This is your weekly reminder that Christmas isn't over yet! We have another two weeks of it!

Today is Madelyn's actual due date, and since they couldn't have the original baby shower date, as she was born the week before, it was moved to today, in between morning and afternoon services, so everyone could attend. Big brunch with loads of food and fun and folks who love their family. Rich was kind of on his own with the rest of the kids at home (the girls came with me) and made a manly man breakfast while we ate quiches, fancy lady salads, fruit plates, mixed nuts, smoked salmon, meat and cheese platters, fruit platters with sour cream fruit dip*, carrot cake muffins, cinnamon rolls, Prosecco, and sherbet punch. It was a good party with beautiful weather and lots of friends and family to share in the joy.

Because of the busy weekend and morning, our church family has generously put together the dinner for after church tonight, which is such a huge gift. We always appreciate their sharing and cooking for us, as it allows me a little rest on Sundays.

We have loads of saints' days this week. Monday includes Saint Sebastian who was famously "grilled" over a live fire by Diocletian and told his torturers to turn him over, because that side was done. Rich once had us make little kofta "men" in honor of him and we grilled them. This is kind of like his suggestion to make skinless hot dogs for the feast of the Circumcision of Christ. He has an interesting sense of humor.

With a holiday tomorrow, Rich gets to stay home and do projects he wants to work on and we get to sleep in, which is fantastic because our whole weekend was rather busy and exhausting. The kids still have some make up school work to do, but mostly it's a relaxing day. We will listen to some of the more obscure (but better, in my opinion) speeches from Martin Luther King Junior, and read and rest. My prayer for you is that you get to rest this week also.

• Sunday - Second Sunday after the Epiphany and Theophany of Our Lord
  Breakfast: Farmer Breakfast Casserole, Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pot Roast with Carrots and Onions, Gravy, Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Beef and Beans, brought by Parish, Plus Leftover Salads, Carrot Cake Muffins, Fruit and Cheese and Crackers from the Shower.
• Monday - Feast of Saints Fabian, Pope, and Sebastian
  Breakfast: Quiche Lorraine and Zucchini, Shallot and Cheese Quiche, Cinnamon Rolls (both ways), Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Cream of Poblano Soup, Fried Tortilla Strips and Crema, Salad with Smoked Salmon and Lime Vinaigrette, Mandarin Oranges
• Tuesday - Feast of Saint Agnes of Rome
  Breakfast: Cottage Cheese, Olives, Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Spaghetti with Italian Meat Sauce, Garlic Bread, Faux de Crèmes
• Wednesday - Feast of Saints Vincent and Anastasius
  Breakfast: Steel Cut Oats with Chopped Apples, Raisins, Brown Sugar and Cinnamon, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Spiced Samosa Patties, Basmati Rice, Green Salad with Pomegranate Pips
• Thursday -
  Breakfast: Yogurt and Jam, Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Street Corn Nachos with Chorizo, Brown Butter Ginger Chews
• Friday - Feast of Saint Timothy
  Breakfast: Ful, Sah'awiq, Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Thai Cashew Coconut Rice Salad, Sliced Oranges
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches (GF for Jerome), Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Carnitas, Refried Beans, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Corn Tortillas, Limoncello Zabaglione

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: Christmas, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Nativity, Tales from the Kitchen