The Empress from Good Day Regular People is guest posting for me today and I’m excited because our amazing friendship goes way way back to grade school.
Actually … that’s not quite true.
We just started commenting on each other’s blogs a year ago, but it feels like so much more. Don’t you know what I mean when I say that about Alexandra? Isn’t she the most encouraging DM’ing, tweeting, replying, commenting, fast-forwarding kind of friend around? I’m so glad to know her.
And in addition to all the things we have in common: mommyhood, midwest ties, champion for the underdog, humor (she’s funny and I laugh), we also both have a love of cooking. I’m sure you know that about her already don’t you? That she’s a professional caterer in between making us all laugh at ourselves and the world around? Now you can read for yourself about her whole-hearted love of cooking and family.
(Tip: Make sure dinner is already prepared though or you’ll just end up digging into a packet of twinkies when you’re through. Or you might just gnaw on the edge of the table. You won’t even know what blindsided you and caused those little glands to start salivating).
The Joy of Food
My children were already excitedly planning their choices for our Easter Dinner Celebration.
They were going to ask for bacon wrapped cornish hens, farmer’s market green beans with Wisconsin grown cranberries, pearl onion and sage dressing, hot apricot compote, and my own home made bread. My children’s obsession with my home made bread borders on the clinical.
I have been blessed with many things, and one of the gifts I’m most thankful for is the ability to recognize a moment in which I can help my children to see God’s hand in our daily life. I sense such a moment during their menu planning.
As I listen to our three boys’ wishes for Easter Dinner, my instincts tell me to let them talk a bit more about their planned menu, before I add anything to their conversation. They continue with the descriptions of the jello colors they hope I’ll serve, and I hear them wish for the candied raisin carrot salad.
I feel the right opening to jump in, and I do. “Boys, ” I ask them, “I really want to know why you chose the foods you did for Easter. What made you decide what to have on the menu?”
“That’s easy, Mom,” our youngest tells me, “it’s the food that tastes so good! I can hardly wait to have it!”
“Well, okay, that makes sense. But, tell me, what is it that you like about the food you picked?”
Words like “juicy, delicious, crunchy, warm, gooey, tastes so good!,” tumble out of their mouths.
“Hmmmmm, ” I say, looking at each son, “isn’t that odd? I thought food was just to keep us alive. I wonder, why then, do you think it tastes so very good?”
Their eyes are glued on me now. They don’t know where this could be going.
“Come on, boys, ” I encourage them, “let’s think. What could be some reasons that food tastes so good?”
“I think it’s so that we don’t eat poison or spoiled food, ” our middle son says assuredly.
“True, true….taste does save us from food that is rotten. But, then, we should only have food that tastes not bad, not spoiled, right? Why is it so delicious?”
These three boys love a good question, but I have stumped them.
“Maybe so that we have an appetite and then eat to stay alive?”, our oldest volunteers.
“Yes, an appetitie is necessary to eat. But don’t you eat whatever you find, when you’re hungry? I mean, when you’re hungry, you’re hungry, right? It doesn’t have to be delicious, your body just wants food.”
“Mom!”, our youngest shouts, “it’s because eating good food is good and delicious. We love it!”
Bingo. “You are right. Eating good food is good and delicious and we love it.”
I look at my three wonderful boys, and I tell them what I think and believe. I tell them I believe this: that food is a gift from God. He knew it would please us to eat delicious food. The food He provides us with is so much more than just nutrition. If His sole intention with food was to just provide us with nourishment, then we’d have grass like the cows graze on, or field corn like the pigs eat.
What we have is such bountifulness from His hands. We have so much more than something that merely keeps us alive. We have enjoyment, pleasure, comfort, from the food we eat. He has gifted us with food that is delicious and satisfying, so that we not only live through it, but live abundantly.
I see food and the joy it brings, as a gift from God, designed for us with love.
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Okay, after all this, you know I had to beg her, BEG her to provide us with a recipe. I mean this woman cooks for a living so you know she’s good. And here it is:
She says, “I cook like my abuela, a pinch of this, a pinch of that.”
Photo Source: 123rf.com
(worth ALL the effort)
1 (8-ounce) package cranberries, fresh
1 orange, zest- then peel and cut orange into thin strips
1/2 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
Put all the ingredients into a saucepan, over medium heat and simmer until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool and refrigerate. Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.
Use orange zest to garnish before serving.
In the event you live under a rock and don’t know who The Empress is, please do visit her here and become another one of her adoring subjects. Like me.
Maybe she’ll even have you over for dinner.
I was kidding about the “under a rock” comment of course. Thanks for guest posting Empress. 🙂
Oh, Jennie: I don’t think anyone can write an intro like you.
Sorry to launch into the superlatives like that right away, but that’s just how you do things.
THANK YOU for the lovely use of your beautiful blog here today, to write of the things that are the most important in my life: my children, my beliefs, my gratefulness.
I so appreciate you, and what your writing brings to me.
Thank you, sweet friend.
xo
Oh the Empress, how I love her so. Proof that God loves us? He made bacon. Also? He insists on the fatty portions being offered to Him in Leviticus 😛 Ok, borderline heretical comments aside, lovely guest post! A reminder that God is good!
Yes but I don’t think he asked for the fatty portions of the pig, ha ha 😉
well I love the Empress and know of her awesomeness.
However, this brought it up to a higher level, just that exchange with your sons is something that every mom hopes for one day. A dialouge with your children, that isn’t heated or disciplined,. but rather just talking, deciding, engaging one another.
I am an “eater” not a “cooker” but you made me want to Try.
great post!!! HI to Lady Jennie. Nice to meet you.
Hi Kir – nice to meet you too.
so does that mean we are worshipping while we are stuffingour faces…cause i will go to that church…smiles. no i agree with you empress…and wonderfully spun…i am just glad it was not a lesson on equality condemning me for refusing still to eat my lima beans…smiles.
Hello! I’m stopping by here from Alexandra’s site–isn’t she the greatest?
I must say, my children will touch neither a raisin nor a cranberry, but the enthusiasm of your boys made me smile. What a gift.
I love big celebratory meals – they always evoke such a wonder.
Since I stopped by today from rainy New York, can I say I came to France for a brief visit, too? 🙂
I love the lessons you impart on to your children, Alexandra. Beautiful. This was a wonderful guest post. And what a gorgeous blog you have here, Lady Jennie. Hope you don’t mind if I look around a bit?
I took your advice and had a smack of malted milk balls as I read this post, but my mouth is still watering. And the message to your boys, Alexandra? Priceless. I love how fully involved they want to be in such a special meal.
Eating good food is delicious!
Maybe one day I’ll know how to make good food. Until that day, I leave the cooking to the husband.
I love the conversation you had and the wonderful lesson that came from it. This is just wonderful.
Hello ladyjennie. So nice to meet you : )
Ah, Alexandra, “juicy, delicious, crunchy, warm, gooey, tastes so good”. If only I could manage that! I do however know someone who will be thrilled with the cranberry recipe ; )
Hi Motpg. Hey I’ve heard of you. I need to come and check you out. Such a great blog title.
I am all about good food. It’s just a shame that I am not as good at making it as Empress is. And while I do make homemade cranberries, is it bad that I also like the canned stuff Ocean Spray makes?
😉
xoxoxoxo
(p.s. I think this is a winning combo—Jennie and Alexandra in one space–LOVE!)
You’re a darling! 🙂
Nothing compares to the taste of homemade cranberry sauce. It’s just amazing.
I love food, cooking, and making people happy with the things I make. I just wish that I could do it for a living!
I just sighed a litte.
First I sighed because of this dream I have of my children WANTING to eat what I cook.
Then I sighed because I’d love to be able to learn to cook things like Cornish game hens.
Then, of course, the sigh over such a lovely conversation.
Followed by the sigh of relief that a recipe was included.
Now that I think of it, I sighed a lot.
This is just lovely. The post and Jennie’s blog, in general.
I feel like I’ve been hugged.
And also like I want to have a good conversation with my children.
Good and delicious, of course.
Excellent job on the God-food link, Empress! Loved reading two of my absolute favorite bloggers writing side by side.
And three reasons we know God loves us?
Chocolate.
Coffee.
Pasta.
Lady Jennie, I’m so happy to have found your blog! And of course, who doesn’t love the Empress. Great topic for a guest post – food is so important in MY life because of the pure joy it brings me. Now if only cooking that food would bring me pure joy.
Sweet stuff! Both the conversation with the boys and that cranberry recipe! Alexandra, you have some pretty cool kiddos.
I too love this combination of the Empress and the Lady – two of my favorite bloggers, too. :-)) Encore!
I am a new Blogger and I am not familiar with the empress, apparently I have been missing out. What a fantastic introduction. Alexandra, I love your writing style. Your descriptive phrase of “words tumbling out of their mouths” was profound and has stuck with me for some reason. I will be reading your blog!
Lady Jennie, thank you for sharing your friends with us.
So hungry. Mmmmmm.
Love your blog, Lady Jennie. I also love the Empress’s blog.
But she stole my line…..since years before either of you were born I have been saying that “Food is a gift from God” and then she comes up with …
“.I see food and the joy it brings, as a gift from God, designed for us with love.”
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
* * *
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Great food, lovely sentiments, and another fabulous blog to read, too! Jennie, I see you help newbies with trips to France, I may call upon you as we embark on a 25th wedding anniversary trip next year!
Oh great trip you have planned! If I can help I would be glad to! 🙂
What a delicious guest post Alexandra!
Why don’t we eat like this every day?! Seriously, this post was beautiful and now i’m thinking of going out to dinner tonight instead of settling on a frozen pizza…Alexandra is an inspiration
I love love love the conversation you had with your boys! It’s awesome when you see an everyday moment and can teach with it.
two of my favorite bloggers in one place! It doesn’t get much better than this… except maybe being able to reach into my computer and pull out a bacon cornish game hen.
I have been reading the Empress forever, this is now one of my faviorite posts by her!
Ohh I detest spelling mistakes! *favourite!
What joy to share your love for good food with your family. Your boys will never loose their love of family and sharing food with those they love as they follow your example. Teaching them the true reason for our joy and enjoyment is the best yet!
Thanks for your wonderful post, I now consider you both my favorite. Can’t wait to read more!