We are in our last week of Advent. Our waiting will be coming to an end soon. We wait with hope both for the Nativity of the Lord and for His return and the resurrection of the body. I have never waited with such expectation and eagerness for the resurrection. I know that my Redeemer lives and that not only will I see Him in the last day, but that like the Maccabbean mother, I will receive my dead. Rich plans to remove his mourning for the Christmas Eve mass. I am trying to work myself up to wearing colors again myself. I'm fortunate in that white is an appropriate color for feasts of the Incarnation.

One of the things I am finding more difficult to do lately is plan interesting meals or find the motivation to cook or eat. We're still hanging in there, and I'm still doing it, but it's hard. It has been kind of fortunate for me that we're in a fasting time. It allows me to grieve even in my eating and not to feel that I must be celebrating all the time.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Dirty Eggs, Satsumas, Milk
  Dinner: : Italian Beef with Cabbage, Potato and Onion Hash


• Monday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins and Cinnamon Sugar, Satsumas, Milk
  Dinner: Caesar Salad Topped with Leftover Beef, Rolls and Roasted Potatoes


• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Toast, Satsumas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Baked Potatoes and Chili


• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Greek Salad with Dolmades, Feta Cheese and Kalamata Olives, Pomegranates


• Thursday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Dried Cranberries and Cranberry Syrup, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Lamb and Tomato Stew, Herbed Cous Cous


• Friday
  Breakfast: Hard Boiled Eggs, Toast, Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Vegetarian Ranchero Beans, Rice


• Saturday - Christmas Eve
  Breakfast: English Muffin Breakfast Sandwiches with Fried Eggs and Cheese, Hash Browns
  Dinner: Creamy Potato Soup, Rolls

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up on Saturday.

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