Coffee Talk Thursday: Why I Share My Recipes

image by Muffet

It is not only Coffee Talk Thursday, it is also the first of the month, so that means it's our Once-A-Month Cooking Festival, where we celebrate all things food. Today I thought I'd share something I wrote for the foreword of our church cookbook. It explains why I believe the best recipes are meant to be shared.

Food nourishes our bodies, provides comfort, ministers to physical needs, and brings families and friends together. It allows us to fulfill God’s command to show hospitality, as we invite friends as well as strangers in for a meal; and provide food for the hungry, the sick, and those rejoicing over a new birth or grieving the loss of a loved one. It also offers a unique platform for artistic expression for those who love to cook and bake.

God designed us to enjoy food. Consider the vast diversity in color, texture, flavor, smell and shape—all for our delight. As the late Edith Schaeffer observed in her book, The Hidden Art of Homemaking, there is the smoothness of the green avocado, the grainy feel of a red strawberry, the crispness of the pink watermelon, the crunch of orange carrots, and much more.

Cooking should not be thought of as a drudgery but an art.” -- Edith Schaeffer

Finding delightful new recipes is a treasure. The most cherished are usually those which come from a good friend or family member. You know it’s tried-and-true, but it’s about so much more than the food itself: the recipe becomes sentimental as you consider all that the person means to you.

Sharing a favorite recipe with a friend connects families together, as you enjoy the same meal, separately in your own homes. By passing on cherished recipes, you send the message: “This recipe has ministered to my family. May it also delight yours.”
 
That's why I don't believe in keeping recipes a secret.
 
Do you share yours or are they family secrets? If so, could you explain the mindset behind that for those of us who don't think the same way?
 
If you have a kitchen tip or cooking hint you'd like to share, or even a recipe (wink) as part of our Once-A-Month cooking festival, please link up to your post. As a courtesy, please link back to momsinneedofmercy.com.
 
One final note, it wouldn't be right to talk about sharing my favorite recipes without sharing my favorite recipes. So I am giving away one copy of our church cookbook, filled with 700 recipes from around-the-world. I will post the winner next Thursday. Good luck! It's a great one!