If God Was Coming To Dinner

Tomorrow is my last chemo.  Maybe there is a God!  And speaking of which, my neighbor Linda, who is guest-posting today, asks the question: What would you serve if God was your dinner guest?  Read on for her menu and a recipe.  Feel free to leave a comment on what you would serve, with God defined as whomever/whatever you believe.  I’m going to need a bunch of ideas because I’ll have to make a whole buffet if God ever drops by unexpectedly.  Thanks, Linda!

Imagine you found out that God was coming to dinner some night soon—what would you make? If you’re like me, you’d probably want to serve something really good, maybe your favorite meal.  I mean, this is God, right?  You’d want it to be pretty impressive.

Some say that we create God in our own image rather than the other way around.  When I think of God, I assume that God is a foodie like me, so clearly, I’d have to serve something gourmet.  For example, I might go with Roy’s Blackened Ahi Tuna, served with jasmine rice sprinkled with black sesame seeds, mango and avocado salad with citrus vinaigrette and, of course, a fabulous chocolate dessert because I can’t possibly believe in a God who doesn’t like chocolate. 

I thought of this topic because I recently hosted a Sufi Master from Jerusalem.  Shaykh Muhammad Safiid al-Jamal ar-Rifafii ash-Shadhdhuliyyah might not be a household name, but he’s the Big Name in this spiritual path.  Sidi (as he’s known) isn’t God but he seems to have a pretty good connection with the “powers that be,” so a lot of work goes into having things just right for him.

Luckily, Sidi comes with his own cook, so all I had to do was shop.  I tried to get his cook Armany to spill the beans but she wasn’t easy to pin down.  Since Sidi is from the Middle East, his food preferences tend to run towards foods they eat there.  In fact, he eats lamb stew every night.  Sidi likes it with a layer of oil on top, but I can’t quite handle that, so I’ve slightly modified the recipe.  I did my best to get exact amounts of ingredients but that’s not really how they cook over there so adjust to your own taste.  The recipe takes several hours to make, most of it just simmering.  But, hey, since you’re cooking for someone Important, you’re not going to start at the last minute, right?

I didn’t take a picture of it because, to be honest, it’s not all that good looking.  But the taste—heaven. Sidi likes it served with Casbah Nutted Pilaf (you can sometimes find that at Whole Foods, though any other rice will do). And for dessert?  Sidi goes for the simple: Kozy Shack rice pudding or chocolate Haagen-Dazs ice cream.  (See I knew God liked chocolate!) 

So, what would you serve?

Sidi’s Lamb Stew

1 lb. lamb, cut into chunks
6-8 cups of water
2 onions, chopped
1-2 Tbsp. allspice
3 Tbsp. olive oil, or more
4-5 ripe, fresh tomatoes
One or more of the following vegetables:  3-4 zucchini, 1 pound of mushrooms, okra,1 head of cauliflower,  etc.
Cumin, turmeric, coriander (optional)
Salt to taste
Prayer (optional)

Put water into large pot. Add half the onion, all the allspice, salt to taste, and 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil.  Bring to a boil. Add lamb.  Bring back to boil, and then turn down to simmer for 3-4 hours.

Meanwhile, core tomatoes and puree in a blender. Cut up your veggies into bite-sized pieces.  In a frying pan, cook the remaining chopped onion along with your other veggies in olive oil.  (I personally love the zucchini, even though it isn’t normally one of my favorite vegetables.)  Add more allspice and salt and any of the optional spices that you like. Cook until the onion is golden and the veggies are soft.  Add the tomato puree.  Then add everything to the meat in the water. Cook all together for 5 minutes to an hour more depending on what tastes best to you.  Serves 3-4.

Comments

[Amy]

Greetings Linda! Thanks for filling in.

My God would demand pie. And I would happily fulfill her wishes.

[Molly]

I would want to cook and serve food that is as close to the land (local)and sustainable as possible. I think that is what God intended--for us to be stewards of the land by taking care of it while it provides food for us. Right now: Winter squash baked with homegrown and pastured pork (sausage) and apples, kale, and apple dessert. All raised without chemicals.

[NurseJen]

If my gods showed up for dinner, I'd have to give my mother's stuffed cabbage a try. Made with a brown sauce rather than a red sauce, it calls for a sprinkle (really, that's the direction I got) of brown sugar, and HAS to be fried in real butter before it's simmered in its sauce. It's my true comfort food.

Although Bigos would be a close second (Polish stew made with kielbasi, pork, bacon, sauerkraut, onions, potatoes and sour cream -- a heart attack in a bowl!)

[Barry Foy]

Bad news, I'm afraid: God also brings his own chef--some guy who used to work for Thomas Keller. And you'll never guess whose chef was one of the winners on "Hell's Kitchen."

[Jess]

If my gods showed up, I'd serve beer, lots of beer. Lots of different beers. And there'd be noshes. We'd all just sit around, drink good beer, eat bits and bites, and talk for hours. Kinda like when my family comes to town.

[adele]

I like to think that God would appreciate a nice insalata caprese. And ice-cream. Lots of ice-cream.

[kaela]

Bacon. Because if bacon is not the food of the Gods, what is?

But if the Devil came, I'd serve my Chicken Wild Mushroom Pot Pie. Because, it is so heavenly, that it might even reform the Devil. And if not, well.. we'd have a good meal. Maybe he won't take my soul after all.

http://localkitchen.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/chicken-wild-mushroom-pot-pie/

[Husband]

Man that lamb stew sounds great.

[Linda]

Wouldn't it be fun to have a "Pretend God is coming to dinner party" and have guests bring their favorite dish. (What kind of pie?)I might have to try it.

Linda

[Tamar]

I agree that pie would be perfect. Pecan, I think. Made with the tastiest Georgia pecans and some decent bourbon.

But I wouldn't give him any until he explained why people get cancer.