Day 4: Menu Planning: Part 1

It's Wednesday.  On a regular Wednesday, we would have pasta with tomato sauce, shrimp, or tuna fish sandwiches.  Planning the rest of the fast will make that decision easier.  You know, we have to plan the menu for practicality, convenience, shopping, but mostly, we should plan our menu so that we can clear our minds and focus on the things that are most important - God and family.  And, we want to remember to keep our meals simple, so they won't be elaborate feasts during this time of fasts.  


How do you figure out planning the menu for such a long period of time?  We have a few different approaches. You know that we have made our pantry ready with many dried beans, legumes, and grains.  We have started to collect the right combination of canned and jarred foods and condiments.  And, we have sat down to discuss what some of our personal favourites are.  For example, husband always likes to have either gigantes, arakas, fakes, or a pita on hand -- one dish in the fridge all the time.  That's easy, since these are dishes you can make in a family size quantity that keep well in the refrigerator.  I, personally, would like to eat stir fried veggies, vegetarian gemista, or domaldes, and salad every day. So, we agree that two times a week we will have one of husband's choices, and two times a week we will have one of wife's choices.  


But, that leaves us three days?!?!  We did agree that once a week we should have some shrimp.  It's a good protein with so many options of how to prepare it.  We'll fit that in one day a week.  If not shrimp, then some other crustacean or mollusk.  These, as many people forget, are completely permitted through any fast.  Although, we will be having more vegan dishes than ones with seafood.  


So, that leaves us with just a couple of days to worry about.  We know that Sunday, we go to Church without eating in the morning (there is no eating before Church because we take Communion each week).  And, then, we have Coffee Hour and visit and socialize at Church.  Usually, when we get home, neither of us is particularly hungry, and we just have one meal on Sundays.  In many families, Sunday is the day for family dinner.  It is the day that we "commune" with each other -- the day of rest.  But, it is also the day when we get a lot of the prep work for the week, too.  Each week, I spend some time to cut up onions for whatever dishes are being made that week, peel carrots, clean celery, wash produce for the week, and organize the refrigerator.  So, then we know exactly what is in the fridge and what we need and what is ready for our weekly menu.  Now that I am writing this, it seems that we should make Sundays to be "Leftovers Day"; that is unless we have the family gathering.  


Planning now, writing up the menu choices (even if it is for only one week at a time) and being organized will help.  We cannot spend all of our time on cooking and cleaning.  Unlike our mothers who did not usually have jobs outside of the home, our time is limited and we need to be practical about when to cook and clean.  If there were more hours in the day, we could have our full-time jobs, kids, and a perfectly clean home with homemade food made fresh every day.  But, we need some time every day for peace and calm.  We need some time for the important things in life -- God and family.  So, we plan well in advance and try to do the best we can.  And, we want the best for our families, therefore, for the time that we are cooking, we want the best -- that's what we are doing in this blog.  We hope you agree, and tell us what you think. 

Matthew 6:17-18 New International Version (NIV) 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.