Please accept my apologies for my multiple week absence. Dominic came home from work with some serious illness and, while I had it easier than everyone else at first, my arrogance caught me, and they all got better and I got far, far worse. The silver lining is that I have lost about 20 pounds. I wouldn't recommend this method of weight loss, however. Please pray for my continual healing, and that we are spared serious illness through the rest of the winter.

Because I am still a little weak and get tired easily, we are cutting back a little on our Thanksgiving feast. Other people are bringing things and I have dropped about three or four things that we normally would have. Rich and the kids are doing the bulk of the cleaning and cooking, with my direction. A friend from my Bible study group offered to help cook some of it, too. We are blessed. We are making as many of the dishes safe for Jerome as we can, and a few with alternatives for him, but he is going to have to miss some of the feast. Also, Jerome gets to have eggs like a normal human being now, as he had no ill effects from reintroducing it over the past month, and he gets to start having chocolate introduced, which means he can have chocolate in his Saint Nicholas stocking! Glory to God!

It is also Nutcracker this weekend, so pray that my strength holds up for that. I help the girls with steaming their costumes and doing their makeup, and I usually end up sick on performance weekends. I am seeking assistance this time

• Sunday - Feasts of Christ the King and the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
  Breakfast: Egg and Cheese Croissants (Gluten-free Wraps for Jerome), Bananas (Apples for Jerome), Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Wine Braised Cross Rib Roast, Cumin Roasted Carrots, Baked Potatoes, Herbed Bread
• Monday
  Breakfast: Cheese Croissants (Gluten-free and dairy-free for Jerome), Bananas (Apples for Jerome), Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Ham Sandwiches, Pickles, Veggie Sticks, Fruit
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Clement of Rome
  Breakfast: Zucchini Bread (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Cream Cheese (Dairy-free for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Garlic Shrimp in Coconut Milk and Tomatoes, Rice, Fruit
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome) with Peach Butter, Sliced Apples, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Fried Fish Fillets, Baked Potatoes, Steam Sautéed Carrots
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
  Breakfast: Farmer Casserole, (Scrambled Eggs and Sausage for Jerome), Mandarin Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Herb Roasted Turkey, Bourbon Gravy (Some Gluten-free), Garlic Mashed Potatoes (made dairy-free), Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Sweet Potato Rolls (1 batch Gluten-free), Shredded Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pecans, Wild Rice Dressing, Roasted Vegetables, Pumpkin Pies (1 Gluten-Free), Cranberry Cherry Pies, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie, Apple Pies, Pear Pies, Apple-Pear Gluten-Free Pie, Quince Pies, Nantucket Cranberry Pie
• Friday
  Breakfast: Pie, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Turkey Sandwiches with Chipotle Mayonnaise and Celery Seed Dressing, Sliced Fruit
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Pie, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers

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.

Labels: All Saints, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Special Diet, Tales from the Kitchen, Thanksgiving