Lemon and Parmesan Risotto

"For I the Lord do not change...". Malachi 3:6a

Food for the Soul

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (must be Arborio)
6 cups chicken stock

2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 shallots, diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp saffron
1 cup dry white wine

3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 lemon, zested (reserve lemon to squeeze over finished risotto)
fresh basil, chopped

Instructions:

In a medium sauce pan, heat your chicken stock on a back burner. This is a very important step, as the stock must be hot as you add it to the rice.

In a medium sauté pan, heat your butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add your shallots and cook for about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme and saffron. Add red pepper flakes and cook for 2-3 minutes. 

Add your rice and stir all together thoroughly. Add your white wine and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until all of the wine has been absorbed into the rice. Add 1/2 cup of hot stock to the rice and cook, stirring frequently. When the stock is almost absorbed, add another 1/2. Continue using this method and adding your stock for about 20 minutes.  Add your lemon juice and combine with rice. 

Once your rice is done, add your salt and pepper.  Remove from heat and add your cheese and lemon zest. 

Remove the risotto from the heat and plate. Top with chopped fresh basil, squeeze of fresh lemon. Tasty to the Palate!

Food for the Soul

I have a passion for watching cooking shows.  I have my favorites, but they all offer something unique and helpful when it comes to cooking. But my absolute favorite to watch is “Back to Basics” with Ina Garten. Ina is a seasoned cook with a wonderful sophistication and flare for entertaining and presenting food to your guests. And while I love to cook her original recipes, I find it challenging and rewarding to tweak them and add my own touches. 

Learning to customize recipes to your style of cooking and taste can be a lot of fun.  It is why people that cook good food share their recipes with us. They even love it when we add, subtract and tweak in order to make it our own.  As a rule of thumb, they know you most likely will explore and create, and they encourage you to do so. However, God doesn’t work within that same rule of thumb. 

God makes it very clear in His Holy Word, the Bible, that He is not willing to allow anyone to tweak His recipe for life and make it their own.  Deuteronomy 4:2 says, “You shall not add to the Word which I am commanding you, nor shall you take anything from it, so that you may keep the Commandants of the Lord your God which I command you.” And for those that may argue that the Old Testament Covenant is not part of the New Testament Covenant, Matthew 5:18-19 also so says; “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one dot or one mark will pass from the law until all be fulfilled. Whoever, therefore, breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do otherwise shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven.” And then finally, Revelation 22:18-19 says; I warn everyone who hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this Book;  if anyone takes away from the words of the Book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City, which are described in this Book. 

And for those who may argue that those Scriptures are specifically talking about the 10 Commandments and the actual Book of Revelations, well.... Proverbs 30: 5-6 says; "Every Word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His Words, lest He rebuke you, and be found a liar." I don't think that it is a coincidence that the beginning, middle and end of the Bible cover these Truths. God obviously takes His Words seriously and leaves no wiggle room for anyone to add or subtract, in order to make it their own recipe book of life.

When it comes to the Bible in today's culture, people are constantly trying to make up their own rules.  And while that might be considered fun and creative in the culinary world, we see from the above Scriptures that God leaves zero room for adjustments when it comes to His recipe book, the Holy Bible.  

In Malachi 3:6a God says, "For I the Lord do not change...". God does not change, period! There is nothing about Him that changes. There is nothing about His character traits that change: Not His virtue, righteousness, kindness, love, mercy, justice, or wisdom. He has always existed as the unchangeable God and He will always exist as the unchangeable God. 

As for you and me, yep, we definitely change. In fact, God created us for change. Our bodies change. Our ideas change. Our values even change. Change for the sake of change, is neither good nor bad, unless the direction of that change is contradicting God's Holy Word. Thinking that we can tweak the Bible to become a recipe for life that suits our personal desires, needs and attitudes, will only lead to a spiritual disaster and leave a very bitter taste in a very failed recipe. Satisfying to the Soul!

Here is a list of ingredients needed to make sure you are following God's perfect recipe for life.

*    Start with a personal relationship with Jesus!

*    Read the Bible daily.

*    Add the fruit of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patients, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness and  

     Self-control to your attributes.

*    Love others

*    Mix thoroughly and bake with an abundance of love and guidance from above.