As the season of Lent begins, the Seasoned Franciscan offers a recipe for Minestrone Soup and a “recipe” for Lent from Christine Valters Paintner.  In her book “A Different Kind of Fast: Feeding Our True Hungers in Lent”,  Christine poses the question: “What is my true hunger?”  Whether you have a long practice of Lenten reflection or are new to the season the summary of her reflections in this post may season these weeks before Easter with meaning.

Valentine’s Day is about celebrating those we love.  The tradition of giving chocolates in heart-shaped boxes for Valentine’s Day was started by the Cadbury company in 1868.  Chocolate, however, comes with a price.  To this day, children and forced labor are used to work many cocoa farms.  In addition, many cocoa farms contribute to illegal deforestation.  This post offers a great recipe for "Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cups" from Meredith Hink and information about Free Trade Chocolate.

In winter, root vegetables can keep for months after harvest.  Keep warm with this Hearty Root Vegetable Soup recipe.  Winter is also the time of year to consider buying a share in a local farm!  The Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA) movement provides a way for eaters to get fresh, seasonal and often organic produce and proteins from a local farm and “put a face” on their food.  Read about CSAs. You might discover a farmer that might be a good partner for you!

Feeding the hungry is a vital work of mercy.  If you're shy about cooking for a crowd, fear not!  Sister Ruth Berra sponsored an FSPA Ministry Grant to Pillars in Appleton, WI.  This post includes a link to the cookbook they created to provide volunteers with recipes to make dinner for a large number of people. "Sloppy Joe's for a Crowd" was made and served to unsheltered people at the LaCrosse Warming Center this winter by affiliates.  Where can you feed the hungry?

One Christmas our family chose to exchange consumable gifts. Theme baskets are fun to create and to eat! The last healing secret of food message encourages us to eat foods produced close to home, in as close to their natural state as possible and sourced with concern for the earth and for workers. This post offers ideas for optimal local foods good for health, the earth and the community.

Our beloved Labrador (nicknamed "Hoover" by his rescuers) ate each meal like a starved vacuum cleaner, as if someone might take the food away from him!  The opposite of "hoovering", mindfulness is a spiritual practice that allows slowing down to savor each flavor, texture and smell.  This weeks "Healthy Snack Ideas" encourage attentive and nourishing mini-meals with which to practice mindfullness, another healing secret of food.

Advent and Christmas are special for Franciscans.  This year, we celebrate the 800th anniversary of Francis’ live reenactment of Jesus’ birth.  Since Francis’ 1223 Christmas in the Italian village of Greccio, nativity scenes (live and in art) have continued because God who is Love was born as a baby, God among us.  This recipe for Bambino Bread is a simple way to honor the Baby Jesus on your table as a loaf of bread, shaped to resemble a baby in swaddling clothes!

With days getting shorter and varying degrees of chill in the air, it's officially comfort food season.  This Pot Pie recipe is rich with beans, greens and optional leftover veg and turkey!  Feelings of calm and comfort are expressed and elicited by certain dishes.  What foods soothe you?  Draw you in when your are upset? This week’s healing secret of food encourages us to be aware of our feelings before, during, and after eating.

By wasting less as we plan, prepare, and enjoy the holiday meals, we’ll reduce the 40% of food that gets wasted between farm and kitchen in our country.  This post on "Food Waste and Thanksgiving" offers tips from the authors of “Perfectly Good Food”.  Wasting less is part of giving thanks as we also look at Part II of the Healing Secrets of Food: Gratitude.

Canned Tomatoes and Beans can become a delicious, quick and simple meal.  Here are 3 variations you can make tonight from your pantry!  Meals don’t have to be elaborate to nourish the Body, Mind and Soul.  In the coming weeks, Seasoned Franciscan offers a series on “The Healing Secrets of Food”, from a book by Deborah Kesten, beginning with how we unite with others through food.

To “mull,” apple cider or red wine means “to heat, sweeten, and flavor it with whole spices”.  Mulled cider is a cozy drink during fall apple season. Infused with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves, it will lift your spirits and make your kitchen smell like fall. Smells can hold memories, so as hands are clasped around warm mugs, memories can be shared and made.

Farmers' markets and roadside stands are great sources for different varieties of beautifully colored, tasty winter squash, a food that is thousands of years old.  All squash (and their seeds) are edible.  Use more of this delicious food with a recipe for "Winter Squash Seeds".