Mmm, Mmm, Good
 
     For my family, any excuse was reason enough to gather together around the table and feast. As a matter of fact, each evening meal was a great celebration. “What’s for dinner?” wasn’t idle conversation, but a question we took seriously. If food was cooking, we all lifted lids and stuck our noses right in the delicious perfumes that wafted upward from the heavenly creations. After prayers were said and the feasting commenced, “ooo eee’s,” “mmm um um um’s,” and “yummies” passed around faster than the salt and pepper shakers. We savored each delectable mouthful and ate until our empty tummies were filled.
     And then of course, there was always splendiferous dessert, so we just released our belts a notch or two and enjoyed some more. You know how it is, you start out with one piece and a glass of milk. You finish the glass of milk before your piece of dessert is finished, so you pour some more; then you finish your dessert but have half a glass of milk left, so instead of wasting the milk, you have another piece of dessert. It’s hard to finish both dessert and milk at the same time, which makes the joyful journey last longer. I’ve always been somewhat suspicious of people who don’t like dessert. It’s just not natural to refuse creations made from butter, sugar, eggs, cream and such. How could anyone refuse Deep Dish Buttermilk Pie, Piña Colada Cheesecake, Chocolate Cake, Cinnamon Rolls, Baklava, or Gooey Butter Cake?
     A penchant for cooking and feasting is a family legacy as my grandmother owned a restaurant, aunts and uncles owned bakeries, another set owned a grocery store, one uncle was a hotel chef, while another was president of the Meat Cutters union. Their plump, jolly faces are just faded images from my past, but I inherited their passion for cooking. However, it is my mother to whom I truly owe my great love for preparing meals for my family. It was out of her deep love for us and her inherited appreciation for delicious meals that she took great care in ministering to us through God’s gracious gifts. My dad, too, deserves recognition for his appreciation of mom’s cooking and also his passion for growing beautiful vegetables and fruit. I, in turn, learned to love all the wonderful foods God created for our enjoyment—their beautiful colors, interesting shapes and textures, heady aromas, and rich flavors. I love to walk into Schnucks’ European market and choose from God’s splendid banquet table of culinary delights—beautiful red and yellow peppers, carrots with their fine greenery attached, fragrant pineapples, furry kiwis, interesting squash, shiny rainbow trout, bright orange salmon, lovely edible flowers for garnishing, beautiful rump roasts, thick chops, colorful peppercorns, fragrant cloves, pearled barley, long loaves, round loaves, and individual loaves of wheat, rye and pumpernickel. Wow, what a treat! Even the chosen words for which we prepare these delectable goodies are rich and delightful—simmer, sauté, ladle, stuff, mince, knead, purée, roll, blend, melt, sprinkle, pinch, grate, toss, toast, roast, braise, sift, thicken, slice, pare, and crown.
     To minister to my own family by preparing meals for them that not only appeal to their senses but satisfy their hunger and strengthen their bodies is so rewarding, but even beyond these, to have Dad home, gathering together at the end of each day to pray and give thanks to our Lord, to sup one with another, looking into each other’s eyes, to share the same food and the news of each person’s experiences that day binds us together and nourishes our souls. It is the highlight of each day when we linger together enjoying each other’s company sharing “mmm, mmm goods.”
 
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