It is starting to feel like "fall" here. The football games are back on television, the kids are back in school, and the air seems to be turning cooler at night. We have not used our little pool since we returned from vacation in Ohio and I think we may go ahead and drain it - a sure sign of fall. When fall hits there are always things that need to be done such as extra work in the yard, going through the kids clothes for the fall season (and buying more), and getting the house ready for winter. I have always liked to super-clean before we hit winter, because I know we are pretty much confined to the house for several months.
As I look forward to fall and winter (because I love the change of seasons), there is one thing that always seems to come to mind... BAKING. Do all of us tend to eat more and bake more in the winter months or is it my imagination? Some would argue that it's because our predecessors had to prepare for winter and the shortage of food; they would stock up and get fat to last through the winter.
My kids would probably tell you that we do eat more during the fall and winter and then they'd quote the phrase from the Grinch, "AM I EATING BECAUSE I'M BORED?" Maybe we do eat because we're bored and there's nothing better to do.
I find that sharing food with friends (and maybe some hot chocolate or coffee) - enjoying conversations and one another's company- is just about one of the best things to do in life!
I see God as a person who likes to fellowship with his people in this manner, too. I think about Jesus who performed his first miracle at the wedding in Cana... he turned water into wine at the reception banquet! He also ate with the 5,000 when he turned a little boy's lunch into a feast for all. He ate the "last supper" with his twelve closest companions, and he gives us the concept of communion in order to remember his work on the cross. There are several times in the Bible where food was provided for people miraculously; Elijah, Peter, or the manna for the children of Israel. I also think about the 23rd Psalm, which in part tells us "HE PREPARES A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES". What about the upcoming marriage supper of the Lamb- which may be closer than you think?
Lovers "go to dinner". We have "fellowships" at church. Weddings, graduations, births of babies, and funerals cause us to have a "reception". We have big feasts to celebrate holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. Our relationship with food is intertwined with some of the most significant events in our lives.
Fellowship and the connection between emotions/ spirituality/ and physical food is something worth thinking about!
This weekend, I had two delightful friends drop by just in time to share in some fresh baked rolls and chicken wraps that my mother-in-law gave me a new recipe for. It's actually Paula Dean's recipe, but we liked it so much, we thought it was worth sharing! We super-sized the recipe and used it as the main course meat! For my family we used a pound and a half of bacon - slices cut in half- and an entire bag of six chicken breasts. A good rule of thumb would be: one chicken breast per person (one breast per adult- because small kids would only eat half).
BACON WRAPPED CHICKEN NUGGET APPETIZERS
1 Large Chicken Breast cut into nugget sized pieces (uncooked)
6 slices of bacon cut in half
1/2 C. brown sugar
2-3 Tbl. Chili Powder (Williams seasoning)
Combine the brown sugar and chili powder and set aside.
Wrap a piece of bacon around the piece of chicken and
roll through the sugar and chili powder mixture.
Secure with a toothpick. (I used skewers instead and put
several on one stick). Place on a non-stick, foil lined
shallow pan (we used pizza pans).
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.
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(Type this into your browser because I am not directly linked).
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Celebrate fall with family and friends... have a get together and use your new recipes!
