This will be a quick post about my first attempt at babkah. Let’s just say it wasn’t a complete fail but it also wasn’t a win either.

It has been close to two full months since we have been socially distant due to Covid-19. What do we all seek when we are stuck at home with limited activities and plans? Food of course. It makes us happy and gives us something to do until, well, the next meal comes around.

As we are going into our fifth week of social distancing we are starting to get into a rhythm. We have virtual schooling, messaging and video calling friends, lots of outside time when the weather is favorable. Yet our meals have been mostly normal except our poor Cecelia had a nasty accident on the school playground right before schools were shut down…

It’s been a crazy few weeks with social distancing in full swing. Baking has helped ease some anxiety and put smiles on my family’s faces (and maybe a few pounds on their waistlines)

It’s done! It’s finally done! After what felt like an eternity our kitchen is 100% complete. From floors to ceiling everything has been removed, replaced, fixed, and positioned the way my dream kitchen was envisioned.

Man: Does this flavor have nuts in it?

Ice Cream Server: Is there an allergy?

M: Yes.

Yet another interesting quirk about our house has made itself known while the kitchen renovation is underway…

This is a phrase you never want to hear when you are doing any sort of renovation on your house. Since the start of our kitchen project it has been said four times already and it has only been a week!

We are back to the hustle and bustle of summer schedules instead of being pampered in paradise. Now that we are home there are a few things that we can agree that were good, bad or ugly about traveling with allergies and food intolerances.

The actual renovation is quickly approaching! This means we are in high anxiety mode. Not only do we have to pack up our existing kitchen but still have to live in a house without a working one for at least a few weeks.

We are quickly learning that nothing goes smooth when it comes to anything with our house. We should of known that a large project would be derailed at least three times before it even started.

We have taken the giant leap, and after scrimping and saving, have decided to renovate our kitchen! 

Growing up in a family of bakers meant there were always lots of yummy treats and desserts to be eaten and being Jewish meant there were some that only came out certain times of year. With Purim right around the corner hamantaschen are the staple dessert to be shared.