Recipes by Katie Shirkey Leithead | Story by Morgan Crawford Scott | Food Styling by Vanessa Rocchio
Katie Shirkey Leithead’s life is rooted in humble service, Christian faith, and Southern hospitality. One of her places of ministry is her kitchen, where her God-given gift of cooking guides her as she creates homemade meals for friends, family, and sometimes even strangers as they walk through life’s most intimate and challenging moments. She is proof that when a comforting meal arrives on the doorstep of someone in need—be it navigating a surgery, grieving the loss of a loved one, or welcoming the arrival of a new baby—it’s an act of kindness that will stick with them forever.
“I feel that when you’re given gifts and talents, you need to share them,” Katie says. Aside from her gift of cooking, she also has a beautiful singing voice, and she often uses it to perform at both weddings and funerals. “It’s to glorify God and help the families celebrate the wedding or feel the peace of a funeral service. Cooking is right up there with those gifts,” she says. Her servant’s heart and passion for providing comfort through food is something you can’t fabricate. She genuinely cares, and it comes through in each and every meal. When it comes to the Lake Charles community, Katie has made a definite impact. Southwest Louisiana is no stranger to hurricanes, and the last few years have not been kind to her beloved town. She took it upon herself to bring meals to people whose homes were very severely damaged by the storms, and she was dubbed “the FEMA caterer” by those she helped shortly thereafter.
When it comes to Katie’s recipes, they are Southern in tradition, have a way of making people feel loved, and, of course, pack a lot of flavor. Keen on details, she discusses meals ahead of time with the receiving family to unearth any meal preferences, dietary restrictions, and allergies and to confirm where and when it should be dropped off so as not to impose. She believes presentation is as important as the meal itself. Each dinner is served in an appealing dish—no plastic or foil in sight—since “beautiful is the only way to present a meal of love,” Katie explains. “I want it to look like home . . . colorful dishes, a basket of goodies, bright dishcloths, and sometimes crystal stemware.”
More than that, the love and care she puts into these recipes is otherworldly, whether it’s her soul-warming crawfish and shrimp fettucine, a classic pot roast, or her Aunt Villa’s Cheesy Meatloaf (a crowd favorite). After a trip to the grocery store specifically for a comfort meal’s ingredients, she spends time in prayer, asking God to let this act of service glorify Him. Her husband often finds her praying over her blue Le Creuset pots and pans before cooking the meal at hand, knowing not to bother her during this special prep time. “I think [one of these meals] just makes them shed whatever it is—the burden they’re carrying—and for just a little bit, they feel that peace that surpasses all understanding, and that’s the Holy Spirit. I truly believe He’s there,” Katie shares.
One of Katie’s favorite times to bring a comfort meal is after the “meal train” has ended, when people feel like life must move forward but they’re still stuck in the thick of it. She recently recalls a time when a dear friend lost his wife unexpectedly. “We noticed he wasn’t getting out, and about a month or two later, he was choosing solitude and we were quite worried about him,” says Katie. This was her cue to bring another meal. “I brought a meal shortly after everybody else had stopped, and he absolutely loved it.”
No matter the occasion, in times of sorrow or in celebration, Katie’s goal in cooking comfort meals always starts with the intent of serving, not just providing nourishment. She uses her faith as a compass when cooking, and she is a true testament that when words don’t feel like enough, food can move mountains.
