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I could not decide between this ancient icon and a more modern one, so I have included both. That this is Eastern and the other Western makes it even better. The other is at the bottom of the menu plan.

I was reflecting on the fact that while East and West are still separated, this week, our commemorations are similar. It is Palm Sunday and Holy Week for the East. It is the Sunday of the Good Shepherd in the West. In both, He is shown to us as laying down His life for us. That is my meditation this week.

My special lunches for the week didn't really work out because we had so much food leftover from each meal. We really were working to eat up the leftovers for lunches and so on, and didn't have the opportunity for special lunches as well. I even had to skip one dinner, one side dish, and one of the desserts simply because we had so many left over from other meals. We have been eating like it is a holiday almost every day now. Today, though, we begin a fast of sorts. We have made sure to keep part of the kitchen "clean" and absent the ingredients that Jerome cannot have (wheat, gluten, gliadin - including barley, rye, spelt, etc. - oats, sesame, lentils, peas, soy of any kind - including soy sauce/tamari sauce, tofu, fermented soy - coriander/cilantro, eggs - of any kind - dairy - of any kind, except ghee - cocoa bean/chocolate, oysters, bananas, pineapple, canola, lima beans, chestnuts and macadamia nuts), and are trying to plan dinners and most shared meals as things that are either entirely safe for him or have a component for which we can choose an alternative easily like we did last time. This time is just far more extensive and long term.

There was only one food that had to be re-introduced at a specific time, and only one that the doctor thought might be a permanent loss (along with the lima beans and canola, which we have avoided for years) and that is one he doesn't love, so for the rest I asked him which were his priorities to decide what order to return them. Some of that was expediency or convenience, he wanted to be able to eat chocolate at Christmas, and I wanted to make sure that foods we use a lot of during Lent would be more available to him. It will be October of next year before he has all of the foods back. Thank God for the Grocery Outlet! I was able to buy some good substitutes (not made of fake or overly processed foods) for a good price, and have them for him. Also, the weather is getting warmer and more fresh produce is becoming available to use locally, so that will make some of our meal planning simpler. A friend gave me a good recipe for gluten-free bread, and I will be trying my hand at it this week so Jerome can eat bread, at least - most of the ones I found online or in stores either included egg or pea protein or canola or sesame. Please pray for Jerome, for his healing, and for us as we walk this road with him. Christ is risen!

• Sunday - Sunday of the Good Shepherd and the Feast of Saint Mark
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Scrambled Chickpeas, Sausage Patties, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Persian Chicken with Jeweled Rice, Arabic Candies and Sweets (Blackberries and Raspberries for Jerome)
• Monday
  Breakfast: Sausage, Potato and Vegetable Hash Burritos (Blue Corn for Jerome), Berries and Cream (Coconut Cream for Jerome), Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Souvlaki, Grilled Vegetable Skewers, Arabic Style Rice Pilaf (without the Vermicelli, and using Olive Oil), Fruit Plate
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Yogurt with Jam (Strawberry Coconut Yogurt for Jerome), Toast (Gluten-free toast for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Not Texas Chili, Tortilla Chips, Chopped Onion, Tomato, Avocado, Cilantro (not for Jerome), Fruit
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Potato Pancakes with Avocado Lime Mash, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Cajun Spiced White Fish with Peppers and Tomatoes, English Muffin Bread (Gluten-free Texas Toast for Jerome), Fruit Salad
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Moroccan Style Sweet Potato and Chard Skillet, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Thai Peanut Chicken, Jasmine Rice, Mandarin Oranges
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Vegetarian Ranchero Beans, Rice, Fruit Plate
• Saturday - Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
  Breakfast: Waffles with Maple Syrup (Gluten-free Waffles for Jerome), Sausages, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Greek Style Chicken over Rice, Sautéed Peppers and Onions, 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 on Saturday. Linking to Menu Plan Monday

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesah', Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Pascha, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen