Monday, August 18, 2008

Meet Him in the Kitchen...


As we prepare meals for our families this week, may we each remember His Word as we are about our work. His Word gives us many ways to “meet Him in the kitchen”.

Last week I used many different spices in some of my “southwestern” food, and coriander (dried cilantro) was one I used a lot. Have you every thought about the spices the Hebrews used in their Old Testament days are some we STILL use? The next time you buy coriander at the grocery store, say a quick "thank you" prayer since it is so easily accessable and you don't have to “go around gathering” it!
(Numbers 11:7-9 The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a hand mill or crushed it in a mortar.)

Before starting your work, and each time you’re handling any raw meats, remember “clean hands” will keep you and your family healthy. (Psalm 24:4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.) Now the pure heart might be a little harder to come by…but you can ponder and pray over yourself as you wash your hands.




When I’m cooking from scratch, it naturally takes longer than when I start with a pre-made mix.

We love New Orleans style rice and beans, as well as shrimp etouffee, and with each of them I must prepare a Roux (pronounced somewhat like the English word "rue"). It’s a mixture of my good flour and a tasty fat of some kind, usually pork fat, cooked down until richly brown—a wonderful base of the gravy. I have to be diligent, stand and slowly cook it to just the right point or it will be ruined. The Levites also stood and cooked their offerings in pans, with aromas drifting up to their Lord. (Leviticus 2:7 If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of fine flour and oil.)

And, I’m sure you and I share this last point:

Once I’ve worked hard cleaning, preparing my various items, cooking all the food, and putting away any leftovers and washing up the pans and dishes, I absolutely love to kick back in my blue leather, winged-back chair in my den. I get great comfort in knowing our Lord rested after all his creativity (Hebrews 4:4 And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world…"And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.")


My actual menu plan is in my right margin...
For many, many great recipes, visit here: http://orgjunkie.com/2008/08/menu-plan-monday-august-18th.html ... you won't be disappointed!!