Jerome's new ad for LaCroix: Less disappointing than the orange flavor.

This is really our only week of semi-ordinary meals for the next year. This week, we are not bothering with any of Jerome's dietary restrictions, and are only keeping a mild abstinence for Wednesday and Friday. The year of restrictions and testing begins next week. We are recreating some of our Paschal feast for Jerome tomorrow, just because he didn't get to have it in its entirety on the actual day. I'm also making a mini-Thanksgiving dinner Saturday, since he will have introduced only one food completely and will begin to introduce only one other by then and will have to have a modified and restricted Thanksgiving this year. Many of the meals this week include either ingredients he loves and won't be able to have after this for a long time, or dishes/items he especially missed when we had them and he couldn't during his 60 days of the last restriction.

I am mourning this with Jerome, both for his sake, but also for all the easier for me to plan and make meals that I won't be able to use for our dinners. Especially as I think of things the family would love to eat, but then realize that it will be six months to a year and a half before it can be a general meal. I am planning a few extra special lunches this week for that reason, too (including some gruyère stuffed rolls and za'atar rolls). Just to give you a sense of what is being excised, he cannot have any 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 - which we have at least!), cocoa bean/chocolate, oysters (which we eat only rarely), bananas, pineapple, canola (which we usually avoid, anyway), lima beans (ditto - he had a reaction to these some years back, and we just don't eat them now), chestnuts and macadamia nuts. He does get rice and corn back, moderate sugars/sweeteners (which is how we eat in general), dried fruit, no limitations on root vegetables, and all vinegars. Because we are out of Lent and Advent, for now, this means he can have almost all seafood and meat (with the exception of the oysters) on all days except Wednesdays and Fridays, also. It's a good thing we attempted to observe Lent closer to the strictest rules, as that has prepared me for cooking without dairy and egg for him, and will make our Advent observance simpler to plan this year.

Please pray for him, for his healing, and for us as we walk this road with him. We are still in the Paschal season (through the Ascension or Pentecost, depending on how you count it), and we are keeping that in mind. Christ is risen!

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Sirnica and Italian Bacon and Romano Pasqua Bread, Oranges, Sahlab*, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pizza, Salad, Ice Cream
• Monday - Feast of Saint Alphege
  Breakfast: Cereal and Milk, Sliced Bananas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Herb Roasted Green Lamb, Khoubz Araby, Waraq 'Ounab and Kofta, Frozen Treats from our Paschal feast for Jerome, H'alawa*, Orange Glazed Cookies, Gatayif, Jordanian Baq'lawa (from the Grocery Outlet!)
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuits, Bananas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Lasagna with the Best Meat Sauce Ever, Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Cheesy Olive and Herb Bread, Rice Krispie Treats*
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Anselm
  Breakfast: Dutch Baby Pancake with Butter, Lemon and Powdered Sugar, Strawberries, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Falafel, Tamis, Taratoor, Duqqus, Sliced Vegetables, Kalamata Olives, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Baked Gatayif, Leftovers, Strawberries and Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Barbecue Beef Brisket Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Frozen Fruit Salad, Strawberry Lemonade Bars
• Friday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Kusheri, Harissa, Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Proscuitto and Gruyère Scones with Scallions, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Herb Roasted Turkey, Bourbon Gravy, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Rolls and Butter, Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Onions with Bacon and Gruyère, Pumpkin Pie with Chantilly Cream

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