It has been a long time since I posted, I know. Life got a bit crazy, and it was easier to focus on our schooling and home life. Things are still pretty hectic, but I'm trying to get a little more on top of it now. With the older two boys doing dialectical level work, our school schedule is much more intense and their work level is much more demanding. Which means more prep and grading and work for me. So, between that and co-op and trying to keep up with their extra curricular activities and church and just normal family life (not to mention trying to get anything worked on in the house), I haven't had much time for posting.

In January, a friend told us about a produce co-op and we've been getting two boxes of organic produce each week for the family through that. It has come in handy now that we are in Lent, especially. It has also stretched my creativity to make our meals around what we get, rather than what we pick at the store. In a way, I did that already, shopping on sale and in season, but I still made the choices myself. We've tried some things we normally don't or wouldn't this way, and we have gotten to eat more of some things that were relatively rare treats for us, as well. The price is very reasonable for the quantity of organic produce we're getting, in fact, it might even be less than we were paying for conventional in the same quantities. Since we have started getting our weekly boxes, I haven't had to buy much in the way of produce at the store, a few herbs, a little in the way of citrus and onions have basically been it.

I have had a tiny bit more time for knitting, so I will try to post some photos of what I've made and am working on now. I may be able to post some recipes from our Mardi Gras doughnut party as well. I think I have a few other recipes I was supposed to post and will try to get to those during Lent. I forgot to mention that Alexander's name day is this week. We will be doing some fun things for that on Tuesday.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Sausage and Potato Hash, Oranges, Milk & Coffee
  Dinner: Coconut Chicken Adobo, Garlic Rice, Stir Fried Broccoli, Garlic and Onions
• Monday
  Breakfast: Blueberry Oatmeal Smoothies, Kiwi, Toast, Coffee
  Dinner: Layered Bean, Cheese and Rice Tortilla Casserole with Salsa and Guacamole
• Tuesday - Feast of Alexander of Alexandria
  Breakfast: Rice Pudding with Cranberries and Coconut, Milk & Coffee
  Dinner: Arugula and Shallot Tart, Roasted Butternut, Fennel, Potatoes and Onions
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash, Oranges, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Falafel Loaf, Hummus, Taratoor, Pita, Salad, Olives
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Cinnamon Sugar, Milk & Coffee
  Dinner: Grandma Pizza, Red Potato Salad
• Friday
  Breakfast: Almond Butter Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Make Ahead Dal, Rice, Salad
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Ful, Green Hot Sauce, Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Ricotta Spinach Roll with Marinara Dipping Sauce, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli and Cauliflower

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: Church Year, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Lent, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen