The first day of school was great but hectic, so I got a little bit behind. I figure I’ll put the recipes down anyhow, because I couldn’t possibly be the only one who was scrambling a little yesterday. And to make up for it, I’ll put the recipes up to and including Wednesday.

Monday’s recipes

Chicken curry (this is a low-cal version of butter or coconut chicken)

Cut chicken breasts into approx. 2-inch cubes (It cooks down into bite-sized pieces)

Thinly slice 3-4 onions

Dice 2-3 tomatoes

In a large skillet, heat 2 Tbsp cooking oil

Add onions and cook sloooowly until golden and caramelized. The basis of any good curry is slow cooked onions. It can be irritating to wait in our rush-rush-rush lives, but the payoff is worth it, so turn down that heat and give them time. (approx. 15 minutes)

When onions are beautiful, add 2 Tbsp curry powder and combine with onions

Add chicken and stir with onions. When chicken is cooked through, add diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup of water and a generous dollop of ketchup (yes, ketchup). Cover and let simmer until tomatoes have cooked down into stew.

Add salt and pepper to taste

Immediately before serving, add 1 cup plain yogurt and stir

Rice

Twice water to rice

Bring water to boil

Add rice and reduce heat to low

Cook covered for 16 minutes (white) or 45 minutes (brown)

Turn off and leave covered for 3-4 minutes

Raita

Coarsely chop or grate 3 Tbsp cucumber into 1 cup of plain yogurt

Peach crumble

I don’t bake. Too many instructions. So this is an easy, vague dessert recipe.

Cut up 4-5 peaches into large chunks

Toss with a Tbsp of sugar and a tsp of cinnamon

Grease a square (preferably glass) 9x9 or 8x8 baking dish with butter

Mix together 1/2 cup of flour, 2 Tbsp coarsely chopped butter, 2 Tbsp brown sugar and 2 cups of Oatmeal Crisp cereal

Lay peaches in bottom of baking dish and spread oatmeal crumble mix on top of peaches

Bake 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Tuesday’s recipes

Beef tacos

Dice 1 onion

Put ground beef in large skillet and brown. In order to brown meat, do not let anything other than the skillet come between the meat and the heat. For this reason, you will add the onion after the beef is browned all the way through.

I think those taco kits come with spice mixes. Add to meat. If you’re going commando and doing this without a kit, use salt, pepper, tabasco and about a tsp of cumin.

Add onions and let simmer

In separate bowls prepare:

• 2 cups of diced tomatoes
• grated cheddar cheese
• shredded lettuce
• yogurt or sour cream
• salsa
• browned beef mixture

Heat taco shells as per instructions

Let everybody fill their own shells at the table

Wednesday’s recipes

You know how an egg salad sandwich on white bread is far less appealing than party sandwiches, which are essentially egg salad sandwiches on white bread? Cut off the crusts, make them pretty, and it’s a whole different ball game. Giant sandwich is sort of the same thing, only in reverse.

Giant sandwich

Take your loaf of beautiful, fresh bread (I like to use the Portuguese ring bread—looks like a giant bagel) and slice the whole loaf in half as you would a bagel or bun.

Fill with cold cuts and your choice of mustard, mayo, etc.

Dress with lettuce, tomato, pickles, hot peppers as per your family’s particular tastes. Anything goes. Just remember, you’re trying to get a full meal on a loaf of bread.

Serve in slices or chunks, depending on the shape of your bread