Menu Week of 10/22/11

I traveled to Boston last weekend - back to the house that I grew up in, to the neighborhood I used to be a part of, to my mother's cooking, to my brother's teasing, to all those little knick knacks left behind on my shelves, in my drawers, all around the house. Sometimes, we need to return to our childhood, and feel the memories again. Though in my case, a brief reminiscence is preferred.

Every time I go home, I remember the days, when, not so long ago, I was entirely reliant on others. The world outside was full of wonder and opportunity, but inside, it was safe and worry-free. It's the little things that I didn't notice , the little things that, now, I notice every time - probably, because it is now my turn to provide the same way that my mother did for me.

After I started this somewhat impulsive blog, I noticed how many other women, other working mothers, share the same faith in food and its ability to keep a family together. Maybe there's more to it - maybe we cook to relieve our own stress, to express our need for creativity, to simply have some time to ourselves. But, somehow, the entire process - choosing a menu, ensuring it falls within our budget, adding a few surprise elements here and there, shopping, and then, of course, cooking - creates a sense of well being, both within ourselves and our families.

So here's to our mothers who did this for us, and to our grandmothers who taught them, and here's to the younger generation who will hopefully adopt some of what we do for them everyday.

Weekly Menu 10/22/11
(thank you to Erin for sending me the link to Annie's Eats where many of this weeks recipes come from)

Saturday

• Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and toast
• Lunch/Dinner: Left over pot roast, soup, perogis
• Prep: Turkey sausage (recipe with slight modifications)

Sunday

• Breakfast: Sharlotka (attempt #2)
• Dinner: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya (with modifications)
• Prep: Vegetable soup; Tuna salad; Meatloaf; Roasted chicken; Apple turnovers; Ranch dressing; Gravy

Monday

• Breakfast: Apple turnovers
• Lunch:Tuna salad sandwiches
• Dinner: Soup & salad; Potatoes & Meatloaf
• Prep:

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Yogurt & mini-bagels
• Lunch:Meatloaf sandwiches
• Dinner: Cucumber-avocado salad; Chicken tacos
• Prep:Cook corn, black beans and tomato relish

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Apple turnover
• Lunch: Chicken wrap
• Dinner: Halibut with corn cakes; Soup and grilled cheese for the kid
• Prep: Chicken tenders, Caesar dressing

Thursday

• Breakfast: Cereal
• Lunch: Meatloaf sandwiches
• Dinner: Soup; Caesar salad topped with chicken tenders
• Prep: Cream sauce; mushrooms; Spinach feta dip

Friday

• Breakfast: Breakfast sandwich
• Lunch: Chicken sandwich
• Dinner: Spinach feta dip with veggies; Linguini with cream sauce, mushrooms and left over chicken

Menu Week of 10/15/11

It's a short menu this week. Michael is heading to Ohio for his bachelor party and the kid and I are heading to Boston to celebrate my brother's birthday. Short and busy.

Menu Week of 10/08/2011

Thank you to WitchyWoman for pointing me to AZ Cookbook. I've adopted some of the recipes for this week:

Saturday

• Breakfast: Breakfast burritos
• Lunch/Dinner: Fried rice, left over saffron orzo, spring rolls
• Prep: Chicken Ragu

Sunday

• Breakfast: Sharlotka
• Lunch/Dinner:Chicken Ragu with potatoes; Tri-colored pepper salad; Tandoori bread
• Prep for Monday: Spanish Tortilla; Tuna salad

Indian Night

Part of the addictive nature of cooking lies in the wonderful variety and never ending possibilities and combinations of new ingredients, spices, techniques. Since I cook for a child as well, I'm usually very careful about international foods. Bold, unfamiliar flavors generally don't sit well with the younger folk. However, Indian night seemed to go very smoothly.

This was my first attempt at both butter chicken and samosas, and the recipes I followed produced very authentic results. I am including a modified version of the recipes below:

Sunday Dinner

There is something wonderful about dinners on Sunday, especially when all the work is done - the house is prepared for the busy work week; Monday's dinner is already warm on the stove; laundry is clean and folded; and, in my case, both the goldfish and the tropical fish are swimming around in a freshly scrubbed tank (we found a surprise new housemate this week, a tiny little snail that magically appeared in the tropical tank).

Everyone can sit down, relax, and enjoy supper with an episode of Lost. Since I had been cleaning, prepping and food shopping all day long, I planned a simple meal that would round up the week - vegetable tortilla soup with grilled cheese. The veggies make me happy, the cheese makes them happy.

Cooking for the New Year

Chernowitz Challah

After the meal - Honey Cake

Before the meal

 
Something wonderful happens when family sits together at a dressed up table for a holiday meal. It could be the anticipation from the night before - the smells of cooking pot roast, the cake, decorated and displayed, but off limits to itchy fingers, the late night preparations. It could be the recipe searches weeks before the holiday, preparations, shopping for seasonal ingredients. But what I have learned in the past few years of family life is that the energy and time that I devote to ensuring everything comes together shines brightly on the faces of those who sit with us during the festive meal. As any mom knows, there is nothing better than that.

Great New Recipe

For dinner last night, I planned to make some maple-glazed tuna accompanied by pear-potato salad. Since I grabbed mahi mahi at the store instead, I'll try the maple glaze next week. The potato salad, however, was quite refreshing. Curry, pears, potatoes, almonds and a hint of lemon... light, complex (and I try to use that word sparingly), inviting so many creative pairings.