Apple pie, cupcakes, croissants, chocolate gateau, raspberry roulade, black bean cacao brownies... Whatever your specialty, treat someone to a taste-bud party today. Make it healthy, gooey, rich or gluten-free, and make someone smile.
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Marshmallows, pink and white, with a fresh strawberry and icing sugar garnish.
I enjoy labouring over a hot stove for many hours to produce a spectacular meal, honestly I do. It is also – perhaps more so – a delight to come up with something simple that communicates love and care rather than hard work.
On one occasion after his resurrection, Jesus unexpectedly appeared to his disciples on the shore of Galilee to serve them a simple meal of fresh cooked fish, barbecued on the beach. I love the combined elements of simplicity and surprise here.
Spending time thinking creatively, rather than just working hard, is often the key to producing a gift that will be long remembered and appreciated by the recipient. And there is nothing quite like food to bring us together in community and relationship.
I have often cooked for Alpha meals and one of the things much appreciated, by the organisers and guests alike, is something to break the ice at the introductory supper. I have never been a fan of saying to a group of strangers, ‘Now we are going to have an icebreaker’ – it makes me shudder!
In my experience, nothing breaks the ice and melts the atmosphere better than a large glass bowl full of pink and white marshmallows adorned with fresh strawberries glistening with a trace of icing sugar.
An unusual combination I grant you, but this very simple and unexpected part of the meal gives pleasure to those who are eating and gets them talking as well! Almost everyone will feel at ease to turn to the person next to them, even though a stranger, to express a childlike delight in being presented with a marshmallow and a strawberry.
You don’t need to be an expert chef to open a packet of marshmallows or barbecue a fish. The simple gift of a dish can highlight the love behind it and bring a smile to anyone’s face. So whatever your culinary skills are, get creative and spread some joy.
Today's blog was written by Joe Story.
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