Incorporating Mise en Place into Christian Life

What is Mise en Place

Mise en place is a French term that means “putting in place.” A culinary concept that refers to preparing and organizing everything before cooking. It involves gathering all the ingredients, tools, and equipment needed for a particular recipe and arranging them logically for easy access during cooking. Mise en place helps to save time, reduce stress, and improve the quality of the final dish. Mise en place is not only applicable in the kitchen but can also be applied in various aspects of life. In this article, I will explain how to incorporate mise en place into Christian life to achieve better living.

What is Christian Life?

Christian life is a life that is lived in accordance with the teachings and principles of Jesus Christ. It is a life that is characterized by love, compassion, forgiveness, and service to others. Christian life is not just about attending church services, but it is about living a life that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives.

How to Incorporate Mise en Place into Christian Life

1. Set Clear Goals

Just like in cooking where you need to have a clear recipe and end goal in mind, in Christian life, it is important to set clear goals. This involves identifying the values and principles that are important to you and aligning them with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Setting clear goals helps to give direction, purpose, and meaning to your life.

2. Prioritize Your Time

In cooking, you cannot start cooking without first preparing and organizing your ingredients and tools. Similarly, in Christian life, you cannot live a purposeful life without first prioritizing your time. This involves identifying the activities that are important to you and allocating time for them. Prioritizing your time helps to ensure that you focus on the things that matter most and avoid wasting time on unimportant activities.

3. Practice Self-Discipline

Mise en place requires discipline, focus, and attention to detail. Similarly, Christian life requires self-discipline, which involves making deliberate choices that align with your values and principles. Self-discipline helps to cultivate good habits, avoid distractions, and stay focused on your goals.

4. Cultivate a Spirit of Gratitude

In cooking, it is important to appreciate the ingredients and tools that you have and use them to create something delicious. Similarly, in Christian life, it is important to cultivate a spirit of gratitude by appreciating the blessings that you have and using them to serve others. Gratitude helps to cultivate a positive attitude, reduce stress, and improve mental health.

5. Serve Others

In cooking, the ultimate goal is to create something delicious that will be enjoyed by others. Similarly, in Christian life, the ultimate goal is to serve others by using your skills, talents, and resources to make a positive impact in the world. Serving others helps to cultivate empathy, kindness, and compassion.

Wrapping Up

Incorporating mise en place into Christian life is a powerful way to achieve better living. By setting clear goals, prioritizing your time, practicing self-discipline, cultivating a spirit of gratitude, and serving others, you can live a purposeful and fulfilling life that reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ. Remember, just like in cooking, preparation and organization are key to success in Christian life.

Below is a simple yet complicated recipe for Cassoulet.  It is made easier to cook by incorporating the concept of a mise place. Enjoy!

Simple Cassoulet

Ingredients

• 5 pieces thick-cut bacon, sliced
• 4 chicken thighs
• 4 Italian sausages
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 can diced tomatoes with juice
• 2 cans of navy beans with brine
• 1 bunch fresh thyme
• Salt and pepper as needed
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• Chiffonade parsley for garnish

Method

1. In a large Dutch oven over medium heat, cook the bacon until almost crispy, then transfer the bacon to a separate plate reserving the fat in the pan
2. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper-set aside
3. Using the tip of your knife, poke small holes in the sausages to keep them from bursting as they cook
4. Add 1 Tablespoon olive oil to the bacon fat, and add the chicken, skin side down, and the sausages.
5. Cook on each side for about 10 minutes, and then transfer to the plate with the bacon
6. Remove about ¾ of the fat from the pan, and cook the onions and garlic until the onions soften
7. Stir in the tomatoes, beans, thyme, cooked bacon, salt, and pepper
8. Place the chicken and sausages in among the mixture and bring to a slight boil
9. Once it starts to boil, bring the temperature down to a simmer, and cook for about 25 minutes, or until the chicken and sausages reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the largest section of meat
10. In a small bowl, add the rest of the breadcrumbs, olive oil and parsley, and mix well
11. Remove the thyme sprigs from the cassoulet, turn the oven to broil
12. Place a small amount of the mixture with 1 sausage and 1 chicken breast into a small casserole dish or oven-safe bowl, and cover with a generous amount of the breadcrumb mixture
13. Broil for about 3 minutes until the top browns

Serve immediately with crusty bread