Love (and Delicious Food) In The Time of COVID-19

Hi friends of Tenderly,

I sincerely hope you’re staying safe and healthy out there in this difficult and stressful time. If you’re looking for a guide to what you can do to help your community and the whole country during this time, this guide from Vox is good start. But it’s also important to keep yourself mentally well and well-fed during what is becoming a very real imperative to stay home. That’s where we come in!

First of all, some stories to make you smile instead of stress:

• What happened when a local Humane Society in Tacoma offered pet portraits in exchange for a $15 donation.
• A tiny calf managed to get into the heart of a third-generation cattle rancher, moving him to give up the beef trade and turn his land into an animal sanctuary where calves like Hope will never be treated as products again.
• A neglected hedgehog got lucky when he met 17-year-old Sophie, who nursed him back to health and now wants to dedicate her life to helping other animals like Stitch.
• Why do medieval cats look… like that? 😂

And now… food!!!

First of all, go make a vegan grilled cheese for yourself right now — it’s the least you can do.

We have a ton of delicious recipes that utilize the pantry ingredients you’ve hopefully stocked up on (if you haven’t done that, it’s worth getting some dried beans, pasta, rice, and other foods you like to have on hand — it’s hard to predict when some quarantining measures will be necessary in your community and it’s better to be prepared now!). Here are a few of the best:

• If you’re stocked with beans but not sure what to do with them, the simple, perfect bean recipe in this beautiful piece is a great place to start.
• This hummus recipe uses dried chickpeas for an authentic, creamy hummus that you can dip just about anything into.
• Get yerself some nuts and go nuts with homemade nut butter!
• Speaking of recipes that go with everything, the magic of aquafaba is put to wonderful use in this buttery, golden cornbread recipe. Perfect with chili!
• If you have some herbs on hand that are in danger of wilting before you’re able to use them all, we have a trio of recipes utilizing them that can enhance your cooking for weeks to come.
• If you have a lot of fresh produce, now would be a great time to try pickling! Laura’s wasabi pickled green beans recipe is hot, fresh, sour, sweet, and salty. Yum!
• Speaking of starting new cooking habits, there’s no better time to take up bread baking! Alicia talked to six bread experts all over the world to get their tips on keeping your first sourdough starter.
• This extremely simple pea soup recipe puts frozen green peas to use in the most comforting fashion, with just five ingredients.
• This bright and filling kedgeree recipe inspired by Downton Abbey is comprised of rice, canned chickpeas, and a bunch of spices you probably already have on hand.
• The Egyptian street food staple Koshari is comprised entirely of shelf-stable ingredients: macaroni, lentils, and rice. Carbs on carbs baby!!!
• Need a drink? These vegan cocktails utilize ingredients you’re likely to already have on hand, and they are exactly what you probably need right now.

What else could you use help with? Write to me at summer@tenderlymag.com if you have any requests or ideas for what Tenderly can do to help during this wild time in our lives. Stay safe out there, and WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!

Love,

Summer Anne Burton + the Tenderly crew