By Charlotte “Blu” Berman

A

s the worldwide pandemic came to almost every city and town in the nation, I – an older woman living in an independent living facility in Rockville, Maryland – realized that we’d be quite the target that every news personality was talking about.

To pass the time of day, I now avoid any news programs, or “breaking news” interruptions. I now watch cooking shows hosted by famous and not-so-famous cooks. Today, for instance,

Martha Stewart taught me how to make veal schnitzel, how to prepare a whole fish, and how to make my favorite dish, liver and onions. And she makes it look so very easy. Lidia, an Italian restauranteur and cook extraordinaire, showed me how to serve a beautiful fresh fruit dessert, topped with light ricotta cheese. 

This afternoon, I visited the kitchen of a New Orleans chef, who made my mouth water as he showed us how to make a New Orleans rub for baby back ribs. Oh goodness, I could almost taste the deliciousness there in my armchair in the middle of my small living room.

If it’s sunny outside, I steal an hour or two sitting six feet away from the nearest person, trying to “catch some rays.”

I used to never miss watching Rachel Maddow, but she has become so involved with the details of the pandemic, that I have switched to Rachel Rae and her cooking show.

The days go by quickly. I pray they go by with the health emergency slowing down, and things getting better every day.

One thing I know. When things are back to normal, I will certainly be ready to open my little eatery, with all I learned on the cooking shows. I think I’ll call it…”Blu’s Yummery.”

Former West Hartford resident Charlotte Berman now lives in Rockville, Md.

Main Photo: Blu Berman at home, where she is using her quarantined time perfecting her cooking skills.