Recipe to Savor

It’s a few days before Thanksgiving and recipe books are opened as the cooks of each house are looking for “something different.” Often the eaters of the house are happy with plain corn or mashed potatoes, but the preparers want to sneak in a new combination of mixed ingredients (even though the rule is not to try out new recipes on guests). Maybe “earth bread,” “eggplant dressing,” “spinach sunflower,” or “banana yam casserole” will make it to the table this year, but surely “ziplock chicken” should wait for a more ordinary meal. Some families have almost a prescribed menu: “Who is making the pistachio salad this year?” “I’ve got the green bean casserole.” But sometimes the adventure gets the best of someone and they’ll announce as they walk in the door too late for revisions, “This year we’re having gumbo instead of turkey!”

My prayer for the congregation?

Dear God, We are ever thankful for the blessings in our lives. As we go to grocery stores in preparation for the meals we will prepare, help us to have a sense of wonder as we choose our vegetables, a sense of humbleness as we choose our spices, a sense of gratitude as we choose our bread, and a sense of joy as we choose in which line to stand. In every task we have the choice to honor you. Let us not forget the most important ingredient to our meal and to our lives, love. Amen.