What a couple weeks! I have been remiss in posting here, but am trying to catch up a bit. We've been home, but barely, it feels like. It has just been incredibly busy. However, people still need to be fed, and we are still trucking along in our daily routines. I hope to have my weekly (not so much lately) craft on post ready by tomorrow, too. A frugality post is in the works, as well.

This week is the anniversary of what Rich and I count as our first date. We will have been together as a couple for 28 years this week. That is one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I am so grateful to share my life with this wonderful man. He has been such a good example to our kids, and a model of a husband. I can't wait for the rest of our lives together. We have been teaching a social dance class at the ballet studio where the girls go, and aside from being fun exercise that also permits us to teach other people, it has been a good mid-week decompress for us, because it is fun work, and we even get to dance with each other occasionally in class.

On the food score, we are inundated with apples, pears, squash, potatoes and tomatoes, and onions on the way. I think we have bought ourselves enough time with them, with how we are storing them, that I can put off canning and so on until next week, but we are eating a lot of them right now. Basically, at every meal, you are likely to see tomatoes, pears and/or apples. The potatoes will get used faster than you might think, we use almost 10 pounds of onions a week, and squash can be stored nearly forever. However, there will be canned pears, apple pie filling in the freezer, green tomato chutney, and possibly tomato sauce and pear sauce. We are so grateful for our gleaning club, as all of Rich's efforts in the garden were thwarted, and we had such a weird spring and summer here.

We picked up several muscovy ducks a couple weeks ago and are acclimating them to our property and animals, but are really excited about the eggs and meat we will have in a few months. Rich still has our other ducks to harvest, but they will make a few really good meals for us during this winter. I am looking forward to roast duck and cassoulet and other delicious things. Not to mention all the duck fat for onions and potatoes!

Since Jerome did so poorly with the bananas, we have given him a couple weeks off from testing back any new foods. He isn't starting anything new until next week. We are on the road toward the end now, though, and I think the rest of the foods should be fine. Because of the delay, he will still be testing food back after December, rather than being completely finished before the end of this year, but we thought it was important to give his skin and body a bit of a break.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Cottage Cheese and Sliced Cucumbers, Pears, Coffee and Tea
  Dinner: Pastitsio (Gluten-free for Jerome), Salad, Navy Beans with Sausage, Watermelon
• Monday
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs and Toast (Gluten-free for Jerome), Watermelon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Ham and Turkey Sandwiches/Wraps (Gluten-free for Jerome), Pickles, Sliced Apples and Pears
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Cottage Cheese Parfait with Diced Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chamorro Shrimp and Vegetable Fritters, Garlic Fried Rice, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Tomato Toast with Za’atar and Olive Oil (Grain-free Granola and Coconut Milk for Jerome), Pears, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Moroccan Chickpea Wraps (Gluten-free for Jerome), Sliced Oranges
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Edward the Confessor
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Chopped Apples and Brown Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Adobo Pork, Rice, Tomato Salad, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Potato Soup, Crackers (Gluten-free for Jerome), Pears
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Kids Make Breakfast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: One Pot Tandoori Chicken with Spiced Coconut Rice and Peas, Pears

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: Blog Info, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Romance and Relationship, Tales from the Kitchen