have any return to the kitchen ?

[Vanessa]

Hi. I was just talking to mom this week I have stayed sort of away from the kitchen. With all going on DH & I have not been hungry so I have done light cooking. Yesterday I did take out the wok and did a stir fry. Tonight it was a simple pasta and fresh tomato sauce.
I saw how chefs and restaurants are supplying firefighters etc with warm food. Thats great its going down to 40s in Md so NY will be colder.
Today was incredible the outpouring all over the world of solidarity for USA.

[BlueMoose]

I was thinking of baking a bunch of cookies and bringing them over to United Blood Services. Either for those who are donating blood (although there are probably laws against that! :eek: ) or just for the workers there. I'm sure they've been putting in very long hours.

[keeganm]

Its weird because I haven't really cooked for the last few months but the last few days I've been cooking like crazy, I think mostly for a distraction and a break from watching the news. However, i haven't had an appetite so you can imagine all the tupperware in my refrigerator right now. I finally made the CL blueberry pound cake, martha stewart's crumb cake, CL pear and pine nut cake, chefzhat's tomato pie (for the second time), and also roasted a chicken. this is so unlike me but it has been great to try all these recipes.

[KimKelly]

I haven't cooked much either. But this evening we were making plans for Sunday for our 5 year old kids and trying to figure out what to do and I said that we will probably bake something... I just need to bake! I guess it brings some normally back to my life, a nice muffin or bread scent thru the house, makes it lived in again. That is our plan anyway, but tonight it was just noodles and peas (my husband is out on the road again now that the skies have opened up), so I had what the kids did. I have to say that I was going to make a nice dinner last night and I just didn't have the drive. I felt kind of bad to be enjoying something really good when so many people were suffering. But we need muffins! So Sunday it is.....
K

[schuh]

I found it comforting to return to the kitchen.
Experimented with the homemade tomato sauce from another thread (which is another story).
Planning some upcoming entertaining ... it helps to have something cheerful to think about.

[kwormann]

I-have-the-most-special-reason-----my-friend-had-a-baby-yesterday-and-my-gift-to-her-is-to-cook-several-meals-to-put-in-her-freezer----what-a-nice-distraction-after-this-week!!!!

[lindrusso]

Like Vanessa, I was also not very hungry - the knot in my stomach and the anxiety just killed my appetite. I was very surprised at how strongly I reacted to this situation considering all of my friends and family are safe and sound!

I did cook each night, but between not having an appetite and working an a very large painting project, I've been keeping it very simple. Last night I very much enjoyed dinner for the first time this week. It was super easy (grilled tuna, roasted asparagus and whole-wheat couscous) and yummy - I ate more than usual - probably catching up a bit!

[Janet K]

I've actually tried a few new things the last few days from the Sept. issue... and just received October yesterday which was a nice surprise. Looks like there are some nice fall comfort foods in there...

Also found out yesterday that my mom's next door neighbor is missing from the Pentagon. They found out because a newspaper reporter called my mom asking her for an interview regarding her missing neighbor and she had no idea the woman next door was even missing... I don't know - but that sounds awful callous to me.

[Nirak]

I put on the TV sound over the stereo so I could listen to it throughout the house because I hate to sit idle but I can't tear myself away from the news. I now have a freezer full of muffins for lunchboxes and I harvested my basil and made a triple batch of Rosie's pesto. We had some with shrimp and pasta last night ... but the hold-over garlic is killing me today (and I'm sure, those around me!) I also deep-cleaned my kitchen, including my burners, etc. because I wanted to do something while I listened. However, I did not do my weekly meal planning and that is killing me because I have no idea what we will have for dinner tonight and I do not want to go to the store again!

[GayeC]

Like Vanessa and lindrusso, I did not have much of an appetite this week. My reaction to the events of the week has been very strong, even though I do not personally know anyone who was injured. (Although it looks like some friends will be called up to duty in the Reserves.)

Today I am cooking for the freezer. Simple things -- taco meat mixture, spaghetti sauce, meatloaf. For some reason it makes me feel secure.

Gaye

[KathrynY]

Originally posted by BlueMoose
I was thinking of baking a bunch of cookies and bringing them over to United Blood Services. Either for those who are donating blood (although there are probably laws against that! :eek: ) or just for the workers there. I'm sure they've been putting in very long hours.

BlueMoose - I think that's an EXCELLENT idea! Someone else posted on another thread that she and friends made a big tray of pasta for the blood drive workers after her first-time experience donating blood was so pleasant, and she said they really appreciated it. So few people have the time to do their own baking any more, I know your homemade cookies will be gobbled up in no time. :)

I cooked a substantial but simple meal last night for the first time since Monday - grilled salmon, roasted potatoes and asparagus. It was nice to spend a peaceful hour in the kitchen, chopping, prepping and listening to some jazz on the CD player. I have made a conscious effort to avoid the TV and news today, taking a much-needed emotional break. Glad to see so many of you are back to cooking as well!

[Jasmine-Rose]

Like GayeC I have been struggling this week even though I don't know anyone directly affected. Last night I saw my sweetheart for the first time since last Sunday and he got quite a greeting - he was barely in the door before I fell apart and he spent the next half hour just holding me while I cried.

I decided that I've got to give myself an opportunity to get away from the coverage for a while. I've immersed myself in it all week, including all day Tuesday because I was home from work. So tomorrow I'm going to play CDs (the radio stations keep playing patriotic songs and I keep crying every time I hear the national anthem) and leave the TV off. And I'm going to find comfort in my kitchen - sipping tea, chopping vegetables, making chicken soup from last January's CL, and beef stew from Nick Stellino's Mediterranean cookbook, and the pear and pine nut cake from the September CL. Dinner will be Rasberry-Balsamic chicken from the CL Complete Cookbook, and Basmati rice pilaf from the September CL. I got all the groceries today so I'll be ready to start in the morning. I'm even going to pass on my Sunday morning ritual of reading the paper. I just need a day away from the depths of despair I've been feeling all week.

My heart goes out to all those who have lost someone. And another group that probably hasn't gotten much thought this week - the air traffic controllers who watched the developments and were powerless to stop them. Those men and women are suffering in a very different way this week. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers, too.

[Vanessa]

Glad to hear some of you have found cooking helps. The idea of baking for the Red Cross or others is great even baking someone for firefighters or policemen or even a neighboor who is feeling the effects of this tragedy. Tragedy I was listening on tv is bringing people together.
I did not cook today but got to the garden and started cleaning up picking tomatoes, peppers, basil etc. I think tomorrow we will clean up and pull some plants that are done for the season etc.
Today we stayed away from the news a bit saw some documentaries and got out for fresh Fall air.

[jwilliford]

Having seen a lot of the tragedy in New York up close, I saw the second explosion from a train in Brooklyn, I feel completely out of whack. I have had an absolutely enormous appetite and have been cooking something almost everyday. It has been a great comfort to me to be in the kitchen, my 'happy place' as my boyfriend calls it. It's better than sitting in front of the news and watching the same shots over and over again. I guess everyone copes in their own way. I'm hosting my book club next weekend and am very excited to be able to cook for a crowd. It also helps having people around.

[valeriek]

I'm having a hard time with all of this, and the last thing on my mind is cooking - which is unfortunate because I know that cooking relaxes me. I haven't really cooked all week, and I even skipped my favorite Farmer's Market on Saturday. Things are just so chaotic right now in my industry (I work for the airlines - I do Public Relations for them no less) that I can't get away from what is going on for one second, and I think it is really starting to wear on me.

Maybe I should cook a big pot of soup to help nourish my soul - I really need it!

[christinew]

Yesterday I got back in the groove and cooked spareribs for nearly 8 hours which fell off the bone and then made a homemade beer cake in my bundt pan. I mainly cooked for the smell which seemed to relax me a bit.

Eating it afterwards was another story.........anxiety, nervousness and sadness all have slowed down my appetite...

[Wendy w]

Saturday, I made pot roast w/horseradish smashed potatoes and merlot sauce in the crockpot while I went to the swapmeet with my sister. I really had to get out a bit after too much tv. I bought some nice zucchini and plan on making some zucchini lasagne tonight.