We are in the countdown to Lent again! Lent is later again this year, but even so, that image up there does feel accurate. In just over two weeks, we will be having our Mardi Gras doughnut night. We don't have to do anything special for Jerome this year! Unless someone makes a lima bean flour and banana dish, that is.

Even though the fasting is challenging, I think everyone is looking forward to the spiritual training. Jerome actually said that since they grew up doing it, for him it just feels normal. It forces him to think about his food and God. This is why it always takes me by surprise that there are Christians who don't even keep the Friday fast, let alone the Wednesday one, or do any fasting for Lent or Advent, not because we don't understand that they don't, but because it makes you look at each bite you eat, every meal you plan as part of your worship of God.

We commemorate the betrayal of Judas and our Lord's crucifixion, in fasting each week. We prepare for His birth and coming again, and His resurrection, in fasting and prayer and almsgiving. It seems like people are missing out on this when they don't participate in that. Our every bite is shaped by our faith, our days and weeks and seasons are shaped by the life of Christ. We are so glad to have grown into this practice- even when it is hard, maybe especially when it is hard. When it is hard, we are reminded that we need God for everything. Even to ward off the desire for a cheeseburger. We fast because it is so easy to forget how much we need God. We fast because Christ indentified with the poor, and so should we. We fast, because it allows us to learn to conquer our appetites, and all sin is disordered appetite. We fast so we remember to pray. We fast because Christ Himself told us how to do it when we do it, not if we do it. We fast because we want to be more like Him, who fasted for 40 days and nights. For all these reasons and more, I encourage you to take a step toward this practice, if you can. Do it for these reasons. Pray and ask God to help and strengthen you. He will show you your weakness, and give you His strength. May God bless us all. Please pray for me.

Since we are still in the countdown to Lent, we are eating up a lot of meat from our freezers. In fact, almost all of our food except for fresh produce and dairy, and restocking things we have run out of, is coming from our freezers and fridges and pantries. We plan on butchering the ducks early during Lent, and want room in the freezer for them. Did I tell you that my Valentine's gift is American Buff geese and more Bourbon Red turkeys? We will also be butchering our older turkeys, and preparing them in pieces for our freezer for later meals, but that will have to happen after the ducks. We are eating up a lot of egg and dairy right now, too, since those will be off the table for quite a while.

Our Misfits Markets came without any trouble this week. Part of that was probably that the FedEx driver remembered the last experience, but if I have reason to order from them again, I think I can do so with a feeling of relative confidence now. Our homeschool co-op begins this week, which is fun, but also loads of work and exhausting. Please pray that I will have strength.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Agatha
  Breakfast: Mustard Savory Cheese Rolls, Blackberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken and Andouille Gumbo, Rice, Scallions, Hot Pepper Vinegar, Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Fresh Cranberry Cake with Butter Sauce
• Monday - Feast of Saint Titus
  Breakfast: Wheateena with Maple Syrup and Milk, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Fajitas, "Mexican" Rice Pilaf, Ranchero Beans, Pineapple Cups
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Farmer Breakfast Casserole, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Fatayir bil Joubneh, Fatayir bi Sabanich, (Jerome's Sambousak from the freezer - I froze some from the Paschal feast so he could have them freshly fried), S'feeha, Mutawam Kousa, Pickled Vegetable and Olive Platter, Rosewater Almond Tea Cookies*
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash Burritos with Salsa, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Thai Cashew Coconut Rice with Ginger Peanut Sauce, Pineapple Cups
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Brown Sugar, Apples and Raisins, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Chipotle Rubbed Flank Steak, Spicy Swiss Chard and Potatoes, Corn with Black Beans, Poblano Peppers and Onions, Fruit Plate
• Friday - Feast of Saint Scholastica
  Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Rice Noodle Stir Fry, Salad with Sesame Citrus Dressing, Sliced Oranges
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Pancakes with Raspberry Syrup, Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Red Pork Tamal, Ranchero Beans, Roasted Salsa Rice, Christmas Cherry Nut Cake

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: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Septuagesima, Tales from the Kitchen