Onion and Potato Soup

According to Julia Child, "Leek and potato soup smells good, tastes good, and is simplicity itself to make." I do think she is right, but I think it's funny how much our definition of "simplicity" has changed over time. To Julia Child, "simplicity itself" involves washing, peeling, dicing, chopping, boiling for an hour, and food-processing. To many of us, simplicity itself is popping something in the microwave and only needing to use one pan.

I've been thinking a lot about simplifying life lately, but I've found that "simple" and "easy" are not always the same thing. Simplifying cleaning supplies means making my own. Simplifying my closet means shopping longer to find the right things. Simplifying our diet means working harder to find wholesome food.

I think, really, that obedience is simple. Do I know what I need to do to obey Christ? Yes. The problem is, we complicate it ourselves because it isn't easy. If it was easy, we wouldn't wonder if this thing - this thing that's so difficult to do, can it really be the right thing? - is the right thing. When have I ever talked myself in circles over something God was asking me that I was excited about? When have you? It's the difficult things, the hard things, the things that hit home, the things that hurt. Those are the ones I debate, over-analyze, and question.

But it's in obedience that we find freedom. In simplicity - no matter how hard we have to work for it - that we feel we can finally come up and breathe. "This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life."

"'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free" ~Elder Joseph

Onion and Potato Soup
(VERY slightly adapted) From Julia Child, Mastering the Art of French Cooking

~4 cups diced potatoes
~3 cups thinly sliced onions
~2 quarts water
~2 tablespoons salt
~2 tablespoons softened butter
~diced chives
~pepper

Bring vegetables to boil with salt, then simmer for 50 minutes. Remove potatoes from soup and run through a food processor, or mash with a potato masher. Return to water and stir in butter. Garnish with chives and pepper.