I might be the only snowbird left here in my neighborhood. Five of the six places surrounding me emptied out over the past week.
The HOA reopened the pool but social distancing must be maintained and there is no moving of the lounge chairs all carefully placed six feet apart. In order to access the pool you have to sign a waiver drawn up by the lawyer for the association board because they "care about the safety of the residents." My reading of the form was that they seemed more concerned about not being sued but I'm not a lawyer and I don't even watch them on TV.
The beaches near here are open but the last I heard the parking lots were all still closed. That's one way to control crowds. There are miles and miles of beach but so many people want to park their cars as close to the access as possible and then park their bodies as close to the other end of the access walks as humanly possible.
One of my neighbors left a bag of about six pounds of zucchini and summer squash, two big cucumbers, and a shallot on my car port since she was leaving and had already cleaned her stove and oven. She, her sister, her male-main squeeze friend, her daughter and her son-in-law make up three of the places surrounding me and are all leaving together. Since I knew they were very busy closing houses and packing for the trip, I made them a zucchini and summer squash lasagna. What was I thinking?!? (Probably: HA! Think you're going to stick me with six pounds of zucchini) Dropping off a lasagna to a bunch of Italians -- that was a risk I didn't clearly think out ahead of time.
However, they all thanked me profusely and seemed to have genuinely enjoyed their dinner and claimed to have had not a speck of leftover. I also sent a cucumber salad and some bread. I had some for myself and I thought it was good but I am not much of a carnivore. I did have some hamburger in the freezer, but I used my fake-news burger that I make from brown lentils, bulgur wheat, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, onions and anchovy paste (my secret ingredient is lots of things I make). No noodles, just the vegetables. I make my tomato sauce with Muir Glen organic canned tomatoes, fire roasted. The self-appointed Lidia Bastianich of the group, who also claims Mafia connections for her family, said, "I am not sure what you put in that dish but it was really tasty -- not Italian, but really tasty."
I think Italians use lentils, just maybe not in lasagna so much. Anyway, I dodged a bullet!
The HOA reopened the pool but social distancing must be maintained and there is no moving of the lounge chairs all carefully placed six feet apart. In order to access the pool you have to sign a waiver drawn up by the lawyer for the association board because they "care about the safety of the residents." My reading of the form was that they seemed more concerned about not being sued but I'm not a lawyer and I don't even watch them on TV.
The beaches near here are open but the last I heard the parking lots were all still closed. That's one way to control crowds. There are miles and miles of beach but so many people want to park their cars as close to the access as possible and then park their bodies as close to the other end of the access walks as humanly possible.
One of my neighbors left a bag of about six pounds of zucchini and summer squash, two big cucumbers, and a shallot on my car port since she was leaving and had already cleaned her stove and oven. She, her sister, her male-main squeeze friend, her daughter and her son-in-law make up three of the places surrounding me and are all leaving together. Since I knew they were very busy closing houses and packing for the trip, I made them a zucchini and summer squash lasagna. What was I thinking?!? (Probably: HA! Think you're going to stick me with six pounds of zucchini) Dropping off a lasagna to a bunch of Italians -- that was a risk I didn't clearly think out ahead of time.
However, they all thanked me profusely and seemed to have genuinely enjoyed their dinner and claimed to have had not a speck of leftover. I also sent a cucumber salad and some bread. I had some for myself and I thought it was good but I am not much of a carnivore. I did have some hamburger in the freezer, but I used my fake-news burger that I make from brown lentils, bulgur wheat, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, onions and anchovy paste (my secret ingredient is lots of things I make). No noodles, just the vegetables. I make my tomato sauce with Muir Glen organic canned tomatoes, fire roasted. The self-appointed Lidia Bastianich of the group, who also claims Mafia connections for her family, said, "I am not sure what you put in that dish but it was really tasty -- not Italian, but really tasty."
I think Italians use lentils, just maybe not in lasagna so much. Anyway, I dodged a bullet!
I still have about three pounds of summer squashes to deal with tough!
Oh gosh. Such trying times. Yes, we call our Canadians in the south snowbirds, too. But our military flyers are The Snowbirds!
ReplyDeleteMy neighbors are all social-distancing and no gardens this year. You are all so kind to share. Thanks for commenting on my recent post.
ReplyDeleteWe all social distance but we do drop offs of little gifts sometimes and call our from the ends of our driveways. It's been a strange season.
Deleteoh this made me smile. As an Italian America I have never heard of a family member using lentils or for that matter any of the things you used in a lasagna. I loved her 'compliment'. It was very good, just not lasagna. :-) I could hear an old aunt saying such a rude thing to someone. As a 64 yr old first generation American I can tell you that no one wishes to make Italian food for Italians. I hate it when an Aunt would say, what did you put in this? As if her way is the only way. But the thing is, every family has"their" way. How my mom made sauce is not the same as the other side of the family made sauce. Every family has their spin on it and that's what you did. So you're an Honorary vegetarian Italian. :-) And btw anchovy paste is so flavorful. I don't eat anchovies but I sure love the flavor they add...go figure. I use this a lot in salad dressings and savory dishes. I bet that was a damn good lasagna!
ReplyDeleteMy cooking gets more creative the closer I get to closing down the place and heading back north. I get panicky abut using everything up. But I too would not put an anchovy im my mouth, but when the paste is mixed into something, I love the flavor boost.
DeleteThat googled image doesn't show on my screen. Maybe you should re-do it. I like the sound of the food you made. Invite me next time, will you?
ReplyDeleteSure, next time you are in the neighborhood, drop by! I assume social distancing will be over by then.:)
DeleteIf they are clearing out, how are they getting home? Hope not flying. That needs some work yet.
ReplyDeleteThat was a thoughtful gift and you reciprocated nicely. We all may be making fake news burgers soon.
They drove -- a 17 hour straight shot.
DeleteThat was a very kind gesture on your part, but I do sense an ulterior motive. Too much zucchini!
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't get lonely, losing your neighbors.
I'll admit to some ulterior motivation!
DeleteWhile it was nice of your neighbours, I'm not sure I'd have been very happy with so much squash! Good of you to reciprocate. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds good to me. Beware the Mafia connection as I was once warned by my Italian Dr.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's one thing to have a lot of zucchini; and quite another to have zucchini and summer squash lasagna. I'm sure they loved it.
ReplyDelete