Roasted Potatoes Seasoned with Love

"We cannot all do great things, but we can do 

small things with great love." Mother Teresa

Food for the Palate
Ingredients:
4-6 large Yukon gold potatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp crushed rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup grated pecorino cheese

Instructions: Preheat oven to 425F

Using a large pot, put your whole potatoes in the pot and cover all potatoes with water. Bring water to a boil and cook for only 5 minutes. You want them parboiled (half cook). Then drain them, cut them into medallions and put into a large bowl. Add olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper to your potatoes and toss until they are all covered well.

Using a roasting pan or cookie tray, butter the bottom of your tray. Dip your potato medallions in your very finely shredded pecorino cheese (or parmesan). Place your potatoes cheese side down on your roasting tray. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Plate your yummy potatoes and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Tasty to the Palate!

Food for the Soul

I have a jar that sits on the back of my stovetop that is labeled "Nana's Secret Spice". I have had this jar for 17 years now. I read an article when our first grandson was born 18 years ago about a grandmother that had a similar jar in her kitchen. Every time she would cook for her family she would "sprinkle" her secret spice on the food. She told her grandchildren that this spice is what made everything from her kitchen taste so good. I loved the idea, so I made my own version of a "secret spice" and have used it every time I cook for my grandsons. 

As our grandsons grew over the years, they would drive me crazy with begging to know what the secret spice I used really was. My answer was, and always will be "love". As time went on, they stopped asking and seemed to be content with knowing that my "love" was sprinkled over all of the meals they ate at my table. But they often reminded me not to forget to add my secret spice as I cooked.

Sometimes we forget just how important the little things we do can be. I had no idea 17 years ago that a simple little bottle labeled "Nana's Secret Spice" would amount to such a big thing. We tend to think that the "little things" are seemingly insignificant. But it is usually those little things that have the biggest impact in our lives. It is the simple acts of kindness, a smile, a gentle word, or a simple task that can lead to a lasting act of love and significance in a person's life. Mother Teresa said, "We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love." 

 

In Luke 16:10a Jesus says; "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." This verse can be applied to so many areas of our lives as God's children, but the basic premise is that God wants us to be faithful even in the little things. We also see in one of Jesus' parables in Matthew 25:21 that when we are faithful with the little things, we will be rewarded with bigger things. And that He believes that this is a cause for celebration! 

While the parable in Mattew 25 was about money, this same concept can be applied to other areas of our lives as well. And Luke 16:10a makes it clear that we are pleasing God in the little things that we do, and in fact actually being faithful in doing them well. I take this to mean that if I am faithful in cherishing and doing the little things that come my way, those things that take almost no effort at all, He will then be able to trust me with bigger things and more responsibility.  

We just recently had four of our grandsons ranging from age 14-18 come and visit us. Each grandson came and stayed a week with us separately. And each grandson recognized that I still have "Nana's Secret Spice" sitting on the stovetop. And all four them shared their appreciation and recognition of the love that that "little jar" holds in their hearts. And while they all know how much I love them, seeing that little jar sitting there, even 2000 miles away from where they now live, still has the same message of importance to them.

It is the little things that tell those around us that we love them and that they are valued. It is in the acts of kindness, simple gestures, small sacrifices and even silly little jars filled with love, that tell those around you that they are precious, loved, cherished and important. So, when it comes to the "little things" in everyday tasks, remember that the simplest gesture can last a lifetime. My grandsons are all back with their parents and enjoying life as teenage boys, but I miss them all, and so while they aren't here to eat my potatoes now, I sprinkled my jar over them anyway and it brought a smile to my lips and a warmth to my heart, and I am reminded that doing the little things also feeds your soul! 

Tasty for the Soul!