I present to you another gorgeous meal with a back story. And then I will provide the recipe for my Vietnamese Turkey Meatballs Platter. Yes, you can scroll down to that section now, but reading what leads up to my recipes is fun, yes?

So, this time last year, my freezer held enough food to get us through 4 months of lock-down. None of us quite knew if the food delivery chain would be compromised, so we really stocked up. I also remember losing power for three days during a spring storm and the one thing we guarded like newborn puppies was the food in our freezer. Thank goodness for generators.

Fast forward a year later and even though we’ve all learned there is no way to be sure of the future, my pantry has shrunk down from a 'Def-Con 5' food supply, to being moderately ready for the arrival of neighbors. All this ruminating is to let you know I found a package of frozen ground turkey at the bottom of one compartment that was nearing its end-life, as well as having a bit of fresh food in the fridge that just needed to be used ... and it was closing in on dinner time.
​
This scenario sets the stage for most of my meals:  I look in the pantry and fridge for what’s on hand and create from there. I pride myself on posting photos and recipes that appear as though they took a ton of time and brain power, but this isn’t the reality in the “I Feel Like Cooking” theater. As you all know I work fairly quickly because I’m just a mad scientist with an apron, with a passion for nourishing, and I love beautiful food. 

Okay. Now it’s time for the recipe. Isn’t this just a gorgeous looking meatball? And it’s super healthy.

So to begin with, ground turkey is not something you serve without adding additional ingredients to improve it. I chose powerful Asian flavors, and accent with heat, and used grated carrots for moisture. Then by adding preserved lemon and chili flakes to low fat plain Greek yogurt, I had a great sauce to serve, and a meal that featured cool, spicy, sweet, crunchy, and salty.

I find that baking my meatballs is just a great time-saver, even though the pan does a beautiful job at browning. Since these meatballs were on the platter with other items, I didn’t need a caramelized exterior. Yay, because I also avoided cleaning my stove top. Win-win. 20+ minutes in the oven and then serve over slathered the yogurt … it just got more beautiful from there when I added fresh jalapenos, garden tomatoes, cucumbers that I scored so that the edges were pretty, and tons of cilantro. I finished with pretty, red onion slices and some mint leaves, and everyone was happy!

Not that I advocate you wait until all your food has been around awhile before using it, but this is further proof that putting bling into your cuisine isn’t complicated or time consuming.
​
Now for a long walk to eliminate the pandemic middle I’ve grown. Ugh. Please pass me the cucumbers again.

Baking is so, so different from cooking. The rules that bind it together are set in stone and predictability is how you measure success. Unlike, say, being a bit generous with the dill weed in a meatloaf -- which will change the flavors without dramatically changing the end result -- adding more baking powder doesn’t just change a cookie, it may flat-out ruin it. Given this locus of discipline many shy away from baking with abandon. Then the other side of the coin is once you build a process of success there is plenty of room for creativity. That’s where I live, actually. And this cookie is proof.

I often approach cooking by looking at something that works; meaning nailing the ratio of flour, to sugar, to fats, to leavening, (see BASIC recipe below in tabs,) and then ask myself about ways to switch out elements of flavor, texture, or color. I also start most recipes by looking in my pantry and taking stock of what I can do with what I already have. For instance, we know that apple sauce is a great addition to muffins and cakes. It adds moisture and sweetness, and a soft texture. Since partnering with Raven’s Originals foods as a recipe developer, I find their apple butter to be extremely well balanced and smooth, superior almost to apple sauce. So, why not try it in a cookie?

The perceptions from others, when I tell them about combinations, is fascinating to me. A friend of mine, when I informed her that I was adding white chocolate chips to the apple cookie recipe, gently grimaced at the combination, and I wondered why. Do we hear the word “chocolate” and think of cocoa and there's a whole taste stuck in our heads? Because white chocolate is NOT CHOCOLATE. There is no cocoa in it. (Click here to read why.)  It is curious to me why we even call it that. It melts differently. It doesn’t really awaken the palate like regular chocolate. It is more of a buttery element. And that’s why I wanted it for my apple butter cookies. (It totally works beyond belief, by the way!)

This is a winner in every way. They are chewy on the first day, more cake-like from then on. They retain their sort of “plopped on the pan” shape even after cooking. So I love how rustic they look. I highly recommend these confections alongside a bowl of vanilla ice cream. And since my creative side once awakened goes on and on, I can literally think of dozens of ways to change and use these. Add toasted walnuts. Use them in place of a vanilla wafer and cover them with custard and whipped cream for sheet pudding. Smooth them flat, add some ground corn flakes, and use as a base for a baked apple tart. You see, once you find processes that work, there is no reason your crazy experimental side can’t take over.
​
I suggest you start here having fun here!

Slaving over a hot stove is usually a reference saved for those bound to tortured servitude; a permanent underclass of kitchen help that rarely sees the light of day:  A statement I disagree with on almost every level. I personally find it incredibly soothing to stand before a steaming pan of food. And I have the gall to do it in front of my guests, wearing blingly bracelets, and sipping an embarrassingly expensive glass of wine. 

So, when there is a creamy, cheesy, classic risotto on my stove in front of me, I’m almost giddy. Yes, it is about 40 minutes from heating the oil to spooning the mixture into your mouth. And it asks patience, but the rest of the technical acumen needed for this classic rice dish includes how to wield a large ladle, and knowing how to say “yum.” That’s about it.

Forty minutes may seem like a long time for you to be vigilant, slowly adding stock to a simmering saucepan of Arborio rice until it bursts into a white cloud of perfection, but the end result is a thick, soft, and beautiful side dish. It is also versatile. If you can follow the process of heating, and add aromatics, toast the rice, deglaze with wine, and then ladle in the liquid, you can add anything to change the theme. I’ve created risottos using mushrooms, apples, raisins, even salami to create an endless series of variations. In this case I added preserved lemons, and fresh ginger along with the cream, parmigiana reggiano cheese, and sweet onion. This gave the finished dish so much depth and mystery that’s it is almost hard to think it needed anything else to go with it. Trust me though. It gets better.

Arctic char is a fish that has the color and sweetness of salmon and the fresh flavor of trout. It is hearty yet luxurious. And so easy to make. When cooked it is turns into a gorgeous saffron orange. The hue is vibrant, sassy, and honest. I needed that kind of sophistication to go along with my risotto.
​
I used heirloom tomatoes for the relish because I wanted the deep red of those whose colors are more like brick than fire engine red. It made a beautiful dish in the end. You can use any tomato but the trick with this relish is to remove all the seeds. After halving and then quartering them, a sharp knife run along the inside to quickly remove the liquid and seeds gives you the result you desire. I added jalapeño for a bit of heat that pushes against the heady ginger and lemon, and makes the earthy sweet fish pop on your palette. The entire dish is balanced, and classy. The best way known to eliminate any underclass or torture from any sector you are a part of.

©Recipe and Photo Copyright Camine Pappas, 2021. All rights reserved.

You grew up with jam, I grew up with jam. You slathered it on your buttered toast for breakfast then replaced the lid, put it back in the door of the refrigerator, and that was the last you touched it for the day.

I have a vastly different relationship with jam. It is a magic ingredient and I use it everywhere.  
​
So, what do I mean by everywhere? Here are some examples of all the times you are in a relationship with jam:  Enjoy that raspberry vinaigrette on your spinach salad? Jam. Love the sweet crust on the outside of an Easter spiral ham? Jam. Can’t get enough of a good fruit glaze on the top of cheesecake? Jam. And finally, how about that yummy orange coating we often slather atop roasted carrots? Yes, Jam. 

Any time you have a fruit  that has been sweetened, jelled slightly, and simmered into a cup of delicious sticky-ness, that is jam. (Yes, peppers are often considered a fruit!) And you don’t have to limit it to fruit. There’s bacon jam, jalapeño jam. And one my favorites is red pepper jelly. And if you don’t believe I’m a food geek after reading my blog, you will when I tell you I’m keen to create a kalamata olive jam. Yes. Stay tuned!

Fruits lend a unique element to food. They can act as a bit of sweetness to offset an acidic note. They can thicken sauces. Create depth of flavor. Offer refreshing flavors against the savory. And they’re soooo beautiful! They are fantastic over meats, especially when combined with a bit of vinegar, onion, and pepper and cooked into a chutney. Try simmering with a bit of white wine and Dijon mustard and you will understand heaven. And in this gem of a meal, the humble jam helps create the most beautiful and perfectly flavored glaze for a humble Chinese meatball.

I intentionally blend flavors to their highest and best expression. Or at least that is my goal. And when tasked by Raven’s Original Foods to create a recipe using their gorgeous Peach Habanero jam, I couldn’t get my apron on fast enough. 

First, I opened the jar and took a couple of bites. Pressing it around in my mouth and inhaling slightly so I could get all the top notes as well as the subtle flavors at the finish. I wanted to understand the jam's consistency and find out if it was more sweet than hot or the other way around. Licking the spoon until it was clean was how this saga ended. And now I knew what I would do. Magic is about to be made.

When blending the meatballs I knew I must include the key Asian flavors of ginger and garlic, punctuated with herbs, aromatics, and the right amount of salt and pepper. This would help the heat of the jam sing! (I find that using a zester to grate the fresh ginger and the fresh garlic creates a more refined flavor experience.) After mixing everything together and then forming them into the small meatballs, I set them aside to work on the rest of the prep. Seriously, aren’t they the prettiest little bites?

On this night I wanted to skip the carbs (although serving these meatballs and slaw over steaming jasmine rice would be rather dreamy). Turns out I was just as happy without the rice, simply laying it all over a good, crunchy slaw. By sautéing the pepper, jalapeno, and onion in a hot pan with a little oil and salt and pepper, I created an automatic dressing for the slaw. Combining the cooked peppers and cold cabbage helps dial down any bitterness. As a ‘fleurissent finale’ I added torn basic to the warm mixture to gently perfume the slaw. Absolutely the perfect decision.

When it comes to the size and style of your chopped ingredients, there are no hard and fast rules. Sometimes you want everything diced small. Other times you want large chunks. In this case I wanted long, elegant strips that would be beautiful but ensure you could detect each flavor individually. I wanted a solid identity preserved in my peppers.
​
Another trick was to slightly warm the jam and the sweet vinegar in a small pan before pouring it over the meatballs. Otherwise the cold sauce cools everything down. Maintaining the temperature of the beef while sautéing is important for consistency.

When everything came together it was a true jam-fest of flavor and texture. Hot, sweet, tangy, crunchy, and amazing. Another super-win using an ingredient that frankly, I can’t “RAVE” enough about. Check out the full recipe below, go to www.ravensoriginals.com to buy the jam, and get cooking! 

I have mused over the last few weeks that my uncertainly isn’t all due to a lack of access to the truth, but from my former reliance on it. Have I learned how to live my life only when there are guardrails on my daily path and no forks in the road? Have I succumbed to thinking there is a guaranteed future that was taken away from me? Worse still, could it be that my fearfulness is of my own making, and that it rises because I am trapped into believing the ability to avoid suffering, failure, or death is possible?

A wild notion is developing in me that might be the simplest answer to all of this; a kind of parallel truth we may be missing. And that is, what if we all suddenly knew these three things deeply, and in doing so could take back the control we’ve given over to EVERYTHING and EVERYONE else?

• NUMBER ONE: We all have huge worth, and it exists apart from being measured by what we own, or who we know. We will never not matter to someone. Also, E F Hutton isn’t God. Mr. Rogers was right. And you are actually kind, smart, and important.
• NUMBER TWO: Our health is truly interconnected to our social responsibility. It does require effort to be well fed and we should seek to spend more time doing it right. Also, our diseases can be partly blamed on our own attitude towards who is responsible for telling us what's healthy (you are, by the way), our disrespect for our fellow living things, and our constant effort to mitigate our self-loathing.
• NUMBER THREE: We will all die and that’s okay. But for most of us, not quite now. This minute you are still alive, viable, and powerful and you can make a difference. Failure is survivable. You really don’t need anyone to add you as a Friend. And what I really want to tell you is being famous isn’t nearly as important as being vital to one person right now.

Those three bullets can be summarized like this:  If we have respect for self, are aware of the existence of things beyond our own selves that are equal in importance to our own appetites, and can cultivate an ability to have full joy by focusing on the present, we just might get through this. (And the other trials that will surely come!)

PART 2 - Feeling Joy in the Time of COVID
Do What Makes you Happy.

Our bodies have an amazing super power:  The ability to smell and taste. Both which gives us such a rush of pleasure and joy we should revel in this being life’s greatest gift! Joy has been shown to boost endorphins, strengthen our immune system, and even out our ability to handle stress. I love when someone puts a good bit of food in their mouths and then begin swooning with happiness! Is this not a goal we should all strive to have?

For several weeks now my recipes have taken a turn towards comfort and familiar foods. I have rediscovered good beef stew. And remembered why creamed peas make me happy. Whether you choose to download and cook these recipes, or just enjoy the photos and the accompanying drool they provoke, I hope they help you feel powerful, even without a beanstalk.

During the quarantine we got creative with cravings since you can only eat survival food for so long and you need something fresh! Ron wanted spaghetti, but I couldn’t stand to open a jar of Prego sauce. So, I came up with this variation that turned out to be easy, and the perfect comfort food.

When God invented sugar it must have been a very good day. Even though we all consume larger quantities than we should, there is no question we would do anything to experience its rush of pleasure. We serve it at all the most important life events. Even the saying, "life is short, eat dessert first!" proves we would rather have sugar than almost any other food. We call loved ones, "sweetie." People who talk nice to us are "sugar coating it." And adding sugar to cocoa beans has literally changed the planet! Oh, sugar, sugar, sugar! I worship sugar!

Which, I'm thinking, is why God probably kept it to himself for millennia.... no doubt leaked by the dark forces.

Um, thank you dark forces? Oh dear...

The sugar beet and sugar cane are the two main sources of refined sugar production, which seems trivial. However sugar itself has become one of the key commodities of modern times. I actually grew up near a small town where there was a sugar beet factory. Constructed in 1903 in Garland Utah , the Utah Sugar Company was in operation until 1978. I will tell you. The smell from that plant is nothing like the sweet final product. Odd, eh?

Want to know more? Here are some interesting facts published on sucrose.com about sugar:

"It was the major expansion of the Arab peoples in the seventh century AD that led to a breaking of the secret. When they invaded Persia in 642 AD they found sugar cane being grown and learnt how sugar was made. As their expansion continued they established sugar production in other lands that they conquered including North Africa and Spain. However, it is thought that cane sugar was first used by man in Polynesia from where it spread to India. In 510 BC the Emperor Darius of what was then Persia invaded India where he found "the reed which gives honey without bees". The secret of cane sugar, as with many other of man's discoveries, was kept a closely guarded secret whilst the finished product was exported for a rich profit."

Let's talk about some of my latest sugary treats. They have produced so many happy tummies so it is hard for me to think about being a perpetrator of dark arts. Really, how could a candy sprinkle be evil?

It turns out we do need to be a bit mindful of the stuff. The Huffington Post has published a very interesting article explaining what happens when we become sugar addicts. It is worth the read. I find that between the lines the logic lies in understanding that we must have balance. And that a lot of our sugar and other unhealthy items are found in processed foods. I work very hard to avoid a processed food diet and find that if you eat naturally you can probably imbibe responsibly without too much harm...

But I will let you decide with every, delicious, crystallized, sparkling, happy bite...

For some reason, the thought of a spreadsheet filled with numbers makes me a bit queasy. I am always compiling and totaling my expenses and income for the year at the very LAST minute. <Insert image of husband with hands clenched, approaching my neck to wring it.> I mean, it's not like I, or anyone else look forward to taxes each year. The date is not circled on my calendar with hearts all around it. But I rationalize my procrastination in the most twisted way finding bizarre activities to replace completing my 1040 or Schedule C. I would ask you to indulge me when I say that I think putting an apron on is also an activity that falls into that "sorry, I can't count right now..." category. Right?

It's funny, really, because when I cook I appear to be quite a mathematician. My 'mis en place' looks similar to the vertical columns of my ignored spread sheet: Straight and tidy. Yet I still would rather be splattered with sauce than splayed out with a calculator in hand.

I see you nodding your head in agreement. So let's continue with FOOD! (For those shaking your heads "no," and linking arms with my frustrated husband, NO dinner for you.)  :)

I will attempt to mitigate my folly by presenting you with several recipes that prove salivating is the perfect way to side-track your Federal duties. Let's take a look:

Sautéeing cucumbers and apples in butter with just the right other ingredients yields a soft and sweet backdrop for the tangy flavors of this simple relish.
Mounded atop a perfect salmon filet only makes it all the better. Made for a girlfriend's evening I was told this was one of their all time Camine favorites.

Life. Revelation. Expectation. Disappointment. Fulfillment. Tears. Inspiration. Reality. Peace. Torture. Clarity. Love. These are some of the words I think of. I find they go hand in hand with each moment that fills the days we are given. They are alive, rhythmically shifting beneath a cover of organization, planning, and perceived control. The kind of control we all believe we have. And yet every bit of life is fragile beyond comprehension.

That's why memories and the moment are so profound. What will we make of life and the time we have left?

I was once asked if I had a “sense” of how many years I would live. Whether it is naïve or not, I have always believed it would be at least 100 years. It is a reasonable assumption since the life span of dozens on my ancestors has been well over the age of 90 over the last 300 hundred years. So after turning 60 this year, I can expect 40 more years of “life.”

What can I do to make it what I want it?

Ask a physicist about control. It is the most false claim of all. Called the “Observer Effect.”  In physics, the observer effect is the theory that simply observing a situation or phenomenon necessarily changes that phenomenon.

Let me explain using a food metaphor:  I want to see how my cake is faring during a bake. I open the oven door and … boom! I have changed the environment. So to discover what the cake was at the time I was curious is impossible, since I opened the oven door and shifted everything. But then, that's part of the dance, yes?

I have always said that food and your interaction with it is THE metaphor for life. Like a successful soufflé, you only know elation the second you take it out of the oven. And you only get to enjoy the show for about 5 minutes. Then, all of that work begins to deflate into a cavern of lost excitement leaving only the exquisiteness of the memory. So you better enjoy the moment.

I find that the way I cook changes from day to day, month to month, and circumstance to circumstance. We have moved twice since I started this blog. So my comfort zone of oven, lighting, and surroundings has changed drastically. The size of my kitchen has changed. My health has changed. And my countertop space has shrunken. This last year I have done more recipe development but less posting. More refining of technique but less concentration on hashtags or followers.

But that doesn’t matter. I still have a passion for all of it. I still feel like I can answer all of life’s questions during cooking. And I have been able to have so many, many, many more new friends around my table to nourish. And that makes life perfect for me.

My husbands' eyes always light up when he smells the pork slowly simmering in the crock pot since he knows his favorite burritos are on their way. The addition of lime and orange provide the perfect backdrop for cheese, and enchilada sauce, along with a cold margarita!

No pictures for this one. WAAAHHH!!!  I hope you will still give them a try!

I made these as a buffet item for a girl's night in. They're easy to assemble, bake, and eat, and are great as leftovers the next day. You'll find so many uses for these sweet and savory gems!

The downside is I didn't capture great photos of the final presentation, but I did get great shots of this amazing meat sauce. It will be a new favorite lasagna recipe, I promise. With loads of fresh oregano, and a hint of other flavors, you won't miss the noodles or the cheese.

Cutting out each orange segment makes it really so much better. Looks elegant and easier to eat. It doesn't take long! This was the perfect way to set off the meaty and sweet flavors of Mahi. I served it with butter sauteed fennel and zucchini.

This has gt to be the swankiest chicken and fries, ever. Rich, tangy, cool, hot, and fresh. I served it with a simple tomato and English cucumber salad tossed with a splash of red wine vinegar, light oil, fresh cilantro , and salt and pepper.

Although you can serve this with any side dish from rice to lentils, I paired it with boiled Yukon gold potatoes and fennel mashed with some butter, cream, and lemon. Then served it as a beautiful round mound with rosemary tossed cherry tomatoes.

Oh, my gosh. So easy! So fragrant. So fresh! So full of flavor. Yeah, healthy as well. Try this and you will have a bright side dish, a great snack, or mix into rice for a true crowd-pleaser.

I have made so many people a fan of quinoa salad with this one. The refreshing orange and full-flavored dressing keeps it moist with textures that all complement. I think you will love it as well.

 This creates some very complex layering of flavors for something so simple. Use good shrimp, and do not over cook them.

One of my MOST requested recipes!

This side dish is impressive and so easy. Great with steak, baked chicken, or pork. The red onions go incredibly sweet when baked, almost like you worked them in a pan on low heat for an hour. They are the right flavor against the rooty nature of cauliflower resulting in a most interesting combination.
Use GOOD balsamic for the ultimate result.

Most of the time I put my apples in raw. But I decided to get them cooked and caramelized and the results were perfection. Candied ginger is a total game-changer!

This post is about the greatest of all events, overnight guests. Friends or relatives (like my beautiful daughter Katie pictured below!), young or old, favorite or stranger, they have come to dine and recline. And it is up to you to make their visit as spectacular as can be.

There are certain expectations you usually have as a guest:  You want the BEST pillows, a well-lit path to the bathroom, supreme quiet, and amazing food. Some desire a sunrise falling across their face. But most wish for light-blocking curtains and no alarm. The success of all of this hinges on a host and hostess who we hope find entertaining and hospitality their highest calling. Or, the givers of all stay-cation wishes.

I consider myself a good hostess and an equally good guest. I understand that someone opening their home is the highest honor. And I respect that. I know they have made space for me in their heart and their life. An act worthy of the highest praise. There is something wonderful about sharing a roof with a friend. Knowing they slumber in the room next to you, breathing in and out as their minds dream away their cares gives us purpose. Not to mention a reason to bring out the adorable matching cream and sugar set we've been waiting to use.

Framing these events -- the arrival and the departure -- are of course the meals. And they have to be prepared with love and caring. One is the supper that shows the guests' presence is a celebration. And then the breakfast that seals the deal. I have two recipes for you that accomplish just that.

The first appears to be impossibly difficult. But it is simply layering flavors inside a very basic meal. And it is crowned with lovely red candied beets that certainly reinforce the memorable factor. With their high sugar content this vegetable is the perfect muse for honey. And they give the entire meal a crimson glow. I use one of my favorite herb rubs to elevate plain baked chicken. And a simple white wine lemon sauce to pull it all together...

Now for the second recipe. Breakfast!

Not withstanding the importance of good coffee in morning. I mean there IS NO morning without coffee! But what it goes with turns a smile into a little happy dance. And since your guests may end up sleeping far beyond what you might expect, having a "quick" option is imperative. And this one is ready in literally 30 minutes. It uses store-bought dough, which <gasp!> surprises you I'm sure. But then sometimes it is smart to let others help you along the way.

Happy Entertaining!

Christmas is officially upon us. Only one more sleep and it will be gone. And when it has passed -- taking place during a moment so short that it hardly seems real -- we will have cut quite a culinary swath across the landscape. We may well have cooked dozens and dozens of cookies, roasted many roasts, steamed many vegetables, sipped with abandon, and discreetly discarded many fruitcakes. Our kitchens will be glowing with activity, and we will be worn out.

And yet we still want more. The pages of social media are bursting at the margins with new ideas for holiday food. We seem to literally feed on the time-lapse videos for every imaginable edible. And we don’t seem to care much if it is real, or possible, or even tasty. It is just fun to watch and follow food. For every person who collapses on a sofa after doing dishes the millionth time, there are 10 more who say, “…let’s make that Yule Log recipe we got from Cousin Rita!” And once again the mixer is pulled ceremoniously forward, and the preheat button is pushed.

My question is, are we processing the idea of food in a normal context? Or are we just committed to running through the maze of prep, eat, share, clean and start over again without thinking? Do we understand how the act of feeding ourselves and others is actually grander in scale than even the crooning voice of Bing singing White Christmas when it comes to the Reason for the Season?

Christmas is Christian. Jesus is the reason. And nourishment is most definitely a proving ground for most Christian beliefs. But Judaism, Hinduism, and many other religions connect food with edifying our spirit as well, proving that something on a plate is truly parallel to our spiritual celebrations.

2 Corinthians 5:17, as shared in the King James Version states that, “...therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This passage is a ravishing and exceptional illustration that must not be ignored. And one interpretation, mine, is that it is a metaphor for what our bodies do as we feed them. Cells divide and change, grow, and we are literally “new creatures” in food, just as we can be new in the Spirit.

Hasidic Judaism teaches, according to Wikipedia, that ‘everyday life is imbued with channels connecting with Divinity, the activation of which it sees as helping the Divine Presence to be drawn into the physical world. Hasidism argues that the food laws are related to the way such channels, termed sparks of holiness, interact with various animals. These sparks of Holiness are released whenever a Jew manipulates any object for a holy reason (which includes eating).’

Wouldn’t both of these interpretations suggest we are remade constantly? And wouldn’t the most logical of these be through what we put in our bodies? Would that not be the quickest way to elevate our creaturely-ness into holiness since we all experience the desire for food all throughout the day?

John 6:35 states:  “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” Matthew 5:6 states that, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Perhaps, then, is the accelerated focus of cooking during Christmas a natural instinct we respond to? A need to expand our understanding, and increase our nearness to God?

I have often written about the fact that I believe true peace will take place around a dinner table. I postulate that the act of filling ourselves and enjoying the sensory explosion of tasting, and sharing, and sating binds us in a deep spiritual way that is undeniable and causes in us a desire to be new creatures. We see the good in others and ourselves, we are moved to care about what happens to us all as a species, and maybe even as children of God, if that is your belief. Even the sitting position is one of non-aggression, resembling in earnest our posture when praying on our knees. We lean perilously over a plate, out of balance, focusing all our muscles on bringing one bite up to open mouths to savor. While we cannot truly say that all eating is holy, I think we can safely say that holiness includes eating.

As I conclude my ode to nourishing the Noel, I have one other idea to share. I am wondering. Could it be possible that the Christian cross could just as easily be set next to a fork in terms of significance? When we are “filled, and no longer hungry” will the plate, knife and spoon perish from our lives or become the center of our worship? Will breaking plates become heresy? Why, who knew a stuffed mushroom could become hallowed. But then, why wouldn’t it be?

So, before Christmas is over. Take a moment and breathe reverence and hope into your holiday meal. Stop rushing through it. Meditate upon the exquisite beauty of a cranberry popping in a pan. And then take the hand of someone you love and place something yummy before them. There is no other gift more perfect.