Day one, but not really

Over the past week, I've been pretty close to home quarantine. Grocery shopping is my escape from the confines of my townhouse. I went to Safeway this morning, not because I really need anything (more on that later) but I have a burning need to see that there are still options in the world and toilet paper. There are plenty of ingredients, but still no TP.

I have an insane curiosity about what is in other people's carts. Lots of cans and beans, cases of fizzy water, bags of chips and candy were found this morning. What was in my cart? Cilantro, mushrooms, a corned beef (on sale!), chicken breasts, broccoli, onions, garlic, red pepper, bananas, yeast. And a bag of Cheez-it Snapd crackers. Crackers are essential - for happy hour.

During the normal week, when I am not stuck at home, breakfast is nothing big. Maybe some homemade granola, an egg, or a piece of toast. Now, breakfast has new meaning. Cooking something special on a Thursday makes me feel like anything is possible.

Tuesday I bought spinach - not the pre-washed in a bag kind, but a bunch of spinach. Just putting that spinach in my cart felt so nostalgic. I anticipated the relationship I would soon have with that bunch of unwashed leaves.

Today, Tuesday's spinach (now all washed and happy) was lovingly steamed on top of browned, crumbly, spicy sausage cooked with mushrooms. The finished product was topped with a fried egg and a few turns of black pepper. It reminded me of a diner breakfast in San Francisco - now long closed. Yum.