Cooking Up Encouragement

In the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to make a meal for two friends who, because of physical needs, need a helping hand. I used the same recipe for both. Creamy Chicken, Pasta, Vegetable Soup seems like the ultimate comfort food! (Since many asks for this recipe, I’m including it at the conclusion of today’s post.)

     I enjoy cooking for people I care about and wonder if this characteristic may be something I inherited from my Grandma Carrie. I recall being at her humble apartment in Chinook, Montana, one day when she noticed a moving truck pull up to the empty house across the street. Without a second thought, Grandma went to work making a big pot of vegetable beef soup to welcome her new neighbors. It’s a memory I cherish.

     Perhaps this desire to cook for people we care about comes originally from the heart of Jesus. Often, during the season between Easter and Pentecost Sundays, I think of one of my very favorite Jesus stories. So worth reading, the encounter is told by John in John, Chapter 21. (If you don’t have a Bible, check it out on the free app at biblegateway.com.

     Jesus’ disciples, still discouraged, despondent and bewildered by recent events, returned to what they knew how to do. They went fishing! But even that wasn’t working out for them. (Ever felt like you had one of those days?) They were returning to the shore with an empty boat when a stranger called out from the shore.

 “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’

 When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish (John 21:5 & 6 NIV).”

     Following this miraculous event, they recognized the “stranger” on the shore was in fact Jesus. A little later in this story, Jesus invites his friends to the breakfast he had prepared for them.

     Imagine if you can! The resurrected Lord, with nail prints in his hands, fixed breakfast for his friends who that morning happened to need a good dose of encouragement!

     I hope this story brings comfort to your soul today, especially if you are feeling discouraged, despondent, or bewildered. Please know that Jesus still cares about his friends!

     Now, here is that comfort food recipe I mentioned:

Creamy Chicken, Pasta, Vegetable Soup (Sue Reeve)

• 1 lb. cooked shredded chicken breast (I use white meat from a Costco rotisserie chicken)

• 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1 cup diced carrots

• 1/2 cup diced celery

• Other vegetables can be added or substituted

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

• 1 cup (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 teaspoon salt and fresh black pepper

• 1 cup uncooked small pasta – (I’ve used ditalini, gluten free macaroni, Israeli couscous, and orzo.)

• 2 cups chopped spinach

  • In a large Dutch oven, add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic, and sauté in olive oil about 5 minutes. Add cooked chicken and continue cooking for 3 minutes, stirring regularly.

  • Add broth, heavy cream, and cream cheese. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook for 15 minutes.

  • Lower heat. Add pasta and cheddar. Simmer until pasta is cooked. Add spinach toward the end.

  • Adjust seasoning to taste with salt and pepper. If too thick, thin with extra chicken broth.

Blessings on wherever you are today on your journey of faith …

---