When we realized that Stay-at-Home could potentially come down the pipeline, but it wasn’t mandated yet, we decided to make the most of our last trip to Vermont by stopping at King Arthur Flour on the way home. This was the best choice we could have made.
We stocked up on various flours: pastry flour, artisan bread flour, high gluten flour. We grabbed some superfine castor sugar so I can attempt some more intricate pastry work while trapped in the house. We grabbed King Arthur’s pre-made cookie dough. (Two more cookies consumed and that will be gone already.) We also grabbed whole wheat flour to experiment with because lo and behold – all-purpose flour was the only thing they were out of!
As of noon tomorrow, the state of Massachusetts will be Stay-at-Home. (This does not mean “don’t go out”. It means your workplace is not allowed to be open unless they are related to food or medical.) Well, we’ve been cooped up at home with only a few walks to get out for just about a week now. We’re headed into week two and I’m already scratching at the walls to find some exercise that isn’t just walking. (Thank God for ballet barre videos.)
But I think the baking will also help. So far I have made maple oat scones, whole wheat bread, and we’ve made a dozen cookies. There’s definitely more to come – starting with you, pumpkin pie! You didn’t think I remembered that can of pumpkin was in my cupboard, did you? Also pumpkin scones! (If I start singing “pumpkins at morning, pumpkins at noon”, you’ll know why.)
Will I think of some more blog posts to write as a result of being home so much? Maybe. I haven’t been reading these books any faster – and writing book reviews takes more effort when I’m not gushing because it was so amazing. Also, work hasn’t slowed down. In fact, it’s almost as if there’s more work because I’m at home for all of it, so my work day has been proving to be longer. I’m hoping to do a review of The Essex Serpent soon, since that’s what I’m currently reading, fingers crossed that will be my post for Friday – for otherwise, you’ll probably be getting another social distancing post.
Stay healthy and sane, everyone.