Happy New Year! This is the week of the first Sunday of Advent in the West. It is a little Lent, though with a family full of children, we don't keep it as strictly. Our menus this week will reflect the abstinence of the season, but we also have two small feasts this week: Saint Barbara and Saint Nicholas. We will be eating some foods which are traditional for those feasts and having a little celebration as a family. Our stockings will go up on Friday night in anticipation of Saint Nicholas' arrival Saturday morning!

Thanksgiving was lovely. It was the first year since losing Rayan that I managed to make every single dish for the day - and they all even were served that same day! It was so good to have our friends over and share a good meal and gratitude. I am, in fact, sick after our excruciating Nutcracker schedule right after Thanksgiving. Dress rehearsal went from 3:30 to after 10:00 on Friday. Then the two shows that were pretty close together. So, I'm trying to get well as quickly as possible.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Leftover Desserts, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Hors-d'Ouevres and Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream
• Monday
  Breakfast: Thanksgiving Egg Burritos, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftover Casserole, Salad, Bread, Pineapple
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Leftover Blintz Casserole with Sour Cream and Strawberry Preserves, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Fancy Hot Dogs, Egg Noodles, Steamed Peas Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Sliced Pears and Apples
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Ful, Hot Sauce, Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea
  Dinner: Borani Kadoo (using vegetable broth), Slow Sautéed Green Beans, Jasmine Rice, Sliced Pears and Apples
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Barbara
  Breakfast: Slow Cooker Rice Pudding with Craisins and Pears, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, Qamhiyeh for St. Barbara's Day, Saffron Buns for St. Barbara's Day
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea
  Dinner: Vegetarian Black Beans, Rice, Fruit Plate
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Nicholas
  Breakfast: Crock Pot Egg Casserole, Oranges, Apples, Pomegranates, Initial Cookies for St. Nicholas' Day, Hot Chocolate and Coffee
  Dinner: Crab and Corn Chowder, Sweet Potato Rolls, Saint Nicholas Candy

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, St. Barbara, St. Nicholas, Tales from the Kitchen