Every meal has multiple courses. When you first start to put together multi-course meals, you’ll probably feel that it takes longer than the 10 minute goal. This is what usually happens. But after a week or two you’ll find that you are able to organize the preparation so that you’ll have a very busy few minutes, putting the fish on first, then preparing the asparagus and making a salad, or whatever the menu calls for.
Some meals have a cheese course. Any cheese will do. It’s not meant to be a main dish, but a completion of the meal. A small portion is all that you need. A thumb’s size of cheddar or jack cheese. Even better are the creamy soft cheese like brie or Camembert.
If for any reason you don’t want to eat cheese, instead try a wedge of avocado or a small serving of one of the puddings or coconut tapioca.
And I almost always have a cup of coffee after lunch. Pour boiling water on ground coffee in a French press and it’s ready when you’ve finished eating the cheese course.
Sample midday meal menus
SUMMER
- Appetizer: Radishes with a dab of butter
- Salad: Whole-meal salad #1 with creamy vinaigrette
- Cheese: A square of cheddar
- Appetizer: Pickled vegetables
- Salad: Whole-meal salad #2 with mayonnaise
- Cheese: An ounce of brie
- Appetizer: Cucumber slices in sour cream
- Salad: Whole-meal salad #3 with blue cheese sauce
- Cheese: An ounce of camembert
FALL
- Appetizer: Pickled beets
- Main course: Omelet with sauteed potatoes
- Salad: Romaine lettuce with vinaigrette
- Cheese: An ounce of brie
- Appetizer: Carrot salad
- Main course: Sauerkraut and sausage
- Salad: Boston lettuce with vinaigrette
- Cheese: A square of cheddar
- Appetizer: Deviled eggs
- Main course: Trout and rice
- Salad: Red leaf lettuce with vinaigrette
- Cheese: An ounce of Camembert
WINTER
- Appetizer: Pickled green beans
- Main course: Lamb chops and spinach
- Salad: Romaine lettuce with vinaigrette
- Dessert: Tapioca
- Appetizer: Pickled beets
- Main course: Sauerkraut and sausage
- Salad: Celery root
- Dessert: Panna Cotta
- Appetizer: Carrot salad
- Main course: Meat patties and rice
- Salad: Red leaf lettuce with vinaigrette
- Dessert: Chocolate pudding
SPRING
- Appetizer: Salmon-wrapped asparagus
- Salad: Arugula, fennel and avocado with sausage patties
- Cheese: A square of Swiss cheese
- Appetizer: Pickled radishes
- Salad: Spring salad #2
- Cheese: A square of cheddar cheese
- Appetizer: Smoked oysters mixed with whole milk yogurt
- Salad: Spring salad #3
- Cheese: A square of Swiss cheese