It’s been weeks since I updated my blog, and the last post was pre-quarantine times. So much has changed in all of our lives in the last month. I’ve wanted to blog about how we’re handling things, my fears and worries, etc., but in some ways I’ve had all of the time in the world and not a free moment.
For awhile I was thinking I’d just post a quarantine scrapbook of sorts, with a collection of photos of how we’ve adjusted our lives, passed the time, handled grocery shopping, and kept the girls occupied. But for the sake of having something with a bit of a theme to it, I wanted to focus on one major thing: food!
We’ve been very fortunate that we are still able to access the grocery supplies we want and need, while also being able to support our favorite local businesses providing carryout options. If anything, this whole scenario has made me much more aware of our consumption as a family, not letting things go to waste, making detailed lists for grocery runs, and trying new recipes.
Here are some of my favorite local takeout options (maybe you’ll get some good ideas as we continue to stay home and stay safe over the coming weeks) and also some recipes I’ve been making!
Favorite takeout options around the Lansing area
Pretty early on in Michigan’s COVID-19 response, restaurants were no longer allowed to have dine-in patrons. Some of our favorite places (and people!) around the Lansing area quickly adapted to the changes, revamping websites to include takeout menus, online ordering, and a variety of pick-up or delivery options. I will say that we haven’t done delivery through services like GrubHub, because we learned that the cut those services take can often leave the restaurant with little revenue. We’ve picked up the food or ordered delivery directly from the restaurants. If anything, getting out for a little drive brings back some of the normalcy.
We knew that we wanted to make sure we supported local restaurants by getting takeout at least a few times a week. Oftentimes, we’ve ordered enough for leftovers or multiple meals.
Red Haven Farm to Table of course is our favorite spot in the Lansing area. In addition to being able to order their amazing food for takeout (not to mention, bottles of wine), we’ve been loving their family meals and farm boxes that they introduced a few weeks ago. The Family Meal options are different each week and can feed from 2-6 people typically. The Harvest Boxes, which can range from produce to meats to cheeses, help support local farmers and suppliers in the area and keep customers from needing to run to the grocery store for certain essentials.
Follow Red Haven on Facebook for updates on the weekly Family Meals and Harvest Boxes, or put in a takeout order on their website.
Another one of our favorite restaurants is Saddleback BBQ. We ordered their delicious pork sandwiches and fries for lunch, and also ordered some additional sides and meats to enjoy more BBQ for dinner that night. They offer curbside pickup, and fortunately their Okemos location isn’t far from our house. Check out their website for daily specials.
One of our favorite breakfast spots in the Lansing area is The People’s Kitchen. My friend Ellen tagged me in one of their Facebook posts that shared they would be offering Brunch Kits, with all of the components needed to make some of their popular dishes. We love their Good F-ing Pancakes, so I was thrilled to see a Pancake Mix Kit was on the menu. We ordered one the first weekend they were available, and man oh man were they amazing that weekend!
Brunch items can also be ordered for takeout on the weekends, but there’s something about having hot and fresh breakfast at home. I can’t recommend the Pancake Kit enough!
I’ve had several friends post about Shove It Pizza Truck during quarantine. We make a lot of flatbread pizzas at home already, but this past weekend it was finally time to try out Shove It. The food truck has adjusted its business model to offer contactless delivery of par-baked pizzas. Orders can be completed on their website through an order form; we ordered ours on Friday to be delivered this past Saturday. A minimum of two pizzas is required for delivery, and the delivery radius is within 25 miles of the Capitol.
We ordered the cheesy breadsticks along with the pepperoni and spinach/feta/chicken pizzas. They were left on our porch and I received a text right away when they were delivered. Baking instructions are included when you order; these took about 14 minutes in the oven and they were ready to go. This pizza was delicious and we’ll definitely be ordering from them again. It’s really been amazing to see how small businesses like theirs are adjusting to all of the restrictions.
Although I don’t have photos, we’ve also enjoyed takeout from Maru and Groovy Donuts. And when we were in need of some cream cheese for the bagels I recently made (photos and details further down), we were able to get some cream cheese and lunch for everyone in the family with speedy delivery from our local Panera Bread. Panera is offering grocery options with their ordering, with items like yogurt, bread, fruit, and more. It’s a great service for anyone in need of some essentials and unable to get to the store or grab a Shipt slot.
Favorite recipes at home
In addition to all of these great takeout options, I’ve been having a lot of fun trying out new recipes and ideas at home.
So many people online have been raving about whipped coffee, a super simple but delicious preparation using instant coffee, sugar, and hot water. It’s made by whisking or using a hand mixer to whip up the ingredients, which can then be added as a dollop over iced milk. I made it for the first time yesterday, and I’ll definitely be making it again. This recipe from Tasty is the one people have been using.
Another recipe I’ve been using a lot lately is a classic French vinaigrette from a video chef Jacques Pepin shared on his Facebook page. We typically make salad using white wine vinegar and olive oil over arugula, but this dressing using a French mustard and red wine vinegar has changed things up for us. I’ve been making simple salads with spring mix greens, goat cheese, and pine nuts topped with this dressing and they’ve been great. Check out how easy it is to make!
Another thing I’ve never tried to make before quarantine that ended up working out splendidly is bagels! My friend Julia made them this past week and they looked fantastic. The recipe she shared also seemed very simple to follow, and thankfully I had finally procured some active dry yeast and flour on a Kroger run. I made them on Friday and had enough to deliver some to friends. There was definitely a learning curve to forming the bagels, but otherwise I think they turned out great. I can’t wait to make more.
What are some of the things you’ve enjoyed either ordering or making during quarantine? I hope this blog post gave you some ideas of things to try!