She’s Crazy About Cookbooks
I Peter 4:10 (NIV) says,“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” He’s bestowed me with the gift of administration, encouragement, generosity, and faith, Cooking is not listed among the gifts; yet when paired with hospitality, the two fit nicely together. I believe the Lord gave me the love of cooking as a gift. He gives me ample opportunities to use all my gifts to serve others and bring His glory. The Lord has shown me, whatever the gift, He equips with skills and resources to use it. Let me share with you how He equipped me with my gift of cooking.
I started baking and cooking in my early 20’s. I’ll not confess my age, but I’ve been collecting cookbooks and recipes for over 40 years, which resulted in a craze for cookbooks. Trying to decide on what to cook for a meal can be challenging with so many delicious-looking recipes to choose from. Favorites of family and friends are taken into consideration when preparing a meal. My husband’s favorite is potato scallop, while a close friend loves my hash-brown casserole. When the kids and grandkids come for a meal, special care is taken to prepare their favorites too as an act of love.
Those not keen on cooking and what it entails may ask, “Wouldn’t it be easier to pick up the phone to order a meal and have it delivered? Yes; that is an option to consider, but the meal might not be a healthy choice. A loaded pizza with double cheese can be hard to resist.
To resist the temptation; I remind myself it’s more economical and healthier to prepare a meal myself. When pressed for time, I may opt to grab the cookbook that proclaims to have fast and delicious meals. In 30 minutes or less a meal is ready to enjoy. When the whole family gathers for a special occasion, greater thought is given as to what will be served.
Cookbooks and recipes are available everywhere these days. Many randomly show up on Facebook. How convenient is that? My favorite cookbooks were purchased to support local fundraisers. These books contain practical recipes with ingredients readily available at the grocery store. Many of us in Easter Canada have a Barbour’s Cook Book. It’s filled with favorite recipes by cooks from the Atlantic Provinces. Mom passed her copy on to me. It’s a bit tattered and worn but that makes it even more special.
Along with several cookbooks, I have recipes clipped from magazines or printed off the internet. For now, they are placed in binders to keep them organized. One for main-course meals, another for side dishes, soups, and salads, and one for various desserts. Recipes provide fuel for my cooking-loving soul.
One day I counted the cookbooks and was astonished I had over 50. These cookbooks were part of my kitchen for a long time, an attachment had grown towards them. I decided some had to go. When the elimination process began, I wrested in choosing which ones to discard, so I started with the obvious.
Favorite cookbooks were set aside, the ones frequently used. Cookbooks with titles: 250 Muffin Recipes, and 365 Quick, Easy & Inexpensive Dinner Menus made the task much easier. Cookbooks selected to give away were offered to family and friends. What remained was donated to the library and local thrift stores. I pray they bring great delight to the persons now using them.
Having several cookbooks and recipes on hand does not guarantee we’ll become great cooks, but provides a motivation to at least try. When a recipe fails to meet my expectation; I’ll try it again, but add or take away ingredients until the results are to my satisfaction. This recipe often becomes a favorite and easy to find. The page has splatter spots from an ingredient or two, or has tried and good written on it.
Many years have passed since my craze for cookbooks began. I still find great enjoyment from browsing through cookbooks, and collecting and trying new recipes. The Lord didn’t put an age limit on any of my gifts, including cooking so I plan to use it for as long as I’m able. When He prompts me to bring chicken soup to a neighbor battling a cold, I’m quick to obey. Other times He brings someone to mind who’s lonely and longs for company. An invitation to come over for a meal brightens their day. Mine is blessed too because I get to choose a recipe and prepare a delicious meal for my friend. We recently invited our pastor and his wife over for lunch after church. After the meal, we enjoyed Lemon Crumble squares with our tea and coffee. She said, “You love to cook don’t you?” With a smile, I replied, “Yes, I really do.”
People have been telling me for years that I am a great cook, so my craze for cookbooks and collecting recipes has paid off. I can’t say the same for the Do-It-Yourself Home Repairs book I had on hand. Thank You Lord for providing me with a husband skilled in that area, who seriously loves my cooking!
