I just got back from a walk and on it I tried to remember if schools had been closed for two weeks as of tomorrow, or three…? These days are running together in a blur and I have the building anxiety that I need to move on from the initial stages of getting used to this new ‘normal’ and start being productive and constructive again, but honestly the only thing I’ve been doing more of is sleeping. I have been taking walks, making food, and trying to do some dance cardio in my bedroom but it’s just not the same on carpet and with no other goofballs cardio-dancing next to me. Even cooking has been difficult since we moved into a new house at the same time as all this pandemic craziness really got going and by ‘new’ I mean new to us, it is a middle-aged house by human years’ standards and I don’t think anything has been updated since its rebellious teen years at best. The refrigerator freezes our produce no matter how warm I make the temperature, and it has also frozen some sauces and salads. The stove top is one of those flat ones and I don’t even know what the material is but I don’t care for it one bit. It just makes cooking more difficult for now, although I’m sure I’ll eventually figure out the issue with the fridge, or have yet another service guy out here to do it, but for now we are just dealing with it. I did see a pho recipe recently that got me excited though, not only because it’s a noodle soup and I love noodle soups, but also because it’s just for two which means I won’t have leftovers that might potentially freeze in our refrigerator. Not that leftovers are often a problem with two teen boys in the house, but best not to take any chances. In case you are new to pho, which is pronounced, I’m told, close to fu? with a lift at the end like a question, it is a Vietnamese soup that is packed with nutrients. It is usually made with pork or beef, but you can find chicken or vegetarian versions such as the one I intend to make later this week when I get back out to a grocery. What makes pho unique is the use of spices such as star anise, cinnamon, and ginger which are excellent for the digestive system and for supporting the immune system. Keep in mind that star anise is the primary source for the main ingredient in Tamiflu. Herbs are powerful indeed.
Here’s a link to the vegan pho on Frontier Coop’s website. Let me know if you make it or have your own go-to pho recipe. By the way, restaurants are very clever out here with naming their Vietnamese restaurants which I never understood until someone explained the pronunciation to me. My favorites are: What the Pho? and Pho King.
Stay safe and stay sane.