Tip of the Day 4/19/12

Hopefully some of you have decided after reading my tips that home cooked meals really are worth the effort and are planning to try cooking something new this weekend. The biggest obstacle is the fear that it might not taste as good as you hoped, or it won't look like the photo, or it will be to difficult. Well, the only way to learn to cook is to just do it. My Mom was an incredible cook. We ate wonderful meals every night, not gourmet, just good home cooking. The only problem was she liked to do it herself and my sister and I only peeled and mashed potatoes or made the salad. My Grandma Hanks was also an incredible cook, but again it was all basic good home cooking. I really didn't have much actual hands on cooking experience when I got married. I had taken "Cooking" in Home-Ec, but I think we just looked for the easiest thing to prepare for a good grade and my real love was sewing. During high school we visited the home of a friend who was a Home Economist and I was so impressed with the "Watermelon" dessert she made from a honeydew melon and red jello that I wanted to try making some "adventurous" dishes. So, when I got married I just took the Betty Crocker cookbook I received as a wedding gift and started cooking whatever looked good. Were there failures? LOL There are still failures today, but I keep trying new things. Most of the time my hubby and taste buds are glad I tried. So, go for it. Step out of the routine. Get the kids or your hubby involved. Invite a group of friends over to cook together. Your taste buds and budget will be very happy you did.

Word for Today, Veil: Throughout history we have seen the use of veils to hide or separate. One of the most well known stories in the Bible is when Jacob is tricked by his father-in-law so that he marries his oldest daughter, Leah, instead of the daughter Jacob loved, Rachel. This was accomplished because the bride was veiled until the couple entered the marriage bed. In more recent western culture the veil worn by the bride was to symbolize her virginity and was lifted from her face at the end of the ceremony by either the father of the bride or the groom himself allowing direct access to the bride. The "price" had been paid by the groom and now a relationship without restrictions was available to the bride and groom. They have the full access to one another without anyone or anything separating them. What a beautiful picture of the Christian life. Jesus, our groom, paid the price for us who are called, "The Bride of Christ" by His death on the cross. The moment that price was paid the veil in the temple that had separated us from direct access to God (only a high priest was allowed behind the veil into the Holy of Holies to meet with God on behalf of all the people) was torn in half from top to bottom by the very hand of God. We are not talking about a flimsy piece of cloth, the veil was at least 4 inches thick, 60 feet high, and 20 feet wide. It took the hand of God to tear it open. And now anyone has access to spend time with our loving groom, Jesus. He must really love us to have paid such a high price to spend time with us. How could you say no to this man? "The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. No one comes to the Father except through Me. The way into the Holiest of all."