Dessert Before & After Dinner

This past Tuesday was St. Patty’s Day, 2020. I don’t think any of the four of us were wearing a lick of green. We certainly weren’t celebrating much. It was week-day two of school closures in Washington State for six weeks due to COVID-19. I suspect that originally mandated six weeks will be longer. Greg is working from home, at least while his company is still operating. Words that come to mind are: strange, worry, unknown, unprecedented. Feel free to fill in the blank.

Greg and I stocked up a few weeks ago, because the news we were following was not good from the rest of the world, and we live on an island so I was worried about things not being able to get to us. Also, unfortunately Washington State was one of the first to begin to experience this crisis in the US. We did not hoard toilet paper. In fact, even three weeks ago, the Costco we go to in Everett was already out of toilet paper on the day Greg went.

I knew we’d be doing lots of cooking and baking so I added sugar to Greg’s list.

This big bag of sugar has been sitting in the same spot on our kitchen floor, since he came home with what will most likely be our last grocery trip for a few weeks. None of us have put the sugar away. I don’t even know if the kids have noticed it. How could you not notice it? My brain wonders. And yet, even Greg and I have let it remain there. We’ve stepped over it, ignored it. It’s kind of become this odd symbol of what the heck I don’t know…the ridiculousness of some things during a global pandemic? A reminder that we will be home for a while? The thing I’ll cling to in a dark time? I mean, at least we will have brownies or pavlova or lemon bars, for a while.

In the Ohlin household we’re kind of easing into the whole homeschooling thing. Well, except Lily, our 6^th grader who finished all the assigned homework from all of her teachers already. Even though none of it will probably be graded. She’s pretty stressed out about everything that’s happening, and I’m way more worried about her mental health than any academic assignments. I know we’ll need more of a structure as we go on, but for the first week, I think we’re all in a weird zone we’ll call shock.

I am so grateful my kids love to do creative things. We are going to read, play games, make art & music, go on long walks, bake and cuddle. There will be lots of cuddling. And probably lots of screen time. I mean, let’s be real. And luckily there are so many great online resources for our kids these days. Podcasts and Audio books, Khan Academy, Mystery Science, Outschool, illustrators and artists doing live YouTube tutorials. Lily had her first FaceTime piano lesson last night which was both cool and odd. Her teacher doesn’t want Lily to miss lessons and so while we can afford to we will keep up with those lessons. Jasper plays chess with his friends online. Technology is going to help us stay connected in many ways.

I tried doing yoga with the kids. Part success, part fail. Okay, honestly? Mostly fail, but it gave Lily and I some good practice with rolling our eyes and a few laughs.

But even with all the stress and all the unknown, we have had some lovely moments. Last night the sun was bright through our dining room windows. We sat at the table together and did art.

Jasper is thrilled that he gets to draw all the weapons he loves, something he doesn’t get to do at school. My favorite is his “Just a regular old hammer”.

Greg put music on and we created with the sunshine nearly blinding us while listening to some old U2. Best part of our day. Might have to work Evening Art Exploration into our new daily routine.

We also ate warm Chocolate Pudding Cake before and after dinner. It was ready before dinner and it’s so swoony delicious when it’s right out of the oven. I believe treats and ways to pamper ourselves during this time could help ease the fear and worry. Maybe a tiny bit. Even if only for a few minutes.

I found the recipe from Joy the Baker who makes all things amazing on her blog and in her cookbooks. I love this gooey pudding-ish cake. It is super easy and it is pure chocolaty goodness. It’s also naturally gluten-free which is perfect for Greg. The only thing bad about this dessert is how quickly it disappears!

This week’s cocktail is a quick take on a Rosé Spritzer. I don’t always have sparkling Rosé. But you can make it using Rosé wine and club soda.

Ingredients

Here are some other fun links I’m loving right now.

David Lebovitz Stay At Home Recipes

The Modern Proper 30 Best Soup Recipes

How are you all doing? What are you cooking or baking? What’s bringing you comfort and joy. What music, what book, what ridiculous TV show?

Peace & Love!

Sara