Meet The New Faith-based Chef On The Block

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my Christian cooking blog, ‘Hope Joy Life’. Through this blog, I hope I can provide you with dishes that cater to your diet/lifestyle while you are on your spiritual journey. Of course, I will be posting religious holiday-based dishes, and I would love your input in the comment section if you do make them and enjoy them (And even if you don’t). Let me know how it turned out and the reaction you got from the folks who enjoyed or didn’t enjoy eating it.

My overall goal with, Hope Joy Love, is for people from all walks of life to find a level of comfortability with sharing their culinary skills and allowing others to partake and enjoy them together as a faith-based community. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have access to that kind of culinary resource? The Bible tells us we are stronger together. Proverbs 27:17 tells us; As iron sharpens iron,

    so one person sharpens another.

Nothing brings me more joy than sitting around a dining room table with friends and family members from all walks of life and religions able to converse and eat together. Since the beginning of time, food has always had an integral part in history, from the forbidden fruit Adam and Eve partook in, to the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. Food has been a part of man’s spiritual journey every step of the way. 

If you have a family like I do, food is all your children and partners think about when they come home from work and school. They want a snack after school, and your partner wants a home-cooked meal (Usually… We get Pizza on Fridays). 

Not only will my recipes be faith-based, but they will also be easy, healthy, and nutritious. I know when we hear the words ‘easy, healthy, and nutritious,’ we think ‘no flavor’ and probably ‘lettuce only’, but I assure you, that is not the case. I know in this day and age, no one has the time to cook a full-course meal spanning 1-3 hours. The dishes I will be featuring will have a quick preparation/cooking time. 

It will also have sweets, desserts, and potluck dishes that will thrill your church congregation when it’s your turn to bring a dish. I am hopeful that through my blog you will find Hope, Joy and lead a healthy life. 

Thanks so much, for reading. I can’t wait to share these exciting dishes with you on this journey. 

The first Recipe I will be sharing is a Tomato and French Bread Salad. It takes under 30 minutes to make and is a wonderful addition to your dinner table. This dish is great to make if you have leftover bread. 

Chef’s Tip: Be sure to use bread like French bread, country bread, or even Texas toast slices. 

Tomato and French Bread Salad. 

Ingredients

1/2 Pound of Bread ( Texas Toast, Country Bread, or French bread) Cut into 3/4 inch slices.

1/4 cup Olive oil

2 Tablespoons Olive oil

3 large beefsteak Tomatoes, Cut into cubes a little smaller than the bread cubes. (About 4 ups)

1 Cucumber, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)

1/4 cup fresh basil, torn into bite-sized pieces

1 Tablespoon of Red Wine Vinegar

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/4 teaspoon Pepper

1/4 Cup Purple onion, sliced

1/4 teaspoon grated Parmesan Cheese

Cooking Directions 

1. Heat grill to medium.
2. Brush bread slices on both sides with 2 Tablespoons of Olive oil.
3. Grill until lightly charred on both sides, 3-4 minutes
4. Let Cool slightly, then cut into cubes.
5. In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with tomatoes, cucumber, purple onion, and basil.
6. Drizzle with Red wine vinegar and remaining Olive oil.
7. Season with salt, pepper, and Parmesan.
8. Serve.

Nutritional facts

per serving: 383 Calories: 22.9 grams fat: 7 grams protein; 39.5 grams Carbohydrates.