Cooking

I like to cook. Several years ago we looked at our monthly budget and realized we were spending an absurd amount of money eating out. Not even eating out at really good places, just the accumulation of all the quick stops added up. We made a concerted effort to limit the eating out. That led to more thoughtful cooking on my part.

I have found that I really enjoy preparing a well cooked meal. At this point there is very little that I won't attempt, at least once. I love looking over the internet for new recipes. I like the Pioneer Woman Cooks (thanks Lindsey for getting me started on that one), the Foodnetwork site (many favorites have come from here), and www.myrecipes.com which is a compilation of recipes from Southern Living, Real Simple, Oxmoore House, Sunset, and a few others. Our newest favorite recipe is Anne Burrell's Lasagna from the Foodnetwork site. I made it the other night when my mom was here. She asked for the recipe at dinner and I told her I'd give her the printed recipe but that I had not followed it exactly. P and C both immediately said "you never follow the recipe, that's nothing new." Hmmm....really? Well when I think about it honestly, they're right. I improvise based on family tastes, ingredients in the pantry, time constraints, you name it. I like to improvise, but improvising is a two edged sword. Improvising in cooking can be great, improvising in life, not so much. Abraham improvised and look at the middle east today! Sometimes I need to curb my tendency to improvise, and remember to stay on the path God had called me to. I have always liked Proverb 3:5-6
" ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight."

I think sometimes though I like to skip over the "submit" part. In order for him to make my path straight, I must submit to him. It's a good reminder.

So I think I will try to do my improvising in the kitchen, and when it comes to life, I'll try to remember who is in control and submit to the "recipe" he has for me.