Meal Plan • 11/16/15

• Monday: Crunchy black bean tacos
• Tuesday: Moroccan Chickpea Stew, served over brown rice (Whoa - I've been cooking this stew for years, and I've never posted the recipe online.  Will rectify this oversight, stat.)
• Wednesday: leftovers
• Thursday: Take-out pizza from our fave local spot (no time to come home)
• Friday: Creamy Dreamy Cheddar Grits, Blueberry-Pecan Pancakes (upside down day)
• Saturday: it's somebody's birthday, and we're going out to eat
• Sunday: I. Don't. Cook. On. Sundays.

I almost didn't come to share our menu this week.  There is a ridiculous (and highly unusual) number of evenings in which we will not be eating at home, but since I figure that happens to quite literally ALL OF US, sharing our own goofy reality seemed valid.

Our family's crazy-busy Wednesdays are finally coming to a close (for the next couple of months, that is), so that one day a week will become a little more manageable, but the holiday season begins now, it seems, so there will be all sorts of other blips in the schedule for foreseeable future.  The kids have their end-of-semester performance on Thursday evening which will preclude any time at home for dinner, and a certain someone in our household is beginning a new trip around the sun this weekend, so a dinner out seems in order for that evening as well.

These are good days, these full and funny, ever-so-slightly-too-busy days of ours.

And Thanksgiving is coming, so next week will be another time for funny little tweaks to the menu.  I am already planning and re-planning the small list of side dishes and desserts that I and The Boy Wonder (who will be bringing his own specialty for the first time this year) will be contributing to our family's feast, and I'm looking forward to revisiting some old holiday favorites and discovering some new treats.

It is difficult right now to find gratitude when horrific acts of terrorism are happening around the globe, but I do not think any of us will survive the darkness without appreciating the little things, the small moments, the time spent together around the table with loved ones.  So we will celebrate each other, and we will remain happy, and we will take a minute to be absolutely thankful for the people we cherish, because we never know what tomorrow may bring.