Interesting article in the March 2 Wall Street Journal. According to an article on the front page of the Weekend Journal, some kids are becoming more devout than their parents, thus creating havoc in the home. Sixteen year old Kevin Ellstrand, for instance, is the son of self-described secular humanists who shun organized religion. Two years ago Kevin began to follow Christ, but his mother finds it "appalling" that her son doesn't believe in evolution. Kevin says, "I don't want my parents to go to hell for not believing in God. But that is what's going to happen and it really scares me."
And it's not only Christian parents--some Jewish children are deciding to keep kosher when their parents do not. And some Muslim youths are becoming more fervent than their parents.
What are we to make of this? Some say this is a natural product of teenage rebellion; I tend to think that the power of Christ to change lives is real, no matter what the age of the person who surrenders his life. Without a doubt, some teenage conversions are genuine . . . and the proof is visible in changes that persist years down the road. What changes are wrought in a believer's life? Easy: love, joy, peace, goodness, faith, and patience.
No one can deny that many a teenage passion fades in time. Even Jesus spoke of the seed that falls by the road, springs up in shallow soil, and withers in the heat of the sun. But some seeds grow deep, find the nourishment they need, and bring forth much fruit.
Now I have a quick question for you--I need information for the WIP. What do you think of as "funeral food?" In other words, if you were going to make something to take to a grieving family, what would you make?
~~Angie
13 comments:
Casseroles for sure!
Well, I know that when my grandfather passed away, someone brought us baked spaghetti, which I thought was spectacular (mostly becuase I'd never had it before!). I know my mom's made lasagna, lazy man cabbage roll casserole, bbq dinner, chili - lots of things that are easy to double and make one for our family and one for someone else (I'm also sensing a theme of ground beef!).
Our funeral food varies quite a bit, but some of the more popular dishes (sounds a little weird to say that :-D) are my mom's Hot Chicken Salad (the recipe is on my blog -- just do a search. It rocks!), deviled eggs, potato salad, and banana pudding.
We also sometimes take a bag full of boxes of kleenex, paper towels, toilet paper, and plastic plates and utensils, because of someone has a lot of out of town family in for the funeral, those sorts of things run out quickly.
if you're not into cooking, why not Kentucky Fried Chicken?
It used to be lasagna - having been the grieving one, now, however, I bring a big tray of cut up veggies.
When my fil died, one of his bachelor farmer friends brought Mom a frozen beef roast.
Also someone thought to bring us a blank notebook and a box of pens - invaluable.
Lemonaide Pie . . . one can of eagle brand, a container of cool whip and 6 ounces of frozen lemonaide concentrate. Mix and add to graham cracker crust. I also make green bean casserole, and I try to take something that someone on a diabetic diet can eat, like a sugar free jello salad. We do the paper goods thing too. Plus, we like to take a big package of gladware. Since becoming a pastor's wife I have had to become adept at large amounts of food . . . Jeane W.
It is nearly St. Paddy's Day and if you've ever been to a Irish Funeral, you know some go for a liquid lunch, you best bottle of whiskey or a fine bottle of wine is welcomed to the table. I myself would not brrrring (we've got to rolls those "r's" if we are going to read this comment with our best Irish Brogue) the booze but it kin a be a type of food if it is a part of your culture.
Angie, you are so down to earth, I felt so frrrrrree to make such a comment.
C.
Thanks for the comments, everyone, and please keep them coming! Each of the Fairlawn novels will have a recipe in the back, so I'm looking for traditional "funeral foods" to include.
Love the Irish brogue, Catherine. I've done a wee bit of travelin' in the Emerald Isle meself, and love the land and the people!
And Jeanne--I LOVE that lemonade pie, but had lost the recipe! We used it at Weight Watchers--I think it was something like three points if you use low fat pie crust and condensed milk.
Thanks again, everybody!
Angie
My first thought was of immediately after the funeral when we all sit in the church basement eating ham/roast beef, potatoes, etc that the church ladies cooked for us. And we usually have a good time. We are seeing family that we haven't seen since the last funeral.
For taking to the house I think of ham and cake. Maybe that is from reading Jan Karon's books...
My friend's all occasion recipe is to cook some breakfast sausage, mix it with spinach and mozzerella cheese. Wrap it up in a rolled out frozen bread dough and bake. It's yummy.
Hash Brown Potato Casserole
2 lb. bag frozen hash browns, thawed
1 stick marg., softened
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
16 oz. sour cream
1/2 c. frozen chopped onions
Mix and place in Pam-sprayed long glass dish. Spread over top 2 sleeves crushed Ritz crackers mixed with 2 sticks softened marg. Cover with foil. Bake 45 - 60 min. at 350. (Baking time can vary with your oven.) Remove foil last 15 min.
Note: I sometimes add an extra half-can of soup to make it creamier.
I make lentil soup. It is a comfort food and nutritious too. My recipe has carrots, onion, celery, enough fried bacon to add flavor, tomatoes and spices.
Funeral food-- definitely Jell-o salad. I don't know anyone (self included) who regularly makes or eats Jell-o salad, but when my grandfather passed away last year, the lovely church ladies brought it in barrels. I love Jell-o because it's colorful and you can layer it with marshmallows, with fruit, with whipped cream... to me, Jell-o says sympathy.
:-)
Probably some homemade chicken noodle soup or something else that can be frozen. Maybe also a yummy chocolate dessert. I have a mocha cappiccino pudding cake recipe that is to die for!
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