Saints Perpetua and Felicity are two of my favorite saints. They were a married noblewoman and her servant who were brought to be executed for their faith. Felicity was pregnant and delivered while in prison. The image of her bleeding, recently delivered body being set against wild beasts in the arena was too much even for the Romans, who were so used to this kind of violence as entertainment, and seeing them martyred in this way was the beginning of the end for this kind of execution in Rome.

This week is the opening of birthday season in our home. Amira is trying to plan a covid friendly birthday party outdoors. Thank God the weather has been warming up so it is even possible. She has had snow on her birthday here in previous years. She has been hard at work cleaning and putting together the gazebo we got for me several years ago that the wind blew over like a sail and damaged a bit. On her actual birthday, we are making a Lenten cake so the family can share in it, but we always let birthday kids break the fast if they wish on their birthdays. We will see what she chooses now that she is older. I don't think she chose to last year or even the year before. She might go for some dairy this year, though, I might if I had that option right now.

Anyway, we had a rough week last week, and I am hoping this week is much calmer with little excitement besides the birthday. Nejat was so excited to pick out a special present for Amira, and she made her a present and a card, as well. I love how our children love each other. Please pray for peace around us.

• Sunday - Saints Perpetua and Felicity
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam/Fruit, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Potato Crusted Vegetable and Cheese Quiche, Garlic Bread, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit Plate
• Monday
  Breakfast: Avocado Toast with Shallot Salt (Yogurt and Fruit for younger kids), Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Domatokeftedes (made with chickpea flour and tapioca starch), Taratoor, Sah'awiq, Cucumber and Onion Salad with Parsley and Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday - Saint Gregory of Nyssa
  Breakfast: Scrambled Garbanzo Beans with Roasted Red Peppers, Toast, Sliced Cucumbers, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Croatian Sataraš with Pasta (Butternut Squash "Pasta" for Jerome), Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Lenten Pancakes (Cottage Cheese and Fruit for Jerome), Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Marinated Roasted Vegetable Lettuce Wraps, Lentil and Herb Salad, Lenten Chocolate Cake with Coconut Chocolate Frosting (Faux Pots de Crème for Jerome, made with unsweetened chocolate and monkfruit sugar)
• Thursday - Saint Gregory the Great
  Breakfast: Overnight Oats with Coconut Cream, Blueberries and Honey (Peanut Butter Yogurt and Fruit Smoothie for Jerome), Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Shredded Potato and Cabbage Stir Fry, Rice (Cauliflower Rice for Jerome), Sliced Oranges
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast with Honey, Sliced Apples (or Sliced Apples spread with Peanut Butter), Tea and Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Baked Potatoes with Faux Cheese Sauce with Steamed Vegetables, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Ful, Sah'awiq, Toast (no toast for Jerome), Kalamata Olives, Sliced Apples, Mint Tea with Honey or Coffee
  Dinner: Shrimp and Okra Gumbo (made with tapioca starch) with Rice (Cauliflower Rice for Jerome), Chopped Scallions, and Hot Pepper Vinegar, Sliced Oranges

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. Linking to Menu Plan Monday

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Lent, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen