Bet you were expecting a Chicken Soup recipe, weren’t ya? Fooled you. Since this is all about Chicken Soup for the Soul, we can serve it up with any dish we like. Although this time of year, soup does sound good.
I can remember as a child my mother warming up a bowl of Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup any time I stayed home from school because I was sick. I really don’t remember eating Chicken Noodle soup any other time. I suppose we may have. What I do remember is that when you stayed home sick, you got to rest in Dad’s recliner. Mom fluffed up your pillow and tucked the soft blankets all around you. Soup was served on a tray. And best of all, you could watch TV if you were up to it.
As it turns out, Chicken Soup is more than just comfort food. There are actual health benefits to eating Chicken Soup. Just as there are benefits to feeding your soul with the Word of God. Now I know most of us look at the Bible and think stiff, stuffy and not much comfort with all that talk about fire and brimstone. I suppose that’s true enough, which is why I love being a Catholic. There are learned minds far greater than mine extracting messages of love and hope from all 73 books contained in the Bible. We really need to think of the Bible not as one big book, but an entire library of knowledge. These are books filled with our story – HIS-tory, with renewal, with promise and salvation. They are woven like fine threads of silk in both the Old and New Testaments.
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
Matthew 26:28 This is My blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Let the words of the Lord nourish your soul. Trust in Him, for He is always faithful. Know too that death is just a transition to something even better; not the end.
Spicy Rigatoni Meatball Casserole
12 oz Rigatoni Pasta
1 (16 oz) can Diced Tomatoes
1 (24 or) jar Pasta Sauce
Red Pepper Flakes to taste
15 large frozen Meatballs
1 cup Italian Cheese Blend
Heat oven to 375-degrees. Spray a large casserole dish with cooking spray, set aside.
Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta al-dente, about 12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, empty diced tomatoes and pasta sauce into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium. Season with pepper flakes to taste. Add meatballs, simmer until pasta has been drained.
In a large mixing bowl toss drained pasta with the meatballs in a pasta sauce. Spread out in a casserole dish. Sprinkle top with Italian Cheese Blend. Spray foil with cooking spray to prevent melted cheese from sticking, cover casserole, sprayed side down, with foil.
Place in the oven to bake for 20 minutes. Uncover, continue to bake a few minutes longer, until cheese is bubbling on the top. Serve with a salad and maybe a nice bottle of wine.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects stranger
