do the dropoff.

Grilled Sausage

This post is part of Beth Fish Reads' Weekend Cooking.  If you have anything related to food, cookbook reviews, novel or non-fiction book reviews, recipes, movie reviews, etc., head over to Beth Fish Reads and add your post. Or, if you want to read food related posts, head over to read what some interesting people have to say about food.
This is Beth Fish Reads' last post as host of Weekend Cooking. I have enjoyed reading all of her posts and everyone else's who has linked up to her post. Marg from The Adventures of An Intrepid Reader will take over Weekend Cooking hosting duties next week and we thank her and wish her well.