Taste and see that the LORD is good…
Psalm 34:8a
Back in the summer when the tomatoes were heavy on the vines
a very good friend (who is also an incredible cook) gave me a wonderful recipe.
I am not sure where she found the original version, but I know that she and I both
tweaked it to suit our own families. Isn’t that the way of all really good
recipes? They lend themselves to change.
I washed the cherry and grape tomatoes: red, yellow and
black. Left them whole, and I filled the casserole dish with them. Then I poured
in olive oil. Rich and thick. Minced garlic next—the scent immediate and so
recognizable. I added Italian seasonings until the tomatoes had freckles.
Finally sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper. I stirred all these
ingredients together making sure the tomatoes were coated. Then I popped them
in the oven. Later this incredible aroma wafted through the kitchen into the
den and I followed it. I couldn’t resist. I opened the oven door and stood
above the opening so the scent would rise.
Later, when we were sitting at the dinner table I took my
first bite. Oh my. I closed my eyes and took my second bite. Perhaps the
pleasant aesthetic appearance had swayed me. The wonderful red against the creamy
white of the goat cheese and the thick crusty French bread was quite lovely to
me. (Don’t allow the goat cheese to hinder you from trying this recipe. I had
never tried goat cheese before this, and the thought just wasn’t appealing.
Little did I know.)
I took another bite. No. It tasted better than it looked.
I turned to my husband and very matter-of-factly said, “This
is better than chocolate.”
My daughter chortled.
My husband’s reaction was priceless. Many of you know about
the relationship I have with dark chocolate. There is little to rival it.
I had heard, read and used the word savor before, but in that moment I understood what it meant. I experienced it.
To savor. To enjoy immensely. To relish. To absorb the
essence.
And so when the Psalmist says to us, “Taste and see that the
Lord is good.” I now understand. Savor the Lord he exhorts.
Our Father wants us to savor our relationship with him. To
enjoy it immensely. To relish every moment and aspect of it. To absorb the
essence of him. He meant for us to enjoy him. Taste and see.
My friend, Alicia, gave me the recipe. She gave me tips. She
even gave me a different variety of tomatoes to mix with mine. But the bottom
line? I had to make the recipe in order to taste and see. Anything God calls me
to do will follow this pattern. He will give me the recipe. He’ll give me
everything I need in order to make it. But I have to actually do so. If I want
to taste.
God asks me to take a risk. And the only thing I can think
of at the moment is what will I lose? What will it cost? What will be said? Or
unsaid? I won’t know the flavor of the risk until I take it. I won’t be given
the provisions until I begin to mix in the bowl.
Life is about the savor. It is about the rich taste and see experiences. It is not read about it and surmise. It is not listen to someone else’s description and
suppose. It is about you and me—tasting and seeing for ourselves.
(My disclaimer: I am NOT a professional cook or chef (not at
all Rachel Ray or Ree Drummond); I just like to spend time in the kitchen. I
love new recipes, new foods. The recipes I share here will not be perfect, but
they might be something different to help you out of the dinner rut—preparing the
same things over and over. I get so frustrated during the dinner ruts. Don’t
you?)
Better than Chocolate Tomato Bruschetta
Adapted from Alicia Melton’s recipe (We give kudos to
the originator of the recipe!)
Loaf of French bread, sliced thickly
Goat cheese, softened
A variety of cherry and grape tomatoes (You determine the
number. They should completely cover the bottom of your dish, overlapping and a
few on top.)
Olive oil
Italian seasoning—to taste
Minced garlic (fresh is best, but I have used minced jar
garlic)
Sea salt and black pepper—to taste
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 ½ hours or until tomatoes split and crack.
Toast French bread slices in oven, then slather on the goat
cheese. You want enough cheese to give the tomatoes a mortar of sorts. Mash the
tomatoes slightly with the back of a spoon and then ladle them on your bread.
Sometimes I have to eat this with a fork, but there is something wonderfully
earthy about eating it with your hands.
Enjoy!
(There will often be book recommendations on this Savor tab. Rarely ever do I endorse or embrace everything an author writes or teaches. I have many filters. Only the Scriptures hold an immovable, infallible place on my reading shelf. Period. But God can and will speak through others, because everyone has a different voice and style and perspective. Scripture instructs us to test all things. Be sure to follow this exhortation. God will make sure we hear his truth, if we are searching for it.)
If you haven’t read any of Shauna’s books then you should
find one like yesterday. Get one online
for your Nook or Kindle or order a real one—any of her titles would be worth
your effort. Bittersweet and Bread & Wine are my particular
favorites. Shauna has a wonderful, informal and easy writing style—like an
unhurried conversation in the kitchen. She has a wonderfully refreshing
self-effacing writing style: she’s transparent without being dramatic, and she’s
funny without being ridiculous. Bread
& Wine holds a spot on my Top Five Books of the Year for 2013.