Sunday, March 15th - I land in Newark and four checkpoints later, I’m on the roof of the airport’s parking garage. My mom, Cécile, sprays me and my bags with disinfectant. In the car, she hands me a ziplock with a sandwich in it: prosciutto and cream cheese on whole wheat. It’s the third ‘cold cut & cheese’ sandwich I’ve had that day, but this one feels special. That’s because my mom made it. And that makes the whole difference.
That taught me lesson one of managing the pandemic from a dietary standpoint: the act of eating a meal prepared by others or oneself, even a simple one, is extremely comforting. As result, the Scherer girls have decided to divulge the day-to-day menus of our four-person quarantine in Hudson, New York. Each meal is simple, balanced, and adaptable for vegetarians. So pull out a sheet of paper or your Notes app to start a grocery list, and get ready to feel inspired.
Some recipes are already on the blog and will be hyperlinked.
Day 1:
Lunch: Ham & Cheese Sandwich
Shopping List: Prosciutto, Cream Cheese, Bread
Dinner: Chicken Tenders with Cream and Mustard Sauce, Side of String Beans and Couscous
Shopping List: Chicken Breast, Heavy Whipping Cream, French Mustard, String Beans, Couscous
Day 2:
Lunch: Lox and Bagel
Shopping List: Bagels, Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, Capers (Optional)
Dinner: Chili (con Carne or Vegan Sweet Potato) with Rice
Shopping List: See links
Day 3:
Lunch: Pasta Salad
Shopping List: Penne, Cherry Tomatoes, Feta Cheese, Pesto, Basil, Cucumber
Dinner: Asparagus Quiche and Side Salad
Shopping List: See Recipe
Day 4:
Lunch: Mixed Salad with Sardines
Shopping List: Mixed Greens, Baby Potatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Cherry Tomatoes, Apple, Walnuts, Dried Cranberries, Mustard, Apple Vinegar and Olive Oil (Dressing), Canned Sardines
Dinner: Grilled Skirt Steak, Blood Sausage with Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Asparagus (Vegetarian alternative: Grilled Veggie Burger)
Shopping List: Self-Explanatory
Day 5:
Lunch: Prosciutto Bagel (Vegetarian Option: Hummus)
Shopping List: Self-Explanatory
Dinner: Broccoli Mac & Cheese
Shopping List: See Recipe
Day 6:
Lunch: Mixed Salad with Potatoes and Blue Cheese
Shopping List: Blue Cheese, See above, “Mixed Salad”
Dinner: Burgers
Shopping List: Turkey Ground Meat, Burger Buns, Sliced Cheddar, Condiments
Day 7:
Lunch: Croque Monsieur and Salad
Shopping List: Sliced Bread, Ham, Cheese Slices, Mixed Greens
Dinner: Couscous with Roast Chicken (Vegetarian Option: Faux Chicken)
Shopping List: See Recipe + Whole Chicken or Substitute Chicken
