Menu Planning and the Liturgical Year

As I have said before, I am doing a Catholic Mom’s book reading and Bible study at a nearby church. The focus of last week’s meeting was food preparation. There were lots of ideas for making the preparation process flow more smoothly and lots of tips on making food more central in bringing your family together to pray, share your hearts, and foster growth as Christians. One of the suggestions in the book was to make your table match the liturgical calendar in both settings (table cloths and candles) and in food. As Eastern Christians we already do this somewhat for major feasts, but to be honest we struggle to make our daily meals formal and holy.

In order to improve in this area of our lives I will be attempting to make our table setting more beautiful, to continue to plan meals, and to bring everyone together at the table for meals. By bringing everyone together at the table to share a meal, I hope that we can incorporate more Christian practices of reading Bible passages, saying prayers, and simply breaking bread together and conversing.

For a long time Alexander has insisted eating at the coffee table, because it is just his size and because he can convince us to turn on cartoons while he is eating. Recently, I have been placing his breakfast at the dining table and Praise be to God, Alex has not made a big deal of it is like he has in the past.

On Friday morning, the morning after our Mom’s Group meeting, I got up early and made everyone breakfast and placed it at the table and called everyone to breakfast. We don’t usually all eat breakfast at the same time. I usually make myself something before or after the kids and hubby. I’ll just eat fast while doing one of my other morning chores. Hubby just rushes about and either will eat what I make or just drink coffee and then come back to the house and eat something after his morning class. Needless to say, eating breakfast together was wonderful and is something I want to continue. Breakfast is the perfect meal to have together, because the kids are not grumpy and needy. I will try to not short change dinner either.

On to menu planning: below is this week’s menu for dinners (it’s a bad scan, click on it, it will get bigger), complete with liturgical feasts. The kids usually eat kid things--ravioli, sandwiches, etc. I have a picky eater. I have a calendar with the readings for the day, so we will attempt to do a short reading each day. My friend suggested reading from a picture Bible for the kids. I may try that. Although, our picture Bible is abridged (obviously), and it can be difficult getting the right message out of it.

Tuesday, we will go celebrate the feast of the Archangels at a friend’s house potlatch style. I think my Tuesday meal will transfer well.

…baby’s crying. That means no editing. (Your turn to post your menu, Eleri) Blessed cooking and homemaking to all!

Psalm 31

¹⁰ wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

¹² She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

¹³ She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵ She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.