[aaronatthedoublef]

One of our local restaurant distributors is selling boxes of produce. It's for pickup only. An enterprising local college student has started a delivery service with these produce boxes and is adding in bread from a local bakery and dairy and meat from a local farm.

Down in Williamsburg VA where my in-laws live my wife found a local farm service that will deliver much of what her parents need to them on a weekly basis. If you know any of the people who run local restaurants they might be able to point you in the right direction.

I think where we live some of this is probably technically illegal but people have other things to worry about now.

My friends have closed their restaurants except to cater to the local hospitals which they are doing gratis. It's a way to keep going, keep some people on the payroll, and do some good. And the takeout business is probably to unpredictable.

I think people under-estimate just how important restaurants are to our community. In addition to feeding us and being the site of many celebrations they are exceptionally generous and some of the first to step up and give of their time, energy, and money.

[aaronatthedoublef]

My brothers and their families and I are going to try to have a virtual Passover sedar tomorrow. I have no idea what it will look like and I am not certain why we did not think of this years ago. But whatever happens it will be fun with my family.

I will probably make macaroons and may try my hand at macarons. Maybe some time this week I will also make a flourless cake. Mom always made a Passover sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream. But no bread this weekend.

Hag Sameach (which is not really the right greeting but I cannot remember the right one) and Happy Easter to you all.

[aaronatthedoublef]

It is fun to listen to my six year old sing the alphabet song each time she washes her hands!

[aaronatthedoublef]

Really good idea for recess!
Thanks

[aaronatthedoublef]

Hi. I posted this in a separate thread. Should probably have posted it here or in the WaPo thread. This is from BBGA where someone posted a an online map of small, local flour producers. The ones in New England still have flour but being small suppliers they probably do not have the consistency of KAF or BRM. So each batch is an adventure. But I may start buying from them just to support them.

[aaronatthedoublef]

At the HW store they had mint scented garbage bags to help keep them out. Has anyone tried mint as a repellent?

[aaronatthedoublef]

Hi. They're doing it in response to COVID-19.

[aaronatthedoublef]

Here is how it explains the what happens:

Salt-rising bread does not require yeast to rise. Instead, bakers cultivate bacteria in their starter by leaving a mixture of boiled milk, cornmeal or wheat flour (and, sometimes, a sliced potato), sugar, and salt out overnight in a hot environment. The resulting microbes create hydrogen, which serves as the leavening agent.

They do claim that James Beard was a fan and has a recipe in

Beard on Bread

but I haven't researched it at all.

[aaronatthedoublef]

Yes... Baking supplies here typically go on sale just before Thanksgiving and go through Christmas. When I bought LoL butter I would buy about 15 lbs and stash it in the freezer and then use it until the next sale.

I would stock up on flours too. But now, if I buy cases at BRM there is a case discount and if I buy over $50 shipping is free. KAF doesn't have those (they have a frequent buyers club) but I usually have a $10 coupon that will pay for most of the shipping.

When they have it Walmart has the cheapest prices on KAF and their shipping is free. But they just dump flour bags into a box and at least half the time one will explode. KAF needs to package their 5 lb bags of flours better.

And when non-perishables like paper towels or toilet paper are on sale I buy as much as they will allow me to buy at the sale price.

Of course if you live in an apartment it's harder to store everything.

We finally bought a second refrigerator so we have more cold storage. And we did it just in time as Home Depot and Lowes just ended deliveries except for essential services.

[aaronatthedoublef]

Well, they were from calorie constricted times. The salt bread and slug burgers might. The slug burgers might actually be less bad as you'll supplement the meat with potato flour.

[aaronatthedoublef]

Walmart shipped our bread flour so we should have about 20 pounds.

It appears the initial panic of people just grabbing things has subsided here a little.

[aaronatthedoublef]

I did not know about mushrooms!

Isn't cowboy coffee boiled coffee with egg shells to 1) make it less bitter (who would argue with a mom about that!) and 2) they float on top and keep more of the grinds in the pot when the coffee is poured.

At least that's what was in the books I read as a boy.

[aaronatthedoublef]

One of the local restaurant distributors has announced they will sell fresh produce to the public for curbside pickup on Tuesdays and Thursday. Their sales have to be hurt by this so it is a good way for them to boost sales and a good alternative to people who do not want to go to the store. Also based on the restaurants that use them they have nice produce.

I went to Costco yesterday for the first time in three weeks. No toilet paper or cleaners other than Mrs. Meyers which doesn't disinfect and bathroom cleaners which are not good for the rest of the house.

Good supply of eggs, dairy, and produce. Good supply of paper towels but limited to one 12 pack per customer. Too bad because they were on sale so I would normally stock up.

Good amount of AP flour - 15 lb KAF bags and 50 lb Ardent Mills. Also sugar. I did not buy flour because I don't want to hoard and I have a good supply for now.

Also 15, 25, and 50 lb bags of rice.

Here are some "hard time" recipes posted on Atlas obscura. Potato Cookies look cool and a bit like cake pops without a stick. Then there is salt rising bread which is a bread recipe using natural yeast.

[aaronatthedoublef]

Thanks Mike. Good suggestions. She won't eat peanuts but potatoes are good and so is watermelon! And both are viable here in New England.

Just noticed Food Network has declared this month baking month and, according to the adds, is encouraging everyone who has downloaded their app to BAKE! I'll have to check on the downloads but this could also have added to the baking stampede.

[aaronatthedoublef]

Always glad to help BA!

[Author]

Posts