Taste and See

by Sally Savas.  Sally has been married to her husband Keith for 26 years. They are thankful for three terrific daughters, Rebecca, Melanie and Carolyn. The family joined Cove Church after moving from North Carolina in 2005 and have served as c-group leaders and in Kids Cove and Student Ministry.

I have a cookbook from my newlywed days when my husband and I lived in Marietta, GA. It reminds me of the friends we made and of the young marrieds Sunday School class we joined that was instrumental in our development as a young adults, as a married couple and later as new parents. In the book are recipes that are now our family favorites, contributed by people we knew and their mothers and grandmothers. I love that these recipes were created and shared and enjoyed by so many. They have been part of family celebrations and taken to families who needed love and support in difficult times.

The title of this cookbook is “Taste and See… Psalm 34:8.” The complete verse is “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Of all the senses, taste is the most private and personal. You can hear sounds from far away. You can hear a voice on the other side of the planet by phone or from outer space by radio. You can even hear voices from long ago on video recordings.  You can see things from far away, even worlds away with a powerful telescope and other technologies. A great smell can carry across the house or lure you into a good restaurant. A real stink, on the other hand can carry for miles. You smell a town with a paper mill long before you see it. Touch must be close but it is still outside of you. Taste is the most intimate of the senses. To taste, you internalize it. It becomes a part of you. Your body is either nourished by it or rejects it.

This Christmas season, taste and see that the Lord is good. Ponder the message of the season in your heart – the savior of the world gave up heaven temporarily to live in humility. He came so humans could see him, hear him, touch him and, I suppose, to smell him. The baby Jesus came on a mission. His birth set into motion a plan to conquer sin and death. Don’t just observe. Take the wonder of it in, live the Christian life out.  Jesus said, “…anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…” (John 14:12 NIV).  Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Sally's recipe for Ham Squares

2 sticks butter or margarine
¼ cup poppy seed
1 Tbs prepared mustard
1 medium onion, minced (optional)
1 lb shaved ham
1 pkg Swiss cheese, sliced
3 (24 count) pkgs Pepperidge Farm Party Rolls

Melt margarine. Stir in poppy seed, mustard and onion. Refrigerate covered overnight. Take out one hour before baking sandwiches. Slice rolls lengthwise. Spread margarine mixture over top and bottom of rolls. Layer ham and cheese. Slice into individual rolls before baking. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Sandwiches can be made ahead of time and frozen.