I made it through last week’s planned menu successfully three of the five days. Friday’s summer chickpea soup never happened because we were all in need of comfort, and while that soup would’ve been perfect for me, I knew it wasn’t going to soothe the kids’ needs for Shabbat. Knowing when to walk away from the planned menu is as important as planning my weekly menu itself. Anyone else have Kenny Roger’s song The Gambler in their head now? Every hands a winner and every hands a loser—does that sum up life, or what?
The next two weeks are going to feel like a blur with Isabella’s graduation on the horizon. When you’re a new parent older folks constantly tell you not to blink, and all I could do at the time was nod my head nicely. Deep down I knew what they meant but I still felt like we had all the time in the world.
You never stop being a parent, that much I know. But the daily shepherding transitions into—well, I don’t know what yet. Maybe it’s still shepherding of sorts, but from afar? I guess only time will tell.
Dinner this week is going to be muscle memory meals or recipes where most of the heavy lifting is already done. I’m expecting a Marley Spoon delivery Wednesday, so that covers two nights’ worth of meals. Funny enough, both recipes I ordered are ones I developed.
Tuesday is going to be a long day. I know we’re going to need something very comforting that night, and easy to make, so pizza is on the menu. Not sure yet if it’ll be a skillet pizza or a flat-bread pizza like the one pictured above.
Friday right now is lentil soup, and unless another recipe comes along that strikes my fancy, that’s always a family favorite (the only soup I think my kids actually love). As for tonight, we’re heading out for dinner. I’ve been craving some finer dining, and snagged an early dinner reservation (5:00pm, don’t laugh). I’m oping it’s not too cold to enjoy a meal in their screened in porch that I didn’t have to cook or clean up.
Has my sharing our weekly menus inspired any of you start meal planning? If so, I’d love to know what you’re all cooking.
xo & a reminder to walk gently in the lives of others
-Jennie
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Menu, week of May 31st
Monday - mama needs a break, going out for dinner
Tuesday - Pizza night (homemade dough recipes here)
Wednesday - Marley Spoon: Black Bean Burgers
Thursday - Marley Spoon: Dan Dan Noodles with Spinach
Friday - Shabbat: Lentil soup, challah bread, fresh fruit
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