Cooking During a Quarantine

    As I’m sure we are all aware, this is a very unique time for our society and the world as a whole. With many businesses, schools, and workplaces closing their doors in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are left to practice social-distancing and self-quarantine. Although this can be a scary and depressing time, there are many ways we can fight the negativity, one being cooking! We may not have very much free time to cook during a normal school or work week, but during this season of staying home we may be finding ourselves with lots of extra time to spend in the kitchen. In addition to this, we are unable to go out to many restaurants and fast-food places, leaving us no option but to cook from home. Let’s take advantage of this unique time and find fun ways to spend time with our families honing our cooking skills! 
    If you don’t normally cook, it can be overwhelming trying to find where to start. Luckily, the internet has a plethora of fun, easy recipes for home-cooking beginners. Try using websites like allrecipes and foodnetwork, or searching for meal tutorials on YouTube. With the internet, there are endless possibilities and you can find help for any questions you may have! 
    Of course, all home-cooked meals must have ingredients. Although we may be in a toilet paper famine, most grocery stores are still well-stocked (or are getting trucks in daily) with food and offer most staple items. Make sure you have things like frozen vegetables and chicken, potatoes, rice, and other common items that serve as great bases for meals. It’s difficult to stock up on fresh produce, but buying in bulk and freezing your own fruit and vegetables is a great option to ensure you have what you need to cook while stuck at home. 
    As we continue during this time of uncertainty, it’s crucial that we find productive ways to fill our days. Cooking is a great option for this because it is an activity that can be done alone or with the whole family, and it yields great results! As I myself practice social-distancing and self-quarantine, I will be posting recipes that I have tried and giving tips for cooking for one person, two people, or a whole family. I can’t wait to use this extra time to develop my cooking skills and find new ways to enjoy some of my favorite foods, and I hope you will do the same! 

-Ashley Voeller is a college student, future dietitian, dancer and blogger