This month, we’ve been invited to Pops Montfort’s home on the Isle of Grace, off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Pops, the father of Rafe Montfort (the hero of EVERY DEEP DESIRE), lives in a double-wide trailer deep in the Isle of Grace and there’s an enormous barn out back.
Since Rafe has returned (and won back his wife Juliet), he’s been trying to heal his difficult relationships with his father and his estranged brother Philip. To help fix the rift between the brothers, Pops has decided to make a meal for his sons and daughter-in-law. He’s set a table in the barn where the cross-breeze coming off the water blows through, and he’s done all of the cooking himself.
Pops comes across as old and cranky, but I know for a fact that he’s thrilled Rafe has come home and that Juliet is now a part of their lives again. Pops wants nothing more than to bring his family together and has decided the best way to do that is cook them all dinner. And yes, Pops did all the cooking himself!
Pops Montfort ~ “When my son Rafe returned after having been gone for eight years, I almost didn’t believe it. If I hadn’t seen him for myself, with those tattoos all over his arms, I wouldn’t have. But now that Rafe is home, and has proved himself the man I always hoped he’d become, I’m determined to bring my family back together.
Philip, my youngest son, took Rafe’s disappearance and subsequent imprisonment hard. Things have been even harder since Rafe came home. But I know both of my sons want to heal their relationship and I’m determined to help them.
When I reached out to my daughter-in-law and told her about my idea, she was so happy she offered to help. So now she and Rafe, along with Philip, have come to the Isle for dinner. Juliet set up a table in the barn, complete with a tablecloth and flowers and tiny lights, and is serving homemade sweet lime iced tea. She has such a lovely way about her that despite both Rafe and Philip entering the room ready for a fight, they’re now laughing at her stories about the first time I took her fishing. (It didn’t work out so well for either of us, but we did have fun.)
For years I prayed my son Rafe would come home. And despite knowing the terrible things he’d done, he was still my son. And a father is nothing if he can’t forgive his sons.
As my grown sons laugh with Juliet, I serve my homemade Tomato and Okra Soup (from fresh vegetables from my garden). For the first time in eight years I realize that miracles really do happen, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Tomato & Okra Soup
Ingredients
- 3 slices thick-cut bacon diced
- 1 small Vidalia onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes NOT drained
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1 dried bay leaf
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups fresh or frozen okra stems trimmed and cut into ½ -inch pieces
- Kosher Salt to taste
- freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
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In a large stockpot over medium heat, cook the bacon just until it begins to get crispy, 5-6 minutes. Remove the bacon to a plate and set aside. Stir in the onion and saute for 5 minutes. Then add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute.
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Stir in the cans of tomatoes with all the juices. Then add the sugar, thyme, bay leaf, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the stockpot. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
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Meanwhile, finish cooking the bacon in the microwave until it is crispy. Cool and crumble into bits.
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Stir in the okra. Cover and simmer for about 23-15 minutes, stirring often. Cook until the okra is tender, and that time will vary depending on if the okra is frozen or not.
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Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately. Note: this recipe does not freeze well, but it will keep in the refrigerator for a few days.
