Wood Fired Fanatics in the Time of COVID-19

Well, this is a post I never dreamed I would write. With the constant uncertainty and threat of national quarantine, I am wondering about the future…of our country, of our state, of our city, and of my family. Many have compared this shock and surreal experience to the feelings they felt during 9/11/2001. I feel very differently…9/11 brought our country together. This is separating us…physically. At least in 2001 we were able to gather our families to watch the news with fear but share love and hope for the future. We saw first responders charging toward the threat to save the victims. The 2020 COVID-19 world means the cancellation of a family BBQ because many of those meant to attend were over 65 years of age and someone had a cough. It meant those same family members that had come to town to surround themselves with family, left town before a BBQ could be held in fear that they may not get home unless they leave at once. It is bringing working from home situations and quiet streets. Kids are home from school and going stir crazy.

I am almost always a glass is half full person. I see the bright side of things and believe that the best will somehow shine through. I have held that attitude as the pandemic has come to be. Today, was the day that I crashed. This is serious. This isn’t ending. This is scary and uncertain and change is on the horizon. I will admit I let myself have a pity party this morning. I worried. I expressed my fear to friends and family. I let myself wallow in it. Then I realized…it wasn’t helping and it didn’t feel good.

So after fear of contracting this virus, which let’s face it is really out of our control, the biggest concerns are food and toilet paper. Although I love toilet paper…stores have it or they don’t. But food…it is my passion. I love it. I love planning meals, cooking them and sharing them with others. Given that stores are very picked over and food is scarce in many departments, I started to think creatively. The scarcity, the possibilities, and how to best feed our families. This is a time like many of us have never known. We are learning to work with what is available and many of us have extra time to devote to cooking, given that sports are cancelled and we are working from home. So this has me dreaming up ways to use the wood fired oven. For some reason cooking with fire and wood seems more fun than cooking indoors. It offers an opportunity to get outside of the four walls of home. Cooking in general takes the focus off the chaos and gives distraction.

So as you are spending time with your immediate families, the people and animals that reside within your residence, think about getting creative. How can you use the meat, canned goods or veggies that you have on hand? Light the fire in that wood fired oven, or maybe it is your big green egg, smoker or BBQ grill. Know that there are others out here trying to get creative and work with what they have while finding fun and normalcy in the chaos. Despite the recommendations to socially distance ourselves, you are not alone. We are all in this together.