Lenten Meal Plan Week #7

Lenten Meal Plan Week #7

SUN-   Tuna Like Lamb

 

 

MON- Baked Tofu and Rice

 

 

TUES- Pasta and Clam Sauce.

 

 

WED-  Spinache and Rice

 

 

THURS- Pierogies

 

 

FRI- Shrimp and Rice

 

 

SAT-  Baked Vegetables

 

 

Lenten Meal Plan, Week #6

 Lenten Meal Plan Week #6

 

 

 

 

SUN-  Cincinnati Style Chili and Pasta , Fried Zucchini
 

MON- Baked Potato and L/O

TUES- Baked Tofu and Rice (didn't get to it last week)

WED- Potato/Zucchini Fritters

 

THURS- Pierogies

 

FRI- L/O

 

SAT- Shrimp and Rice

Pierogies-Possibly Polish for Potatoes and Pasta.

 

This is my quick GO TO dinner.  It's so easy and makes everyone happy.

 

 

 

 

 

Boil water and drop in frozen pierogies.  Cooks in 5 minutes.

 

 

While water is boiling, saute sliced onions, mushrooms and garlic in olive oil.  Season with salt.

With a slotted spoon, remove cooked pierogies from water and add to pan with vegetables. 

Gently stir and serve. 

Lenten Meal Plan- Week #4

Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 

What continues to surprise me when I meet an adult who doesn't keep the fast is his justification for his choice, "We didn't grow up fasting."  "We didn't grow up fasting" is not a justifiable reason to ignore the fast.   It shows no growth, no initiative. It's a terrible answer. But, it is an honest answer.   And it even gives me greater momentum to encourage all of you to teach your children to fast. If you don't teach them to fast, there is a greater risk that when they get older, the will not fast and they will miss this blessing, this gift from God to repent.  There are several ways to teach children to fast that won't starve them or rob them of their necessary nutrients.  Talk to your parish priest for some ideas that can help you  offer your children a successful experience. 

 

We have just completed three weeks of Lent and have four more to go! Our Journey is half way over. This is a good time for us to stop and ask ourselves:
 

·   "Have I tried my best to get to the extra church services?"

·   "Am I planning my meals so I can have a successful fast?" (french fries and spaghetti more than twice a week is not a successful fast.)

·   "I have been overly distracted with food that I've neglected to be charitable?"

Most importantly...

 

·   "Does my life (or behavior) look any different than it did 3 weeks ago?"
 

These are good questions that I'd like to encourage you to stop and ask yourself.

 

This Week's Meal Plan

 

This is what I am planning for this week!

 

 

 

 

SUN- Bean Soup and fresh bread. 

MON- Shrimp and Rice and a Salad.  

TUES- Baked Potatoes with Veggie Chili and Cut Vegetables.

WED- Pierogies with Sauteed Onions and Mushrooms

THURS- Veggie Soup and Fried Zucchini

FRI- Morning Star BBQ (Meatless) BBQ Ribs and Potato Pancakes

SAT- Lenten Dolmathes (still didn't get to them last week) and Briani so I don't have to cook on Sunday.

What's for Dinner? Week #2

I've been getting really excited about LENT coming and all that this season has to offer.  I love Lent.  It grounds me, redirects me. It puts me back in my place, in a way.  I find it a very beneficial time and I don't begrudge the restricted diet, added church services and call to increase what I give to others in need.  In fact, I welcome it.  It makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than myself.  Three hundred million Orthodox Christians all across the world and I are repenting (that means we are changing our ways) and fasting these days.  I am by no means alone in this effort.  And if all 300 milllion aren't actually fasting, I am pretty sure at least 100 million are and that's not bad company.

If you are interested in what fasting means and how it's structured I am sure you can find a good answer on http://orthodoxwiki.org  I'm not going to reinvent the wheel trying to explain this topic. So assuming you understnad the fasting guidelines I will continue.. this is after all a cooking blog of sorts. 

Last week a fellow blogger ADVENTURES OF AN ORTHODOX MOM shared a helpful menu planning system she found on another blog and I thought it looked like a good idea.   I followed her instructions and adapted it to my organizational abilities and voila!  Here it is! 

 

 

 

So, really quick, I will let you know that this week I am hoping and "planning" on preparing:

  

MON- Fish Plaki in honor of The Annunciation.

TUES- Pierogies with Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions

WED- Veggie Soup with Fresh Bread Rolls

THURS- Spinach and Rice with Salad

FRI- Potatoes Plaki and Boca Burgers

SAT- Lenten Dolmathes

 

I have a busy week planned and I may not post them all. I might actually post other dishes that I have been working on.  But I thought if I shared my plan with you, it might help you get started too.  My biggest motivator in planning is that I don't want to get in a food rut and break the fast because I am bored or unprepared.

 

Have a blessed fast and good strength for the "good fight."