We just got home (less than 24 hours ago) from a fantabulous family vacation. We were able to visit with some good friends, stay at some lovely hotels, eat amazing food, go to Legoland, take over a cooking friend's home, enjoy the sunshine and the beach and the ocean, attend church at a cathedral in our communion, commune with our brothers and sisters and visit with friends there, and then returned home after almost 11 days to the frozen north and snow and ice. Nejat has told us numerous times today that she wants to move to California because there is no snow there.

Glory to God, we did not return to a flooded basement! So, even though we hadn't planned on doing our doughnut night this year, since Shrove Tuesday was only a day after our return, we are going to throw it together, anyway. I'm not sure who will be able to make it, but our kids were rather disappointed to hear that I was skipping it this year.

Lent is upon us, and even though we follow the Western calendar, I am pleased that it coincides with the East this year. May both lungs of the Church be united in our lifetime. If you want a refresher on the Lenten fast, it is a Trinity of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. We find it better to fast with the Church than to come up with something to give up specifically, though we have done that as well as the fast. Since we have small children, we are not as strict about the fast as we might be otherwise, we still eat dairy and egg, and occasionally fish, and we eat meat on Sundays. Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday are strict fasts, for at least 24 hours, but we have younger children who may only participate for one or two meals or none at all (in the case of Nejat, for instance), so I still plan meals for those days. We try to keep the stricter rules for Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent, but sometimes cannot do so. However, if you are looking for menu help and meal ideas for Lent, I do post meals and recipes that are meat free.

As we prepare for Lent, we must prepare for self-examination, in that frame of mind, if I have offended you or wronged you in any way, please forgive me and pray for me, a sinner. Have a blessed fast.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Cereal, Bananas, Cocoa and Coffee
  Dinner: Pizza at the Airport
• Monday
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Butter and Blueberry Lemon Preserves, Fried Ham, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Mexican Spiced Beef and Vegetables with Salsa Rice
• Tuesday - Mardi Gras
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Crock Pot Jambalaya with Shrimp and Andouille Sausage, Rice, Hot Pepper Vinegar, Yeasted Potato Doughnuts with Lemon Glaze, Apple Fritters with Cinnamon Glaze*
• Wednesday - Ash Wednesday
  Breakfast: Almond Butter Toast, Tangerines, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Besan Chila, Harissa, Cabbage Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Indian Dal Makhani, Garlic Rice, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Honey Almond Butter Toast, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Garbanzo Bean Tomato Soup with Orzo, French Bread, Fruit
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Cherry Almond Granola with Yogurt and Honey, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Potato Kibbeh, Steam Sauteed Vegetables, Fruit Plate

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.

Labels: Ash Wednesday, Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Lent, Mardi Gras, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen