Happy Monday from Chicago!

". . . and He took the seven loaves and the fish, and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  And they all ate and were satisfied."

Matthew 15: 36 & 37

Comfort Food

According to Feeding America:

• In the US, 1 in 8 people struggles with hunger.
• Up to 40% of food produced in America never makes it to people's plates.  Instead, 40% goes to waste.

Food insecurity deals with a basic human need and the resulting condition it produces: hunger.  I know someone who is doing his part in the fight to end hunger.  He is Chief Operating Officer of a Food Bank that distributes approximately 30 million pounds of food annually to local food agencies.  He works with Food Pantries, Homeless Shelters and Soup Kitchens.  His Food Bank provides emergency food relief in the form of a box with food staples for an individual or family that has suddenly fallen on hard times.  For children, they provide backpacks with nutritious snacks that are distributed through schools.  And the list goes on.

It is no coincidence that this guy landed in Food Banking as the business of food is in his DNA.  He started his career 40 years ago in the Stockyards area of Chicago working for the family wholesale meat business.  After 20 years, he set out to develop and manage two fast-casual restaurants.  It was during this time that he began to help those who hunger by running the yearly food drive sponsored by a local service organization that he belonged to.  It became a mission as he solicited donations throughout the year. After Thanksgiving he began to stockpile food in his garage, restaurant and the local school where the food drive was orchestrated.  In all, as many as 250 families each year received a turkey, a ham and four bags of produce & canned goods to fill a holiday table! "And they all ate and were satisfied."

His gig with the restaurant ended after fifteen years and the big question of, "What next?" loomed large.  His wife recommended that he look into something called "emergency food relief."  She had heard about it through a conversation with a woman who sat next to her on the plane.  They looked up the term on the internet and the first entry that popped up on the screen was a job for the Director of Operations at the largest food bank in Chicago.  Five weeks and three interviews later, he landed the job! (Providence.)  It was a natural fit as he managed meal production and food distribution in a 250,000 square foot facility.  He is known for his trouble-shooting capabilities and has gone on to streamline processes for two other Food Banks.

If you haven't guessed already, the man I refer to is my husband, Dan Kaminski.  He loves to feed people, especially family & friends . . . food is his "love language."  I thank God for him and the work that He has blessed him with! 

This holiday season, check out the Feeding America website www.feeding america.com to see how they are working in the fight to end hunger in America.

Dan's Dressing, formerly known as Stuffing

Dan used to "stuff" our birds out of tradition.  But after a few years he realized that the stuffing usually went to waste.  Instead, he put the "stuffing" in bowls and baked it separately in the oven, thus becoming "dressing."  It is one of the great Thanksgiving debates but whatever vessel it is cooked in, it is sure to please!  The following recipe is really the centerpiece of our meal as our children have heaping plates of dressing with a requisite slice of turkey!  It's true comfort food :)

     4 - 12 oz. packages breakfast sausage links

     4 - 14 oz. bags Pepperidge Farm Sage & Onion Cubed Stuffing

     4 medium yellow onions

     2 bunches of celery

     8 sticks of butter

     Olive oil

     10 cups low-sodium chicken broth

     6 tablespoons. sage

     2 teaspoons. salt

     2 tablespoons pepper

Place sausage links on cookie sheet and bake in a 350 oven until cooked through.  Remove from oven and let cool.  Cut links into 1/4" slices and place in an extra-large bowl.

Dice onions & celery.  Sauté in a large pan with two sticks of butter and a splash of olive oil until slightly translucent.  Scrape into bowl with sausage.

Dump stuffing into bowl with sausage, onion & celery.  Sprinkle sage on top and mix well.

In a large pot heat broth and remaining 2 sticks of butter until boiling.  Pour mixture into bowl.  Add salt & pepper; adjust to taste.  Mix well.

Put mixture in large, oven-proof serving bowls and bake in 350 oven for 60 minutes.  Remove from oven and serve hot with brown gravy & turkey . . . allow time for a nap afterward!  Serves a crowd :)

Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will provide),

There is such great need to feed those who are hungry.  We can each do our part by sharing the gifts You have blessed us with.  Some have time & talents that serve those in need.  Others have resources that lend support.  We pray that You, Jehovah Jireh, may open hearts so that Your provision may flow through.  Amen.