But that’s not the subject of this blog. Grocery store prices are crazy, but what can you do about it? That’s what this blog is about.

Let’s start at Publix– “Where shopping is a pleasure”- but not so much when you feel you’re getting price-gouged. I really feel the prices at Publix have become more inflated than at other grocery stores; even prices between Publix stores can vary. While I expect Whole Foods and Fresh Market to have crazy prices, that didn’t used to be the case at Publix, yet here we are.

Publix

The best deals at Publix are their BOGO’s (buy one get one free). A flyer in the mail will tell you what these are, but if not, the flyers are in the grocery store, when you walk in and BOGO’s are also on the Publix app. I have the Publix app and with it you get perks, like a free bouquet of flowers and dessert from the Bakery on your Birthday.

A look at the BOGOs this week indicates they are celebrating Italian Food so: Sargento Grated Cheese, Fresh Express Salad Kit, Rana Pasta, Progresso Broth, Barilla Pasta and Vandori Prosecco, are all buy one get one free. These are all items I would stock up on. In addition to BOGOs, the flyer also lists items at a “surprisingly low price.” Recent ones included brussels sprouts for $2.99 and yellow onions for $1.69 a pound. It seems most surprisingly low prices at Publix are on basic vegetables.

The other way to save money at Publix is to buy the store brand, instead of name brand items. Sometimes the quality is the same, but not always, so this is a trial and error option, but there is usually a significant difference in price. I usually get the store brand for baking goods and butter.

Trader Joe’s

I am a Trader Joe’s fanatic, but unfortunately, you can’t do ALL your shopping there. What I always get there are: vegetables, wine and cheese, because they have a good variety and low prices for these items. Their bananas, eggs, olive oil, spices, nuts and breads also have great prices. And I rarely leave TJ’s without picking up some kind of frozen item, such as dumplings, tamales, shrimp, Orange Chicken, Hold the Cone mini ice cream cones or frozen fruits and vegetables. Their canned vegetables- like corn, beans and artichoke hearts- are also priced well, although their selection is limited. And, just for fun, they have a great selection of flowers, cute greeting cards and yummy chocolates. Shopping at Trader Joe’s, even if their prices have increased slightly, always makes me happy.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods isn’t a bargain by any means. I once had a tour guide of a winery in Napa say:

It’s called Whole Foods because they take your whole paycheck.

Far Niente Tour Guide

However, I do find items here that I can’t find at other grocery stores. I also think their seafood is very good and have found the prices on bulk items- like nuts and grains- to be better than pre-packaged varieties at other grocery stores. My daughter-in-law Courtney is into everything organic so shops here a lot and says their fruits, vegetables and eggs are cheaper than Publix. Also, organic boxed grains like Rice Pilaf and Couscous are reasonably priced, as are bagged organic snack items, like popcorn.

For savings, try the 365 Brand, which is Whole Foods store brand. Also, if you’re an Amazon Prime member you get 10% off storewide sales, exclusive Prime member deals (on Tuesday and Friday) and free pick-up. Deals on Tuesdays include $2 off Rotisserie Chicken and buy one brick of Whole Foods Lean Ground Beef, get one 50% off. On Fridays, they have a dozen wild caught oysters and any large 1-topping pizza, both for $12. And if you bring your own grocery bag, you’ll saving a whopping 10 cents. Every penny counts these days!

Fresh Market

I don’t shop here often, as there’s not one near me, but Fresh Market does have Saturday and Weekend Deals, as well as a limited amount of BOGO’s. Also, their yogurt-covered pretzels are addictive.

Walmart

I don’t normally shop at Walmart but when I was in Tallahassee recently, I stopped by there to pick up ingredients for a Chicken Cacciatore dinner I made for my son and his wife. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices- $1.97 for a Baguette, $5.58 for Chicken Thighs, $2.38 for Organic Salad and $2.77 for Blackberries. My son Christopher shops there a lot because of the low prices.

B.J.’s or Cotsco

If you have memberships at either of these Warehouse Clubs, the prices on many things are usually pretty good, especially for their brand name items, under the names of Wellsley Farms, Berkley Jensen (BJ’s) and Kirkland (Cotsco). Of course, some of the items at these places are sold in bulk, so you need room to store them and people to consume them in a reasonable amount of time. Since we are only two at home now, I rarely shop at Cotsco and, when I do, I use Instacart– my shopping savior during the Pandemic.

Hopefully, I’ve offered a little ray of sunshine in your grocery shopping days. The days of clipping coupons and traveling to different stores to get the best deal are long gone for this shopper. But with a little useful information and some grocery apps, I feel more in control of getting some good deals. Happy shopping!

Up Next: Tiny Sacrifices

I would say it’s our Third Annual, but the first was 2019 and we didn’t meet in 2020, due to Covid. In 2021 we launched our toilet seat in the Toilet Bowl in the Bay with the words “Girl’s Weekend 2021, because 2020’s Been a Real S**t Show”, complete with a poop emoji. Last year, we couldn’t swing Girl’s Weekend since Chrissy had just started a new job as a Pickleball Pro in Naples and couldn’t take the time off.

But we were able to do a Girl’s Weekend this year- 2023- at my condo in Key Largo. In years past, I knocked myself out a bit with prepping, cleaning and cooking, so this year I was determined to plan a Girl’s Weekend as low-stress as possible. It’s my Girl’s Weekend too, after all! It came on the heels of my Book Club Meeting, so I already had some delicious Chipotle Rosemary Nuts, Summer Sangria and Key Lime Shortbread to bring to the weekend.

Girl’s Weekend started Friday around Happy Hour.

I’d gone down the day before to get things ready. I shopped, changed sheets, set fresh towels out, put little soaps and shampoos in the Guest Bathroom and set out a coconut patty on each bed. Flowers from my Book Club Meeting were brought down and put in vases to spruce up the dining and living rooms, with white twinkly lights and shells adding to the ambiance. Pool toys and floats were unearthed, ready for play! I set the table with raffia placemats , tropical napkins and flower napkin rings. Pandora was playing Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, of course.

Since I’ve been on the hunt for the Best Conch Chowder in the Keys, I picked up pints of Conch Chowder from three restaurants to have a taste testing and choose our favorite. I picked up some Sourdough Bread you bake at home, at Publix to go along with it. I offered a Welcome Cocktail of Summer Sangria, Rose Prosecco and Sparkling or Still Water and set out an easy Charcuterie Platter.

*A note on cheese. I’d heard a new Trader Joe’s cheese- Fromage Pave Red Chili Pepper-was good so bought it, along with my beloved Toscano in Syrah. I tried a small slice the night before- cold and straight out of the fridge. It tasted like a cold, peppery bandaid. So Friday, I took the cheeses out an hour before serving and it made all the difference. Always let your cheeses come to room temp before serving. It lets the flavors ‘bloom”, especially with this type, a soft-ripened French cheese (like Brie) that’s flavored with jalapeno, cayenne and bell peppers. If you like soft cheeses and you like spicy, this is your cheese.

I served the cheeses with plain water crackers, strawberries, Chipotle Rosemary Nuts, dried apricots and truffle honey. Truffle honey makes anything better, as far as I’m concerned. We sipped, snacked and chatted, since it’s been two years since we were all together. We had our Conch Chowder Taste Testing, which I served in little cups for us all to taste, one by one, with sherry on the side. All the Conch Chowders were Award-Winning, so I was curious to see which one we liked the best.

Between Mrs. Mac’s, The Conch House and Key Largo Fisheries, the overwhelming favorite was Key Largo Fisheries Conch Chowder, but, ironically, it isn’t even made on sight! I served the Conch Chowder with warm Sourdough Bread and butter and a Green Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette.

After dinner, we went down to the chickee Hut to have a drink and watch the sunset. Back at the condo, dessert was a delicious Key Lime Pie Elise had made. We chatted for a while, hit the sack pretty early. I was the first one up the next day, so I set up breakfast.

Coffee before everything (of course!), Orange juice, water with sliced strawberries and cucumber, three kinds of berries, yogurt, Homemade Granola, Blueberry Banana Bread and Eggs, Bacon and Bread for anyone that wanted it with butter and homemade Mango Jam.

Since I love doing yoga, especially in the Keys, I’d requested everyone bring their yoga mats and we did an easy Beginner’s Yoga (Boho Beautiful) in the Living Room. Everyone enjoyed this healthy wake-up to our day and then we got dressed and went Thrifting, another one of my favorite things to do in the Keys (much to my husband’s dismay).

We hit a couple stores I like to visit in the Keys- ReStore and Salvation Army– first. Chrissy, who was totally unsure about the thrifting idea, found a tureen and platter to match her sister’s very hard-to-find china pattern, for twenty bucks. Sweet! We also visited Jolene’s, which I’d never been to before. It’s a consignment store, with new and used things. Thrifting was fun- we all came home with treasures- and we’d worked up an appetite for lunch.

Lunch was the very easy “Make Your Own Sandwich.” I love sandwiches, so got the makings for a variety of options, with Sourdough and Whole Wheat Bread, mustard and mayo. I’d cooked some bacon that morning and had tomatoes and lettuce, in case anyone wanted a BLT. I also got sliced Boars Head Turkey Meat and Swiss cheese, with a slice avocado from my tree, creating a wide range of sandwich possibilities. Cape Cod Potato Chips and Homemade Pickles were the sides, with Iced Tea and Sparkling or Plain water to drink.

The afternoon was left for Free Play– Paddleboarding, Swimming, Reading or Napping (I choose the latter) and then we were off to dinner at the newly remodeled Marker 88. Dinner was good (I opted for sushi) and we were back home and in bed relatively early. This Girl’s Weekend was not a wild one! Maybe we’re too old to do wild.

The next morning, Kelley and Elise went Paddle Boarding, while Chrissy went to do Water Aerobics in the pool and I stayed home and read. For our Farewell Meal, Kelley had made an Eggplant Parmesan for lunch. I’d done a whole Spaghetti Dinner the first year of our Girl’s Weekend and it almost wiped me out, so thought I’d be easy on myself and pre-make the Eggplant Parm. Kelley volunteered to make it (our Aunt Josie’s recipe) making it even easier on me! Elise made a salad with avocado, tomatoes and red onion and I made garlic bread with the leftover sourdough bread. As my mother always says: “Many hands make light work.”

Doggy Bags (for husbands and boyfriends) were packed up, hugs were had and we all said goodbye for another year. Or two. We’ll see. I do know this was the easiest Girl’s Weekend I’ve ever had. Here are my tips to stress-free entertaining.

*Girl’s Weekend Tips*

1. Send out an invite or Evite with the Time, Place and Activities planned. This lets your guests know what to expect, what to bring and gets them excited about the weekend.
2. If possible, arrive at the location one day early to shop, clean, prepare and decompress. Doing it all in one day is exhausting.
3. Pre-cook as much as possible, so you’re not spending time in the kitchen. I made the Chipotle Rosemary Nuts, Blueberry Banana Bread and Granola ahead.
4. Don’t forget the special touches. Folded towels next to fresh soap, fresh flowers, scented candles and a coconut patty on the bed all make your guests feel pampered.
5. Eat out at least once or twice during Girl’s Weekend. You don’t want to spend the weekend in the kitchen!
6. Let people help. If someone offers to bring something you need, say yes. Elise supplied dessert Friday night, Kelley made the entree for Sunday. This made it easier on me and let my guests feel engaged and appreciated.
7. Do activities you enjoy. While none of my guests had done Yoga recently, they all enjoyed it and Thrifting was a hit as well. The weekend is about catching up with old friends, but also about introducing your latest hobbies, activities and passions to friends.
8. Make it easy on yourself. For breakfast, I set out a variety of items and Make Your Own Sandwich was a hands-on, easy-peasy lunch. Since I wasn’t sure of what people could eat (last time we gathered Chrissy ate no meat) I wanted to have options available.
9. Go with the flow. One never knows what the weekend will bring. While you want to have a schedule, also be open to the chance to go off on a tangent and explore.
10. Don’t forget to-go containers for your guests to take leftovers. They will appreciate it and their S.O. will be more inclined to let them attend the next Girl’s Weekend!

I just realized maybe I should be less worried about anyone mistaking us for “easy girls” than the fact that I’m calling us “girls” at all, since most of us are past 60 (except Elise). But my Grandmother and Aunts called each other girls till the day they died, so I’m going with that philosophy. Girls forever! Born to be mild.

Up Next: Nutty Blueberry Granola

I ain’t as young as I once was. I’ve got a few years on me now. But there was time, when I was in my prime, that I could really lay it down.

So at the end of July, according to the Astro Twins, three planets changed Zodiac signs, causing major upheaval. In addition, on Sunday, August 8th 2021, a Powerful Portal called Lion’s Gate opened, bringing Transformative Times, which are both exciting, as well as turbulent and scary. Jupiter returned to Aquarius after a 2 1/2 month respite in Pisces (hugs, indoor dining, movies in theatres!), bringing us, once again, back to reality. The fact we all hoped COVID was finally over is now obviously not a reality. It, and it’s variant Delta, has raged back with a vengeance.

In my own life, many changes are happening as well. Christopher and Courtney, with 8- month-old Liam, are leaving next month for Steamboat Springs, Colorado, where Courtney has taken a Traveling Nursing position. And so, that brief shining moment when ALL three of my grandsons were in the same city at the same time, is almost over. They will be there for three months (I think) and in the Fall, which should be a glorious time to be in Colorful Colorado and its leaf-laden glory, I am happy for them, but…

I’ve been watching Liam since he was a couple months old, most recently every couple weeks for stints from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. while his parents worked and (shocker!) I’m going to miss him! His chubby cheeks, sweet little laugh, big brown eyes, luscious eyelashes, smooth, soft skin, his smell, the way he’s trying to stand up, precariously, holding on to any object in sight, the way he bounces to music when a song comes on. His smile with those two little bottom teeth! I can always FaceTime and sing him “Five Little Speckled Frogs” and read him “Peek A Boo”- his favorite book. But it’s not the same, is it? No, it is not! So, I’m sad. But he will be home for his birthday in November at least, for a party at his Gigi’s so I’m already thinking about a theme. Baby Shark?

In addition, Lauren has left Miami and is in transit (after a wedding in Massachussets) to California, where she’ll start a job in San Francisco in the Fall. She studied her a** off for the California Bar (one of the hardest in the U.S.), took it a couple weeks ago, packed up, shipped her car and she’s off. So, another door closes. Emma has also been busy studying for her end-of-semester exams for Accelerated Nursing at UM and is one-third of the way through. She did great on her tests so yay Emma! And yay Lauren! And, dare I say it? We are empty-nesters once again, so yay us! Of course, every time I say that, something happens to change it and with this Lion’s Gate hocus pocus, I don’t trust anything to stay the same!

And Wyatt, my sweet little five-year-old grandson, starts Kindergarten this month! So, #sweetlittlewyatt isn’t so little anymore! Unbelievable. He’s very excited for Kindergarten, so much so that he keeps asking if he can just start school now. Just wait baby! For he is still my “baby” even though the younger generation of grandsons is on the rise.

Getting to the Foodie part of this post, we were lucky enough to get Florida Lobsters from a neighbor in the Keys from Mini Season, so had a farewell Lobster Dinner for Lauren, with Emma and Gui. Since there wasn’t enough lobster, Zeke got Steaks to make a Surf ‘N Turf and I made Baked Potatoes (with the fixings), Mushrooms in red wine and some nice, fat Asparagus, which Zeke grilled. I also made a homemade Chimichurri sauce for the steak.

Now here is my tangent on cooking proteins. After you take into account the grade (like Kobe beef will obviously taste better than USDA Prime) they mostly taste the same. The only way to change the taste is to: marinate them, season or rub them prior to cooking. After cooking, the only way to elevate the taste, is with a sauce to go with it. I prefer rubs over marinades for the most part, but it just depends on the protein and the rest of the meal. And you have to choose a sauce according to: the protein served, the season and your own personal tastes.

Zeke grilled the steaks and lobster (my favorite way to cook them) and of course, there was lots of melted butter served on the side for our lobster feast. Since I had a boatload of bananas from my tree (all ripe at the same time), I made Banana Ice Cream. In an effort to “lighten it up”, I used half almond milk in place of the cream. It tasted good that night, but upon later tasting, it was a little icy.

Wednesday night I had A.J., Justin, Wyatt and Phoenix over for dinner. I made Shrimp Cocktail (with a mustard sauce since they are both on Keto), Mojo Pork, Mashed Garlic Cauliflower and Grilled Veggies, which I’d marinated in balsamic vinegar. I served the pork with three sauces- Peanutty Salsa, Chimichurri and Ketchup (for Wyatt who likes ketchup on everything). Although my pork loin caught fire on the grill, I was able to rescue it and it was cooked to a perfectly pink interior. Zeke claims I always try to “man his grill”, but he was gone so I “Whoa-manned” his grill; and, other than the small fire, it went well, so perhaps I have a future in grilling. Dessert was banana ice cream (now icy) and rum cake to celebrate Justin’s birthday.

After dinner, we went upstairs and watched a Home Movie of a snow-skiing trip to Steamboat Springs from when A.J. was eight and went with my parents, her cousin Allie and Aunt Kelley. With her brown hair, boundless energy and little chipmunk voice, she reminded us all of Wyatt. Wyatt was meanwhile, bouncing around the bedroom on my exercise ball, Justin was on his phone (home movies are notoriously boring for anyone other than the people on camera) and baby Phoenix fell asleep on my bed. A good time was had by all- LOL!

Then, Thursday night was my Book Club meeting. We read A History of Love. I offered to bring a dish and was going to bring Mushrooms with Tofu (to go along with my vegetarian kick) but it’s been so hot lately I just wanted something cool and refreshing, so ended up making a Nectarine and Burrata Salad from Real Simple Magazine. I used peaches instead of nectarines (because that’s what I had) and I got the burrata from Trader Joes. I followed the recipe exactly, but added some arugula underneath the salad. It was pretty easy to make, beautiful to look at and everyone enjoyed it. The pickled red onion and fresh mint leaves added a welcome touch.

So elegant and simple, but just a little different.

Guta, from my Book Club commented.

You could also use mangoes instead of nectarines- a delicious alternative if you have them. My Mallika mango tree gave me quite a few lovely mangoes this summer, but alas, it’s finished for the season now. Everyone brought a salad to start and then we had a lovely Beef Stew made by our hostess, Louisa.

I would like to share a recipe that all our family loves and it’s a great one if you’re on the Keto diet. I will always love mashed potatoes, but I’ve also come to love Mashed Cauliflower and it goes great with grilled meats, Roast Chicken and could even be used as a base for a Veggie Bowl, if you’re trying to eat plant-based. Now Zeke is going to say I “stole his recipe”, but this isn’t patented, so he can’t sue me. A note about cauliflower (I got mine at Trader Joe’s), make sure you pick one without any dark spots on it.

Mashed Garlic Cauliflower

Recipe by SergioCourse: Side DishCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Moderate

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

5

minutes

Cooking time

20

minutes

Calories

80

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 Head Cauliflower

• 4 garlic cloves, skins off, divided use.

• 1/4 cup chicken or veggie broth

• 1/4 cup milk
  

• 2 Tablespoons Butter
  

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon white pepper

Directions

• Put a steamer basket into a large pot, with a couple inches water on the bottom.
• Trim cauliflower. Cut the core out and the outer leaves off and cut the head into large florets. Don’t worry about making them perfect, as they will get blended.
• Bring water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Place cauliflower florets into stainless steamer, along with two garlic cloves and cover. Steam until tender. Test by inserting a sharp knife into the cauliflower. If it goes in easily, it is done. Remove from heat.
• Put steamed cauliflower, steamed garlic cloves, the butter, two raw garlic cloves (if desired- it will make it spicier), the broth and milk into the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
• Season with salt, white pepper and extra butter, if desired. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. If you don’t have white pepper, you can use black, just the black specks will appear in your creamy white mash. If you don’t have a steamer, well, you should really get one. They are less than and come in handy!

Notes

• This recipe can be made ahead and reheated in the microwave, just make sure to cover it with a paper towel, as it will splatter. My daughter A.J. also eats this as a dip, cold, for veggies!

1. Sourdough Bread
2. Whipped Coffee
3. Disney Churro
4. Dole Whip
5. DoubleTree cookie
6. Ikea meatball
7. Chaffle
8. Hamburger Bun
9. Egg Salad Sandwich
10. Healthy Banana Bread

I’m definitely on-trend with number one, which was probably the one I Googled most this year, although it didn’t help much. After weeks and weeks of feeding starter and three bread-making attempts, I only baked one successful loaf! I’d rather fly to San Francisco than try and make sour dough bread again!

Lauren and Emma definitely made their share of whipped coffee, especially at the beginning of the Pandemic, I would hear them whipping it every morning. I didn’t Google Disney’s churro, but did Google and make the Dole Whip served outside the Enchanted Tiki Birds in Adventureland. It was delicious and I gave the recipe on an earlier post.

Didn’t Google DoubleTree cookie, although I have eaten my share of them and they are delicious, especially when eaten warm. The Ikea meatball confused me a bit. I like them and always buy a couple packs when I visit Ikea, but wouldn’t go out of my way to make them from scratch. Aren’t they just a Swedish meatball?

I didn’t know what a Chaffle was, so, of course Googled it. It’s a waffle made of eggs and cheese, eaten on Keto diets. I’ve tried the Keto diet a couple times and I’m lucky there were no homicides in my house during that time. Never again and I have no desire to try a waffle with no flour in it. Give me a Pecan Waffle at Waffle House any day.

I believe if you’re making your own hamburger buns, you have WAY too much time on your hands (which I guess we all did this year). I’ve never attempted this and doubt I ever will. They sell freshly baked ones at Publix, so why? Perhaps people were baking them when they were afraid to go to the grocery store and eating hamburgers at home.

Tami was surprised at Egg Salad Sandwich being on the list.

“Who doesn’t know how to make egg salad?”

she asked.

I’m thinking it must be people who don’t know how to cook. A lot of people who never cooked before, learned how to cook during 2020. Thank God for You Tube videos. Healthy Banana Bread makes sense given all the banana bread being baked and people wanting to be healthy; I actually have a recipe (from a Jane Fonda cookbook) for that but this year, I just made the full fat version. Calories don’t count in a Pandemic, right?

In the same vein, the food delivery service has released its Taste of 2020 and reported the most ordered take-out foods in Miami in 2020. Number one was Alfredo Pasta, which saw a 675 percent increase in popularity in the 305. I have to say, I didn’t order it this year, in fact didn’t order any pasta at all to-go this year. Here are the rest:

Top Take Out Orders in Miami in 2020

1. Pasta Alfredo
2. Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
3. Pollo Saltado
4. Baked Empanadas
5. Jambalaya

I didn’t order any of these, but am down with Pollo Saltado (Peruvian Stir-fried Chicken), Baked Empanadas and Jambalaya (although I’d probably make my own). Our most ordered-out food was probably pizza, followed by Thai food and sushi. I wish there were a decent Chinese food restaurant in South Miami (I miss you New Chinatown!) but alas, there is not.

Some of my favorite take-out meals this year have been: Ghee Indian, Root and Bone, Farinelli 1937‘s Pizza Kit, Atchana’s Thai and Stir Moon in Miami. In the Keys I’ve enjoyed The Key Thai and Sushi and Num Thai (sense a theme here?). In the Keys dining out is easier than in Miami, as there are so many outdoor dining options, many with live music and less cases of COVID.

I was thinking of the meal I made the most of in 2020 and it was probably pasta, ravioli specifically. I guess that’s why I never ordered it out, because it’s such an easy and fast meal to whip up. I love Rana’s raviolis, as well as Trader Joe’s, which come in a wide variety of flavors- from Cacio di Pepe, to Lemon Ricotta, Lobster and Pumpkin.

Here’s a easy recipe for Ravioli that’s delicious, given to me by Kelley’s friend Ellen Hamlin. It’s in Serve It Up!, the tennis cookbook I helped compile to raise money for University of Miami’s CARD, Autism Center. The other recipes in this article are also from this cookbook as well. Message me if you’d like to buy a copy, available for $15.

So, the night before the election, after a dinner of sautéed bay scallops and pureed cauliflower, Zeke and I sat in the family room, drinking Macon Verze Chardonnay from Trader Joe’s (really good and only $10.99) and watching T.V. The conversation veered toward the upcoming election and I told Zeke if a certain candidate won, I didn’t want to live in the U.S. anymore. “Where would you go?”, Zeke asked.

Canada was the obvious choice but I know nothing about Canada except that Alex Trebeck’s from there and it’s cold, so that was out (although it would’ve given me a chance to work on my French). Mexico’s considerably warmer, but seems too dangerous, so I settled on moving to Italy. Tuscany to be precise, where my great grandmother Carmelinda Giannelli was from.

“What about our house?” Zeke asked.

“We’ll sell it,” I answered.

“What about us?” Zeke asked.

“We’ll get divorced,” I answered.

I did say he could visit me, which was magnanimous of me and seems very European. Of course, there were some plot holes in this hair-brained scheme of mine.

#1 I don’t speak Italian.

#2 I would miss my family, including kids and grandkids not even born yet.

#3 I don’t think Italy’s letting anyone in from the good ole U S of A.

And, of course, I’m not divorcing Zeke. Yet, it seemed impossible for me to imagine our country continuing on the way it’s been the last four years. Election Day came and went and still, no winner had been pronounced. Since I voted early, I was able to track my vote by mail and it confirmed my vote had been received. This gave me some small form of reassurance.

The Sunday morning before, when we woke up in the Keys, there were rumblings of a tropical storm and Zeke and I looked at each other like WTF? We’d cheered to the end of Hurricane Season the Sunday before, mistakingly thinking it was over November 1st. Actually, it goes until November 31st and if there was ever a year we would get hit by a Hurricane, it would be this year of 2020. We’ve had so many hurricanes this year, in fact, they ran out of human names to name them and had to go to the Greek Alphabet. This is only the second time in the history of naming storms that this has happened (the other being 2005). And while I thought Eta was the Greek letter for E, it’s actually H. Yes, we’ve gotten to H in the Greek alphabet of Hurricanes this year.

As a bright spot to the week, Emma got a new puppy, a black and white cocker spaniel named Lucy, who she brought over to show us Tuesday at lunch. She’s a sweet, happy puppy and adorable. I love Lucy! Eloise (Emma’s cat) however, is not a fan. Emma brought Lucy over to introduce her to Eloise, as she’d heard a cat wouldn’t hurt a defenseless puppy. Eloise hissed at Lucy and when Emma tried to pet her, she swatted at her hand. This relationship is going to take time, apparently.

That night, the night of the election, Zeke went out but I wanted to stay at home. I’d been checking the news on T.V. and my phone all day for elections results. I’d also been praying like crazy. I needed comfort, so made myself some Crunchy Chicken Fingers, Trader Joe’s Hatch Green Chili Mac ‘N Cheese and Tomatoes Vinaigrette. This meal hit the comfort food spot.

I woke up the next morning (Wed) and there was still no winner announced in the Presidential Election. I worked out and met Zeke for lunch at Riviera. I ordered the shrimp salad with avocado and snacked on Zeke’s onion rings, definitely a case of emotional eating, but those onion rings were really good! Luckily, I had a distraction that day. I picked Wyatt up from school, took him to the library to get a bunch of books, visited the butterfly garden and came home. He noted all the changes around the house.

Wow! A new pool, a new doorbell and a new puppy. You guys are getting a lot of new stuff around here.

Wyatt

I did feel a shift in the atmosphere earlier that day, which I partly attribute to Mercury Retrograde ending on November 3rd. Things felt lighter, more upbeat and full of possibility than they had before. As I went for a walk around my neighborhood, the skies opened up and it started pouring. I started running, trying to shelter my I-Phone under my shirt as I ran home. It felt like a cleansing, cathartic, an epiphany. I could almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Emma brought the puppy over Wednesday night for Wyatt to see; A.J. had come over to see the puppy as well. She is soft and fluffy, although those little gnawing teeth can be sharp and, of course, she’s not potty trained yet. I made a delicious Chicken and Grits Casserole for dinner, which I served with Collard greens and sliced watermelon. Wyatt loved the watermelon, but not the rest of it, so he got yogurt for dinner. When my kids were young, if they didn’t want to eat what I’d made for dinner, they got cereal. For Wyatt, it’s yogurt.

The other meals for the week were: a delicious New York Strip on Sunday night. It accidentally caught fire while Zeke grilled it but it actually made it taste good- charred on the outside, perfectly medium-rare on the inside. I served it with delicious baked potatoes, with sour cream and chives and grilled asparagus. Monday night we made the Bay scallops we’d defrosted from the Keys. I tossed them with a little flour, sautéed them in butter and added lemon juice; I served them with an easy Pureed Cauliflower and a Green Salad with tomatoes and cucumbers.

Friday night was the U.M. football game game, so we tried some Hot Dogs I’d heard about called Feltman’s of Coney Island. Although everyone’s heard of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, Feltman’s claims to be the first modern American frank and was served at Coney Island before Nathan’s. Nathan’s was started by an employee at Feltman’s. Charles Feltman started his business on a pie cart on the sand dunes of Coney Island and invented the hot dog bun to save on plate and cutlery costs. He eventually built a restaurant and whole plaza in Coney Island called Feltman’s Ocean Pavilion; when it closed in 1954, the Feltman hot dog disappeared. It was revived in 2015 by two brothers who had heard stories about Feltman’s from their grandfather; they also did it in memory of their brother Jimmy who talked about bringing the original Coney Island hot dog back, but died in 9/11.

These hot dogs were really good! They attribute their unique taste to the Old World Spice Blend, the smoking process (smoked for 3 hours) and the fact that they’re All Natural, 100% Beef. I ate mine with sauerkraut, onions and mustard, which is very similar to the way they suggest serving it, although with a potato bun and their Deli mustard. I served the hot dogs with Baked Beans and Corn on the cob and we watched the U.M. Game against North Carolina.

About half-way through the game, I got sick of hearing Zeke scream at the TV, saying: “We suck!” and “We look awful!” so I went upstairs to watch my murder mystery on Dateline at 10 p.m. But, wouldn’t you know, it wasn’t my murder mystery but a whole Dateline on the Presidential Election Results, where they basically had nothing new to say for an hour. There was also now more hysteria on the local news about Tropical Storm Eta, which was headed our way but unknown exactly where it would hit or how bad it would be.

Everything culminated Saturday, with Joe Biden being declared the Presidential winner by the media; the bands of rain from Tropical Storm Eta starting to pelt our home in a steady downpour. We were worried about our condo and boat in Key Largo, since projections predicted the storm to be going right over the Keys but had plans Saturday night. Luckily, our boat was in a boatyard, but Zeke went down Sunday to put away patio furniture, our grill, his kegorater and to take home stuff from the freezer in case we lost power.

And then, Alex Trebeck died! I had just said to Zeke while we were watching Jeopardy last week “What are we going to do when Alex Trebeck dies?” Because he was such a soothing, reliable presence in these crazy, chaotic times and, he was the perfect host for this game show. I truly can’t imagine anyone else hosting it. But… maybe a woman?

Speaking of women, I was talking to my friend Martha about the election. She was whispering, because not everyone in her house is on the same political page (similar to my household) as she is. “What was that outfit Kamala was wearing?” Martha asked. “She needs to get better at dressing.” I agreed, saying the big, cream colored suit looked like she was wearing her mother’s clothes and I wasn’t digging the 80’s, silky bow blouse. But then I said; “Martha, what are we talking about? She’s going to be the first female Vice President of the United States. Who cares what she wears?”

A big glass ceiling has been crashed.

So, I’m not moving to Italy. And while I’m happy with the results of the Presidential Election, I have to acknowledge that half the country is not. As an article in the New York Times stated “71 million People Voted for Trump. They’re not going anywhere.” So half of us are celebrating, half of us are mourning or declaring fraud; where do we go from here? Where does our country go from here?

Sunday night I slept fitfully, listening to the wind and rain outside our bedroom window. We’d just gotten new railings installed at our condo in The Sanctuary to replace ones that were destroyed in Hurricane Irma- would they be destroyed again? Would we be hit with another big assessment? I didn’t sleep well, then at 5 a.m. my phone made a horrible screeching noise, which was a Hurricane Warning advising to not go out until 11 a.m. Zeke got up at 6, showered and got dressed.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To work,” he said, buttoning up his shirt.

“In the middle of a storm?” I asked.

The storm was actually mostly over, however, and Zeke left for work. The weather cleared up and the sun came out later that day. Our house here and condo in the Keys are fine. He is moving forward, which I feel is the only thing left for us all to do. Even in the middle of a storm.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind. It’s gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day.

Jimmy Cliff

Up Next: Creamy Chicken Casserole

My husband Zeke and I went to Italy a couple years ago with a great deal I found on Travelzoo– a week in Tuscany, with a rent-a-car, breakfast every morning and round-trip airfare, for less than $1000 a person. We picked up our car in Milan, drove to Tuscany and stopped in Bologna to eat lunch at a restaurant that I’d read about in a Bon Appetit. The restaurant was in a house and you could see the mom (or nona) in the back kitchen, rolling the pasta dough with a rolling pin. I couldn’t make up my mind between the ricotta and pumpkin tortellini in cream sauce, so the waitress suggested I get both. It was the best meal of that trip and one I will never forget.

I’ve never attempted to make my own stuffed pasta from scratch, as I find the ones found in the freezer section are quite good. Trader Joe’s has an interesting variety of raviolis such as: Ricotta with lemon zest, Sweet Corn, Burrata and Basil, Roasted Cauliflower and Cheese, and Butternut Squash. Of course, the selection depends of when you visit and if they are stocked with the particular frozen items. It’s a bit of a crap shoot with Trader Joe’s.

I recently picked up a package of Rana Mushroom and Cheese Ravioli at Publix that were delicious. Honestly, I could have eaten them plain, but this recipe from the Serve It Up! cookbook, takes it to another level. The browned butter gives it a nuttiness, the balsamic vinegar a sweetness and the nuts, a crunch, that makes for one flavor-packed ravioli dish. Also, on the plus side, it’s ready in no time with a minimum of fuss.

This recipe was contributed by Ellen Hamlin, a friend of my sister Kelley’s from Our Lady of Lourdes high school. I don’t use all the butter (it’s a stick!) and didn’t have walnuts, so substituted pistachios. Almonds, pine nuts and hazelnuts, all favorites in Italy, would also work nicely. I skipped the Parmesan cheese and topped mine with chopped scallions, but chopped parsley or basil would also be good, depending on the type of ravioli.

Balsamic Brown Butter Ravioli

1 stick butter 1/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts, toasted 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 18-20 ounces ravioli

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer and cook according to the package directions, while tender but still firm. Drain and place in bowl.

In a medium saucepan, cook the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the foam subsides and the butter begins to turn golden brown (about 3 minutes), turn off the heat. Let it cool about one minute and then stir in the balsamic vinegar. Stand back, as it will bubble up. Taste and season as necessary.

Transfer the ravioli to the saucepan with the balsamic brown butter, sprinkle with walnuts and parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Great with a salad and crusty Italian bread.

Up Next: Key West Food Tours

“Why are you eating Funyuns, Sunny?” Whoopi, speaking from the social distance of her own home, asked.

“I love Funyuns,” Sunny answered, shrugging.

Apparently Whoopi was dismayed because she hasn’t been able to find her favorite brand of potato chips (Wise). Megan McCain’s junk food addiction of choice (also quarantined at home since she’s pregnant) is Cheez Whiz, straight out of the can. Everyone agreed putting it on her finger to eat at this time was too risky.

I read an article about how people are ditching quinoa and kale for Doritos and Oreos, during this stressful time of the pandemic. Many people (including yours truly) are worried about gaining the COVID 19. 19 pounds, that is. Stuck at home, with nothing to do but eat.

My junk food addiction during these freaky as heck, uncertain times has been Trader Joe’s White Truffle Potato Chips. It sounds like a pretty ritzy addiction, but I was simply eating it because it was there. They are, by the way, delicious, especially with caviar dip (now that does sound ritzy!), although I won’t be visiting Trader Joe’s anytime in the near future. It’s crazy enough shopping there during normal circumstances and these are anything but.

My actual embarrassing junk food of choice is pork rinds, a favorite of George Bush Jr’s. (that makes it even more embarrassing). Sometimes, I just buy a small bag in the grocery store and eat the whole thing. Something about crunching those hard and salty snacks is a stress reliever, even though I feel sick after I eat them. There’s a conflict going on in my body and brain, of wanting to eat clean to stay healthy and that of just craving comfort food.

After Hurricane Andrew, my then sister-in-law brought bags full of groceries for our family. The item that made me happiest was a box of Cinnamon Pop Tarts, a blast from my past and link to my childhood. It was one of the few crappy foods my Mom let us eat. I’m sure she brought them for the kids, but I’m the one that ate them.

Likewise, I’ve been craving comforting food during this time, so have been eating a lot of soups and sandwiches for lunch. Tuna melt and Campbell’s Tomato Soup, was homey and warm (although I’d forgotten how awful the tomato soup was with corn syrup in it) and I had Trader Joe’s Poblano Corn soup yesterday, with a Pita Pizza with Monterey Jack Cheese and sliced peppers on top.

In order to establish a sense of normalcy during abnormal times, I created a meal plan for the upcoming week. Sundays, the day my family used to have pasta, is Italian night. Monday is Meatless Mondays (which I’ve been trying to do for a while) or take-out pizza. Tuesday is Taco Tuesday or Flannigan’s ribs (buy one, get one free day). Wednesday is Burgers and Beer night, reminiscent of Riviera’s, or Hot Dog and sausage night, simply because I need to rid the freezer of hot dogs. Thursday is Mystery Meal.

On this night, family members get to request a dish they would like and then they cook it, with assistance by Zeke or I. This way, we’re fed and they get a cooking class. Win-win. Friday is Fishy Friday, with some kind of seafood.

Last night I marinated peeled, deveined shrimp in leftover artichoke heart juice, then put them on skewers (some had bacon around them). Zeke grilled the shrimp; I served it with mashed potatoes, stir fried pea shoots (I need something green!) and grilled N’aan bread, which I was told suffered from freezer burn.

“Welcome to Seafood Night,” I said last night, toasting with my glass of wine.

“I hope you enjoy tonight’s meal and if you don’t…”

No need to finish that sentence, because where else are they going to go?

Saturday night is Grillin’ and Chillin’. We are lucky in South Florida to be able to grill and have such beautiful weather, while we’re stuck at home. I’m not too sure about the chilling part, at this stage of the game, but we have been watching a lot of Netflix– Tiger King, to be specific. The girls and Zeke have also been working on a 1500 piece puzzle in the Family Room. There have also been some games of Beer Pong, though played with Rose. I haven’t (as of yet) participated.

This schedule can be amended depending on ingredients I can procure and the mood of the chef. Luckily, take-out is still an option and I read that the coronavirus can’t be transferred via food, so that’s a relief.

I texted the girls and asked what meals they will be attending, in order to get a head count, because on any given day we could be just the two of us, or up to five people. I’m making my list, submitting in my Instacart order and hoping it won’t take a month to arrive. I’m putting toilet paper, Clorox wipes and rubbing alcohol on the list, although it’s probably wishful thinking. A girl can dream, can’t she? It’s about all we have now- wishful thinking about a day when this is all over. And our health and our family.

Come to think of it, that’s a lot.

Stay safe and support your local restaurants. See my previous post for recommendations.