“When bellies are full, hearts are open”

I heard this little phrase from another food services manager recently at a Christian camp conference. While it is very simple, it summarizes the purpose of all the work that is put into the kitchen. When we take care of the physical needs of campers, they are ready to hear the gospel. All of the hours spent at the pot sink, the thousands of veggies that have been chopped, and the hundreds of volunteers that have passed through the kitchen’s big double doors have been an essential part of children coming to know Christ as their Saviour.

One of my favourite parts about my job is that I get to know the people who eagerly step up to do these tasks. To do the jobs that most people don’t like to do. I am humbled by people who have been serving in the kitchen for decades. It reminds me of 1 Peter 4:10 “As each on has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good steward of the manifold grace of God”.

This is my prayer for this coming summer. That, in light of the manifold grace of God, we will use whatever small gift we have to serve, and that God will multiply the yield.

A New Recipe!

On the food side of things, I’ve been testing out some new recipes and this is the one that was served on Family Day! It’s another cake recipe but I thought it would be fitting being that cake is practically a fifth food group at camp.

Ingredients:

• 2 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
• 3⁄4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄2 cup vegetable oil
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 1⁄2 cups unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350’F. Combine all of the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl.
2. Form a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and whisk in all of the wet ingredients.
3. Pour mixture into a 9x13 baking pan and bake for 60-65 minutes