The Bread of Life

The photo above was taken at our favorite RV park in Carrabelle Beach, Florida.  We'd sold our Timberframe in the Mountains of Western North Carolina and RVed fulltime for 17 months.  We chose College Station, Texas as our residence because it offered diversity, had a healthy economy, and was in close proximity to our Texas family and friends.   After choosing a home we went in search of a new church.  We're Episcopalians, Rob since 1984, Mary since 1987.  We knew there were several choices in Bryan and College Station, and we planned to visit them all. We knew of the priest-in-charge, The Rev. Lacy Largent.  Our former church, St. Cyprian's in Lufkin, TX took advantage of Camp Allen offerings.  We'd also enjoyed making shoeboxes for The Seafarer's ministry.  After visiting St. Francis we never made it to the other churches. We received a warm welcome from Geri Moore and Jean Vilas.  They provided us with a gift bag with this message:  "WELC

  In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and declaration of a national emergency our priest, The Rev. Lacy Largent shared a notice from our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Andrew Doyle.  Beginning on  March 15, 2020, Mother Lacy, Miguel Sousa, our music director, and several choir members would remain on the job and utilize an online format.  Other parishioners would worship from home. The Book of Common Prayer describes The Holy Eucharist as a sacrament, "An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace."  Regarding Communion our prayer book states, "The benefits we receive are the forgiveness of sins, the strengthening of our union with Christ and with one another...."  We grieve our inability to continue this sacred tradition.  #txgingerbreadwoman We also miss visiting with friends and welcoming newcomers at coffee hour,  our monthly potluck, and small group dinners, but recognize these hardships are small when compared to the physical, ment

Chios, Island in the Aegean Sea Longtime parishioner, Bill Thomas, lived and worked in Greece for seven years and said eggplant, a staple for Greek meals, changed from his least favorite food to one he enjoys. Recently he shared his copy of The Lord's Bounty , a cookbook published by St. Francis parishioners in 1990. Wow!  Thirty years ago. Bill's recipe for Baked Eggplant can be found on page 52 of the old cookbook.   Bill said his time in Greece expanded his appreciation for diverse people, meals, and customs.  We are lucky it did because it brought us his recipe for Baked Eggplant. Bill Thomas lunching at a taverna on the Isle of Chios

An excerpt from Chris Sabella's article from The Daily Meal https://www.thedailymeal.com/what-is-eggplant Originally native to India, the common purple eggplant has spread its seeds throughout the modern world and can be found in the cuisine of a multitude of different countries. In France, eggplant is known as aubergine, a name also used for the purple color of eggplant (even the flowers of the plant are purple), and is one of the main ingredients in the famous French dish ratatouille . In the Middle East, eggplant is mashed and blended with other ingredients like tahini to create baba ghanoush, a creamy dip for dipping pita bread in. Pickled and miso-glazed eggplants are very popular in Japan — it seems almost every country in the world has some traditional use for eggplant. Eggplant is so versatile in the kitchen that it is commonly used, rather effectively, as an alternative to meats and proteins. As an example, consider eggplant parmigiana , a popu

One of my coping mechanisms while staying at home is preparing food for friends.  Our hardworking neighbor consented to a meal, but when questioned about dietary preferences and sensitivities said, "I don't like onions."  Excuse me?!  The majority of our recipes include onions. It was as if he'd insulted a faithful friend.  Are you like that about your trusted raw ingredients?  Do you appreciate them and believe others should, too? Onions not only improve the taste of savory dishes they're also good for us. According to Registered Dietitian, Julian Kubala, onions provide nine impressive health benefits.  These are the merits of eating onions. Packed with Nutrients May Benefit Heart Health Loaded with Antioxidants Contain Cancer-Fighting Compounds Help Control Blood Sugar May Boost Bone Density Have Antibacterial Properties May Boost Digestive Health Easy to Add to Your Diet Onion appreciation is something Bill Thomas and I share.  His n

Do you have a friend who has an eye for detail and can make any ensemble look good?  That's Geri Moore, our fashionista.  It's always a treat to see how she coordinates layers and accessories.  She's also a good cook.  These old classics are perfect for your next potluck.  Ham Rolls and Cheese Sauce (From Geri's mom, circa 1947) Biscuit Dough 1 cup ground ham Roll dough 1/4" thick Spread ham to cover the dough Roll up and slice 1" slices Bake at 450° about 15 minutes, or until brown Cheese Sauce Melt 2 T butter Blend in 2 T flour and 1/2 t salt Stir well Add 2 c milk, slowly stirring until thick Add 1/2 c grated cheese and stir until melted. Lime Salad (From her grandmother's church cookbook, circa 1955) Dissolve lime Jell-O in 2 cups of boiling water. Add 1 small can of crushed pineapple and 1 package Philidelphia cream cheese. Add 1 cup of pecans and halved cherries. Chill. Apricot

Penn State's Rock Ethics Institute St. Francis is blessed with scholars like Lee Jennings.  When asked to share the story behind his recipe for Vegan Carnitas Tacos Lee explained, "I was learning about ICE raids on poultry processing facilities in Mississippi last summer and I was thinking about working conditions at a poultry processing plant and how desperate somebody would have to be to work that kind of job. So I decided to respond by becoming a vegetarian. Not because I am against eating meat but because I don't want to support an industry that mistreats workers so flagrantly." https://thehill.com/latino/456 566-immigration-agents-arrest- 680-mississippi-food-processin g-facilities Susan and Lee Jennings Sermons aren't the only things that raise our moral consciousness.  Lee's rationale prompted a search on the ethics behind our food choices. The Food Ethics Council https://www.foodethicscouncil.org/ explains: "We all make regular

Gifted and talented are the words that come to mind when Gigi Greene's name is mentioned.  She's a skilled performer and sings, dances and acts.  She's also a professional baker.  We turn cartwheels when Gigi signs up to host coffee hour after church on Sundays. Gigi’s Famous, Award-Winning Triple Ginger Cookies I have been making this recipe for at least 25 years. Around 20 years ago, I entered them in a very small local contest, in which I won first place, so I’ve called them “award-winning” ever since! I make them every year at the holidays, and have ramped up production over the years from a few dozen to 10 dozen to 40 dozen, and more… Finally, I started selling them, since I was making them in commercial quantities anyway. I have always been happy to share the recipe. Here I have noted the specific brands I use so that I have consistent results, but they may not be available everywhere. One other “extra” thing I do is that I have an old coffee gr