Some days just start hard, and then go to worse. But sometimes, every once in a while, a day starts out feeling crappy and then somehow, miraculously, turns around and ends up being a pretty decent day. Today was one of those tiny domestic miracle days.
Woke after a night of tossing and turning. I had this gloomy feeling when I woke up, which I know was mostly because I was tired. But somehow, we managed to keep spirits up and get through the prep for orders today. I started first with making Strawberry Tartes and a couple of orders of the new Summer Stone Fruit Cobbler (YUUU-UH-UMM) and then Willi joined me and we did Gnocchi.
As you may recall from some of my previous posts, sometimes the gnocchi turns into gnocchi-pocalypse... but today, the potatoes were fluffy and moist, the dough came together easily and the little gnocchi pillows were bouncy and tender. A win.
Next we worked on the Buttermilk Biscuits... crazy good biscuits. And we did some experimenting with timing and chilling... just trying to perfect what is already ridiculously delicious. Then, I got the orders ready to go while Willi finished up with the Pappardelle. I love the way the pasta looks when it's all lined up in the little boxes. These lovely little stacks of fresh, wide noodles, dusted with semolina flour. So pretty.
Today was a north bay delivery day and a visit to my mom's. Spent a little time in her house trouble-shooting some stuff on her computer. I stay masked and gloved whenever I go into her house. Just trying to keep things super kosher for her. The more I read about the virus, the LESS I want her to have anything to do with it.
Then I spent a couple hours working in her garden, turning the soil, working in manure from her donkeys, planting some veggie starts that I had brought up with me. My nieces and my brother worked with me, and it was good to have a nice chat while we worked. My body is exhausted but in a really good way. Planted kale (of course) and chard, broccoli, zucchini, yellow crookneck squash and an artichoke plant. After seeing the gorgeous huge artichokes at Gwen's house, I wanted to see if we could grow some up at my mom's.
It's actually kind of hilarious to me that all of a sudden, I am managing to plant stuff. AND to keep it from dying. I have never been much of a gardener, but somehow during this quarantine, I have felt really strongly about wanting to grow stuff. And it's super fun to go out there and pick my breakfast. I now have snap peas, beets, carrots, two different lettuces, kale, chard, pak choy, cherry tomatoes, early girl tomatoes, Hungarian peppers, corn and two different kinds of squash growing in my little back garden. Who knows if all of it will produce, but so far, so good.
Tomorrow is a prep day and a day to catch up on some paperwork, as well as a meet-up with my coaching group. Tomorrow night, Willi and I are appearing on 42nd Street Moon's online program to talk about MARTHA AVENUE. Moon has been one of my oldest artistic homes. I started with them in the first season, in 1994, doing a show called Sweet Adeline. The two founders, Greg MacKellen and Stephanie Rhoads are going to be on tomorrow night as well, to talk about the founding of the company.
Our Menu for Wednesday is below, for SF and EAST BAY delivery. Orders for Wednesday should be placed by tomorrow morning. We are also looking forward to the MEALS ON HEELS- Pride Edition we are working with SF OASIS on Friday. If you are interested in that event, you can check out our special menu for that day on their website, sfoasis.com.
For tonight, I am going to finish the biscuit and lemon curd that was my late night snack and head to bed. Willi is watching something scary on the tv so I think I will go read for a bit and let myself pass out. I hope that you are finding some rest and recuperation tonight. Take care of your body, drink some extra water tonight. Let's continue to keep working on learning/unlearning, moving towards a better world for all of us. Sending you a hug! xoxo