‘Crumpets have been my saviour!’: readers on their 14 best comfort meals of lockdown

guardian ^

[mylife]

Food has felt more important than ever this past year – particularly meals that offer solace. From rösti to Coco Pops, here are the dishes that got us through

Crumpets For me, lockdown has meant an absolutely manic schedule, working from home with back-to-back Zoom calls and long hours. Crumpets have been my saviour. Yes, factory made, perfectly consistent and versatile: top with yoghurt and frozen berries at 8am, blue cheese and leeks at 1pm, followed by eggs and spinach at 7pm, and you have a full day’s menu. For a bit more lockdown spirit, I tried the sourdough version (delicious if squishy) and making my own (I promise you, it’s not worth it).

Ham, cheese and red onion toastie

When you need that comforting, savoury fix, it has to be achievable swiftly. For our family, the answer is a deep-filled ham, cheese and red onion toastie. The ham should be off the bone, the cheese should be raclette (or similar), and don’t skimp on the sliced red onions. But what really transforms this snack into culinary opium is the addition of garlic butter – spread on both sides of sliced white bread before popping it into the sandwich maker.

[bgill]

What lockdown is right. Didn’t see it here. Parking lots were full. Construction workers were like ants everywhere in the neighborhood. Didn’t see anyone out of work.

Meals have been normal by working around empty store shelves but we’ve eaten down half the freezer and pantry. It seems worse now with the higher prices.

The best meals were made ahead of time pasta salad, leftover dump soup, banana bread and hot cocoa during the TX freeze. It took 2 weeks to get the grocery shelves back to covid norms.

[bgill]

Yum. I make good cheesecakes but have been squirreling away the cream cheese during continued low supplies.

[bgill]

Recipe, please.

[bgill]

I hear neighboring Canada is going back into lockdown.

[perfect stranger]

Maybe a bit of paprika too.

[thesearethetimes...]

Yes please 😏

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

What it seems like, is that each Provincial Premier and mayor tries to out do each other when it comes to their outrageous stomping on the Canadian Constitutionpation.

Meanwhile, PM Justin Cockwomble just sits quietly, smoking pot and eating Doritos. It is almost like, after introducing his ridiculous quarantine rules for Canadians flying home, the Provincial Premiers are all trying to out do each other.

I expect that from Quebec and BC but Justin oops, I guess it is Jason Kenney (though I now see very little difference between PM Cockwomble and Premier Kenney) and Thug Ford, so called 'conservatives'?

Of course, one only has to look to the District of Corruption to see so-called 'conservatives' cave to the lefty demonrats. I should not be surprised.

[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

I wouldn’t try ‘Thug’ Ford’s recipe. It probably contains lots of manure, like everything else he shares. A pox on his house!

[FamiliarFace]

First I watched this video by Steve’s kitchen. I know,I know. How does this guy make good Cuban bread? He had some great ideas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwkbH6tjSJg

Then, this is the written recipe I followed, which was VERY close to the video recipe. https://icuban.com/food/pan_cubano2.html

Use bread flour, and use lard. No substitutions! Take your time and enjoy the experience!

Beyond the bread, roast some pork with cumin, salt, and pepper. Pick a nice deli ham. Use the BEST dill pickle you can find, and slice that lengthwise. I use Boarshead dills. Absolutely my favorite. I use Swiss cheese on mine, as crazy as that sounds, but use a white cheese. I also put stone ground mustard on both sides of the bread.

I don’t have a panini press, but I improvise with a cast iron skillet on bottom, and a cast iron press or another skillet on the top.

Good luck! This is a sandwich worth your effort. Make multiple batches of bread at one sitting. It keeps well in the freezer for several months.