Some months ago, I would complain that time was crawling. Each day was long. Our lives are monotone with little or no activities. The fecking COVID restrictions made our existence rather dull. So while we tried to apply some normality to our past times, it was still just the five of us stuck together.
Today, I’m worried that time is flying too fast. Our girls are in Girl Scout camp five days a week, full-day, and our son participates in the extended school year. Weekends are filled with domestic chores. Every day starts early, getting bags packed, and then off to our regular schedules; camp, school, and work.
It has already been two weeks since the girls started camp, and yet it only feels as if they started yesterday. I drop them off at 7.30 am, head to work, and then see them again at dinner time. Crazy how time suddenly flies.
Last weekend, I surprised the family with some authentic paella … made by a crazy Viking. They love paella and have requested it many times. I even bought a proper paella pan before moving to the US, and now I could finally use it.
I decided to cook the entire meal on the fire pit. It took a lot longer than I had envisioned in my head. Mainly because I had serious problems getting a good fire going. I suspect the wood was a little too moist, but it got there in the end.
The local seafood dealer had everything in stock. Not entirely fresh, but frozen would have to suffice. I’ll share the recipe when I get a chance.
Earlier in the week, and after decades of driving without an accident, I was hit on the highway while driving my big red truck. Surprisingly, a car rear-ended me and gave my truck a nasty limp. It takes a lot to result in a pickup truck getting towed. However, the other car bent my exhaust so hard it popped out over my left rear tire, immobilizing my truck.
The worst thing is, I could see it all unfold in the rearview mirror. Traffic in front had slowed down, so I slowed down too. Unfortunately, the driver behind me did not pay attention and came in hot. I saw him come closer and closer and fast. All I could do was brace for the impact.
So, now I’m driving a shitty rental car while I await the fate of my dear truck. I fear that the insurance company will mark it as totaled, meaning I have to search for a new vehicle.
Time to talk about food
It can be hard to find a good balance of meat, vegetables, and cultural variances.
Some days I spend hours searching for meals. Other days it just magically appear, and within minutes the week’s meals have been planned.
I’m back baking bread for the kids to get some proper homemade hoagies stacked with goodies—everything a kid needs when in school or at camp.
Visiting the Middle Eastern kitchen is essential, so I made a batch of falafels from scratch, whipped up some sabih (tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley), and fried some eggplants – or aubergine as we call them in Europe.
We also have to visit the Columbian kitchen, dappling in various meat mixed with peppers and rice. It looks and smells awesome, and I’m sure it’ll be a nice meal.
When I cook, it is cultural appreciation, and I love exploring dishes from around the world. Of course, they will never taste as wonderful as in the countries where they originate, but it allows me to “travel” there.
Back to what I love to do on a Sunday – preparing meals for the week while listening to cool music from @theavettbrothers @thelumineers@thenativehowl @tbtduluth@taylormccallmusic @whiskeymyers@kitchendwellers @kongosmusic@edkowalczyk @theblackkeys on the awesome @demerbox and rocking my @kitchenaidusa … who said cooking couldn’t be fun!
Fire up the Traeger. Ready your Dutch oven. Go shopping, and let’s start cooking—another Sunday in the Kitchen with music on the magical Demerbox and wonderful aromas filling the room.
| Weekday | Snacks n’ Breakfasts | Lunch | Dinner |
| Monday | Fruit Cups | Egg n Shrimp Salad with crackers | Colombian Arroz Atollado |
| Tuesday | Rice chips | Dumplings | Taco Tuesday with pork loin, cabbage and carrots. |
| Wednesday | Fruits | Egg Muffins | Shrimp with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce with white rice |
| Thursday | Hoagie with ham, salami, cheese and lettuce | Falafel feast with sabih, tomato & cucumber salad | |
| Friday | Falafel with hummus | Friday BBQ – served with a simple salad; black beans, corn, tomatoes, red onion, and some green shit |
One day, I might get so organized that I will link the meals below to my recipes. We can only live in hope!
Have a fantastic week, my friends. I hope you enjoy these meal plans. It is so much easier to make food in advance, although you need to invest several hours during the weekend to prepare the meals.
Stay in touch with me through social media!