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

Traditionally, the eight days of the Paschal Octave have absolutely no fasting in them. You will see plenty of meat and dairy and eggs this week! In the Antiochian jurisdiction, there is no fasting during the entire Paschal season. Our local priest does not contradict this, but does caution that this relaxation of the normative rule was approved in a place and time where Christians are already suffering incredibly, on a daily basis, and that we in this country could probably do with more exercises of our faith and spiritual strength, though he would never state that we must keep the fast during that time. In our family, we have decided that on the Wednesdays and Fridays of the Paschal season after the Octave we will still refrain from meat, but will enjoy fish, dairy and eggs, wine, and oil. In this way, we can enjoy the looser dietary rules, while still respecting the spirit of restraint our local priest mentions.

A few of the dishes we normally make for the feast, we will be making later in the week for a potluck and for other meals. It was remarkable how much sooner we were able to finish yesterday because of that.

East and West are a week apart this year. We won't celebrate again for another two years. This is a sadness for us, especially as our family crosses East and West, but one day we will celebrate together always. Blessed Feast!

• Sunday - Pascha/Fesh'a
  Breakfast: Paschal Braided Bread, Pascha Cheese, Scotchicanese Eggs, Strawberries and Sliced Oranges, Hot Chocolate and Coffee with Chantilly Cream
  Dinner: Olive Tray (with Kalamata Olives, Green Baladi Olives, and Orange Stuffed Green Olives), Tourshi, Tourshi Makhloot, Deviled Eggs, Herb Roasted Green Lamb, Hummus, Baba Ghanooj, Muhamarrah, Khoubz Araby, Harissa, Sah'awiq, Duqqus, Fatayir bi Sabanich, Sambousak, Sambousak bi Joubneh, Laban bi Chiyar, Khoubz Araby, Red Eggs, Baq'lawa, Red Wine, Proseccot, and Sparkling Cider, with Guests bringing other hors-d'ouevres, drinks, and desserts.
• Monday
  Breakfast: Leftover Scotchicanese Eggs, Bread, Olives and Tourshi, Strawberries and Oranges, Hot Chocolate
  Dinner: Leftovers, Fattoush, Leftover Desserts
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Pascha Cheese Stuffed Pascha Bread French Toast, Bacon, Sahlab and Milk
  Dinner: Muffroom and Muhamarrah, Rice, Leftover Desserts
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Farmer Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Hot Dogs, Cool and Creamy Potato and Pea Salad, Peep S’mores
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Fried Egg and Sujuk Bagel Sandwiches with Za’atar and Joubneh Arabia, Fruit, Sahlab, Coffee and Tea
  Dinner: Crockpot Peanut Chicken, Jasmine Rice, Peanut Butter Easter Eggs
• Friday - Feast of Saint Leo the Great
  Breakfast: Bacon, Cheese and Egg English Muffins, Fruit, Coffee, Milk and Tea
  Dinner: Waraq 'Ounab, Harissa, Tabbouleh, Gatayif
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Italian Bacon and Romano Pasqua Bread, Cheeses, Fruit, Coffee, Milk and Tea
  Dinner: Fried Koubbeh, Tourshi Makhloot, Harissa, Duqqus, Dibs Rumman, 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: Bright Week, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fesh'a, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Pascha, Tales from the Kitchen