I created a fun AI-genereated image to celebrate this week's theme and the fact that it is earth day.
I enjoy classic rock metal, and sharing that love with my kids is essential to give them a proper rock education. We owe it to our kids to teach what real music is.
Another day in a heavy metal life! Back in the 80s, we had this great show called The Young Ones, and they also created one of the best rock bands, Bad News. In honesty, it was a sarcastic day and life of an aspiring new rock band.
You can Google it and see the show on YouTube.
Why am I sharing this?
Well, late last week, I had a tremendous opportunity to see some legendary rock icons in action. None other than Judas Priest entertained an almost sold-out event at the Prudential.
It is amazing how and where all these metal fans from the 1970s and 1980s suddenly reappear from the shadows. I wonder where they hide when not attending metal concerts, as some adorn the same look as they did in the 1970s. The same leather outfits, worn t-shirts from concerts they attended in the 1970s, hairstyles that haven’t changed except for hair loss and greyness, and jewelry on wrists, neck, and ears …. and I’m sure a few hidden jewelry pieces.
The women were beautiful in the 1970s and 1980s and still attractive today, but with a few more years behind them. They, too, dressed as revealingly as they did in the 1970s, except for their boops reaching the bellybutton, grey hair, plenty of jewelry adorning their arms, neck, and ears, and the mandatory bandana used as a belt or hanging from a back pocket.
The evening started with a Swedish metal band called Sabaton. I’ll admit that I am always worried when I hear of Swedish metal bands, and I feared it would be some leather version of ABBA with IKEA-inspired instruments.
But I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by Sabaton. They had long hair, energy, a drum set on a tank, and many angry-sounding songs. Unfortunately, they dressed in matching pants, so the evil black leather metal image was less rock.
On comes Judas Priest, who, in case you did not know, started their long career in 1969. The lead singer turns 73 this year, and most band members are equally mature.
Age did not factor in their performance. Vocals, instruments, and entertainment all came together in a higher unit of metal power. They rocked for almost two hours and even drove onto the stage on a Harley for one song.
The pyrotechnic show was missing, but we had it all, including them headbanging while performing awesome guitar and drum solos. The light show could’ve blinded a blind person, and we hit above 105dB – it was a proper rock concert!
My hearing was slightly muffled for an hour or two afterward, but it was worth it.
Week Seventeen Meals
In true metal spirit, I listened to Judas Priest and other legends Saturday morning while planning the meals for this week. It’s a great way to kick-start your day with distortion and angry voices. You work faster when you listen to high-energy music.
It only took me a few minutes to create the meal plan and the grocery list. Once I had picked up the groceries, the kitchen adventure could commence, and I started to prepare the produce and meat I had selected for the various dishes.
I used my Traeger to prepare several meals, including Sunday night’s family BBQ. Using the smoker is easy, providing the food with an excellent flavor. Consider it an outdoor oven using wood pellets.
While cooking food in the Traeger, I cut and cook the vegetables on the stove. An outdoor kitchen using a Blackstone griddle would allow me to fry, prepare all the food outside, and enjoy the fresh air.
You guessed it. I blasted Judas Priest, ACDC, Metallica, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, GnR, Creedence, KISS, Motorhead, Scorpions, Slade, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and several other great bands.
School Lunches
We start the week with a simple Caesar salad with grilled chicken, and then we roll into Tuesday with a chicken and avocado wrap.
While grilling the chicken, I made the beef, pepper, and onion mixture and used some meat mix for the cheese melt.
Against my better judgment, I agreed to serve pizza rolls on Friday. Pizza rolls, especially the store-bought version, are a product of the devil, as they contain many strange ingredients and are full of salt. They are not a healthy option, but they are a popular option for kids nowadays.
Dinner Time
I’m looking forward to an Italian-inspired beef stew. It will resemble most other beef stews I’ve made in the past few years, with celery, onion, garlic, and carrots. To keep with the Italian theme, I’ll serve it with thick egg noodles.
I grilled a large tray of shrimp with tomato sauce and other herbs. We will enjoy some boiled rice with this dish.
I am excited about the Thursday dish, which features pork, honey, and apples. You cannot go wrong with pork and apples, and I’ll roast a few spuds and mushrooms as a side.
Meal Prep Party Pictures
Meal Plan
| Lunch | Dinner | |
| Monday | Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken | Stracatto with Egg Noodles |
| Tuesday | Chicken Avocado Wrap | Prawns with Garlic, Lemon, and Rice |
| Wednesday | Beef, Pepper, and Onion Bowl | Salmon Stew (left over) |
| Thursday | Grilled Cheese With Beef, Pepper, and Onion | Honey Mustard and Apple Pork Chops with Roasted Spuds |
| Friday | Pizza Rolls | Outdoor 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 