I’m deeply saddened by the senseless violence, death, and terrorist attacks that Hamas’ evil leadership unleashed during the weekend, which is also the end of Yom Kippur. It is also the same week as the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur war in 1973.
On a more positive note, we kick off this week celebrating Columbus Day. But what is Columbus Day?
It is a federal U.S. holiday commemorating the voyage and landing of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in the āNew Worldā on October 12, 1492.
The anniversary of his landing in what would eventually be known as the Americas was first formally celebrated 300 years later, in 1792, by the Columbian Order (Society of St. Tammany) in New York City.
The Almanac
On this day, we should also celebrate and remember the indigenous people here before the colonization started. While Columbus “discovered” the Americas, we know that native Americans lived here for thousands of years.
Today, we honor the indigenous people and remember the historical day when Columbus landed on a beach and claimed it as a new territory.
Worship Date Night
Friday evening was another date night with my wonderful Viking Maiden as we drove two hours to an amazing Christian concert with Andrew Ripper, Crowder, and MercyMe.
Our kids are older and can stay home alone while we can go on date nights. It is fantastic and allows us to do stuff together.
We love our kids, but having parent time with dinner, walking tours, or concerts is medicine for any relationship. It is vital to walk hand-in-hand, laugh, hug, and experience excellent music.
We’ve attended MercyMe concerts three times, and each time is fantastic. Their songs and lyrics are compelling, and the band understands how to entertain the audience with lyrics about the Lord and hope.
It was also great seeing my breaded brother, Crowder, who has released many excellent songs with powerful messages or worship.
Celebration for our Troops
I’m blessed to be involved with a small not-for-profit organization that hosts many events throughout the year for our active military – well, the money we raise and the events we host primarily send small gifts from home to our deployed troops while also helping their families.
Every year, we host a BBQ cook-off, where first responders create a team and cook a dish each team must prepare. Judges will evaluate the dishes and select a winner. Each unit is given the same ingredients, such as fresh vegetables and chicken.
It is all about raising funds, cooking food in a positive environment, listening to local bands, and enjoying locally brewed beer and food sold by food trucks.
I spent the entire day volunteering at the event. We didn’t get as many visitors as we had hoped, mainly because of heavy rain – but we still had a good day.
Cooking For Glory
Although I spent all day Saturday walking, lifting, and entertaining, I still managed to plan the meals for the coming week.
The kids are off Monday due to Columbus Day, so I “only” had to plan out four lunches.
We start the week with a simple bagel stuffed with lettuce and homemade tuna salad. My daughter loves Caesar salads, so I must make it again with chicken. I’ll prepare chicken gyros with homemade tzatziki, which is relatively simple.
Lastly, I whipped up a batch of mac ‘n cheese, but this time, I mixed ranch dressing into the cheese sauce, giving an exciting and tasty kick.
For dinner, we will enjoy two different soups: garlic, cheddar, and cauliflower soup, and then a Thai chocking and noodles. The most time-consuming part of making cauliflower soup is the time it takes to smoke/roast the vegetables.
While the Traeger caresses the vegetables, I prepare the Turkey burger patties by mixing breadcrumbs, yogurt, onions, and spices. Then, I fry them in the pan until done. I would’ve grilled them, but the Traeger was occupied.
Lastly, I made a fantastic beef and tomato sauce with orzo. Very easy and packed with flavors.
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | Columbus Day | Roasted Garlic and Cheddar Cauliflower Soup |
| Tuesday | Bagel with Tuna Salad | Indian Turkey Burgers |
| Wednesday | Caesar Salad with Chicken | Thai Turmeric Chicken and Noodles |
| Thursday | Chicken Gyros | Beef Orzo with Tomato Cream Sauce |
| Friday | Smoked Mac n Cheese Ranch | Outdoor cooking – meat n vegs |
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 