The Reason for no Menu-Monday

This week, there was no menu Monday. That's because Sunday we learned that Tim "might" be traveling. We live a life of "flexibility" that makes some things hard to plan. So I planned the menu...and then sat on it. And here it is Wednesday, and the menu has already been thrown out the window. We found out this afternoon that he would leave early tomorrow morning. So we decided to splurge (we've done really well on our budget this month!) and had Papa John's. Which, I would like to add, was well deserved after I made duck yesterday.

What a great intro to my horrific story: A Tale of Two Ducks. It is a tragedy. I recently watched Julie and Julia (or is it the other way around?) In the very end she has to de-bone a duck...which I will add is beautiful! I will try it one day...but not anytime soon. I was so inspired! I decided to make roasted duck with apple stuffing. (I know, Mom, I will never make you eat duck!) So off I went to the market. I even took my camera to show you all how said duck originally looked, but once I hit the market, it all went down hill. I knew I would have to buy the largest duck they had. After all, here they are sold with the head and feet...and everything inside! So I tell the first lady selling ducks I want the big one...it weighs about 3 lbs...I'm supposed to have a 4 lb duck. After checking around, and being told that they've never heard of a 4 pound duck, I finally decide to buy two. Once they weigh and I pay, I go about asking them to cut off the head and feet which is met with some confusion. When they find out I don't want the neck either, they just laugh at me. The lady asks me, what are you going to do with the ducks? I tell her roast them, she thinks I'm "lihai" or "clever."

I bring my ducks home and put them in some cold water until I'm ready to get them cleaned up and in the oven. What I did not realize is that the de-feathering process is not very efficient. As I start to clean the ducks, I realize I will NEVER get all the little feather bits out of the skin. So, I tell Tim, don't eat the skin. I will leave out the entire process of cleaning out the ducks...ick will suffice.

So finally they are rather clean.

Then I stuffed them.And baked them.Then we picked all the meat off the bones. Never was such a sad sight to be seen!

For the cup and a half of meat, I actually felt guilty that these birds were killed. I regularly roasted chickens in the US. It would feed our family for one meal and leftovers. I generally had the feeling of, why did they bother to kill this bird...there's nothing there.

Anyway, we will be eating this week and next, but it won't be very interesting. When Tim is gone we eat a lot of pb&j. The kids are already asking about popcorn and cookie night...so much for healthy eating. Hope you all have a great week!

Menu Monday

This week we are still eating up all the vegetables and meats we bought last week. That's great for the budget, though! I'm hoping I can find some blueberries this week. That would really make my week!

Monday

oatmeal with bananas

pb sandwiches for the kids, salads for the adults

Split pea and Barley soup and bread

pineapple

Tuesday

bagels

turkey salad sandwiches

eat out

Wednesday

bagels

pb sandwiches for the kids, salads for the adults

chicken wraps with whole wheat tortillas

watermelon

Thursday

mexican omlettes in whole wheat tortillas

grilled cheese sandwiches

Thai chicken and vegetables

brown rice

mango (can't have Thai without mango)

Friday

whole wheat waffles

noodles with cabbage

jerk chicken

saffron rice

spinach

tropical fruit salad

Saturday

whole wheat pancakes

sandwhiches

sausage and barley soup

bread

apples

Sunday

muffins

eat out

kielbasa and corn hash

strawberries or mandarin oranges

As I was writing this, I was imagining some of the reactions to Monday's meal. Most people the thought of Split Pea and Barley soup conjures up the image of pasty, baby poo looking like food. I happened to try it at one of our favorite restaurants on a trip to HK, California Pizza Kitchen. Despite being a pizza place, they have the BEST salads and soups! Anyway, someone else ordered it and let me try. I was in love! Don't buy the canned stuff, I can't vouch for that. I do know that made with fresh vegetables, chicken both, and quick cooking barley makes all the difference. It will take a while to cook, though. And about kids, at first, they turned their little noses up to it, but now they love it! And speaking of barley, I have not found a better ingredient than barley to put into soups. Both rice and pasta bloated and disintegrate into such a mess. Barley only gets better and is a whole grain! Hope you all have a yummy, delicious week!

What to do on "One of THOSE days"

We've all had "one of THOSE days." The first day back to school after break. The first day after vacation. When the police call and say that you have to come down and register...again. You go grocery shopping, and they're out of (fill in the blank). We all have these days.
This week, we got back from vacation on Sunday. I was being entirely too ambitious to think that I ought to start back to school on Monday. Add to that the police calling, and the normal 4 store trek to find all the things we use. And finally discovering, the store I usually buy flour at is out. On top of this, while you all are celebrating Valentine's Day, we have Chinese New Year's. It is the biggest holiday of the year. I kept hearing that every store would be closed. Turns out it's only the wet markets, but earlier this week I bought, like a good American, enough groceries to last a couple of weeks. But fresh veggies have to be prepared so that they don't go bad.
Fast forward to tonight. I finally started to feel like I had caught up. Around 4, I looked at my list of meals...sausage and barley soup with bread. The bread was not started and the sausage was not even made. It was NOT happening tonight.
The first thought at this point is, let's go out to eat. With the holiday, it might have been possible, but not likely. Many of you may have felt this way, too, with the economy. Ten years ago everyone just headed to Pizza Hut or Chili's. We are blessed that we have tons of really cheap restaurants, although I think when our gallbladders have to be taken out, we'll pay for it in the end! But tonight, we didn't go out. My great husband said, "I'll cook." I laughed (completely unfairly) because he's not much for following recipes...can do it, just doesn't like to. And it's not like our cabinets are stocked with hamburger helper! But fresh eyes did the trick. He poked his head in the fridge and out he came with dinner. My knight in shining armor!
We don't often keep our fridge or freezer stocked with "one of the THOSE days" meals...Do you all keep things and if you do what are your favorites?

Hopefully next week I will be adding a Thankful Thursday. I'm copying the idea from several other blogs that I've read. I am thankful this week, I want to add, that we waded through all the stuff I mentioned above and it's done and over! Happy Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year!

A Blog of Note

This is one of my favorite blogs to read. She takes beautiful pictures and really captures the ordinary in a truly extraordinary, even sacred, way. This post was particularly special to me. I'll admit a teared up just a little. So I thought I would share the link...especially good for moms!

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/02/of-ending-of-beginnings-goodbye-to.html

Hope you enjoy!

Menu Monday...a day late

So, I've found that when I get home from vacation late Sunday night, it's really hard to get my menu for the week up and running by Monday. So Tuesday night will have to do. We are, as many people are, trying to eat a little healthier. A feat not so simple in a country that believes that all meals should be soaked in oil. All has virtually no whole-grains...granted, vegetables and fruits are cheap and plenty--save blueberries, $3 for about a cup! Anyway, here's what we're eating this week.

Monday

eggs and toast

pb sandwiches

leftover beef vegetable soup

cornbread

strawberries

Tuesday

oatmeal

pb sandwiches (yep, not much variety, I'm working on that)

Paprika chicken, cabbage, potaoes with onion and red peppers

dragon eyes and mangos

Wednesday

omlette and toast

Chinese

baked eggplant parmesan with whole wheat pasta (yes, I found some!)

strawberry desert (not too much sugar)

Thursday

bagels

chicken sandwiches

shrimp pasta with vegetables

oranges

Friday

apple and blueberry (maybe) muffins

noodles

sausage barley soup

bread

pineapple

Saturday

biscuits and sausage (not really a low fat food, but Elijah's been begging for it)

sandwiches

chicken in whole wheat wraps with veggies

apples

Sunday

bagels

banana bread for meeting

eating out...or leftovers

baked sweet potatoes and broccoli

This week and next is the biggest holiday of the year here. Everyone is supposed to go to their home town and celebrate it with their family. This is our first year being in country during the celebration...so we're not sure how it works. We've heard rumors that EVERYTHING in town shuts down. We've recently heard that the big supermarkets are still open, but everything is more expensive. We don't quite know what to expect. I've been stocking piling food for the last couple of days and have one more store to go to before I will feel like I can survive even if everything shuts down. Hopefully I will have some pictures to post of the celebration later in the week.

Also, as I noted earlier, we don't have much variety for lunches. We have pb or our friend cooks lunch for us. I'm looking for suggestions for lunches...what do you eat or feed your kids...other than pb?