I never got a chance to make the lamb this weekend, as the meat was still frozen solid after two days in the fridge. So, we're having it this week, for the Annunciation, which is also Elijah's birthday. Since it is a major feast day in the Church year, the fast is broken (except when it falls during the Triduum, as it has in the past on Good Friday or Holy Saturday).

We have been very busy with starting seeds, preparing the garden plot and the herb beds up near the house. I think we have a plan on how to do the childrens' plants. We will give them each a large planter which they can fill with a gourd or zucchini plant with a trellis, some lettuce, baby carrots (the real thing, not those shaven suppositories), maybe a Thai melon (it was a freebie seed packet from last year's orders) if there is room, also on a trellis. These will be their plots to plant, tend, weed and harvest. We have several really large planters, but I don't know if we have enough for all of them. Jerome will obviously need more help than the older children. I'd like to give them some bean seeds to grow as well, but I don't know if there will be room with all the other things in there. I may just give them a choice between the plants, including the beans and then plant what can fit in their "plot."

There is still lots to do to make our herb beds into raised beds. We don't have a whole lot of time in which to do it, either. Press on we shall, however, because we've had a devil of a time trying to keep the beds weeded, the chickens out of them and the plants getting enough sun. Unfortunately, only one of the two beds gets sun, and we've had terrible luck in the second. We are hoping that by raising it a bit, it will bring everything a little more out of the shadows, keep the grass from overrunning it so we have a chance to grow even lettuce or garlic in it.

We have a very social weekend coming up so I have a short week for meal planning. We will be visiting with some dear friends east of the mountains (we'll finally be giving them their Christmas presents, too!), so our dinners will be taken care of by them. Arthur is a fabulous cook, so I really look forward to our meals there. We won't be running on as tight a schedule as we often are when we visit them, so it should be a nice, relaxing visit. We will also have Elijah's birthday party there, with a huge surprise that he will never believe and be so excited!!! I have another sewing project I'd like to get finished for that party as well, I don't know if it will happen. Even if it doesn't, the surprise will take his breath away and he will not notice if we don't do anything else for his birthday.

• Monday: Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread


• Tuesday: Blackened Chicken Salad (with half the honey and pepper jack instead of mozzarella), Garlic Bread


• Wednesday: Garlic-Herb Roasted Lamb with Red Wine Pan Sauce, Rice Pilaf, Herbed Peas, The Best Birthday Cake Ever (it is the feast of the Annunciation as well as Elijah's birthday)


• Thursday: Blue & Gold Dinner (I had the date wrong last week - we had nachos)


• Friday: Dinner with Friends


• Saturday: Dinner with Friends


• Sunday: Dinner with Friends

If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can.
What is on your menu this week?

Here are my Fridge and Pantry Clean Out lists. Again, these are only for dinners and will not include anything bought specifically for the meals or within the last week.

Freezer:
Chicken
Peppers
Peas
Spinach
Italian Sausage
Lamb
Ricotta


Fridge:
Lettuce
Celery
Parsley
Carrots
Butter
Parmesan
Cheddar
Pepper Jack
Yeast
Lime Juice

Pantry:
All Dried Herbs
All Spices
Salt
Rice
Onions
Garlic
Flour
Sugar
Olive Oil
Plum Tomatoes
Chicken Broth
Soy Sauce
Vinegar
Mustard
Honey
Worcestershire Sauce
Red Wine

Fresh Basil from a Pot
Fresh Thyme from the Herb Garden
Fresh Rosemary from the Herb Garden
Fresh Thyme from the Herb Garden
Fresh Mint from the Herb Garden

Labels: Annunciation, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, Lent, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen