I spent almost all of yesterday getting a meal together for 20 at our church. While I enjoy the opportunity, I often feel guilty because it requires lots of work. Still, it's a mission, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. Thanks to my darling father for spending his day off running around with Nora and to my mother who came straight from the plane to make dinner for them both.

I'm really excited about our plan to try at least one new thing a month. I think we're even a little ahead of the game. And it's good for the spirit to be a little ahead. And it gives me a cushion in case I lose track of time or something. Below are the new foods we have tried so far this year. Please feel free to make recommendations. And remember, the goal is to buy and cook something I haven't eaten or might have eaten out in order to broaden our horizons.

This list will likely make more sense if you read my previous post: 5 Things I Learned from my Dishwasher (or from being without it).

• Fancy dishwashers have child locks to keep them from pushing buttons. The dishwasher's buttons, not yours. New dishwashers have easy ways for locking the buttons. Naturally, I don't want Nora to think she can push them any time. But it's always a safety. Incidentally, for a Whirlpool, hold down "Heated Dry" until the light to the right illuminates.
• Run your hot water one minute before turning on dishwasher. While your dishwasher can heat water hotter than your hot water heater, it takes forever to do so and can be less efficient. If you're pre-rinsing, rinse everything under hot water about a minute before you turn the dishwasher on. My new strategy is to wash whatever I'm going to wash by hand 1 minute before I turn the dishwasher on.

As you may recall, a few weeks ago I went three weeks without a dishwasher. While I understand that many people go without a dishwasher, it has been my lifeline, especially because a) I like to cook, b) I dislike cleaning, c) my husband likes to eat, d) We brown-bag our lunches, e) I work part-time, sometimes 2 part-time jobs, f) I have a toddler. . .I think you get the idea. But life is always a learning process. Here are some things I learned while feeling a bit like I was living as a pioneer and hope to remember even though I'm back living in 2011.

Sometimes, a picture is just worth a thousand words. And sometimes, it's so much more fun to look at pictures of a great meal than to read about it. So, I'll just describe the pictures briefly so if you go you'll know what to order and expect.

Eataly, is a newer spot in New York City where you can shop for fun, imported foods, and then head upstairs for dining--either overlooking the shopping or in a semi-private room with a curtain to draw. The benefit of the room? Warmer.

We were freshly landed in New York, and it didn't take long for us to be getting really hungry. Paul's dad took us to a fabulous restaurant he had just discovered a few days before. Bread & Olive. I don't know how both of my in-laws have this sense in quality restaurants, but this one was completely fabulous.

These purees found in Redbook Magazine (which I cannot for the life of me find on the website) are worth a shot!

Fiber is quickly becoming a daily word in our vocabulary. And even when I don't mention it, I think about it. Does this meal offer enough?

Did you see the Super Moon this weekend? Love our neighbors. We had a block party at 8 o'clock at night!

I loved this list that was printed on a sign in Eataly, a market and restaurant spot in downtown New York City. It summed up many people's thoughts about vegetables. It might not be new information, but at least it's now in writing so none of us have an excuse for not adding more veggies to our diet.

I'm so inspired to cook this week. Could it be some fabulous looking groceries and great sales? Or could it be that my dishwasher is back up and running? Maybe it's just that my excitement in the kitchen goes in waves. Whatever it is, here's what I'm planning on cooking up for meals this week:

Last week, I told Paul I had some cream to use up and asked what he would like me to do with it. He ordered a Rosa Sauce. Saturday afternoon, we were getting lunch together late, and he ordered it again. I rarely give in to pasta twice in a week, but I didn't have energy to argue about it and was happy to make something that I knew was really, really good.

The gentleman I talked to on Sunday morning said I was "chipper" to be going on week three without my dishwasher. Now he's sending me a "Senior Tech." But alas, I work for a living. Which means it won't be til my day off on Friday for the tech to visit our humble abode.