When Pizza is Hospitable
[bl]I[/bl] believe in the hospitality of food. The way it invites people to gather and taste of its goodness. Oh that we might do the same. Since the beginning of time, food has brought people together. It’s central to our daily routines, our holiday celebrations, and the focus of many stories throughout Scripture. Though we live in a time and place where we choose our food based on how it looks, how cheap it is, and whether or not it pleases our tongue – feeding ourselves is one of the more intimate things we do to our bodies. The problem is, we’re disconnected from the processes intended to make food a divine provision, rather than a basic necessity to indulge in.
I believe that a thoughtful, well-made meal creates opportunities for hospitality to be given and received. I believe that food – good food – has a way of opening the hearts and minds of those partaking, leading the way for fellowship. I believe intentional food says, you are welcome here and I want to provide for you. And I believe that gathering around a table consuming food made by hands that care, feeds the soul.
But…there are times when your hands simply need to be still in the moment. Your full attention is required. For your company or your children or your spouse. And the effort it takes to intentionally plan and create and clean up a delicious meal, actually hinders you from engaging in the moment. This is when pizza is hospitable. This is when paper plates are a must!
When time is limited and wasted by the task, instead of given to the relationship. When the number of company is intimidating. And especially when the chore of making a meal for company prevents you from ever extending the invitation. When money limits you. When you’re busier than normal. When the schedules of two families spontaneously match up. When you don’t know how to cook and you don’t plan on learning….but you still want to feed people. These are the times when picking up the phone and ordering in food is worth the blessing it offers to those moments.
If you serve your company a welcoming spirit of grace and genuine interest in their life and story, it won’t matter what you feed them. And they’ll always come back for more.
This is a busy season. Increased social engagements, end of school terms, more errands to run, preparations for Christmas to arrange. In these joyfully hectic days, we need grace that comes in the form of some easy dinners.
Here’s a few we’re eating in our home.
- Popcorn, apples and yogurt for lunch
- Cheese Tortellini or Ravioli (Bertolli brand found in refrigerator section) with a jar of pasta sauce and a plash of half and half to make it a little creamy. (made even better when the husband pick sup a bag or two of Kruse and Muer bread on his way home from work!).
- Easy chicken tacos — Canned chicken warmed in a skillet with a little oil and taco seasonings (garlic salt, cumin and chili powder) served in flour tortillas with shredded cheddar cheese.
- Scrambled eggs and toast for dinner
- Rotisserie Chicken with a side of brown butter noodles — heat butter in a skillet on medium high until it starts to brown, turn it down to medium and continue cooking for another minute while brown specks form; toss in cooked spaghetti, sprinkle with garlic salt and lots of Parmesan cheese (for 1pkg of thin spaghetti, we use about 1 stick of butter).
in all your weekend wanderings, don’t forget to welcome Jesus. If you haven’t heard yet, he’s coming! Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
