2013?!

Geez..who said it could be 2013 already?

Hope everyone is well. I mean..really..like, not sick, well. It seems a lot of people are starting the year off with the flu..or strep.

Gotta admit. I was no exception. So to the New Year's Eve guests I abandoned in the middle of the evening.

Apologies. I really did feel like I had Freddy Krueger in my throat. I understand you got along fine without me..you know...blowing things up and drinking Hot Damn shots. For what it's worth, I have started out the year with a mini-hibernation.

3 days in bed. It was wonderful! I think this should be a new tradition...only without the throbbing throat and head.

So now I reflect on the year past, and look forward to the one ahead. This past year was an emotional doozie for many reasons..and if I look at what I thought I would be doing last January..and the way life has played out? I wasn't even in the ball park.

So, I am not even trying to guess what this year will hold. I am coming out of hibernation and entering  a few months of a self-imposed cocoon of work, prison and family. I hope to stay in this cocoon for at least a few months...and maybe come out of the cocoon to meet some college friends for The Dirty Girls Mud Run in Austin this Spring.

I was the lucky recipient of Rosetta Stone Spanish (the whole set!) for x-mas. Since my Spanish is becoming more and more necessary at work, that is my goal for this year. Starting with volume one and working my way through.

Other than that? My only other goal, wish..don't want to call it a resolution, because, quite frankly..I suck at resolutions. Is to feed this family better!

There was a while when i was like a food nazi..that time has long past.

 We have been scrounging or eating junk food for the past several months (sheez..years?!). It is taking it's toll on all of us. But here's the thing..we are a family trying to meet the dietary needs of people affected by Chron's/Colitis, thalesemia-minor, Bickerstaff Syndrome , one vegetarian and a slew of food allergies. It can lead to pure insanity.

 So to keep everyone healthy we need to stay away from processed foods...fix occasional vegetarian meals with options for those who can't eat veggies..and occasional carnivorous meals with some vegetarian options. And this? Takes some planning.

 When I didn't work, we could stick to the Mediterranean diet..and it fit everyone's needs..and tastebuds!  But Mediterranean diet? Takes time. And time..is something we don't seem to have a lot of.

I am not good at planning.

But here we are..and this week? We have a plan! So I thought I would try to post for awhile our menu..you know..just in case there is another family in this universe who are trying to meet the dietary needs of..Chron's/Colitis, thalesemia-minor, Bickerstaff Syndrome, a few vegetarians and a slew of food allergies.

 Then you add your actual cooks. You know, a mom who is more a "get the job done" cook..than a good cook. A dad who is a really good cook...but is sporadic in his cooking. And two young men who make lots of breakfast foods. One toddler who just sprinkles ingredients around the house. Yes, the little man decorated our floor with garlic pepper yesterday and used red-hots as marbles for his train set (don't ask) today.

So here it is. What's for dinner? So glad you asked (just humor me here)

Monday (tonight): baked chicken, green beans cooked in veggie broth and sliced potatoes with onions and mushrooms.
Tuesday: cheese lasagna, spinach salad, french bread
Wednesday: baked fish, wild rice, cooked asparagus and sliced peaches
Thursday: Big B's toasted sandwiches with sliced turkey or roast beef (or not), swiss and or pepperjack cheese, cucumber and olives, (tomato and lettuce optional) with tomato soup.
Friday: left-overs
Saturday: family pasta night..dinner at Pap's Italian restaurant.
Sunday: make your own omelets

Okay..back to my cocoon..where i am watching too many lifetime movies while Big B piddles in the garage, Levi lines cars around the living room..and Austen sleeps! Cody? Still at Ellie's for the holidays.