Cooking with wine?

Gina,

I use sevearal recipes that involve either beer (sausages, crabs, soups, pub grub, shepherds pie, etc), wine (lamb, different aliois, variuos seafood, prime rib) or bourbon (prime rib, roasts, etc).

It's never been an issue for me since, (1) I don't believe that alcohol in moderation is wrong and (2)like you said, the alcohol burns off, anyway.

If I'm cooking for someone who I know has a religious or moral issue with alcohol or a medical condition that would prohibit the use of alcohol, I always ask first.

 

Gina,

Does pretty much everyone agree that alcohol is wrong? Even Jesus, the winemaker? Even Paul, who prescribed its daily consumption for the stomach?

Joshua

 

Wow...pretty brave folks in here....Do you have your shields up?
Our church just added into the standards for membership, about a year and half ago that we agree to abstain from alcohol. Our pastor does preach it as "personal preference", and admits that there are many different interpretations of this issue. It was a huge issue even amoung those who didn't drink anyways. For me, it wasn't really a big deal because I made a decision to stop drinking a few years ago after returning to my fellowship with the Lord. I had never really been a big advocate of abstaining from it, didn't really see where it was wrong, but then once I decided to get my life back into order I realized that for me, alcohol did present a problem. Yes, there are people out there that can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner, and have no problem or even think about, leaving it at that. My husband was one of those, and then...you have me! Before, it never presented a problem because my husband could open a bottle of wine and have one glass...worked out great for me cause it left the rest of the bottle for me! I wouldn't go as far to say I was an alcoholic because I wasn't, I didn't NEED to drink..and didn't do it very often...it's just that when I did...I wanted to complete the job...that's me...always the extreme, no half-ways here! I did finally see that it had given satan a foothold in my life and basically, although I wasn't openly letting him in, I was leaving the door unlocked for him. I struggle with that in many things though as one of weakest points is self-control. It's something that I continually have to keep guard of and have means of being held accountable for it.

Personally, I think the biggest thing is that God knows your heart, he knows if you are using this in a sinful way, but we do have to remember that he warns us about causing another to stumble. Like you said, you have to buy it and when you go to the check-out, that person doesn't know your intentions, or if say someone that admires you and has been struggling with an alcohol problem sees you buying it, it could cause them to think "Hey, see, there's nothing wrong with it, look at her, she's buying it and she seems to be a good christian"

I wouldn't sit here and dogmatically tell you yes or know, I simply don't have the scripture at this moment to support that, but I'm sure there will be plent of posts with it!

 

Dr. Bob, Lets make that two Baptist. I am one who won't drink it either.

Gina, Provided that the alcohol did burn out then it would not be wrong to eat any food
made with it. If you are in someone’s home, or in a restaurant sometimes you don't even
know its in there. Although my wife and I love mushrooms, and if we go out we order an
appetizer of them. One time we ordered them and they tasted awful! Come to find out,
they were cooked in a white wine. Yuck!

But you wouldn’t catch me dead in a grocery store with a bottle of beer or wine in my cart. Food is just not that important to me and there are plenty of spices down isle 2. The absolute last thing I would want is for someone whom I am witnessing to see me with it. Nor would I want the spotlight drawn on me when the Checker is only 16 and she has to announce over an intercom for someone older to check me out! No way. I don't even like going down that isle. But hey that’s were the Dr. Pepper is so I have to. hehe

Chet

 

Chet,

You'd be amazed the positive difference that having a beer in your hand can make when you are witnessing to someone.

Bob,

I'd argue pretty strenuously that the stuff Jesus made was the good stuff. I would challenge any exegesis that says we have a biblical commandment to be tea-totallers; but I do not believe that being a tea-totaller is against God's will or in any way interferes with fellowship with God.

Incidentally, wasn't the temperance stuff added to those covenants as a result of the temperance movement? I don't remember studying this subject much at all when I took Baptist History, but I didn't think the baptists of the Smyth and Helwys era were tea-totallers.

Joshua

P.S. I don't mind if you call me just plain "Joshua." I appreciate the use of the title, but we're all friends here.

 

This has given me a renewed appreciation for being raised in the south! I never struggle with what to use instead of wine for cooking because for the most part, most of my cooking would never call for it! I'd hate to have to sacrifice biscuits and gravy!!! (although, let me say that I would if I had to )

 

Dr, Bob, your not alone, we don't use alchol either.

 

I cook with cooking wine some, and will eat food cooked with wine.

I have taken the Lord's supper with wine (in Baptist churches) and will when the opportunity presents itself.

I do not purchase wine or beer for consumption .. .

 

-----------------
"Well alright, it sounds okay," said Doug. "Tell me though-- what kind of church is this?"

"Baptist," replied Tim.

"Alright. I go to a Bible church back home. I'd say we're a lot like Baptists-- except we don't go around telling people they can't ever drink a beer or go dancing."
--------------

This little excerp is from one of my stories in the TIM ROCKFORT series I am continuing to add to. However, the dialogue is a quote taken from a true incident (as many stories and lines). I was in a Christian dating service and I got the number for a female member and called her, and we discussed the 'basics' about ourselves, and I told her my church is Baptist. Her reply was the same as the above quote, "I go to a Bible church.... I'd say we're a lot like Baptists-- except we don't go around telling people they can't ever drink a beer or go dancing."

Baptists are still largely identified by what we are *against*, instead of what we are *for*. That is why I deemphasize such a stand against liquor/beer/wine. I don't think we should exhaust such an amount of our time and resources in fighting liquor elections and having 'specialist' preachers going around with long sermons on a positon the Bible does not require.

As to the origin of this thread, that question about cooking lamb, being a DRAGNET fan, Officer Bill Gannon once told about his 'secret' barbecue sauce especially for lamb. I have never actually tried this, but from http://www.badge714.com ...

Bill's Secret Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients:
1 qt. ketchup
1 can red pepper
1 can hot mustard
1 qt. vinegar
1 lb. peeled red peppers, freshly chopped
1 small jar of oregano
4-5 cloves of garlic
1. Mix ingredients in a large, chilled bowl using an electric mixer.
2. Add 5 chopped Bermuda onions.
(Now here comes the secret part...)
3. Add one quart vanilla ice cream and mix again

Bill says "Use it on lamb and you'll never know it's lamb!"

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rev. Joshua Villines:
You'd be amazed the positive difference that having a beer in your hand can make when you are witnessing to someone.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


What about having a cigarette? Or maybe the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition?

 

Joshua,

I am positive that would have a negative result.

You may have a beer in your hand, I think I will have a Bible in mine.

Chet

 

Alcohol used in cooking is usually completely evaporated due to the low vapor point of alcohol. For flavoring in a "cooked" dish, you will not consume the alcohol, only the remaining water-based ingredients.

HOWEVER -- The big question is, WILL IT HURT YOUR WITNESS IF A NON-CHRISTIAN SEES YOU PURCHASING THE WINE OR BEER? I have heard snide remarks made about Christians even buying cooking wine like above. . . Let's think about that and not whether it is "right or wrong". Would Jesus go to the liquor store?

 

My point is that drinking a beer is not a sin.

Having one in your hand while talking to someone about faith is an indicator that you are not one of the Christians who throws the baby (of rational thought) out with the bathwater (of sinful behavior).

I know for certain that it has made a difference in the conversations I've had with non-believers.

Joshua

 

Gina,

I drink and we use wine and other things to cook with so I guess if you have conviction on it its better not to do it.

Sue

 

I had a friend who believed that having a beer with someone was an effective tool in witnessing. She then started smoking pot with people, believing it was effective tool in witnessing. She then slept with her ex-boyfriend while being engaged to another man. At that point I don't think she was thinking about witnessing anymore.

I believe we have to show others that Christ makes a difference in our lives. We have to show that we don't need a drink or a smoke. People do those things to fill a void, but our void has already been filled by Jesus! I believe the most effective tool in witnessing is our JOY! When we radiate joy in spite of abstaining from alcohol, people are going to want that!

By the way, I think cooking with non-alcoholic wine is the best way to go.

 

I never said I drink as a wittnessing tool. When I go to TGI Fridays or to a friends house I'll drink a glass of wine or have a mixed drink with my dinner. I don't find a thing wrong with it, but for you it may be wrong.

Sue

 

I didn't mean you. I was replying to an earlier post. Sorry, I should have clarified that.

God bless you. Grace and peace to you.