Christ has Ascended! From Earth to Heaven! Alleluia!

We are within the Octave of Ascension for most of this week, and are praying the Novena to the Holy Spirit through this Saturday. We are near the end of the entire Paschal season. There is a sadness that comes with that, but we get to celebrate the second highest feast of the Church year, as well. Pentecost is the commissioning of the Church; it is her birthday, and without that authority and power, we could not live. Glory to God!

I was noticing that over the past few years, the local weather pattern around Ascension and Pentecost is actually quite similar, regardless of which part of the spring it falls. We had a hotter week last week, and it is cooling a bit with wind this week.

We had an event last week which I forgot about when I was menu planning (it didn't make it on the calendar) and so we have a meal this week from last week. Also, I moved another breakfast from last week to this week. Because of family church schedules (we have some kids who go to an Orthodox service on Sundays), I am now planning the glutenous breakfasts for Sunday mornings, as we have a shorter fasting time for our evening Eucharist. Saturdays will be big, fancier, egg dishes from here on out, I think.

As we approach Pentecost, I am filled with gratitude to the Church. I always appreciate Apostolic authority, but I am especially glad for it now. Without it, after all, we couldn't eat bacon, or cheeseburgers, or crab! As we grow in faith, I see how important it is to have it. There is so much confusion in the modern world, and the clarity brought by the Church is so valuable. God has undone the confusion of Babel for us, and it is our vocation to follow Him.

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Justin Martyr
  Breakfast: Roast Beef Egg Cups, Steamed Asparagus, Cherries and Bananas, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicken, Cucumber and Basil Salad, Roasted Asparagus, Sides/Salads/Fruit/Desserts brought by Parishioners
• Monday
  Breakfast: Hard Boiled Eggs, Steamed Asparagus, Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Steak Salad, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Chorizo and Potato Breakfast Burritos, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Crab and Avocado Salad, Crackers (GF for Jerome), Lime Cookies
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Poor Knights of Windsor (Yogurt and Jam for Jerome), Mandarin Oranges, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Polenta Stuffed Poblanos with Tomato Sauce, Cuban Salad, Strawberries
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Boniface
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, Pickled Asparagus, Potato Wedges, Hot Chocolate Cookies
• Friday
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins, Cinnamon and Brown Sugar, Mint Tea
  Dinner: End of Class Potluck - Cool and Creamy Potato and Pea Salad, Gatayif
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Çilbir, Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Pizzas, Salad, Rice Pudding with Orange Curd Topping

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