I'd choose comforting family-friendly food, like mac-n-cheese, maybe with some chopped ham tossed in with a side of green beans and simple cake dessert. Most of the people I know with C-19 don't have much of an appetite, especially if they've lost their sense of taste and/or smell. All of the above reheats well, freezes well, and is generally liked by children, too, if there are any in the family.

My "like" is made in sympathy and solidarity.......

I've never even heard the term "buggy bay" and find it hard to believe grown adults could say it without feeling abashed. (I kid, I kid. 🙂 It is cute.)

This is exactly where I land, especially wrt "in nonessentials, liberty".

I always enjoy reading what authors have to say about their own writings. I was never a fan of literature analysis where the reader gets to super-impose their own ideas on "what the author meant." Might be why I went in a STEM direction! But, I *love* reading what authors have to say regarding the how's and why's of their own writing. Reading Poe's essay on writing The Raven turned me on to seeking such things out...

I'm back, too! I think I accidentally posted on last week's thread--an old username was resurrected when resetting the password--but then this last time getting on the forum, I've been checked back in under my most recent username. SO strange. To repost some of my recent readings: Finished: Becoming by Michelle Obama, which I found very helpful as we were already living in MNE when Obama made his appearance on the national scene. a Retirement book for those in their 50s+ (title forgotten) by Suze Orman, also found very helpful. We are playing catch-up (pastoral salary, not debt) and this book didn't depress me like so many others..... The Simple Art of Murder, by Chandler--a collection of short stories, hard-boiled detective genre, suitable for small reading windows A Marriage Under the Terror by Wentworth--quite different from her Miss Silver series. Less predictable than I expected, so I finished it, but not one I'd particularly recommend or ever reread. Currently Reading: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. I have to say, that my reading of The Warmth of Other Suns has greatly contributed to my understanding and appreciation of books like Becoming and The Vanishing Half.

I'm not a crafter but I had a kid who liked to "make things sparkle." 🙂

I guess I'm a wimp; 70% cocoa is the darkest that I enjoy eating as chocolate. Anything higher and it feels like work to eat it, not fun, so I don't bother.

Oh, this is so me!

I hope I'm not derailing your thread, but since you want this bread to travel, I suggest you use a different recipe, one with yeast if you are willing to give it a go. Quick breads (eg. banana bread), by their very nature, do not develop much gluten which greatly contributes to the sturdiness of the bread. I think the Beer Bread would end up very crumbly if taken on a trip... If you want a super easy, no-knead yeast bread (which is ALSO variable in terms of flour/liquid), I highly recommend trying out this one: https://alexandracooks.com/2012/11/07/my-mothers-peasant-bread-the-best-easiest-bread-you-will-ever-make/ This is *very* similar to recipes made over here in South Central Europe, the main change being a bit more yeast and salt to make the dough rise quicker. No-knead breads have been around for centuries.... Here, a kilo of flour is raised with just a teaspoon of yeast--the rising takes overnight+. But, for a good quick yeast bread (that develops the gluten!), try the recipe I linked. It will be a very tasty loaf well-suited for meats and cheese and traveling. If you have time, make the full batch as written (4 cups flour) and bake it in one well-greased 2 qt pan (casserole style). Don't be afraid to bake it a good extra 10-15 minutes longer than called for after turning the oven temp down--you want it done. Let it cool at least an hour before slicing. It is delicious fresh-baked with a smear of butter. SO GOOD! Also, I routinely sub 1 c. cornmeal for flour. You could use some beer for the liquid, too, if you wanted. I use my leftover whey in this, too. And, lastly, if I were definitely planning on serving this with salty meats (salami, prosciutto), I might decrease the salt by 1/2 tsp..... Happy Baking!

Well, any of your typical Budweisers or Millers will fall into bland. I can read the comments and people use pretty much whatever they have on hand. 🙂 from Lite Beers to dark, hoppy IPA beers. I'm of the "whatever we have on hand" and if I have to buy a can/bottle, I always get what's on sale. I'm not drinking it, after all..... And, typical additions include: herbs (fresh/dried), sautéed onions/peppers, cheeses of all kinds, olives, too. I don't personally add much to my bread because I like to put the stuff on top, not in it..... And it lends itself to more versatility. I can top with homemade jam and pb at one meal, sautéed veggies and cheese at the next.....

NYT has a Quick Beer Bread recipe. I know some of their recipes can only be seen if you have a subscription; if you can't see it, I'll send it to you privately. I make it ALL the time and according to comments people freely add stuff to it. I've made it with beer only, with what's leftover from an open bottle and topped off with whey drained from yogurt (I make my own Greek yogurt), and sometimes, even with just the whey and no beer at all. This bread, in every version, meets with rave reviews.... It is best warm and toasted. MMMMMM. We just finished off a loaf today. Guess what will be on my To Do list for tomorrow? 🙂

I do a lot of baking and in that recipe the wine mainly provides liquid with some slight nuance of flavor. Given that it is a quick bread with plenty of flavorful ingredients, I would probably use water*** for the liquid aspect and a dried herb of choice to add a bit of nuance. I think apple/white grape juice could also work but would add a hint of sweetness which may or may not be to your taste. I think a vinegar blend might add too much tang. ***In actuality, I would first look and see if I had some liquid that needed using. A bit of tomato sauce? Add water and use. A tad of yogurt or sour cream? An almost empty carton of milk? add and supplement with water to make a 1/2 cup..... Quick breads are wonderfully versatile that way....

Another Kindle book on sale that may interest some of you: The Reading Life: The Joy of Seeing New Worlds through Others' Eyes by CS Lewis is on sale right now for $1.99.... I picked it up!

This reminds me of something I've pondered a lot after something touching my own life. When I was in my 30s, my mother clearly told me that she didn't think she'd be able to endure a prolonged decline in health/suffering with illness for years. Like, even as a Catholic, she might choose some way to opt out. Fifteen years later, my mom did get cancer, went through some radical (grueling, harsh) treatments, lived another few years with increasing immobility. After she passed away, I found in her nightstand, a printed sheet of personal prayers that she had to get through the days. One of which was all about thanking God for her illness and the blessing it became to her and others. Finding that prayer has brought a lot of comfort and hope to me.....