Have you ever tried to wake up a teenager at 4.40 am on a Saturday?
It is a bloody scary and cumbersome experience. Teenagers are nocturnal, and if they are disturbed prematurely, they will come out all guns blazing—especially a 17-year-old girl who has a craving for coffee most mornings. And, as we all know, coffee can calm down morning aggression. This was a plug for my friends over at Black Rifle Coffee.
You might wonder why I would even contemplate waking up my teenage daughter at that ungodly time on a Saturday morning. Only a fool will tempt fate!
She went to the regions for her high school science research project, presenting her fabulous project and hopefully scoring some well-deserved praise and scholarships.
The topic is far beyond my understanding, but we are immensely proud of her, and this is a significant topic to research.
The effect of maternal perceived stress on fetal development in the womb and the occurence of special needs post birth
Emily the Viking Daughter
These Southern beauties don’t function until the sun hits mid-morning, and they smell a large freshly brewed cup of Black Rifle Coffee.
Older and wiser?
This past weekend was a significant milestone for our family – mainly me. Our oldest Viking offspring turned 18-years old, making me feel much older than I am.
We always say time flies by, and suddenly our kids are old and ready to start their own lives away from the family nest.
I’m not sure we will ever be ready to let go. No matter how old they are, our kids will remain our kids, and I will constantly worry about my daughter.
Not negatively, but simply that she is a mature young woman now that can make her own decisions. I do not doubt that she will be successful in anything she puts her mind to.
We will support and guide them as much as possible, although we might not agree with every decision she makes. But, I’m sure my parents never agreed with me leaving Denmark, but they have supported me nevertheless.
Back Cooking
I’m finally back doing what I enjoy – meal planning and cooking for the family.
While some might struggle with it, I find peace and relaxation in exploring new recipes online and preparing the grocery list.
With a family of five, it can be challenging at times to find dinners that every person enjoys. I have been reasonably successful to date, although some dishes look much better than they taste.
Another challenge is to use alternative ingredients, transforming the meals into healthier options while preserving the flavors.
I do not use any salt in my cooking or baking. Many people I’ve encountered find that extremely hard to believe, but people that have tasted my dishes have not been able to tell the difference. It’s all in the herbs and spices you use.
This week we are enjoying a lot of chicken – perhaps too much, but it is so good. My Dutch Oven is a stable tool in my kitchen, and my cutting boards and a custom kitchen knife.
Cooking meals in advance is such a relief during the week, as you do not need to stress with cooking when you have a long day at work. You heat up what’s on the plan.
The trick to successful meal planning is to stick to the plan!
The Naked Viking (me)
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 | Lunch | Dinner |
| Monday | Roastbeef cheese melt sliders | Grilled salmon with roasted baby spuds and asparagus |
| Tuesday | Egg salad deluxe sandwich | Lemon chicken with egg noodles |
| Wednesday | Pizza muffins | American Goulash |
| Thursday | Caesar salad with grilled chicken | Chicken garlic with tomato and kale sauce |
| Friday | Pizza muffins – part Deux | Creamy lemon cheese ravioli with spinach and peas |
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 in preparing the meals during the weekend.
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