Our early Thanksgiving is this weekend, and I am super excited, but also a bit stressed about it. I have made this meal every year except for one in 29 years, but somehow making it a few days earlier is throwing me off a bit. I'm even having our guests bring most of the side dishes. We will have it and enjoy it.

This week, Jerome gets to eat soft food with chewing! I am so excited. He still can't eat crunchy foods yet, but is looking forward to eating more normally. I'm giving up my control on the meal and all the salads and vegetable side dishes are being handled by our guests. They are bringing the hors-d'oeuvres and sparkling cider, too. Someone may be making a gluten-free dessert, as well. This year's new pie experiment is the maple sugar pie. We really loved the pear mincemeat pies last year, but I'm not sure if I can get decent pears right now. I will have to think ahead a bit next year so we can have it again.

We are all looking forward to seeing our family this weekend. Dominic and Shawn are coming with Winifred, Alexander and Autumn will be here with their girls, and we will have some family friends and church family over to share in our feast. Winnie just started smiling, and we are thrilled to see her do it in person!

Our church family is really taking care of so much for us Sunday evenings, and will be doing all of it while I am gone so Rich can only worry about the kids and the service. This trip is the longest I have ever been away from Rich since we've been married, and this is the longest I've ever been away from the kids. I'm super excited for the things I will see and experience, but a little sad that they will be missing out on my adventures. I will take plenty of photos, but they aren't exactly the same. Please pray for them while they try to manage everything without me - especially for Rich!

• Sunday - Feast of Saint Margaret of Scotland
  Breakfast: Saudi Masoub, Fruit, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Carne Guisada, Salsa Rice, Parish brings Sides/Salads/Fruit/Dessert
• Monday - Feast of Saint Hugh of Lincoln
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins and Brown Sugar, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Leftovers, Fruit Platter
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Leftover Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins (Scrambled Eggs for Jerome), Bacon, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: H'ejazi Mqalqal, Rice, Duqqus, Pluots (Applesauce for Jerome)
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
  Breakfast: Vegetable Potato Hash Breakfast Burritos with Salsa, Pluots, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Vegetarian Ranchero Beans, Rice, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Sausage Patties, Home Fries, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Roast Racks of Lamb, Basmati Rice, Roasted Cauliflower, Basbousa
• Friday
  Breakfast: Ful, Duqqus, Toast, Fruit Plate, Mint Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Mejeddarah, Crisp Onions, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Blintz Casserole with Sour Cream and Raspberry Preserves, Farmer's Breakfast Casserole with Hot Sauce, Mandarin Oranges, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Devilled Eggs, Herb Roasted Turkey with Bourbon Gravy, Wild Rice Dressing, Sweet Potato Rolls, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green Salad, Corn Dish, Green Vegetable Dish, Side Dish with Peppers, Apple Pies, Pumpkin Pies, Pumpkin Custard for Jerome, Maple Sugar Pies, Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pies, Key Lime Pies (one GF for Jerome), Marionberry Pie, Cranberry Cherry Pies, Nantucket Cranberry Pies, Wine, Sparkling Cider

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 try to follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up on Saturday.

Labels: Church Year, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Tales from the Kitchen, Thanksgiving