The Apostle Peter and Jesus had a discussion where Jesus repeatedly asked Peter to "feed my sheep." Now, I'm guessing that Jesus wasn't necessarily talking about physical food. He had an amazing way of telling a story about one thing to get those around Him to REALLY think about something else. That phrase, "feed my sheep", I've heard enough sermons to be convinced that Jesus was talking about things on an eternal realm but if you cock your head to the side (makes me laugh thinking about all of you with your heads tilted to one side or the other) and let your mind consider another angle of perspective, maybe it could be taken literally.
I love to cook! I enjoy getting in the kitchen and bang some pots and fill the house with the aromas of home cooked love. And I really enjoy sharing my kitchen creations with friends. The Boyos and Mr. Snark are live in culinary guinea pigs. If it doesn't get passing marks from them, it's not likely to ever be seen by friends. I'm always game to take a meal to a friend in need...albeit a death in the family, a new baby, surgery....just because...whatever the reason, I rarely shy away from a "meal train." I'd much rather be on the giving end of the meal train. In light of the stresses that could take me out of the kitchen and cause me to rely on the kindness of friends to make sure my menfolk are subsisting on more than peanut butter sammiches, cooking a meal for someone who needs it is no big deal. There is so much that I can't do in times of crisis, but I can use the talents that God has given me to be a blessing to those around me. Maybe that's another way of looking at "feed my sheep." Feed those around you by being a blessing, instead of a curse. (Don't get twisted by that remark. You all know people that act more like walking curses than blessings. Remember Job's friend? What about his wife?) Use the gifts and talents God has placed in your life to encourage and nurture the ones around you. It's a well known fact, in the world of public education, a hungry child isn't going to be as successful in the classroom. Make sure that child is fed (which REALLY needs to happen at home, but that's a different kettle of fish) and you've got a whole new ball game. A physically hungry person will be more inclined to listen and be receptive to the good news of Christ once his physical need is met. Feed him....then FEED him.
To wrap this little missive up, here's a recipe that I made and shared with a friend, who is recuperating from shoulder surgery. It turned out really well and that's a very good thing since I was making it up as I went along!
Greek Chicken Salad
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 pound or so)
2 lemons
1 cup Chardonnay
3 celery stalks, with leaves intact
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
4oz Greek yogurt
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped seedless cucumber
salt, pepper, dill, oregano, parsley
Set oven to 350F. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, dill, oregano and parsley. Place celery stalks and half of chopped red onion in bottom of baking dish. Add water and Chardonnay. Add chicken breasts. Zest 1 lemon and sprinkle over top of chicken. Slice lemon and place in baking dish. Cover with foil...bake about 30 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove foil from chicken and cool. In large mixing bowl, combine zest of second lemon and yogurt. Mix together. Thin with broth from chicken until consistency is smooth. Add remaining chopped red onion, cucumber, olives. Chop chicken into bite sized pieces and add to yogurt mix. Serve with pita. YUM!
I love to cook! I enjoy getting in the kitchen and bang some pots and fill the house with the aromas of home cooked love. And I really enjoy sharing my kitchen creations with friends. The Boyos and Mr. Snark are live in culinary guinea pigs. If it doesn't get passing marks from them, it's not likely to ever be seen by friends. I'm always game to take a meal to a friend in need...albeit a death in the family, a new baby, surgery....just because...whatever the reason, I rarely shy away from a "meal train." I'd much rather be on the giving end of the meal train. In light of the stresses that could take me out of the kitchen and cause me to rely on the kindness of friends to make sure my menfolk are subsisting on more than peanut butter sammiches, cooking a meal for someone who needs it is no big deal. There is so much that I can't do in times of crisis, but I can use the talents that God has given me to be a blessing to those around me. Maybe that's another way of looking at "feed my sheep." Feed those around you by being a blessing, instead of a curse. (Don't get twisted by that remark. You all know people that act more like walking curses than blessings. Remember Job's friend? What about his wife?) Use the gifts and talents God has placed in your life to encourage and nurture the ones around you. It's a well known fact, in the world of public education, a hungry child isn't going to be as successful in the classroom. Make sure that child is fed (which REALLY needs to happen at home, but that's a different kettle of fish) and you've got a whole new ball game. A physically hungry person will be more inclined to listen and be receptive to the good news of Christ once his physical need is met. Feed him....then FEED him.
To wrap this little missive up, here's a recipe that I made and shared with a friend, who is recuperating from shoulder surgery. It turned out really well and that's a very good thing since I was making it up as I went along!
Greek Chicken Salad
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (1 pound or so)
2 lemons
1 cup Chardonnay
3 celery stalks, with leaves intact
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
4oz Greek yogurt
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped seedless cucumber
salt, pepper, dill, oregano, parsley
Set oven to 350F. Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, dill, oregano and parsley. Place celery stalks and half of chopped red onion in bottom of baking dish. Add water and Chardonnay. Add chicken breasts. Zest 1 lemon and sprinkle over top of chicken. Slice lemon and place in baking dish. Cover with foil...bake about 30 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove foil from chicken and cool. In large mixing bowl, combine zest of second lemon and yogurt. Mix together. Thin with broth from chicken until consistency is smooth. Add remaining chopped red onion, cucumber, olives. Chop chicken into bite sized pieces and add to yogurt mix. Serve with pita. YUM!
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