In the mid-1970's the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) called for a "major focus on the world-food crisis by Mennonites"(MWL p.4). In addition to providing leadership towards long-term solutions to hunger, the MCC also challenged its North American member households to consider their own lifestyles, most notably in regards to food, and to eat and spend 10 percent less. The idea of compiling a cookbook of recipes that would help to meet the challenge soon arose. Members of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches submitted thousands of recipes that met the criteria of being nutritious, inexpensive, simple, and delicious. The recipes were tested, and the book compiled, under the leadership of Doris Janzen Longacre. The final product, The More-with-Less Cookbook is approximately two-thirds recipe and one-third quiet theology. It asks the question: "Does your belief in God affect your way of living?" (MWL p. vi) Prayers, proverbs, words of encouragement and reflections on hunger, simplicity, faith, and abundance infuse the book in response.
I picked up the book in 2007 at Ten Thousand Villages and I immediately fell in love with it. I have used it extensively, mostly to the exclusion of my other cookbooks. Now, 3 and a half years later, on the cusp of the New Year, I've decided to put my warm-fuzzy feelings into action and I will take up the More-with-Less 10 percent food reduction challenge. I hope that as a result my family will be able to give more generously, that the chains of over-abundance will loosen, that we'll come to appreciate simple, homemade foods (and therefore dramatically improve our current diet), but mostly that God will use this journey to help me grow as a Christ-follower while serving others.
At this point I am still figuring out what my new food budget will look like: I'll dig up old food bills and post the nitty-gritty details in the days and weeks ahead. I also have a lot of questions and thoughts about what compassion and service look like, and how individual actions fit into the bigger picture. (I am encouraged by the miracle of the feeding of 5000. The little boy only had to give his lunch, God took care of the rest.) I will share which recipes from MWL we most enjoyed and I will also point you towards other books, videos, and audiocasts on this topic that you might enjoy. I appreciate your support by reading this blog you'll encourage me to stay on track! Finally, maybe some of you might decide to take up the More-with-Less challenge too. I'd love to journey with you!
"He hath shown thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8
