This is the first Sunday of Advent, the Church's New Year. It is a little Lent. Our family's meals will reflect this small fast with more meatless days during the week, no big desserts, candy, cookies or cakes save for Saint Barbara's and Saint Nicholas' feast days. It is a time of penitence, personal reflection and prayer. Much like people make resolutions at New Year's, this is a time to take stock of one's soul and see what needs improvement.

Our menu this week shows some use of leftovers from Thanksgiving still (we've had them stored at freezing temperatures). I'm still trying to use things from our pantry and freezer and minimize our trips to the grocery store. We are making room for a whole steer that will be slaughtered and butchered later this month.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Leftover Strata, Gingerbread, Satsumas, Milk
  Dinner: Leftover Cream of Onion Soup, with Chives & Crackers


• Monday
  Breakfast: Toasted Bagels with Cream Cheese, Satsumas, Blackberry Tea with Honey
  Dinner: After Thanksgiving Soup, Sweet Potato Rolls


• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Baked French Toast, Milk, Coffee
  Dinner: Leftover Casserole


• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Milk, Cafe au Lait
  Dinner: Baked Potatoes with Broccoli Cheese Sauce, Satsumas


• Thursday Feast of St. Barbara (the traditional dress up and go door to door Christian holiday, actually)
  Breakfast: Cracked Wheat Cereal with Milk and Honey, Mint Tea
  Dinner: Spicy Beef and Garbanzo Beans, Cracked Wheat Pilaf, Slow Sauteed Green Beans*, Saffron Buns*


• Friday
  Breakfast: Cheese and Scallion Omelets, Whole Wheat Toast, Milk, Coffee
  Dinner: Mejeddarah, Crisp Onions, Yogurt


• Saturday
  Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Pancakes, Milk, Coffee
  Dinner: Creamed Eggs, Salad with Bleu Cheese Dressing*, Garlic Toast

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

Here is the list of foods from the freezer, fridge and pantry that I'm using this week. Anything from the freezer, pantry or fridge that was not bought specifically for this meal or this past week will be included in my lists.

Freezer:
Ground Beef
Saffron
Green Beans
Sprouted Wheat Bagels


Fridge:
Eggs
Butter
Milk (& Cream from the Top)
Parmesan
Cheddar
Cream Cheese
Gorgonzola
Homemade Mayonnaise
Yogurt
Lemons
Chives
Celery
Scallions
Leftover Strata
Leftover Cream of Onion Soup
Turkey Stock
Wild Rice Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Shredded Brussels Sprouts
Sweet Potato Roll Dough
Pureed Pumpkin


Pantry:
All Herbs & Spices
Salts
Potatoes
Onions
Garlic
Olive Oil
Basmati Rice
Hard White Wheat Berries
Soft White Wheat Berries
Steel Cut Oats
Cracked Wheat
Garbanzo Beans
Lentils
Pastry Flour
White Bread Flour
Yeast
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Coffee
Tea
Vanilla Extract
All Sugars
Honey
Golden Raisins
Apricot Preserves
Gingerbread
Satsumas
Crackers
Tomato Sauce

Labels: Advent, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen