Slow Living during Lent: Cooking, Gardening, and Prayer
Life is busy, especially when you feel pulled in different directions at all hours of the day (and night… I see you, Parents!) There is something about intentionally slowing down during Lent that reminds me of how important it is to stop, breathe, and let go. This season has always been a time for reflection, quiet moments, and inner peace. Slow living during Lent is a goal of mine this season, and to be honest….it seems to be a life-long goal, as well.
A Slow Cooking Stew for a Night of Slow Living
I don’t have a slow cooker. I did once, and used it once or twice. It was supposed to be easy, but that wasn’t true for me – so I gave it away to a college-bound girl. Instead, I have a trusty soup pot that comes with a pressure seal lid. I cook most meals in it, and the Veal Bone Stew and Vegetables was one of them. It’s the thick, flavorful broth and sourdough bread for me!
I’m pretty sure you weren’t expecting a thick, meaty stew as a suggested Lenten recipe. But trust me – this fits the bill. It’s simple, hearty, and makes lighter days not feel so terrible. It also lasts a long while, two or three days worth, depending on how much you make (and how many hungry hippos you have). Plus, an afternoon of babysitting the stew and tending it with love and care absolutely makes it worth all the hard work! That sourdough bread was part of last week’s baking batch – never will a loaf of bread go to waste on my watch 🙂
Tending a Late Winter, Early Spring Garden
Our non-winter became a full blown blizzard last week. Yep – exactly at the end of the winter season. (Is it me, or should we just re-define our seasons already?) Anyhow, the outdoor chores were mounting up while the snow and ice took their time melting. On the docket:
- re-fence the garden beds
- clean-up leaves and other debris
- turn and distribute the compost (for the first time! hooray!)
- spray down the fruit trees
- plant the seedlings
Not much of the to-do list was done, but I got those seeds in the pots and the ground was turned. I was glad of a few surprises, though! Last year’s parsley has come through, and new shoots of lemon balm were peeking through the shrubbery. Oregano was spreading it’s thick vines, and the thyme “seem” to be coming along. A good start to the gardens, all in all.
An Easy Weeknight Sheet Pan Dinner
Besides a one-pot meal, the next best thing is a sheet pan dinner. It provides the same ease of preparation, the same set-it-and-forget-it functionality, and provides all the comfort for a night of slow living. I decided on a Chicken Fajita sheet pan dinner, since I had all the ingredients on hand. The spices rack is always full, and there’s always vegetables waiting to be had.
The preparation was quite fun. Give me a few minutes of chopping up vegetables any night – it’s a great stress reliever after a long day at work. Though I’m excited to cook up my own peppers this year, I’m grateful for the bag of mini-peppers I can always grab at the market during the off-season.
The end result was delicious, but too much for the girls to handle. Mommy went a little heavy on the chili this time! A bit of yogurt or sour cream with each bite helps to temper down the heat, but I made a mental note for next time. Add the extra pepper AFTER the chicken is cooked.
Slow Living with Prayer
The arc of my prayer life is somewhat at its height at the moment. Years of dabbling here and there, wondering if I was ever good at it – and also wondering if there was any point to it – have resulted in me putting forth extra diligence in trying to get it right.
I’m a fan of the liturgical seasons. I like the ebb and flow of dedicated times. I like when moments have a beginning and an end. I’m a soul that needs focus, and the themes for each season help me stay on the path. After a strong first impression of my current Lenten bible study, it hasn’t been that hard to maintain. After all, there’s more of a need now than ever to put words to paper.
There’s a few items I keep on hand when delving into prayer. First, my journal – without which I get a distracted. Secondly, my rosary and – if out and about – my rosary bracelet (you can check out two versions in the video above). Third, a bible study, which keeps my craving for organization satisfied. Ascension Press has been my go to, and I’ve never looked back.
A Pasta Dish Worthy of a Fast
Typically, there’s a fish dinner once or twice a week. During Lent, it’s a bit more significant. Needless to say, there was no fish on hand this week. So I pivoted the meal plan towards something that solves most problems – pasta.
Making it even easier, I heated through a set of ingredients that barely needed cooking: spinach, roasted red peppers, and a can of chickpeas. In the time it took for the angel hair to turn al-dente (a matter of 5 minutes), dinner was served.
I always amaze myself with the difference ways pasta can be made. Frankly, I’m more amazed why there are recipes upon recipes out there. In the end, unless there is a particular sauce to be made, a pasta dish is as simple as sautéing whatever vegetables one may have on hand, adding in a bit of garlic and extra olive oil, and tossing it with some pasta. In the pan. Always in the pan. And cheese. Lots of cheese.
What Have You Been Eating Lately? Share in the Comments!
The highlights of this past week reminded me that slow living is as easy as we can make it. We can be productive, yet peaceful.
When every dish is prepared with intention, every meal is an act of love and prayer itself. I’d love to know the meals you make for the Lenten season! Share below!
More to come next week. Have a Blessed Sunday ✝️
