1 lb split peas, rinsed
1 smoked turkey drumstick
3 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
1 cup baby carrots, chopped
3 very small onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp thyme
salt & pepper
1 qt chicken stock
water

Layer everything into a slow cooker. Add enough water to make sure that everything is covered with liquid. This will vary depending on the size of your cooker, and the size of the turkey leg you use.

Cook on low 8-10 hours.

Sunday: Football Fest – buffalo shrimp, sushi, chips w. salsa & guacamole, veggie tray, crackers, cheesey dip or cheese ball

Monday: the ever recurring split pea soup

Tuesday: cod w. veggies in foil packets, rice

Wednesday: leftovers or spaghetti depending on the level of leftovers.

Thursday: Steak, crash hot potatoes, veggies

Friday: Roasted chicken, little red potatoes, roasted veggies, challah

Saturday: DAD COMES HOME (well, here actually for a while for continued recovery) FROM THE HOSPITAL DAY!!! – He asked for “something with flavor”. I’ll have to give this one some thought.

As is obvious from my blog, last week went all to heck. My dad, who was supposed to just have a minor surgery the Friday of week 4, wound up being transferred to ICU at another hospital, had a second surgery on Tuesday, and will remain in the hospital for a few more weeks. He is out of ICU now, and should be transferred to rehab later today, so things are looking up. However, to add insult to injury my kids and husband came down with the exorcist flu on Friday, and I woke up with it on Sunday.

So, last week’s meal plan is being reshuffled for this week.

Sunday: I have no idea what my family ate, as I slept through the entire day.

Monday: Fish baked with lemon and herbs, potato packets, and artichokes

Tuesday: Fried chicken, roasted brussels sprouts, baked potatoes

Wednesday: Split Pea Soup (yeah, we didn’t have it – again)

Thursday: Spaghetti

Friday: Challah, steak, cauliflower, fried new potatoes

Saturday: Pizza

My dad is in the hospital, and we don’t know for how long, so this weeks meal plan is even more subject to change than normal.

Sunday: Lasagna leftovers, roasted asparagus and red peppers

Monday: Roasted chicken, asparagus, crash hot potatoes

Tuesday: Split Pea soup (pushed again – we will actually eat it this week!)

Wednesday: Halibut baked in foil with lemon and herbs, potato packets, artichokes

Thursday: Steak, artichokes, fried new potatoes

Friday: Challah, Chicken Papirkash, dumplings, vegetable (unless we do Shabbat at my folks house instead)

Saturday: homemade pizza

I’m beginning to think that I should just not make a plan for Saturday night. Somehow, it always seems to get thrown by the wayside. Last night, instead of having the planned tacos, we picked up fried chicken and took it over to my folks house. So, tacos need to get moved to a night this week.

Also complicating this weeks plans, Friday is my mom’s birthday, Shabbat, and my father is having major back surgery that day. How do I make a Shabbat meal, that is birthday celebratory too, and that can be eaten at whatever time my mom and I get back to the house from the hospital? Do I ask my husband – who will be home with the kids that day so I can be at the hospital, to make Challah and the rest of dinner? Ack!

Oh, and my inlaws are coming in this weekend too. I love them and they are coming to help, but it makes meal planning even more “interesting”.

I guess the jist of all this prefacing this week is that the plan for this week will probably get thrown out completely due to all the complications, but here goes anyway.

Sunday: Pizza (probably will just pick one up at Costco today)

Monday: Tacos, beans, and rice

Tuesday: Dinner with my folks, which will probably actually be here, but I don’t know what yet.

Wednesday: Baked halibut, rice, veggies

Thursday: Split pea soup (week 3 split pea soup night wound up being 11 bean soup instead), homemade bread

Friday: Challah, salad, and lasagna

Saturday: Gumbo

Sunday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, garlic bread, salad

Monday: Beef stew with Guiness, potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and homemade bread (transferred over from Saturday night of week 2)

Tuesday: Dinner with my folks, which means I don’t have to cook!

Wednesday: Oven fried chicken, roasted veggies, mashed potatoes

Thursday: Split pea soup (DH’s favorite, and I’ve never made it – so if you have a great recipe, send it over. Oh, and I’ll be using a smoked turkey leg instead of a ham bone.)

Friday (Shabbat): Homemade challah, duck confit, salad, dessert, and all I’m responsible for is the Challah because this week Shabbat dinner is at my folks house.

Saturday: tacos, beans, and rice

Well, we did it! We managed to stick to the meal plan for the week with only one change! And that is today, because I forgot to take the chicken out last night to defrost.

So, for the coming week, here’s the plan:

Sunday: Roasted chicken, pasta, and veggies (held over from Saturday due to memory error)

Monday: Chili and cornbread

Tuesday: Dinner at my folks. (who knows?)

Wednesday: Fish (what type depends on what is on sale), rice, steamed veggies

Thursday: Butternut squash soup, homemade bread

Friday: Shabbat dinner – chicken soup w matza balls, Standing rib roast, roasted veggies , potatoes, challah, and a dessert of some sort.

Saturday: Beef stew with carrots, parsnips, potatoes, and Guinness.