It is the end of the Christmas season now. We are taking our tree down either Sunday or Monday. Everyone is back home all week this week, but we are all running in a million directions. Alexander is one full day set of tests away from being able to apply for his first aviation mechanic's job, so he is doing a lot of studying, Dominic is getting ready to transfer from the community college to a university, and everyone else is working on schoolwork, ballet, and life. Jerome has been spending a lot of time helping me cook, as he says that he wants to be good at cooking as an adult. Right now, Yasmina is making fancy pancakes with Rich while I get the menu planning and other organizational tasks finished for our week. I try to make Friday my prep day, but I'm often exhausted from our day and put it off until Saturdays.

As Sunday is the feast of the Presentation, we will be lighting up our candles and eating sweets and singing a last round of Christmas carols. Will you be having your candles blessed?

• Sunday - Feasts of the Purification of the Virgin Mary and Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Sausage Patties, Toast, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chili with Chopped Onion, Cilantro, Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream and Tortilla Chips, Cookies
• Monday - Feast of Saint Blaise
  Breakfast: Breakfast Spaghetti with Coconut, Cinnamon and Craisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chili Pie with Leftover Chili and a Cornbread Crust
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Cornelius
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Chopped Apples and Cinnamon Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken with Coconut Lime Peanut Sauce, Rice, Oranges
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Agatha
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast with Honey, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Thai Red Vegetable Curry with Cashews, Rice Noodles
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Titus
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Sausage and Mixed Vegetable Tater Tot Casserole, Fruit
• Friday
  Breakfast: Avocado Toast, Bananas, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Shorbat 'Addas (Arabic Lentil Soup)*, Tamis*
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Persian Meatballs, Arab Style Rice Pilaf*, Carrot Salad with Harissa

What is on your menu this week? I hope these breakfast and dinner ideas help you make plans, too. 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, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen