Welcome to the last week of September!
There are only 90 days to Christmas if you celebrate it on the 24th of December like we do, or 91 days if you go for the 25th of December.
I had a scary moment when shopping at our local Walmart over the weekend when I saw they had already set up their Christmas section. It is not even Halloween!
We had a hectic weekend celebrating my wife’s birthday. It was a 70s-themed party, hence the exciting outfits we were wearing. Despite the rain, it was a great party, and we had some fantastic homemade food.
Some friends could unfortunately not come because of heavy rain and local flooding, but we hope to invite them over another time.
Infused Bourbon and Mead
A couple of weeks ago, because my wife loves apple-flavored bourbon, I wanted to explore the skills of infusing bourbon myself.
I sliced a few apples, added cinnamon sticks, some star anise, and honey, and then topped it off with Jim Beam bourbon. I left it for eight days, and the result was terrific.
Yesterday, I started my batch of fall mead, again using apples and honey, but this time, it will need to sit for about four weeks, just in time for Halloween.
Left Overs and Daughter Cooking
To my astonishment, our oldest daughter asked if she could cook a couple of meals this week, which is something that we cannot turn down. Sure, we are apprehensive about what she might cook and the kitchen’s state during and after, but I wholeheartedly support her endeavors.
Our daughter is making dinner on Monday and Thursday and cannot provide much insight into the approach or ingredients.
I will make a fantastic Danish dish from our leftover beef roast for the birthday dinner. You can call it Danish soul food, and it is called ‘biksemad.’ The dish is diced potatoes and meat with sliced onions, grilled on the stove, and served with a runny egg.
Yesterday afternoon, I made a big batch of butter chicken, a delicious Indian dish, served with boiled rice. I’ll spice it up with some chili-infused oil when it is served. The aroma in the kitchen and the rest of the house is remarkably delicious when you cook Indian dishes. The spices quickly engulf the home in beautiful flavors.
For school lunches, I’m making a few simple lunches using some leftover bread, lettuce, chicken, and, of course, mozzarella—simple but fantastic lunch options.
My school lunches are ten times healthier than the stuff the kids can buy in the cafeteria. It is incredible when my kids get compliments from their friends; some even ask if they can swap lunches.
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | No School | Baked feta with tomatoes and pasta |
| Tuesday | Caesar Salad with grilled chicken | Danish biksemad (soul food) |
| Wednesday | Tomato and mozzarella melt | Butter chicken with rice |
| Thursday | Pesto and mozzarella melt | Jacket potato (loaded baked potato) |
| Friday | Mini pizza | Over-the-fire-cooking |
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 much easier to make food in advance, although you must invest several hours preparing meals during the weekend.
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The Viking Heart Within 