I asked one of the children what they missed most this past year. We’d been talking about being back in March again, but neither of us felt convinced that a whole 11 months had played out in the meantime. I have to admit, I expected her to come back with a whole list. Who would blame her? All those highlights that we expect, like holidays and days out. No, instead she said one decisive thing. Eating out.
It wasn’t only the food, she missed, but being among other people enjoying their meals too. People watching. She’s like her Mama. Not that we eat out much, but when we do it’s usually a fun experience.
Last time we ate out was August, sat behind perspex screens. The walls of our glass tank were awkward and a constant reminder that this was not normal. Before that, was February and that was a million years ago.
I can’t magic up a meal out for her. Nor the fellow diners, although maybe if I dim the lights and put on a YouTube soundtrack of people talking in a restaurant, it might help. (Yes, this is a thing)
Instead, this past year I’ve tried to vary our meals. Rustle up something novel each week. I’ve missed the freshness of some food. Let’s face it, biting into a several days old patisserie bun, tipped out of a plastic bag, is a poor second. Is it just me or are they always extra cold and stodgy? I miss patisserie shops, bakeries and bistros.
Kitchen
This week, I’ve used a different pan for my sourdough. Mr TTC rescued it from the bottom of a cupboard and we realised it would be perfect. A longer loaf makes it easier to cut.
Also used some of my reserve sourdough starter for the first time, other than for making bread. I made cinnamon rolls for Sunday morning. Certainly tasted better and fluffier than the bought in options. This I will be repeating.
Our novel meal, this week, was inspired by me missing our seafood platter which we always get, in one form or another, when we’re on holiday. Shrimp and Rice with peppers from one of my favourite bloggers, Kelle Hampton. It was delicious, although I was a tad generous with the cayenne pepper, but the lime was perfect. Super quick to cook. Another meal I’ll do again.
School
Middle Teen went back to school on Wednesday. She says that it’s much as it was before Christmas, except they wear masks all day, they’re in a smaller part of the school and they have Covid tests, this time round. She’s glad to see her friends.
Youngest Teen goes back on Monday. They are the last year group to go back. I guess someone had to be. He seems to yo-yo back and forward between wanting to go back and not. I’m sure he’ll be fine once he gets there.
We found one of his toddler handprints on a door this weekend. It was covered by a curtain and we purposely left it last time the door was painted. This time it had to go, but not before he had a photo or two taken with it. It must be about 10-11 years ago.
Craft
I finished my stash busting blanket. I could go on, but I’ve run out of obvious wool to use and I’ve my eye on a different pattern for my next one. I’m drawing a line on this one and it’s in general use now.
The weekend at last. Surprised to receive a phone call from our Dr’s practise about my Covid jab. Booked for the end of the month. Thought I’d be waiting longer.
We’ve heard more about the school’s GCSE plans, via a Zoom meeting. I’d far prefer the exams as normal, but I’m sure they will make it work.
The Aga is off, at the moment. No central heating either. Brr! I don’t feel like I’ve warmed up since our wet dog walk, this morning. It’s a bit chilly, although an excellent excuse for a takeaway tonight. Maybe I’ll throw on some of that restaurant music and we can pretend we are away on holiday. Might work.
Joining in with Anne’s work of the week. I’m resisting using the word cold and going for novel instead. What’s your word?
The bread looks lovely, as does the shrimp meal, I do love sea food. (apart from octopus and squid) I love your blanket, mine has been put on hold as I bought more wool (it was in a sale!) and I’m making a new blanket. How cute saving the hand print, but I guess there is always a time when it has to go. I know in our old house we have prints and drawings on the plaster under the wallpaper. I wonder what the new residents made of it all. We miss eating out, we are not one for partying so a meal out was our treat. The last time we went out was for my son’s birthday in January last year, so he’s had another birthday since.
I love it when we uncover interesting markings left by the previous owner. Our garage had a list of the weights of their onion harvest, marked on the wall.
So, your Aga is the old-fashioned kind, i.e., the one that’s supposed to always be on and providing heat? Not the (fake) one that is modern, but looks old-fashioned. 😉
So, there are no cafes or places which have outdoor seating in nice weather? Is that not allowed?
Yes, it’s normally on all the time, except in the warmer months. Our old one used to do heating, but the radiators were hot all the time. It was designed to heat milking parlours as well as the house. No milking, so over the top for our cottage. This one dates back to 70s, I think, and only does the cooking and kitchen heat.
No cafes or pubs open at the moment. Inside or out. We’re all looking forward to the date they are scheduled to re-open.
We never ate out much before lockdown but when we did we made the most of it and I do miss it now. The last time we ate out was last February. lol
Those cinnamon rolls look amazing and so does the shrimp dish.
Aww! The little hand print is just adorable. x
It is going to feel strange eating out again.
That bread looks delicious as does the shrimp and rice. I’ve been trying out more new recipes over the last year too and miss eating out and sitting in coffee shops with a friend watching people going past. Love your blanket and the handprint made me smile (and then resolve to make the most of this time with Thomas still being little as I know it goes by so quickly). Glad you’ve got your Covid jab booked and that the return to school went well for Middle Teen. Hope your youngest teen settles in well next week. #WotW
I don’t think I realised how much I missed it until she said. Hopefully not long to wait.
Your food this week looks amazing. I love the toddler handprint photo. We had to paint over the height marks we had been making over the years which made us sad. I was expecting a long list of wants from my daughter too. All she wants to do is to go out with me and have a hot chocolate #WotW
I kept the height marks. They still measure each other against the old marks, so that stays. Glad I took a photo of the handprint. A hot chocolate sounds very do-able.
I do agree, eating out is the one thing I miss (apart the obvious seeing family) We last ate out in August too. The food you made looks delicious!
I probably should have said “apart from seeing family” Hope they are still talking to me!
I miss eating out too and can’t wait until the summer comes and we can sit outside a restaurant again.
Thanks for sharing the shrimp recipe – it looks and sounds delicious :o)
#MMBC
It is a yummy dish. Hope you enjoy it.
That loaf looks so good! I just returned from eating breakfast out in a restaurant for the first time in a year! It was weird and normal all at the same time! #MMBC
I’m so looking forward to going. I can imagine it would feel strange.
Yes I too miss eating out although I don’t do it often. What I miss most is simple human contact and hugs. #MMBC
Yes to hugs!
Mmmm…those rolls and your bread look delicious! I have been baking sourdough this past year, but I always baked sourdough, even before the pandemic. I agree with your daughter. I miss eating out in restaurants too. I can’t decide whether I miss that more or traveling. I hope by this summer, we can begin to eat out in restaurants and do a little bit of traveling this summer.
I hope you get a chance to travel a bit more this summer.