I've been feeling a LOT better since I've been home. I need to get back into my cardiac rehab routine, but otherwise things are going well. I got in the longest days of work I've done in a while on Thursday and Friday, which was great.
Peter's birthday is tomorrow, Monday. More than half of his birthdays since I've known him we have spent in Deer Isle, Maine. Due to Covid, that wasn't an option this year. We have both been missing Maine, so I decided to bring some to him. I was able to ship lobsters overnight from Stonington, Maine and they arrived Saturday morning. We were really excited. I had gotten corn on the cob and potatoes that we boiled. Due to the cost of shipping, I decided to get 4 lobsters for us, and make lobster bisque on Monday (his actual birthday). The box arrived Saturday mid-morning, and the lobsters seemed pretty happy. We did some things around the house, and decided to do an early dinner. We boiled the corn and potatoes, and in a separate pot decided to boil the lobster. We even took out our fancy plates (really small serving platters) to eat on. I had ordered a ceramic butter warmer that stays warm with a tea light, and a set of crackers and lobster forks. The butter warmers arrived on time, the crackers later in the day. We managed though. It was not quite as good as in Maine, but by far the best lobster I've had outside of being in Maine, and worlds better tasting than what I've gotten at the grocery store in the past. After we ate we made the other two lobsters, and once they cooled I used the crackers (which had arrived) and harvested the meat for lobster bisque and shells to use for stock.
As we made the lobsters, I got to thinking about Maine. Peter's family usually puts some water from the ocean into their huge kettle, brings it to a boil over a campfire or propane burner, puts in the lobsters, gets it to second boil, then lets it finish cooking. When they are done, the whole pot is poured out onto the rocky beach. Then, to eat it on the beach, you find two good size flat rocks and use those to smash the shells open. It is a very enjoyable experience, and yet I realize that I won't be able to do it like that anymore. I might be able to eat the lobster on the beach, but we may have to make me one in the house and bring it down. I definitely can't use the rocks to crack it anymore. I think before the food poisoning episode, I was thinking that it wouldn't be a big deal. Now, all the potential areas that bacteria could get into me from this are standing out. It's ok that it will have to be different, but it's also a reminder that things are different and I'll really have to put a lot of effort into things. I already knew I'd need to get bottled water for when we are there, as I can't drink well water, but it's another thing. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful that I'm alive to be having this issue, but there are some days that it just is easy to be frustrated at the changes and the energy it will take in the future to stay safe.
Today, as I made the lobster stock in the pressure cooker, I cut up the veggies for tomorrow (since its best to throw in the trimmings of those into the stock pot). I started with two leeks, and when I checked the recipe for how much I needed, realized I did not need any. So I had two extra leeks to use up. We did not really eat more than a few of the potatoes from last night, and they were in the fridge. We also had a large package of chicken drumsticks from our Instacart order Friday. I have been reading the Outlander Series, part of which is set in Scotland, and in it they mention cock-a-leekie soup. I had wondered what it was, and it is a Scottish soup with chicken, leeks, onion, and barley (and/or potatoes). It also needs thyme, which we bought for the bisque. I decided that since we had all the ingredients, and Peter was willing, we would try it. I boiled the drumsticks, onion, leek, water, bay leaf, barley, salt and pepper for an hour. I removed the chicken and bay leaf, then used the immersion blender to mix together everything. The broth was nice and thick and smooth, and had a very subtle flavor. I took the meat off the bone of the chickens, chopped it up, and added that and the leftover potatoes (in chunks) to the broth, and we heated it all together for dinner. It was really, really good and very filling. We even have 4 jars of leftovers. Peter and I both agreed that we should add this to our recipe list, and I was excited as Peter is often more discerning about soups than I am (I like them all).
So tomorrow morning I'll order some birthday cupcakes from a local shop, and a baguette from Panera, and Peter will go pick up both (I still can't go in places). Then for dinner I'll make the lobster bisque, for which almost everything is already chopped up (or partially chopped up), and we will have it with butter bread for dinner, followed by birthday cupcakes. I can't imagine how I would have gotten through all of this without Peter, and I hope that I can make the day as special as possible, because he deserves it.
As I'm having more energy, I am also feeling more like cooking regularly. If you have any great quarantine recipes you've found, feel free to share them. I think we both would be happy to have something a little new.
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