I hope you all are keeping your spirits up, or at least on an even keel. These are troubling times, BUT more so if you don’t follow the simple guidelines to stay home when possible, far away (6 feet) when its necessary, and for goodness’ sake, please don’t use your hands to cover sneezes, coughs and the like! Remember all those times you wished you could have a weekend that felt longer than two measly days? Just think of this as one of those glorious, long, relaxing weekends… mindset is everything! Here’s one of the best quotes for times like these:

~worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy~

Leo Buscaglia

When I put on my tactical gear for the latest grocery battle trip, I was shocked to find zero bags of flour, 4 bags of sugar, 3 dozen eggs and 1 box of Kerry Gold (NOOOOO!). I would love to know what yummy deliciousness you all are making – isn’t it great to get back to the basics of making what we consume? Is family time a little sweeter? Outside playtime, a bit more special?

~Menu~

 Spicy tomato soup with white beans and sweet chili sauce

Grilled cheese with sweet caramelized onion and thinly sliced tenderloin

Endive salad with lemon juice and olive oil

Soup

• 28 oz crushed tomato (homemade sauce is a delicious swap)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can Cannellini or Great Northern beans, drained
• pinch of crushed red pepper flake
• 1 tsp dry basil + 3 fresh leaves cut in chiffonade style for serving
• 1/4-1/2 c sweet chili sauce
• 1 T olive oil
• 1 T butter
• 1/2-1 cup water/broth
• salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat; turn down heat slightly and add minced garlic, cooking until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add in tomatoes, red pepper flake and dry basil; cook until tomatoes are heated through, 5-8 minutes, adding water to reach desired consistency. If you like a smooth soup base, use an immersion blender now, by taking the pan off the heat, and process until smooth. You may also carefully ladle tomatoes into a blender. Please be careful, as contents are very hot. Return tomatoes to pan and over medium-low heat, stir in butter, beans and sweet chili sauce, cooking just until hot. Ladle soup into bowls and top with chiffonade strips of basil. Enjoy as is, or with your best grilled cheese sammy!

Sandwich

• Japanese milk bread or your favorite sandwich bread, 2 slices
• 2 T butter
• 2 T cream cheese, softened
• thinly sliced beef tenderloin, London broil, or other lean meat of choice
• Pepper Jack or Provolone cheese
• 1 jalapeño, thinly sliced lengthwise

Heat flat grill pan on medium high heat. Add butter, shifting the pan to ensure butter is well dispersed. Place jalapeños on pan, cooking until crisp. While peppers are cooking, add sliced bread to hot, buttered pan, toast to desired toastiness, flip. On toasted side, spread cream cheese on one slice of bread, place slice of cheese on the other, top with beef and jalapeño and caramelized onions (recipe follows), sandwich the two pieces of bread together, slice in half for better soup-dunking possibilities and enjoy!

Caramelized Onion

• 1 sweet onion, cut in half, then thinly sliced
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 T rice vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tsp olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste

Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat; add onion and oregano, cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; add honey, salt and pepper, add to your favorite sandwich.

Salad

• Lettuce of choice, (T’s favorite is curly endive)
• sweet or red onion, cut in half, then thinly sliced
• 2 T olive oil
• juice of 1 lemon
• salt and pepper, to taste

Wash and dry lettuce; chop into bite-sized pieces, and place in large bowl. Add onions, toss; cut lemon in half, and with cut side facing your palm, squeeze juice into salad, catching the runaway seeds in your hands! Drizzle with olive oil; season with Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.

Really folks, whether you choose to eat a bowl of Lucky Charms, a box of Kraft Mac n Cheese, or if you’re spending a bit more time and effort on your meals, serve them with kindness. Share if you have an abundance, because remember: Costco isn’t taking returns on all of your hoarded toilet paper! 🙂