Fall in Love with Fall
Fall is my favorite time of year! I love the weather, the activities, the leaves, and the food!! What’s better than the cool air, the smell of the leaves, all the outdoor activities, caramel apples, apple donuts, kettle corn, and pumpkin spice everything? I wish I knew why these foods taste so much better in the fall. I think it’s because it brings back memories that are associated with this time of the year. I think that is why I love food, more for the feelings/memories it brings out. Food is a very powerful reminder of our loved ones, friends, conversions, and togetherness.
In the book study I have been doing (“Holy Hygge: Creating a Place for People to Gather and the Gospel to Grow,” by Jamie Erickson), we are learning about Hygge (H(Y)OO-gə) and how it can bring us closer to God. For those of you who do not know what Hygge is, it’s all things comforting. It’s a space, a season, a smell, a person, but it can also be gratitude, time outside, and something as little as a candle. This feeling of comfort can help us to remember what is important.
When I started this book and group, I didn’t know what I was doing, but with this group of women I have found real bonds and a real feeling of hygge! I decided to do this book study in two parts: we would read a chapter and discuss and then two weeks later do an activity together that had to do with that chapter. Last month was a great activity. We got together at one of the houses and had a meal outdoors, with candles, great conversation, and a big bonfire. All these things give us the feeling of togetherness and comfort, so we decided to share this evening with our better halves. Let’s just say they were very interested to see when our next time together was.
I must tell you this has been one of the most rewarding and wonderful things I have done. Seeing Christ in these simple things has really helped to put life in perspective. A simple and welcoming life can bring us so much closer to him. I think this is the real reason I love fall. The slowing down of life as we watch the days get shorter and the green fade way to orange, yellow, red, and brown.
Hygge can look different for every person. In the last chapter it talks about taking a day of rest no matter how busy you feel in your current situation. “True rest implies worship and restoration, savoring the presence of the Lord,” according to Jamie Erickson. She goes on to say that this includes relaxation not just prayer and praise. “Rest is not the passive leisure of entertainment. Instead, restful activities should fill in all the desolate places of your mind, body, and emotions. They should refuel and repair your soul.”
So, in my current season of life, my rest looks like reading, taking walks, baking/cooking, and sitting in silence. I know that some of you will think that cooking could not be rest for me but when I turn on some music and bake/cook something, it brings me comfort. I like seeing all these individual ingredients come together with either time or temperature, and make the most amazing foods. I also get comfort out of feeding people and knowing that they are full. Now it’s time for some of my favorite fall recipes!!
Slow Cooker French Dip
2-3 lb beef chuck roast or roast of your choice
4 cups low sodium beef broth 1 packet au jus mix
1 packet onion soup mix
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
Hoagie rolls
Provolone Cheese
Place the first 6 ingredients in the crockpot on low for 8 hours. Shred roast and make your sandwich as desired.
Chicken & Noodles over Mashed Potatoes
2-3 Chicken breasts
½ a stick of butter
1 can cream of chicken soup (I prefer Campbell’s)
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 12oz bag of reams noodles
Place all these ingredients in a crockpot and cook for 6-8 hours on low. I then shred the chicken and make mashed potatoes. Our favorite way is to put the noodle mixture on top of the potatoes.
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
3-14.5oz cans of diced fire roasted tomatoes
2 cups of chicken broth
6 cloves garlic chopped
1 yellow tomato
¾ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 tsp sugar
1 cup heavy cream
¼ cup chopped basil
Croutons
Parmesan cheese
Add tomatoes, chicken broth, onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar to the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours. After 4 hours, add in the chopped basil leaves. Using either an immersion blender or stand blender, blend soup until smooth. After blending, add cream and stir until combined. Cook for 30 more minutes. You can add croutons and cheese if desired.
