MPM--I Should Know Better Than to Declare a Hiatus

Because then something amazing happens.

Ok, I use "amazing" loosely here. But foodwise, it was pretty epic.

This weekend, my husband was away and I was on meds that made me unable to drive. So it was like a summer snow day, full of house projects. I decided since we couldn't go anywhere for food, I should convert the stuff in the fridge into edible things. I sliced and diced celery, carrots, and cukes for the week. I made strawberry-rhubarb crumble, and scalloped tomatoes. Potatoes were roasted with rosemary from the garden and I tipped and tailed and parboiled all the green beans. I got by on some takeout samosas (from before the meds) and noodles for the kids. And the older "I don't like noodles" boy? Now likes noodles. Glory be. Though so far, he thinks it might be just medium shells, but he also identified: he does NOT like pesto on pasta. Just quinoa. Allrighty.

But then I was in despair trying to use cabbage and made the cabbage and white bean skillet dish from Heidi Swanson. And I chopped half a red onion, and older boy came along and freakin' ATE THE OTHER HALF. RAW. Piece by piece, just peeled it along. And asked what I'd made with the other half...and asked if he could have some too. And he did. He asked for soy sauce-fine by me. He had two whole bowls of it. I could have wept. I have no idea why this weekend they are all adventuresome with food. Maybe because I was gone last week, and Dad is gone now, and all the rules are shot to heck. Maybe because we are very very very very very low on convenience foods and so everything looks good. (Note to self: remember this. They do eventually eat when hungry. Well, one does, anyway.)

Meanwhile, Little Guy gets it in his head he wants to make lemon squares. I don't even know how he knows what lemon squares are. But, lemon squares it is. So he learned to cut a lemon in half and how to juice it with the reamer and strainer. He learned how to look it up in the cookbook! And the How to Cook Everything cookbook index intimidates me! So I am totally impressed.

So now I'm baking cookies for all the friends and neighbors who were so helpful in my emergency the other day, the kids are playing with other neighbors, and life is pretty sweet.

This week:

Monday: well heck. We might as well have the cabbage and white bean skillet, side of green beans. Probably a salad of cherry tomatoes and feta as well with the Catherine Newman vinaigrette on it. My mouth waters just typing the words.

Tuesday: I have been so out of it, I can't even tell you the last time we had a taco Tuesday, so it's time.

Wednesday: very unclear. My husband is having surgery (minor, but it's surgery) so I will try to have something easy. Heck, now that noodles are back on the "OK" list, that might work, though he should probably have something more fibrous.

Thursday: depends, but probably CSA vegetables and Dinner A'Fare meal or my favorite boxed chicken nuggets for the kids.

Friday: we'll see.

One more thing to make this week: I have these adorable little eggplants and since they are too small to grill, I'm making some sauce to put up for winter from my old reliable Glamour magazine recipe from 1990...? ish. And pray that nothing goes wrong with our freezer.

Lastly, we finally tried the Clover Lane feta dip and it was a huge hit. Our Greek seasoning is round the bend (how does that even happen? embarrassing how dusty it tasted) but with just oregano and salt and pepper, it was still great and a huge hit with the grandparents when they came. We skipped the bread and ate it as a salad. Delicious. (But hence the feta hanging around waiting to be made into salad. I was at BJ's.)

Deep breaths. Last week of camp. Last paycheck well and truly cashed and reserves dwindling. This weekend was good practice for the ultimate cupboard challenge that is August. And that's not fair; I know I have resources to tap (this is why I had the money in savings...this is why I had the money in savings...repeat as necessary...when the paychecks start again so will the savings...when the paychecks start again so will the savings...); and my parents lived like this, with one ten-month and one 12-month salary, so while I always had the 12 month, for a first time, this wasn't too bad in the 10-month category.

So here we go! Here's hoping for a healthier, happier August for all. Go get inspired by other meal plans at I'm an Organizing Junkie!