Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

In the Antiochian Church, there is no fasting for all the Paschal season, not just the Octave. Our priest here has said, that though he would never tell anyone that he must keep the Wednesday and Friday fasts during the Paschal season, as the Bishop has spoken on this, and he would never go against the Bishop, that the people in the Middle East suffer much more than we in the west, and need more relief than we do, so he still keeps those fasts. So, as a way of still celebrating as we are permitted, but also acknowledging the truth of what our local priest has said, we have been eating fish, dairy, and egg on Wednesdays and Fridays during the season as a compromise, while still continuing our celebration. We are enjoying all the dairy and fish! (Since Nejat's birthday falls on a Friday during these 50 days, though, we will be making whatever she wants for her birthday dinner, meat or not).

This week is a week of rest for us. There is school work and there are things to be done here, but with our travel to and from Eugene to commemorate the Triduum, Pascha and the first part of Bright Week with Dominic and Shawn, we didn't get as much rest as we would have normally had. I didn't make the blintz casserole I normally do at Thanksgiving when Dominic and Shawn came this past year, and Dominic had told Shawn all about how great it was and that I made it each year, so I felt terrible for skipping it. Anyway, I made sure to make it for our Paschal brunch in Eugene, so they could enjoy it.

There are a few things we've moved around from last week and this week. You'll see a couple repeats on this week's menu. We are taking the school week a little more easily and only doing what is absolutely necessary and enjoying the real beginning of spring here. We know it is spring here, because the flies are buzzing. It is fly season, and we are now decorating with fly strips. There are so many fewer flies than we used to have before the Muscovies, so I am cultivating gratitude over that.

It is so wonderful to be celebrating as the entire Church this year. Blessed Feast!

• Sunday - Final Day of the Paschal Octave and Divine Mercy Sunday
  Breakfast: Paschal Braided Bread, Pascha Cheese, Bacon, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Meat Lasagna (plus a gluten free one), Garlic Bread, Salad, Ice Cream
• Monday
  Breakfast: Leftovers, Fruit, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Ham Fried Rice with Veggies, Marinated Cucumbers, Mandarin Oranges
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Red Eggs, Toast, Olives, Sliced Apples, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Pulled Pork, Baked Potatoes, Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Tunisian Shakshouka (using sweet potatoes), Grapefruit Cups, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pasta Trapanese (gluten free for Jerome), Garlic Bread, Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday - Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Chorizo and Cheese, Toast, Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Fancy Hot Dogs, Egg Noodles (gluten free for Jerome), Steam Sautéed Carrots with Garlic and Dill, Nutella Mousse with Berries
• Friday - Feast of Saint Athanasius
  Breakfast: Arabic Cheeses, Tomatoes, Olive Oil and Za’atar, Salatat Batatas ou Bayd*, Blood Oranges, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Fried Stuffed Eggplant, Tabbouleh (herb salad for Jerome), Gatayif
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Toast and Cheese, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Pressure Cooker Greek Style Spare Ribs, Basmati Rice, Roasted Zucchini, Knaffeh

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 (this may be later this time because of our holiday feasting and rest).

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesh'a, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Pascha, Tales from the Kitchen