Paccheri Pasta with Goat 
Cheese and Mushrooms

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will 
for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Food for the Palate

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked Paccheri pasta

5 ounces of goat cheese

2 cups sliced mushrooms

2 small shallots

1 Tbsp olive oil

2 tsp butter

1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1/2 cup vegetable broth

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp dried Rosemary, crushed

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup fresh parsley

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Chopped Basil to finish. 

Cook your Paccheri pasta according to the box-minus two minutes.  Drain and set aside.

Sauté shallots and mushrooms in a large sauté pan with 1 Tbsp of olive oil and 2 tsp of butter on medium heat for about 5-7 minutes. Add the garlic and all seasonings to the pan along with the stock.  Add cherry tomatoes and the goat cheese.  

Add your pasta to the sauté pan.  Cook for 2-3 more minutes. Remove from heat and add Parmesan cheese and parsley until well combined. Top with fresh basil.  Tasty to the Palate! 

Food for the Soul

"The story goes that Southern Italian pasta makers secretly invented Paccheri pasta to be perfectly shaped to hide a ducat’s worth of Italian garlic (about four garlic cloves). This garlic smuggling operation was so effective that the Austrian garlic industry finally collapsed. The government had not been able to find out how Italian garlic was being smuggled across the Alps so effectively or stop it!"(Taken from the-pasta-project.com)

In her book, "The Hiding Place", Corrie ten Boom relates an incident that taught her to be grateful for things that I, and most of you, would complain about. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been imprisoned by the Nazis and sent to the worst prison camp there was, Camp Ravensbruck. After a very short time of being at Ravensbruck, the sisters discovered that not only was it extremely overcrowded, but their cramped cell was infested with fleas! 

The faithful sisters had smuggled a Bible into the camp and would read the Scriptures together every morning. One particular morning one of them read to the other, 1 Thessalonians 5:18; "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." Betsy took this as an opportunity to stop everything and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie, probably thinking that her sister was misguided in her interpretation of the Scripture, believed that Betsy was telling her to be thankful for the fleas, of which Corrie refused to do. But Betsy, refusing to set her faith aside, regardless of their circumstances, persisted until finally, Corrie agreed to thank God even for the fleas. 

As the months wore on and the sisters endured horrific circumstances, an amazing thing happened; They realized that for some crazy reason the guards never entered into their quarters. This was a very good thing to, because neither sister was assaulted by the male guards. Amazingly, this allowed Corrie and Betsy to have secret Bible studies with not only each other, but with all of the other women in their quarters. So here they were, facilitating Bible studies right in the heart of the worse Nazi concentration camp. During this time many women became Christians. 

It wasn't until the end of Corrie's time of her incarceration at Ravensbruck that she discovered the truth about the guards avoidance of their quarters. They refused to enter into the sister's barracks because of the horrible fleas! And because of those darn, annoying fleas, many others came to Christ. 

We can learn a lot from Besty and Corrie ten Boom. But more than anything, we learn that even in the worst of circumstances, those situations that we deem as horrific, unjust and hopeless, God is still there in the midst of it all. He will still use even the painful of experiences to save the lost. And because these two sisters knew that they were saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and that He was with them, not only did they endure Ravensbruck, but they also shared their faith with others. Many were saved and are now in heaven with their Savior, Jesus Christ, all because two sisters smuggled in the most tangible thing that they had, God's Word, that reminded them that He was with them. Oh, and because of the fleas!

I dread the thought of living in a country where God's Holy Word is not permitted. But if I did, I pray I would find the courage, the faith and the determination these two sisters did, to make sure that I held on to the promises that He gives us in His Scriptures. "I have experienced His presence in the deepest hell that man can create. I have really tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them." (Corrie ten Boom) We don't have to worry about smuggling the Bible into the hands of others in this country, but we do need to take it off of the shelf, open it, read it and share it, to truly know the promises and the love that our heavenly Father has for us. Only then can you give thanks in all circumstances. Satisfying to the Soul!