The holiday special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! has become an annual staple in many homes. The story is familiar even to those who have never seen it: the sour, disdainful Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, hates Christmas and the Whos who delight in it so much. He descends upon Whoville to steal all their presents and Holly Who wreaths and feasts of roast beast—everything the Grinch thought gave Christmas its meaning and joy. But when he leans over the side of Mount Crumpit on Christmas morning, expecting to hear the disappointed wails of a town full of Christmas-less Whos, he is shocked to hear something quite different:
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing without any presents at all!
He hadn't stopped Christmas from coming! It came!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!...
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"...
Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!
And the sour old Grinch is redeemed, his heart growing three sizes that day.
Interestingly, in Dr. Seuss’s story, the Grinch has no backstory. We don’t know how he came to be so grumpy and judgemental and… Grinchy. Why is he?
In the December 1957 edition of the magazine Redbook, Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, explained, "I was brushing my teeth on the morning of the 26th of last December when I noticed a very Grinch-ish countenance in the mirror. It was Seuss! So I wrote about my sour friend, the Grinch, to see if I could rediscover something about Christmas that obviously I'd lost."
This is a significant observation not only of Dr. Seuss himself but of humanity in general. We all have a grinchy side. We’re all guilty of bitterness, resentment, judging those who are different, even of being green with envy and hate. In the words of Scripture, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God” (Romans 3:10b-11). We need a Savior who redeems us from our “grinchiness,” or sin and gives us a new heart and a restored relationship with him.
This simple recipe combines sour and spice to create a grinchy yet delicious soup. The accompanying conversation invites reflection on our own grinchiness and the need for redemption it reveals.
Equipment
Stockpot or large saucepan
Cutting board
Kitchen knife
Blender
Soup bowls
Ingredients
2 Tbsp butter
1 medium Sweet Onion, chopped
4 cups or 900 ml Pho Broth (I use Campbell’s)
6 cups shelled fresh or frozen peas
1 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
1/2 cup crème fraîche or sour cream (optional)
2-3 Tbsp Thai Green Curry paste (to taste)
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
3 - 5 Dried Wasabi peas per bowl (garnish)
1 pinch of Parsley leaves or 2 Chives per bowl (garnish)
Method
Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened but not browned (about 6 minutes).
Add the Pho broth and bring to a simmer.
Add the peas and simmer until they are just tender (about 5 minutes).
Remove the pot from the heat and add the mint and Green Curry paste.
Transfer the soup to a blender and purée (or use an immersion blender). If the soup appears too thick, mix in with a little extra Pho broth or water. Blend until smooth.
Taste & season soup with salt and pepper. If you want a bit of added spice, add a little more Thai Green Curry paste. The soup should be nice and spicy and slightly sour or… Grinchy!
Serve warm or cold. When plating, add a dollop of sour cream or crème fraîche (optional), and top with 3-5 wasabi peas, chives, and/or a few leaves of parsley.
Chef it Up!
Make the soup especially grinchy by getting creative with the garnish. Use a piping bag to create a grinch-like smile (pictured below) with the sour cream or crème fraîche. Then arrange two wasabi peas as eyes.
Conversation guide
TO THE HOST: Showing clips from the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, either before or while you eat the dish, will add to the experience. The first 4-5 minutes and the last 3 minutes fit best. As of writing, it is available to stream for free on HBOMax, or on Peacock with a premium subscription. You can also purchase or rent on Amazon Prime Video, the iTunes store, or Google Play. You may be able to find clips on YouTube, but they have been removed from time to time.
Here is a link that is currently working: https://youtu.be/0aJcmOm9J1U
Also, as this conversation invites us to explore our sin and ugliness, please be vulnerable in sharing about your own brokenness and mistakes. Simply reading this script without being real about your own sin—and redemption by Jesus—could create a judgemental tone that would not be beneficial.
Read: We’re all likely familiar with ‘the Grinch:’ the green, small-hearted sourpuss who tries to steal Christmas from the Whos. But what does that character represent, and how did he become that way?
Ask: How do you think the Grinch became The Grinch? Does the character remind you of anyone in particular?
Read: The original story of the Grinch was written by the beloved author Dr. Seuss. Interestingly, he offered this explanation for the character’s origin: "I was brushing my teeth on the morning of the 26th of last December when I noticed a very Grinch-ish countenance in the mirror. It was Seuss! So I wrote about my sour friend, the Grinch, to see if I could rediscover something about Christmas that obviously I'd lost.”
Ask: Can you see the Grinch in yourself as well? How? When does he tend to come out most?
Ask: What have you done in those “grinchy” moments that you wish you could undo?
Read: Whether we’ve lashed out in anger and broken a relationship, judged or mistreated someone who believes or looks different, made harmful or painful choices, or a million other things, we’ve all done “grinchy” things. We likely justified them at the time. Maybe we still do. The Bible names this element of our human condition very plainly, calling it “sin.” This word may bring up painful connotations when you hear it, but it simply means “missing the mark” or falling short of a perfect standard of righteousness. In his letter to the early church in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Ask: Do you agree with this assessment of humanity? How have you sought to respond to it at a personal level: seeking to right your wrong actions, make some sort of penance, etc.? What effect has that had?
Read: As a Christian, I believe that each and every person is created in God’s image, and that we are designed to have a relationship with Him. I believe that this is what brings true joy, meaning, and purpose to life. But this grinchiness, or sin, keeps us from having a relationship with God, and experiencing that purpose and joy. Thankfully, God took it upon himself to remedy this condition, as we are incapable of restoring ourselves to him on our own. This was the purpose behind Jesus coming to earth.
Ask (optional, feel free to skip if you will be serving A Shepherd’s Ragout, Griswold Family Christmas, or A Taste of Grace): How might Jesus redeem us from our broken human condition and separation from God? In light of that purpose God had for him, how do you react to the fact that he entered the world as a human baby?
Does Christmas without presents and Hollywho wreaths and feasts of roast beast lose its meaning for you? What makes Christmas important to you?