Lenten food can be exciting, not dull, says Catholic chef

[Michie]

OSV News) — While the season of Lent is marked by fasting and abstinence, cooking for a hungry family in this season of prayer and penance “doesn’t mean boring or ‘fish all the time,'” a Catholic chef told OSV News.

Catholics fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and forego meat on all the Fridays of Lent as well. In the Latin Catholic Church, those norms are obligatory for the faithful ages 18 through 59.

Members of the 23 Eastern Catholic churches observe their own particular restrictions during Lent, more commonly known among those churches as the Great Fast.

But discipline and deliciousness aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, said certified executive chef Jim Churches, president of the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association and a member of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan.

Churches — who also offers culinary instruction through Homeschool Connections, a national Catholic homeschooling course provider — said the key to Lenten cooking is to “plan ahead.”

“When you don’t think about it until it’s Friday, it’s a knee-jerk reaction of, ‘What do we have around the house?'” he said.

Practicing a vegan lifestyle during Lent​

Continued below.

Lenten food can be exciting, not dull, says Catholic chef

Discover creative and flavorful Lenten food and meal ideas that go beyond the usual fasts, from meatless dishes to family favorites.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Lenten food should not be exciting at all. At least from an Orthodox perspective. Lent should be a period of detachment from flavor and excitement over eating. Done monks and priests have told me that we should try to eat the same foods a lot during Great Lent on purpose to become dispassionate about food. We try to see fool only as bare minimum fuel.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Lenten food should not be exciting at all. At least from an Orthodox perspective. Lent should be a period of detachment from flavor and excitement over eating. Done monks and priests have told me that we should try to eat the same foods a lot during Great Lent on purpose to become dispassionate about food. We try to see fool only as bare minimum fuel.

It's the same from a Catholic perspective as well, we shouldn't try to mask the fact that we're in a season of penance by trying to make the penance easier or more palatable. I understand Chef's intention is probably to get more Catholics to properly observe Lenten fasting and abstinence but I think the approach should come from an angle of convincing others the importance and value of self denial rather than softening the obligation itself.

Honestly, as a penance I personally should be eating only rice throughout Lent since I can't stand it and exclude it 100% from my diet.

 

[RileyG]

Lenten food should not be exciting at all. At least from an Orthodox perspective. Lent should be a period of detachment from flavor and excitement over eating. Done monks and priests have told me that we should try to eat the same foods a lot during Great Lent on purpose to become dispassionate about food. We try to see fool only as bare minimum fuel.

Eating the same thing over and over would drive me nuts. I don't think I have the discipline to be a monk

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Eating the same thing over and over would drive me nuts. I don't think I have the discipline to be a monk

Lents are not supposed to easy, fun, full of variety, or enjoyable, but rather a detachment from food.

 

[Michie]

We all have our different disciplines and practices. It’s not a contest.

 

[RileyG]

Lents are not supposed to easy, fun, full of variety, or enjoyable, but rather a detachment from food.

Absolutely true!

 

[Michie]

Absolutely true!

The problem is that when you have other people to feed you have to make it somewhat enjoyable for them. I’m glad we have the options we do and I’m glad there are those out there willing to help.

 

[RileyG]

The problem is that when you have other people to feed you have to make it somewhat enjoyable for them. I’m glad we have the options we do and I’m glad there are those out there willing to help.

I agree. It doesn’t have to be bland or boring, but it can still be sacrificial and spiritual.

 

[Michie]

I agree. It doesn’t have to be bland or boring, but it can still be sacrificial and spiritual.

And charitable to others.

 

[RileyG]

And charitable to others.

Yup! Being charitable during lent is very important, indeed!

 

[Michie]

Yup! Being charitable during lent is very important, indeed!

Well what I do to fast is one thing. But I do not find it a good witness to others to make it something they hate. I want them to participate in it. I’m not going to dunk a baby into cold bath water.

 

[RileyG]

Well what I do to fast is one thing. But I do not find it a good witness to others to make it something they hate. I want them to participate in it. I’m not going to dunk a baby into cold bath water.

Reminds me of a nonpracticing Catholic classmate in college that was eating meat on Ash Wednesday (he didn’t attend Mass that day) and someone pointed it out to him.

He didn’t care, and later got married in a secular ceremony.

Shrug

 

[Michie]

Reminds me of a nonpracticing Catholic classmate in college that was eating meat on Ash Wednesday (he didn’t attend Mass that day) and someone pointed it out to him.

He didn’t care, and later got married in a secular ceremony.

Shrug

Yeah I just don’t see the point in being harsh with others during the Lenten season if at all. I’d rather give a more welcoming witness to it where it peaks their interest and does not make them recoil and roll their eyes. Not everyone is at the same spiritual point.

 

[RileyG]

Yeah I just don’t see the point in being harsh with others during the Lenten season if at all. I’d rather give a more welcoming witness to it where it peaks their interest and does not make them recoil and roll their eyes. Not everyone is at the same spiritual point.

True.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

OSV News) — While the season of Lent is marked by fasting and abstinence, cooking for a hungry family in this season of prayer and penance “doesn’t mean boring or ‘fish all the time,'” a Catholic chef told OSV News.

Catholics fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and forego meat on all the Fridays of Lent as well. In the Latin Catholic Church, those norms are obligatory for the faithful ages 18 through 59.

Members of the 23 Eastern Catholic churches observe their own particular restrictions during Lent, more commonly known among those churches as the Great Fast.

But discipline and deliciousness aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, said certified executive chef Jim Churches, president of the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association and a member of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan.

Churches — who also offers culinary instruction through Homeschool Connections, a national Catholic homeschooling course provider — said the key to Lenten cooking is to “plan ahead.”

“When you don’t think about it until it’s Friday, it’s a knee-jerk reaction of, ‘What do we have around the house?'” he said.

Practicing a vegan lifestyle during Lent​

Continued below.

Lenten food can be exciting, not dull, says Catholic chef

Discover creative and flavorful Lenten food and meal ideas that go beyond the usual fasts, from meatless dishes to family favorites.

www.oursundayvisitor.com

While the intent appears good, kind of defeats the purpose of lent which is self denial and repentance rather than an indulgence of the senses.
We recall how much Our Lord suffered for us. His blood fell on the Earth in the agony, was shed profusely in the scourging, flowed forth in the crowning with thorns, poured out on the cross, price of our salvation without which there is no forgiveness.
Shall we not suffer a minor pain of fast and abstinence in His honor? Or are we like Peter who did not want the Lord to suffer and said pray Lord that this never happen to you. Jesus rebuked him and said get behind me Satan, for you think of the things of this world and not the things of God (paraphrase)