Sunday, November 12, 2006

Sabbath Meals

Like the Jews, the Mormons have a thing about food. A Mormon joke goes this way: How many Mormons does it take to change a light bulb? 10. One to change the light and 9 to plan and serve the refreshments.
I have heard outsiders say because of all the other restrictions in our religion, food and married sex are our only allowed recreation. Thus leading to Utah being the top Jello eater in the U.S. and the high number of kids per captia in our Zion here. And since the church frowns on group sex, that just leaves eating as a group activity.
There are the classic Mormon Funeral Potatoes. Served after every Mormon funeral I have been to, whether it was in Utah or California.

Funeral Potatoes (classic)
6-8 potatoes, cooked, peeled, and grated or cubed
1/2 c. minced onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pint sour cream
1/2 c. grated cheese
3/4 tsp. salt
optionally:
2 tbsp. melted butter
1 c. crushed cornflakes

Spread potatoes in a buttered casserole dish. Heat soup, sour cream, and onion in sauce pan, then pour over potatoes, but DO NOT STIR. Sprinkle cheese on top if you’re Aunt Marilyn Crandall; if you’re Julie Nielsen, mix the cheese, butter, and cornflakes together, and then sprinkle them on top. Bake at 350 F. for 30 minutes.

This is a heart attack in a casserole pan, but man oh man, does it taste heavenly. Served with ham and rolls, it is the staple of our religion's funerals.

For my family, especially as the kids got older and busier, Sunday dinner has become an important part our week. A time to gather, a time for fellowship, laughter and a time to catch up on everyone's news. And personally? Although it is a fair amount of work for me, I LOVE seeing all my kids, (and extra's) faces gathered around our Sabbath meal.
A shortcut I have been taking with the hot summer weather and our late Sunday schedule is a crockpot potroast. I will halve the recipe for my internet peeps, since I doubt many of you own an extra large crockpot.
Jo's Easy Sunday Pot Roast

1 roast, 1-2 lbs
1 envelope of onion soup mix
1 envelope of brown gravy mix
1 lb of baby carrots
2 lbs of potatoes, washed and in quarters or eighths.

Put the roast in the crockpot
put the carrots and potatoes on top
mix the 2 envelopes with a cup of hot water,
pour on top
put the lid on
cook for at least 5 hours.
Enjoy! Yummy! My family loves it! Easy and keeps the heat down too.
I put it on in about 10 in the morning and it is done by 4.
Served with some rolls it is a great meal.
Today we are having homemade rolls, regular pot roast, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed steamed veggies and if I am not too tired, homemade brownies with ice cream on top. My family with be groaning with joy.
Hope you have a good Sabbath day too!

3 Kids Who Want To Play:

Granny said...

I've done the onion soup thing with the crockpot or on top of the stove too.

Works great.

Jenny said...

It's like all Mormons are Italian. Only my family makes giant pots of pasta for every occassion. You should google the Alter of St. Joseph - (It's made of FOOD!)

Jo said...

I did google it Jenny! Wow, even though I was raised Catholic and spent five years in Catholic school we never did anything like that, I would have remembered it. Cool! Jews, Italians, Mormons, we like to eat!