Sunday, October 08, 2023
Menu Plan: October 8 - 14
We got a little bit more on track this past week, and are looking to be more so this week. We begin with Alexander's birthday and end with the anniversary of Rich and my first date. It's a good week.
The geese, turkeys, and roosters are on death row this week. We have cleared out the freezer a bit, made room, and are getting ready to fill it with delicious birds. We even moved things around so the meats I will need for the next month will be closer to the top of our chest freezer. Poor Rich will spend part of our anniversary day on the butchering, but we will get to have a lovely evening that night. We were able to go to a wedding last night, and there was dancing, so that was lovely.
I know that times are tight for folks. My hope is that these menu plans, and how I choose meals and cook from our freezers and pantries will give you ideas on how to provide well for your families with what you have and little expense. This is the first time I have tried to plan meals over a month, and I think it probably wouldn't work that well in the late spring and summer, just because of how we get so much fresh produce and so on, but in the fall and winter, it's really not too bad. I'm leaving room for side dishes and other elements to change, but mostly I am looking at what is in our freezers and pantries and planning from there. Now, I'm looking to November, and getting a start on my planning for next month, as well.
So, I am making a meal on Saturday that almost makes me hang my head in shame. It is not Mexican in any way. My kids call them white people enchiladas. That is not untrue. The recipe I first started with included cream of something soup. They do have chile in the sauce, and they are filled tortillas, but that is all that ties them to enchiladas. Likewise, the rice I am making is just similar to some of the flavors in Mexican food, it's not actually Mexican, but there you have it. They are tasty dishes, even if they aren't Mexican. I just don't know what to call them. Usually, I try to make things at least close to how they should be made, and I made these closer to real Mexican and real food than the recipe I was given.
Anyway, we are trucking right along on the property and in life, and enjoying the fall weather while we have it (I'm ignoring the fact that the mornings and nights are closer to winter). Next week, Amelia turns one, and we are so excited! May your week be as joyous.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Savory Parmesan French Toast with Hollandaise Sauce, Bananas (Apples for Jerome), Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Roast Pork Loin, Roasted Potatoes, Salad, Apple Pumpkin Cake with Caramel Drizzle - Monday
Breakfast: Yogurt and Preserves, Toast, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Ham and Beans, Baked Potatoes, Grapes - Tuesday
Breakfast: Fried Halloum, Sliced Tomatoes, Rolls, Grapes, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Creamy Chicken Poblano, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Salad/Fruit/Dessert brought by Bible study members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Chopped Apples, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Coconut Milk, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Thai Red Curry Noodles with Shrimp and Vegetables, Fruit Plate - Thursday
Breakfast: Greek Grilled Cheese Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Indian Tomato and Coriander Chicken, Jasmine Rice, Plums - Friday - Feast of Saint Edward the Confessor
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Green Split Pea Curry, Jasmine Rice, Salad, Fruit Plate - Saturday
Breakfast: Crème Brûlée French Toast, Sausages, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: White Enchiladas, "Mexican" Rice Pilaf, Fruit Plate
Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Romance and Relationship, Shelftember, Tales from the Kitchen
Sunday, October 01, 2023
Menu Plan: October 1 - 7
What's that proverb that man plans and God laughs? Well, so much for getting back to normal last week. We had a sick week instead.
We continue apace with the freezer and shelf cooking, however. This week, a huge ham, a fairly large turkey, some pre-made dishes, and some beef for soup are all coming out for our meals. Next week, the plan is to pull a pork loin out, too, which helps free up more room for turkeys, chickens, and geese, who are on the last couple weeks of death row, here. We have a lot more fruit drying going on and we should do some fruit and tomato canning, but we will see how we can fit it in this week.
Normally, I plan week by week. Actually, it's more like one week with a tentative plan for the second week, which then gets a little modified depending on what didn't get made or what schedules were shifted, what fresh produce was in need of use or was available in our garden or from our gleaning group, and so on and so forth. This month, I have tried to plan for the whole month, with some room for vegetables and fruit that we get through sales, our garden and fruit trees, and our gleaning club. I even planned all the breakfasts. There is room to move things around, and to add the produce that is fresh and available. We're trying to keep cooking from what is home to bulk up our Thanksgiving and Christmas budget, as well as rotate stock at home.
All of us are on the tail end of illness, but are feeling much better now. We are praying for a more normal week this week. Please keep us in your prayers. God is so good to us.
This past week, I ended up only buying half the eggplant we needed for the next two weeks, because the price was ridiculous for small, sad eggplant. I figured I could watch for sales or better ones and make an extra trip to the store in time for the following week, and instead our gleaning group leaders remembered how we are always on board for eggplant, and saved aside some especially for us that were given to the club. So, for the old price of two large eggplant, I received the two small ones we bought and three more. The Lord takes care of us.
We have finally had two or three mornings below freezing here. Just, but still below freezing. It is cold. The fires have been going this week. We are hoping that we have watered our maple enough that it will turn lovely colors before the leaves all freeze off of it. Our mornings are forecast to be below freezing just about all of this week. The heat is on in our bedroom, and sweet Rich put the heated mattress pad on our bed so I won't die. Winter is coming. I'm trying to be grateful that our fall lasted longer than it normally does.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Ham, Summer Squash Casserole, Salad, Green Tomato Dill Relish, Green Tomato Chutney, Peaches and Nectarines - Monday - Feast of Saint James of Jerusalem
Breakfast: Ful, Duqqus, Sliced Cucumbers, Toast, Sliced Peaches, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Herb Roasted Turkey, Bourbon Gravy, Potatoes Au Gratin from Freezer, Cranberry Horseradish Relish from Freezer, Cornbread, Roasted Mixed Vegetables - Tuesday
Breakfast: Labneh with Diced Tomatoes, Za'atar and Olive Oil, Toast, Nectarines, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Leftover Casserole, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Salad/Fruit/Dessert brought by Bible study members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Wheatena with Raisins, Brown Sugar and Coconut Milk, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Lentil and Eggplant Curry, Arabic Style Rice Pilaf (made with oil and water), Beet and Herb Salad with Grapefruit and Lemon Dressing, Nectarines - Thursday
Breakfast: Ham, Potato and Vegetable Hash, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: After Thanksgiving Soup, Challah Bread*, Peaches - Friday
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Creamy Avocado Pasta with Cashews, Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Fruit Plate - Saturday - Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Breakfast: Savory Parmesan French Toast with Hollandaise Sauce, Sausages, Fried Ham Slices, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Arabic Beef and Vegetable Soup, Tamis, Peaches
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Shelftember, Tales from the Kitchen
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Menu Plan: September 24 - 30
It is back to reality this week. We have lots of catching up and lots of trying to do our normal routine. We will begin schoolwork for real, dance has been going for a couple weeks, co-op started last week, we are back on track for the fall. This past week, Rich and I were up in British Columbia, in Kelowna, and the fires seemed under control, the smoke was not too bad, and we enjoyed a beautiful and relaxing time while there. Our church family is really caring for us by providing dinner tonight, so all we have to do is bring fruit to share.
Produce is still coming in well, both from our gleaning group and our garden and fruit trees. We will be harvesting turkeys, geese, and some roosters for our freezer in a few weeks. In the meantime, we are eating a lot out of our freezers to make room, and have some rather large roasts and birds planned for church dinners and family meals to make the room we need in there. Because of the abundance of produce, really we are trying to stay on top of all the good things we have right now. There is so much in our refrigerators and pantries that we want to use or preserve before it has to go to the poultry, and I'm keeping a pretty good list of all of the produce to help me with meal planning. This helps me with our annual shelf cooking period, too.
We are drying plums from our trees, and will be canning peaches soon. There is some cherry juice in the freezer that I think needs to become jelly, and we have some sweet cherries in there from a couple years ago that I am thinking of experimenting with to see if my technique for butters and jellies will work with them. That may be a game changer for us.
Autumn has technically begun. It began here in the last week of August, but now the calendar agrees. The mornings are quite cool, but we haven't had any below freezing mornings or evenings yet, which is a good sign. We have already had more than a month of autumn, which is better than the two or three weeks we usually get before we see below freezing temperatures at our house. I will take it. My hope is that we have watered our maple tree enough for it to change color, and that it changes color before the hard freeze comes to kill all the leaves.
We had quite a bit of pumpkin purée leftover from last week, so we are using the last of it in an autumnal breakfast of pumpkin pancakes this morning, and we also are trying the cherry cake recipe I made a few weeks ago, to see if I can improve on it a little. Unfortunately, a lot of kids got a cold that was going around last week, so we had to postpone a birthday party that was already later than the birthday. We also had tons of leftovers from the week, because appetites were low, even in the people who weren't really showing as ill. So Saturday's dinner has been pushed to another week this next month. I am mostly in denial about this cold which certainly did not start making itself be felt and known yesterday. We are taking loads of vitamins, drinking gallons of herbal tea, and resting a bit this weekend.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Home Cured Bacon, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Soup and Bread, Chicken, Salad, Fruit Plate - Monday
Breakfast: Battatas ou Bayd, Toast, Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: One Pan Autumn Chicken Dinner, Sautéed Mushrooms, Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Rolls, Sliced Peaches - Tuesday
Breakfast: Fried Egg, Sausage and Cheese Sandwiches, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Fassoulia and Beef, Duqqus, Rice, Salad/Fruit/Dessert brought by Bible study members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins and Brown Sugar, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Vegan Egyptian Mahshi, Turmeric Rice, Duqqus, Beet and Herb Salad with Grapefruit and Lemon Dressing - Thursday
Breakfast: Leftover Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins, Sausage Patties, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Bacon Cheeseburgers on Light Bread Buns, Tatertots, Fried Peppers and Yellow Crookneck Squash, Pickles, Sliced Oranges - Friday - Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Mediterranean Braised Vegetables, Arabic Style Rice Pilaf (made with oil and water), Nectarine and Blackberry Filled Dragon Bread - Saturday - Feast of Saint Jerome
Breakfast: Cherry Coffee Cake to break the fast after Liturgy
Dinner: Penne Gorgonzola with Chicken and Broccoli, Fried Olive Bites, Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette, Lion Cupcakes
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world -- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. -- Revelation 12:7-9
| Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. | Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen. |
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Michaelmas, Prayer Requests, Shelftember, Tales from the Kitchen
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Menu Plan: September 17 - 23
We are in week two of three for our busy, busy time. Next week is also busy, but slightly less. This is the busiest week. Please pray for us.
On the plus side, we are doing amazingly well on our shelf cooking. We are not spending much (except for a planned trip to the Arabic markets and Trader Joe's) and are eating some really delicious meals. The mesfouf last week was definitely a winner. It is a breakfast cereal made with cous cous, spices, sultanas, sugar, and buttermilk or cream. It is definitely a keeper. The bean soup we made was also quite good. I'm not sure I'd say it was the best bean soup in the world, as claimed, but it was exceptional.
Last week, we were able to visit a Sudanese church a couple hours away and worship with them as they had two deacons ordained. The service was mostly in Arabic and it was joyous and beautiful. They served a feast afterward, all delicious foods. What a treat for us! We made some friends, who immediately invited us over to their home, and now we can visit with them.
This week, we are eating a lot of things from our freezer, making space for butchering, and to make our challenging week a little simpler. We are blessed to have so much available to us. We have a ton of tomatoes, both from our garden and from our gleaning club, and are using them as much as we can. I may be able to make some more salsa with them, and Rich has put a tray of them in the smoker, too.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake*, Sausage Patties, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Red Beans and Rice, Hot Pepper Sauce, Scallions, Fruit Plate - Monday
Breakfast: Shakshouka, Toast, Sliced Oranges and Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Herb Roasted Green Lamb, Potatoes Au Gratin, Banadora Maghlieh, Plums - Tuesday - Feast of Saint Theodore
Breakfast: Spinach and Cheese Strata, Sliced Tomatoes, Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Chile Verde, Quick and Dirty Mexican Rice, Warmed Corn Tortillas, Plums - Wednesday
Breakfast: Tomato Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Tomato and Eggplant Sauce, Salad, Fruit Plate - Thursday - Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Broiled Bierwurst and Bratwurst, Mashed Potatoes from Freezer, Sauerkraut and Green Bean Salad, Fruit Plate - Friday
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Rice Stuffed Tomatoes, Sautéed Peppers and Onions with Garlic, Bread, Fruit Plate - Saturday
Breakfast: Fried Eggs with Sausage, Pepper, Tomato and Onion Skillet, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Thai Style Ginger Chicken with Eggplant, Jasmine Rice, Plums
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Shelftember, Tales from the Kitchen
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Craft On: Progress and Striking Out
We had a short trip this week and I was able to make a little more progress while we were gone. In the near future, we have a longer trip, and I am hoping to not only have this back finished before we go and the front started, but maybe even finish the front on that trip (though it is a big goal).
On our trip, I was able to read some more in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages, but I have struck out on several other books I've tried. I just didn't find them interesting or well written, and that has been disappointing. I may have to go back to a happy, little murder. Rich suggested one set in a bread bakery this time.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.
Labels: Books, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Menu Plan: September 10 - 16
This is the first of three super busy weeks this month. It's a little easier than the others, though, glory to God.
I don't think we have any repeats from last week, but we might make another go at the pumpkin spice crumb cake. It was good, but didn't actually have any pumpkin in it, and the crumb topping was a little dry, so I'm going to try a couple modifications.
We are still being blessed by the good produce from our garden amd others. Other than that, I'm cooking from our freezers and pantry and minimal shopping. We are doing well on the shelftember challenge.
Our family could use prayer in all the bustling we are doing. There are many things to attend to and lots of plates spinning right now.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Mixed Garden Vegetable Scramble with Eggs and Cheese, Toast, Sliced Peaches, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Dinner Provided by Church - Monday
Breakfast: Scrambled Egg and Cheese Burritos with Green Salsa and Sour Cream, Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Corned Beef, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Parmesan Roasted Green Beans, Fruit Plate - Tuesday
Breakfast: Fried Eggs, Ham, Potato and Vegetable Hash, Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Broiled Italian Sausages, Cheese Tortellini, Butter Tomato Sauce, Fruit Plate - Wednesday - Feast of Saint Cyprian of Carthage
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins, Chopped Apples and Coconut Milk, Tea with Honey
Dinner: El Bulli Bean Soup, Bread, Fruit Plate - Thursday - Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross
Breakfast: Mesfouf with Cream, Sliced Oranges, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Japanese Mum’s Chicken Drumsticks, Jasmine Rice, Sesame Green Beans, Mandarin Orange Slices - Friday
Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Almond Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Falafel, Toum, Harissa, Taratoor, Veggies, Olives, Khoubz Araby, Fruit Plate - Saturday
Breakfast: Halloum Pie to break the fast after Liturgy
Dinner: Persian Chicken Tah-Chin, Persian Chopped Salad, Fruit Plate
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Shelftember, Tales from the Kitchen
Wednesday, September 06, 2023
Craft On: Ha’il, the Fortified City
So, I have less than a month to finish this. I'm not stressed about this at all. Really, though, I think I have almost all the bugs in the pattern figured out, so it is just a matter of getting the sample finished. The good news is that over the next month, I have many opportunities to knit on long car rides, and stripes are fun to knit, so I hope to make enough progress quickly.
This is the last of the five pattern collection, which is themed on the incense route. I love using these bright colors, because people think of the Arab world, especially Saudi Arabia, as a place of black and white and sand. The truth is that it is a place with a riot of color. This sweater is named after a fortified city that was the last stop to the north on the incense route before heading out to open desert. I modeled the colors and stitch patterns on textiles of that area, and I am particularly proud of the boxed corrugated ribbing. The boxes are a nod to the mud bricks of the city walls themselves.
The sweaters are both named after cities on the route, as is a stole, there is a shawl and a pair of mitts named after a tribe and ancient civilization from the route, respectively. I'm looking forward to sharing all of them with you soon.
I've made a little more progress in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages and I finished Knit of the Living Dead. Our library does not have the rest of the series yet, so I have to wait on those.
There was another book I started, that I don't even want to share here, because it was such trash. I had seen the movie which had a lot of gratuitous violence and sex, and some unexplained events, and I thought the book might be better and explain some of that. Well, although there was more to the characters, I felt like I was having to skip half of the story because of how much explicit material was in it, so finally, after my complaints about it, Rich asked why I was still reading it, and I realized I should just stop. Honestly, I wish the author had left all the garbage out of it. There really was something to the story and characters, and he didn't have to make them all little saints for him to have a good novel, but it was like he could not figure out how to show their complexity without making it explicit and just gross. It got worse each time, too. Anyway, that was a disappointment. So, I will focus on my book about milk and wait for a happy, little murder instead.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.
Labels: Books, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along
Sunday, September 03, 2023
Menu Plan: September 3 - 9
September is always a super busy month for us, but this September is even busier than normal. It is good, and we are excited, but it is a lot. The kids have some wonderful opportunities coming up for them, and Rich and I will be doing some fun work together, but it adds to the regular work that we already have.
Last week I mentioned how I was hoping for peaches. Well, ask and you shall receive. We now have more peaches than we have time. We will get to them, probably canning halves in syrup, because that is fast and simple and we enjoy them in the winter and spring. We are getting pears, too, but not quite in the huge quantities that lend themselves to sauce and canning. We are eating them and baking with them, but mostly eating fresh.
This week, we get to eat some of our home cured bacon, and we are so excited. The cure was started at the pig butchering demonstration when we went to the homesteading conference and we brought it home to finish curing, then dried it and smoked it, and the little bit we tasted was wonderful.
We are cooking mostly out of our freezers and pantries as it is September, and we try to do that to rotate through our stores and to cut our budget at a more expensive time of year with all the activities starting up again for fall. And it is most definitely fall now. No false summer temperatures, even for a couple days like we had last week. It is pleasant, though, I only wish it lasted longer. Even the apple pie and beef pot pies are using pie crusts I made before and were in the freezer and the last of the apple pie filling we froze two summers ago. In September, I take our grocery budget down to about a quarter of what we normally spend. Our garden is providing quite a bit for it, as it treats us better than we have treated it. There are still some raspberries to eat, and our yellow crookneck is going gangbusters. We are hoping that the kousa summer squash will take off before the hard freezes set in here. Since it is fully fall here, I'm making a pumpkin spice crumb cake for a breakfast this week. I don't generally care for pumpkin spice except in baked goods, so that is how we have it here.
Although our weekdays this week are not too full, our weekend has people going multiple directions, so we have some pretty easy to make dishes for Saturday. Monday is not only Labor Day (so Rich gets the day off of work!), but also the anniversary of our coming to agreement on getting engaged. We took about a month to renegotiate the timing of our engagement and marriage, and went from planning to wait for about three and a half years to getting married four and a half months later. It is one of the best decisions we've ever made. Friday is the feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos, so it is a fish day, which we will most definitely enjoy.
Aside from all the activities and schedule changes, we also are dealing with some things that need repairs around the house, including two of our stove burners. Please pray. It is harder and harder to use those burners, and because it is a glass top, we are concerned that we will have to replace the top entirely. Not what we need at this point.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Refried Beans, Toast, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Italian Beef Sandwiches on Herb Bread, Olive Salad, Sliced Tomatoes and Lettuce - Monday
Breakfast: Blueberry Pancakes with Buttermilk Syrup, Home Cured Bacon, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Grilled Buffalo Chicken "Burgers" with Bleu Cheese Dressing, Crudités, Fruit Plate - Tuesday
Breakfast: Ham, Potato and Vegetable Hash, Grapefruit Halves, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Beef and Vegetable Pot Pies, Salad/Side Dish brought by Bible study members, Apple Pie - Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins, Chopped Apples and Coconut Milk, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Vegan Egyptian Mahshi, Turmeric Rice, Harissa, Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette - Thursday
Breakfast: Pumpkin Spice Crumb Cake, Sausage Links, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Baked Potatoes with Butter, Sour Cream, Scallions, Bacon, Cheese, Fruit Plate - Friday - Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Breakfast: Almond Butter Toast with Honey, Sliced Oranges, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Stir Fried Mixed Seafood and Broccoli, Jasmine Rice, Mandarin Oranges - Saturday - Feast of the Parents of the Blessed Virgin, Joachim and Anna
Breakfast: Granola Bars, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Dinner with friends, Honey Cake
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Romance and Relationship, Tales from the Kitchen
Sunday, August 27, 2023
Menu Plan: August 27 - September 2
Instead of an easy going week, it's actually been much busier than we planned, so we are still recovering, but it is better than last week. We have a month until school officially starts, but we are slowly gearing up for it now.
Ballet started this month, but with our schedule, it will only be starting for us this week. Also, our co-op begins in about a month. And I'm teaching a history of the Bible class. And September is busy for us. Super busy, actually, so we desire your prayers.
A few meals were rearranged this past week, so there are some reprisals this week. We are trying to preserve what we can in all this busyness, too. Pears are coming ripe, we have corn and tomatoes to turn into relish and salsa. We haven't seen many peaches this year, so I'm hoping those will be forthcoming, because we can a ton of them for the winter.
Also, I am not really a beer drinker. That is an understatement. I really don't like beer. However, I do cook with it. I went to find cheap beer at the Grocery Outlet and found something Sumerian something or other when I made the onion rings. When I poured it to measure it, I smelled old apple cider, but still sweet, and I thought I didn't want sweet, fruity onion rings, so I took a sip, and it was bitter and miserable. It is one of the worst beers I've ever tried, and this is someone who already doesn't like beer. But, it was fine in the onion rings, though a little strong, and we've been using it in bread. I will be using it again this week in a dinner, and that should be the end of it. Thank goodness!
I had another reminder of God's goodness towards when I was looking for rice paper wrappers and the Chefstore folks told us they haven't been able to get them in more than four months. The one place I have consistently found them here in town had them for a higher price, but I looked at the Grocery Outlet, and there were both spring roll and fried spring roll wrappers for $1.59 a package. Glory to God! I bought two packages of each so we'd have them later, too. Again, we've been blessed with home grown produce, and we are using tomatoes, cucumbers, tomatillos, peppers (sweet and hot), and all sorts of good things in our meals this week, as well as preserving what we can for later. God looks after large families, and we see His blessings each day.
Besides preparing for school again, I want to get as much organizing (we are re-doing some of our inventory, because of last year's inventory list loss - only the freezers and pantry shelves had been inventoried again, so we are doing the root cellar and other places that are still the wild west) and decluttering and preserving done in the next couple weeks that I can. This is ambitious, because I also have some hard deadlines with knitting design, and regular family life and household tasks that need my attention. I could use your prayers on this, in particular. I need to have two design samples knit and written and to my tech editor by the end of September at the latest and another really should have been to her already. So, I have three patterns that need editing (one needs all the writing), two samples that are in progress, and all five designs need to be completely ready by the end of October. Only two are written and edited, only one has photography completed, and three patterns are in various stages of completion. And school and co-op and dance and everything starts up soon. Please send help.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Leftover Cake and Pizza, Grapes, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Macarona bi Béchamel, Cabbage, Cucumber and Radish Salad with Cumin Dressing, Chocolate Raspberry Torte - Monday - Feast of Saints Augustine of Hippo and Moses the Black
Breakfast: Toast with Labneh, Herbs and Olive Oil, Sliced Cucumbers, Sliced Cantaloupe, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Baked Rigatoni, Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Raspberries and Leftover Cake - Tuesday - Commemoration of the Beheading of Saint John the Forerunner
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs and Cheese, Toast, Grapes, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Chile Verde, Salsa Rice, Salad/Vegetables/Sides/Fruit/Dessert brought by Bible study members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins, Brown Sugar and Coconut Cream, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Spring Rolls with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Fruit Plate - Thursday - Feast of Saint Aidan
Breakfast: Ham, Potato and Vegetable Hash, Sliced Cantaloupe, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Oyster Loaves, Sautéed Summer Squash, Corn and Spring Onions, Berries and Cream - Friday
Breakfast: Almond Butter Toast with Honey, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Falafel, Toum, Harissa, Taratoor, Veggies, Olives, Khoubz Araby, Fruit Plate - Saturday
Breakfast: Czech Cherry Cake to break the fast after Liturgy
Dinner: Italian Sausage Skillet, Rice, Salad, Fruit Plate
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Craft On: Fair Knitting
This was supposed to be shared last week, but fair week was even busier than normal here. So, here are my prize winning knits. I kind of wish they had displayed the sweater so it could be seen a little more clearly, but I'm still happy with winning all blue ribbons.
Today, I got to go with Rich out of town while he had some work meetings. I knit in the lobby while he did work stuff, and made some progress on the baptismal gown, and a little bit of work done on Ha'il.
We were able to go to an Argentine tango class after it all, and learn (and re-learn) some things we haven't done for 25 years. It was a ton of fun. One of the neat things about this dance lesson is that it takes place in a public market with stores and restaurants and such all around, and they have a little, free library. We found a couple books that we will read there, too.
Very little reading done this past week, as I've just been too tired. However, I got a tiny bit further into Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages, finished Paul for Everyone: Romans, Part 1 in my weekly Bible study, and also started another happy, little murder: Knit of the Living Dead. This seems particularly appropriate as, right on schedule, fall has begun as of Monday.
The Around the World Stitch Along is nearly over, and it has been super fun. I'm so glad to participate in this event, which is large, but still smaller than some of the really big name ones out there. It feels comfortable and small enough to know the people who play along in it. We will be awarding prizes next week or so and that is a lot of fun, too.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.
Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Crochet, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, Yarn Along
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Menu Plan: August 20 - 26
"Holy Spirit, inspire me. Love of God, consume me, on the true path, lead me. Mary, my Mother, look upon me, with Jesus, bless me. From all evil, from all illusion, from all danger, preserve me."
"Always remember to love your neighbor; always prefer the person who tries your patience, who tests your virtue, because with them you can always gain merit."
"The proud person is like a grain of wheat thrown into water: it swells, it gets big. Expose that grain to the fire: it dries up, it burns. The humble soul is like a grain of wheat thrown into the earth: it descends, it hides itself, it disappears, it dies; but to revive in heaven."
"It is sweet to think of Jesus; but it is sweeter to do His will."
~ Saint Mariam Baouardy (Mary of Jesus Crucified) ~
We are recovering from fair week and trying to rest a bit. Our wonderful church family took care of dinner after church, so we would not have that responsibility, and it was such a blessing to us. Our schedule is mostly back to normal this week, though we are taking more down time than normal.
Since our fair week is so much busier now than when we first started doing things at the fair here, we have moved our fair food night to the Monday after fair. This makes it much more relaxed, too. The Utah scones I mention on the menu are not scones, they are fry bread type doughnuts, and have their roots in Navajo fry bread and sopapillas. They are good, though. Because of fair week busy-ness, I missed getting corn from the place in town where we like to buy it, and thought we'd have to do without for fair food night, but God provided through a family we know through the Orthodox mission here. I received a text from them this afternoon, asking if we would like some of their home grown corn and tomatoes. It was a lot of corn, too, not the couple dozen we would have bought. We are eating the tomatoes fresh, and will be making salsa with a lot of them, too. Even in the things we just like, God takes care of us.
That reminds me that the kids talked me into entering the Salsa showdown at the fair, and I won grand champion! I will share my recipe (both the toned down version I made at the fair, and how I really make it for us) this week when I post the recipe for the buttermilk syrup.
Bible study and knit night are back on the schedule, and the last official week of the Around the World Stitch Along are wrapping up, too. There is still time to join in with a small project on Instagram or Ravelry, or just check in for chatter and eyeing the projects people have made. Mariam's birthday and one of her name saint days is this week (it is handy to have a Marian name when it comes to saints' days) and we are excited for her. We get to hang out with friends and have a bonfire, and I am making a special cake for her.
Coming back to add this: One thing, too, about how I look for God's provision is how I can recognize Him in the small things. I was telling Rich that we were going to be out of ground beef from our steer and a quarter purchase of two years ago once I made Tuesday's dinner. He said that's why we buy it, to use it. I agreed, but also didn't like how it felt like we wouldn't be able to replace it at a reasonable price, because the cheapest (and I mean cheap, not just inexpensive) I was finding it was $5 a pound. Well, when I went grocery shopping for our two weeks, I found grass fed ground beef marked down to $2.99 a pound. There were six packages left, so I grabbed them. God provides for us in every thing, even things like this. He cares for larger families in a special way, too, I think. Glory to God!
- Sunday - Feast of Saint Bernard
Breakfast: Leftovers, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Church Family Dinner - Calico Beans, Mixed Bean Chili, Cornbread Muffins, Tortilla Chips, Salsa, Cheese, Garlic Bread, Homemade Pizza, Beef Stroganoff with Noodles and Cheese - Monday - Fair Food Night
Breakfast: Fried Halloum, Sliced Tomatoes, Sourdough Rolls, Plums, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Corn Dogs, Potato Wedges, Buttered Corn on the Cob, Onion Rings, Utah Scones with Buttermilk Syrup* - Tuesday
Breakfast: Leftovers, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Tray Kofta with Potatoes and Tomatoes, Sah'awiq, Cucumber Salad, Fruit/Dessert brought by Bible Study Members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Chopped Apples, Brown Sugar and Coconut Cream, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Clam Linguine with Lemon, Garlic and Olive Oil, Rosemary Ciabatta, Tomato Salad, Fruit Plate - Thursday - Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
Breakfast: Yogurt and Strawberries, Toast, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Creamy Chicken and Green Chile Soup, Fried Tortilla Strips, Fruit Plate - Friday
Breakfast: Almond Butter Toast with Honey, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Cuban Style Black Beans and Rice, Cabbage Salad with Cumin Lime Dressing, Fruit Plate - Saturday - Feast of Mariam Baouardy
Breakfast: Pancakes with Buttermilk Syrup*, Bacon, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Grilled Naan Pizzas, Tomato Salad, Chocolate Raspberry Torte
Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Menu Plan: Feast of the Dormition
Shudder, O ye heavens! and, O earth, give ear unto these words:
God descended once before for our sake; He descends again today for His Mother.
So many times, when people deny the honor to the Theotokos, it is really a dishonor to the Lord. Even denying her the title Theotokos ends up declaring that Christ was either not God in her womb, or that He is not God incarnate. It is not intentional, but I think a good question to ask oneself when putting her "in her place" is what does this mean about Christ and His divinity? If it ends up dishonoring Him, calling His divinity into question, or lessening Him, it isn't a good thing. Likewise, so many people say that there is too much honor given her, without actually considering whether or not they honor her enough or even at all. What is just the right amount of honor? Surely it isn't debasing the woman who bore and raised our Lord? Jesus was born a Jew and fulfilled the law. He loved and honored His mother, and as we could not have had Him without her, why would we want that, instead of following His example?
The Archangel Gabriel in the Gospel of Luke hails her and says that God calls her blessed. Her cousin Elizabeth's unborn son, Saint John the Forerunner, leaps at the sound of Mary's voice, and by this does Elizabeth know and proclaim that Mary is the Mother of her Lord. Mary replies by saying that ALL generations will call her blessed. It is in the Scriptures that we are to bless her, that God Himself magnifies her, so why should we not do the same? How can we do less?
Besides the Dormition feast, it is also fair week and it is Jerome's birthday this week and it is a rather busy week for us all. Everyone but Nejat will be working our neighborhood fair booth at some point or other, and we will have shifts of people at fair and at home. We're trying to schedule it so we can have a birthday celebration for Jerome at home, but we may be doing something together at the fairgrounds. Aside from entering some of my knitting, herbs from the garden, and a houseplant, I also entered a salsa making contest. There are only 10 contestants, which gives me a better chance, but we have a sizeable Mexican population here, so it may be a fruitless endeavor. Regardless, I thought it would be fun.
We will not have any of our Bible studies or knit nights or anything like that this week. We used to host a fair food night the Monday before fair, but as we have learned more and try to follow the fast, that is sometimes not possible because of that, but also, now we are busy getting entries into the fair and going back and forth for that, while also doing work preparing the booth. So, I will put on fair food night later this month.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Tomato and Cheese, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Salmon Chowder with Summer Squash, Watermelon, Fudge Brownie Bites - Monday
Breakfast: Fried Halloum, Sliced Radishes and Cucumbers, Toast, Plums, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Tomato and Olive Pasta, Cucumber Salad, Fruit Plate - Tuesday - Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Theotokos
Breakfast: Blueberry Coffee Cake, Hard Boiled Eggs, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Beef Tacos, Cabbage Salad, Fried Peppers, Summer Squash and Onions, Pineapple Refrigerator Cake - Wednesday
Breakfast: Wheatena with Apples and Cinnamon, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Croatian Roux Soup with Croutons, Croatian Style Marinated Cucumbers, Sliced Watermelon - Thursday
Breakfast: Sausage and Egg Scramble, Toast, Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Egg Salad Sandwiches, Pickles, Veggie Sticks, Fruit Plate - Friday
Breakfast: Peanut Butter Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Vegetarian Ranchero Beans and Rice, Lenten Chocolate Orange Cake - Saturday
Breakfast: Breakfast Burritos with Leftovers from Dinner, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Oyster Loaves, Sautéed Summer Squash, Corn and Spring Onions, Fruit Plate
Dominic said that when we pray this prayer, or any other Marian prayers like the Hail Mary, which are based on the text of Luke, we are placing ourselves in the prophecy from Mary's own lips: "For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed" Luke 1:48
Labels: Birthday, Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos
Wednesday, August 09, 2023
Craft On: Ha'il and a Baptismal Gown
I'm finally back to where I should be on Ha'il, and I think I have solved all the issues I had going with it. The pattern chart and calculations are nearly complete, and I have the beginnings of the pattern writing done. It needs to be knit and written and edited all by the middle of October. Not that I am stressed out about that at all.
This week is busy, in preparation for an even busier week next week. Fair begins next week and Rich is in charge of scheduling and ordering for our neighborhood ice cream booth, the kids and I are entering things into the fair for exhibition, and we all work in the ice cream booth all week. Rich always ends up taking some time off of work to deal with the booth, and this year I think he made it official, and told his work that he might have to take some vacation days to do work at the fair if it's necessary. I hope to have some pictures from fair entries for you, too.
The baptismal gown is just about ready to be brought in for the "waist" and become an actual baby size. It's actually one repeat past this picture. I was trying to figure out why it was taking me so long to make progress on an infant's garment, when I realized I was actually making an adult sized garment. In fact, it was larger around than sweaters I make for myself. It will still take time after decreasing all those stitches, but will at least be baby sized.
A Fatal Yarn is finished, and I am making a little more progress on Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages, which is super interesting. If you are interested in nutrition, small scale farming, homesteading, the western agricultural model, any of that, I think you might enjoy the book.
The Around the World Stitch Along is going strong and there is a ton of chatter on our Ravelry group. There is still time to join there, or to follow and post on Instagram. The event goes through August 25, 2023, and there are loads of projects (more than 1900!) you could make that are eligible for prizes if you finish.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.
Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Crochet, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along
Sunday, August 06, 2023
Menu Plan: Feast of the Transfiguration and the Dormition Fast
Blessed Feast! I love the Transfiguration! We have the Trinity demonstrated in the voice of the Father and the uncreated light of the Spirit which overshadows the mountain, we have the communion of saints demonstrated and modeled (Jesus calls on not only Elijah, who never died, but Moses in the presence of the Apostles and shows them that they can be called on in this world) to us, and we have a Theophany, a demonstration of the divinity of Christ. Saint Peter's statement about building tablernacles is not only an impetuous statement of someone not knowing what to say. It shows that Saint Peter connects what he witnesses with the Feast of Tabernacles, which is the feast of the coming Kingdom. He sees this as a sign of the Kingdom appearing on earth. On this feast, the Jewish people build booths to serve as symbols of God's dwelling among the just in the Kingdom. Moses represents the law and all who have died, and Elijah, the prophets and all who are alive in Christ, as Elijah never experienced death. Both of these men are immediately recognizeable by Saints Peter, James and John. They know them, because the saints are available to us on earth. They can hear Jesus talking to them, and Jesus gives them an example of communicating with the saints. This is one of the major feasts of the Church year, and it is a poverty to neglect or ignore it.
This is the last week before fair, and things are getting busy here. That's a sad time for us, too, because the Monday after fair is always when the winds of autumn start here. I'm praying for a long fall this year.
Part of the reason I want a longer fall is that we are starting to see a real harvest in our garden and fruit trees and I don't want to lose that. Our plums are producing better this year than we have ever seen them! The last couple years we didn't really have any because of late freezes, but we have three trees that are pumping out those plums like gangbusters. I'd like to make some plum butter and jelly, but the kids are eating them pretty rapidly. A couple of our pear trees are really doing well, too. We have several almost ready to eat now. Our gleaning club has come through in a major way with incredible produce, and we are enjoying it heartily.
Also, don't be surprised by the eggs and dairy in our menus this week. We do take the Dormition fast a little bit more lightly, as we are growing into it. We are blessed with TWO days for fish this week, and I am happy for that. We rejoice in our fast and are so grateful for the wonderful things we can have and the focus it gives us for prayer and for study. It is not too late to start the fast, and it is never something you need to do all the way if you are unable. Start to climb the mountain; God will meet you there. The fast is a gift He gives us, not something we give Him.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Leftovers, Plums, Coffee and Milk
Dinner: Baked Mediterranean Style Sable Fish, Vegetable Sides brought by Church Family, Knaffeh, Watermelon - Monday
Breakfast: Fried Halloum, Sliced Radishes and Cucumbers, Toast, Sliced Pears, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: White Bean Salad with Cabbage, Lepinja Bread, Watermelon - Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Plums, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Cheddar Corn Chowder, Watermelon, Sides brought by Bible Study Members - Wednesday - Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Peanut Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Roasted Walleye, Sautéed Eggplant and Tomatoes, Cucumber Salad, Rainier Cherries - Thursday - Feast of Saint Laurence
Breakfast: "Dirty" Eggs with Cheese (Egg and Vegetable Scramble), Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Ricotta Dumplings in a Brown Butter Sauce, Roasted Summer Squash and Onions, Cherries and Plums - Friday
Breakfast: Pinto Bean and Vegetable Breakfast Burritos, Plums, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Zaalouk (Moroccan Warm Eggplant Salad) with Khoubz Kesra (Moroccan Semolina Bread), Cucumber Salad, Sliced Melon - Saturday
Breakfast: Blueberry Coffee Cake, Hard Boiled Eggs, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Lemon Garlic Scallops with White Wine and Olive Oil, Parsleyed Rice Pilaf, Green Salad, Fruit Plate
Labels: Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Homesteading, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos
Friday, August 04, 2023
Craft On: First Stitch Along Finished Object!
I finished something! And it is crochet! However, I think I've overblocked this square. Does it look alright to you? I am looking for another SAl project, and I am between a cute pillbox hat and a beanie with a textured umbrella on it.
As for Ha'il, I ended up having to start over, but I am happier with it now, and is a better pattern and sample for it. I am starting to get a little stressed out, though, as the pattern needs to be finished and the sample knit all in less than three months. No pressure or anything.
The baptismal gown is progressing apace, and I hope we will be seeing Amelia in it soon. I promise to take a picture Sunday.
The Around the World Stitch Along is going strong and there is a ton of chatter on our Ravelry group. There is still time to join there, or to follow and post on Instagram. The event goes through August 25, 2023, and there are loads of projects (1900!) you could make that are eligible for prizes if you finish.
I have made a start in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages, though I keep falling asleep before I really make a significant amount of progress. I'm tired. Also, I'm reading A Fatal Yarn as a bit of brain candy.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.
Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Crochet, Design, FOs, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Menu Plan: Beginning of the Dormition Fast
My birthday week was fantastic. Rich and the kids really made it sweet, which I appreciated, and they extended it with events on Thursday and Saturday. Nejat even organized a "surprise" birthday party for me with a few friends. I was able to celebrate with the family, and also go out with some girlfriends for some much needed chat, and I am still finishing birthday cake (we have never had this much cake leftover before).
This week the Dormition fast begins. We take it much more simply, and still eat dairy and egg (except on Wednesdays and Fridays), but there are a few fish days in there, too. The feast of the Transfiguration is this coming Sunday, and there are two other days in which we get to enjoy fish, so we will. Our garden and the gleaning club are providing so much beautiful produce right now, and we are enjoying that. This week will involve a lot of canning and drying and freezing, so we will be able to enjoy this bounty in the fall and winter. We are hardly having to buy groceries right now, except for dairy and replacing supplies, which is fantastic. Between the eggs from the poultry and the produce and our rather full freezers for meat, we are doing pretty well, glory to God. Two of our resident kids were away this weekend, and for the first time in I don't know how long, we had leftover falafel and khoubz. And I even made a smaller amount than normal.
It is supposed to warm up a little this week, but not too hot. The summer has been quite pleasant so far. I'm worried that it might mean for a shorter summer, but I will not borrow trouble. We are still grilling and using the oven as little as necessary, and that puts less stress on our air conditioners and the fans. The highest temperatures we are supposed to see in town (and they are between 6˚ and 12˚ cooler here) are only in the low 90s. That is quite bearable. In fact, because of the desert climate, it is actually too cold in the mornings. We woke up at around 44˚ today. It was around 51˚ in town. I think that is what makes the heat harder to bear here, because the nighttime temperatures can be as much as 40˚ lower than the high of the day. I am built for the heat, though, so I'm bearing it better than many.
- Sunday
Breakfast: Leftovers, Strawberries, Blueberries and Plums, Coffee and Milk
Dinner: Herb Roasted Turkey, Bourbon Gravy, Cranberry Horseradish Relish, Bread Stuffing, Roasted Broccoli with Onion and Bacon, Black Beans, Apple Pie - Monday - Feast of Saint Joseph of Arimathea
Breakfast: Cereal and Milk, Sliced Cantaloupe, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Grilled Sausages, Cucumber Salad, Watermelon - Tuesday
Breakfast: Hard Boiled Eggs with Za’atar, Bread, Plums, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Margherita Baked Polenta, Watermelon, Sides and Dessert brought by Bible Study Members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Veggies, Toast, Blueberries, Mint Tea with Honey
Dinner: Croatian Roux Soup with Croutons, Croatian Style Marinated Cucumbers, Sliced Cantaloupe - Thursday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar, Plums, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Tomato Dal, Rice, Cucumber Salad, Watermelon - Friday - Feast of Saint Dominic
Breakfast: Apple Coconut Breakfast Bowls with Peanut Butter Drizzle, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Cabbage and Cashews with Rice Noodles and Peanut Sauce, Marinated Cucumbers, Sliced Canteloupe - Saturday
Breakfast: Vegetable Foccacia to break the fast after Liturgy
Dinner: Cheese Tortellini with Butter Tomato Sauce, Radish, Celery and Cucumber Salad, Fruit Plate
Labels: Birthday, Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Fasting as a Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos
Sunday, July 23, 2023
Menu Plan: July 23 - 29
Last week began as an easier, more relaxed week, but ended up with a car in at the mechanic's and another with a flat tire that needed repairs, and the franctic organizing and chauffeuring that we all required to get everyone to work, orthodontist, dance, mid-week church services, and so on. On top of that, we had an extra event added to our Saturday evening so we were kind of double booked and literally had to leave from one event to go to another with one or the other vehicle unavailable. So, we'll see how this week goes. There isn't even a mid-week service to work around this week. We do have a couple reasons for me to leave the house this week, but mostly I will be here to get things done and get some rest.
My birthday is this week, but I am keeping it low-key. I was able to get a little preserving done yesterday, and I'm hoping to get some home cured bacon smoked this week. Mostly, my plan is to keep going through our things and downsize and declutter a bit more. The weather is supposed to be a little cooler, but still pleasantly hot. Our 100˚ weather did not materialize last week, but it got pretty close. 99˚ on one day. In either case, because the shaman predicted two days in a row of over 100˚, we got our air conditioning units in, and the house is much cooler.
Even still, we will be making more hot weather dishes that don't require as much use of the oven or a lot of use of the stove. I'm so grateful for our pressure cooker and grill. Two of the kids will be gone this next weekend, one for a girlfriends weekend and another for a dear friend's wedding. So, I will have to try to make less food again, at least for a few days. We are preparing for the Dormition fast coming up in a little over a week, too, so trying to plan out meals that will make room in our freezers and to enjoy some of the things we won't be eating for a couple weeks. We have a fish day on Wednesday, so we are going to enjoy some fish tacos and free up some more freezer space. We will not be fasting quite as strictly for the Dormition, so you will likely see some menus with olive oil, dairy and egg in them. We will keep Wednesdays and Fridays more strictly, and weekends will have wine and fish return (I think there is another fish day for a feast, besides the Transfiguration).
- Sunday
Breakfast: Leftovers and Blueberry Muffins, Sliced Orange Honeydew Melon, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Lamb Haneeth, Rice, Salad/Vegetable Side brought by Parishioners, Strawberries and Blueberries - Monday
Breakfast: Prosciutto and Gruyère Scones, Mandarin Oranges, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Dejaj Meshwi, Battatas Harra, Mediterranean Chopped Salad, Chocolate Velvet Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting - Tuesday - Feast of Saint James the Apostle
Breakfast: German Apple Pancakes, Fried Ham, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Koubbeh, Salad/Side Dishes/Fruit/Dessert brought by Bible Study Members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Scrambled Chickpeas with Veggies, Toast, Blueberries, Mint Tea with Honey
Dinner: Fish Tacos, Salsa Rice, Marinated Cucumbers and Onions, Mandarin Oranges - Thursday
Breakfast: Ricotta Fritters with Maple Syrup, Bacon, Sliced Apples, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Instant Pot Creamy Ziti, Broiled Italian Sausages, Cucumber Salad, Fruit Plate - Friday
Breakfast: Potato Breakfast Burritos with Avocado and Salsa, Fruit Plate, Tea and Honey
Dinner: Falafel, Khoubz Araby, Toum, Taratoor, Sah'awiq, Olives, Sliced Cucumbers and Tomatoes - Saturday - Feast of Saints Mary, Martha and Lazarus
Breakfast: Almond Bear Claws, Sausage, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Muffaletta Bread and Olive Salad for Muffaletta Sandwiches, Pasta Primavera Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette, Fried Olive Bites, Watermelon, Roasted Marshmallows
Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen
Thursday, July 20, 2023
Craft On: Of Birthdays and Stitchalongs
Can you see the mistake in that bit of knitting? Of course not, because you don't know what I am doing next. It is quite apparent to me, though, so I will be undoing about nine rows. It is sad, but it will make the whole design better in the long run.
I keep forgetting to snap a progress picture of Amelia's baptismal gown. This weekend, I should do that so you can see how lovely it is. I'm so excited that her baptism is getting closer. It will be such a blessing to witness her birth in the Church.
I have two overlapping sales going on right now. One is just starting, the Around the World Stitch Along sale on my bundle of five patterns (on PayHip and Ravelry) in preparation for the cast on and kick off of the full event on Tuesday, July 25. I love this event. It is not too large, and we really get to know the designers and participants. I hope you can join us either in our Ravelry group or on Instagram.
However, it is also the wrap up of my countdown to my birthday sale, and you can check my Instagram account every day for a new pattern that is on sale through Monday.
I still haven't started Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages but I think I will finish The Language of Baklava tonight. It is such a fun and funny story, and communicates something much deeper than that fun.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.
Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along
Sunday, July 16, 2023
Menu Plan: July 16 - 22
Remember how I said thing were going to slow down? Well, they are, but I had forgotten about this weekend. Friday was shopping, cleaning, and cooking for Friday and Saturday, because we had liturgy on Saturday, and a birthday party right after that, and Rich and my anniversary of our first meeting 29 years ago. Then, on Sunday, we had a neighborhood potluck picnic and barbecue, and church right after that. Phew!
This week is not too busy. We have things going on, but not right on top of each other like this weekend was. I'll take it. It's supposed to cool down a little most of this week, but the weather shaman has been predicting 100˚ weather for weeks now, but it hasn't materialized. They've pushed that prediction to Thursday, but I don't think we'll see it. Even still, we are eatomg a lot of cold meals and things that can be made in the pressure cooker or grilled.
We are deep in the produce season here, and we are enjoying it so much. We are eating so much good, fresh food that is locally raised, and I am busy with preserving. It will be so good to have these foods in our freezers, on our pantry shelves, and in our cold room. Blueberries and cherries are ripe right now, and the are fantastic. Cucumbers and summer squash are also coming in and they are just perfect. What's in season where you are?
- Sunday
Breakfast: Pancakes and Maple Syrup, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Cold Cut Sandwiches, Coleslaw, Pasta Salad, Blueberries and Strawberries - Monday
Breakfast: Fried Halloum, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Hot Dogs, Green Tomato Dill Relish, Fruit Plate - Tuesday
Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Cheese, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Lamb Shawerma, Khoubz Araby, Fried Potatoes, Taratoor, Toum, and Harissa, Veggies and Fruit brought by Bible Study Members - Wednesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Brown Sugar and Raisins, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Pasta Salad with Bay Shrimp and Vegetables, Fruit Plate - Thursday
Breakfast: Fried Eggs Sandwiches, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
Dinner: Pressure Cooker Swiss Steak, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Steam Sautéed Carrots, Fruit Plate - Friday
Breakfast: Sweet Spiced Vermicelli and Almond Milk Cereal, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
Dinner: Fattoush, Fruit Plate - Saturday - Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
Breakfast: Savory Parmesan French Toast with Hollandaise Sauce, Sausages, Fruit, Orange Juice and Coffee
Dinner: Meatloaf, Scalloped Potatoes, Canned Peaches
Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen
Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Craft On: Onward
Ha'il is back in my active projects again. It seems like I will actually get this collection of patterns made in time! This has been such a big project for me, with (for me) a tight deadline, and it has been an exercise in fear and worry and joy and excitement all at once. Two samples are completely finished, one is nearly there, one is half made, and this is beginning. When I complete this collection, I have a few designs that have been waiting in the background that I will get to, but it will feel so good to have all five of these ready to go and out in the world.
There are some non-work projects I'd like to make, but except for Amelia's baptismal gown, it just hasn't been feasible even to start them. It has been a big discipline not to even cast on anything new right now. I did break that to make my lovely cowl, but I only have three and a half months to finish this collection, so I am being as single minded as I am able.
It looks like I can finally pick up Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages and get some reading done in it now. I'm nearly finished with The Language of Baklava and I am enjoying it so much more than her other memoir. This tells a story. And even the parts that I don't like, or disagree with, are still part of that story, and I feel like I am a part of it when I read it. I would strongly recommend this book. It has been so good to be reading much more again. I have missed it. Even with the books I haven't loved, it has felt good to be thinking in this way more.
Linking to Unraveled Wednesday.
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Labels: Books, Design, Governor Inslee Needs a Frozen Fish to the Forehead, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along
