Tortilla Night

We've started a tradition of having "Tortilla Night" in our home (almost) every Friday night.  We have a Bible study as a family and open up our home to friends and neighbors to join us for dinner and the Bible study, and people are welcome to arrive whenever they can.  My husband sends out e-mail invitations/reminders every Tuesday and we don't ask for an RSVP.  Ever since we started, we've always had at least one other family join us, and sometimes up to four, though many just come for the Bible study.  I got the idea from a large family that did this back in our previous home congregation and we've been happy to carry on here in upstate New York.  (This family orders pizza for everyone, but we have a dairy allergy in our family that makes pizza complicated, so just do whatever floats your boat.)

I thought it might be helpful to explain some of how we make this work and perhaps you will get some ideas that will be useful in your efforts to "practice hospitality".

Logistics -
Doing the same routine every week is very helpful for me.  After a few weeks, my mind has gone to "autopilot" and Fridays fall into a predictable routine.  I keep a check list on a post-it note on the fridge for all of the foods and utensils I need to set out (I'll go into that in the next section).  Thursday is my "kitchen day" giving me a chance to do some extra food prep and Friday is my house cleaning day, which means I give the bathrooms a good cleaning and do some extra dusting/glass cleaning if I am able.  I am intentional about not making my house spotless... we are simply opening up our home and welcoming others to join our family, we are not hosting an "event".  I have the children clear away toys while I fix dinner, but I do not stress about the appearance of our home.

During the Study -
I keep a large basket of Bible books, notebooks, and pencils for the children to use while we have our study.  My children are expected to sit quietly while we study and get involved as they are old enough to do so.  My husband leads the study and usually does different Bible stories.  Right now we are spending a few weeks talking about King Saul and his character. 

The Food -
As food allergies, special diets, and plain old finickiness are on the rise, I find the food we serve for "Tortilla Night" to be the perfect solution.  I keep all of the ingredients in separate bowls served buffet style - hot foods on the stove and cold foods on a side table.  Everyone can chose what they like and ingredients are available for taco salads, bowls, soft tacos and burritos.  I haven't found another meal that better suits the wide variety of needs for our guests and because the food is fresh and tasty, everyone enjoys it too!  (It's also not an expensive meal, which is good since we are doing this regularly.  I can buy many of the ingredients at Aldi which saves a lot of money!)

This is what I generally serve:

• Homemade Refried Beans (recipe follows) - though I use canned in a pinch
• Taco Meat (1 lb. ground beef with 2 Tbs. homemade taco seasoning)
• Shredded Cheese
• Rice (recipe follows)
• Avocado or Guacamole
• Diced Tomato
• Lettuce
• Chipotle flavored Salad Dressing - I buy this, but have a homemade recipe I want to try soon
• Diced Green Pepper
• Diced Red Onion
• Salsa and Hot Sauce
• Tortilla Chips
• Flour and Corn Tortillas
• Sour Cream 

Do I have every ingredient every week?  No, but this is the list I go from when making a grocery list and getting things ready.  I often make the meat and/or rice in bulk and freeze it and this saves a lot of time.  I buy salad in the clamshell containers so I'm not prepping lettuce (plus it lasts so long this way!)... in other words, I look for ways to save time so Friday prep is not so overwhelming.  I also set out cups, a pitcher of water, cloth napkins, silverware and plates/bowls so people can feel free to help themselves.   I don't worry about fixing dessert, so if someone wants to bring something, I tell them they can bring something sweet to share.

Some recipes:
My old standby recipe for refried beans and Spanish rice is here and we still use this method sometimes.  The beans are not as smooth and the prep for both of these is more last-minute.  I've since found a new refried bean recipe that we really love and a friend gave me a rice cooker.  Try out the different recipes and decide what you like the best.

Refried Beans - all in one pot!

• 3 c. dried pinto beans
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. chipotle powder (Penzey's)
• 1 tsp. chili powder (Penzey's) 
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt

Sometime the day before you want to serve your beans, sort and soak the pinto beans in enough water to cover by a couple of inches.  In the afternoon before our meal, I drain the beans and rinse them in a colander, then put them right back in the pot.  Add the onion, garlic cloves, chipotle powder and chili powder.  Cover with water by about an inch and bring to a boil.  Once it is boiling, I put the lid on and lower the heat to about medium so the beans are gently bubbling.  Cook them for at least an hour - long enough for them to get nice and soft.

Now comes the tricky part... you want enough liquid to keep the beans moist, but don't want them too runny.  You might need to drain off some of the cooking liquid at this point and I recommend reserving it in case you want to add some back in.  Use a stick blender to puree the beans and once they are all nice and smooth, mix in the salt, and check for flavor and texture.  If they are too runny, you can just cook them on the stove for a while with the lid off and if they are too dry, you can add back some of your cooking liquid.  Keep warm until ready to serve.   

Cilantro Lime Rice in the Rice Cooker

• 2 Tbs. butter
• 2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 scoops of white or brown rice (the scoop that comes with the rice cooker)
• 1/4 c. lime juice
• water that comes up to the "2" line of your rice cooker
• 1 Tbs. cilantro (I have also used the kind in the tube when I can't find nice fresh stuff and it works very well.)

Put all of the ingredients except the cilantro in your rice cooker and turn it on.  When the cook cycle is finished, stir in the cilantro and let your rice cooker keep everything warm until ready to serve.

For a stove top version see the original recipe here.

Do you have any regular ways that you open up your home to show hospitality?  What do you do to make things go smoothly?  Got any favorite foods your guests have enjoyed?

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Baked Ziti for a Crowd

We recently hosted our largest crowd ever in our new home - about 30 people!  I didn't know how many people to expect that day, but I knew it would be a lot.  I wanted to be sure we had plenty of food for everyone.  We were also leaving for a big camping trip the next day, so I wanted to keep things as simple as possible!  (Hence the boxed brownie mixes!)  Things worked out so well, I wanted to record what I did for future gatherings.  If you haven't made baked ziti before, think lasagne, just 4x easier to prepare.

Baked Ziti for a Crowd
 In bowl #1 mix:

•  2 lbs. cooked and drained ziti
• 6 c. pasta sauce (homemade from 2, 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes)
• 2 lbs. of ground Italian Sausage (optional)

 In bowl #2 mix:

• 2 lbs. ricotta cheese
• 2 c. mozzarella cheese, grated
• fresh basil to taste (I used several Tbs. from my plant)
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 1/4 c. grated parmesan 

**You will also need another 4 c. mozzarella.

Layer in this way in an extra large disposable pasta pan:  1/2 of the ziti mixture goes in the bottom.  Cover with all of the ricotta cheese mixture.  Put the remaining half of the ziti mixture on top of that, top with the 4 c. of mozzarella and cover with foil.  Bake in a 350* oven for 30 minutes, removing the foil during the last 10 minutes to let the cheese get a little brown and bubbly.

(I think my large roasting pan might also work well,  I'll try that next time.)

For our gathering, I served - 

• this recipe for baked ziti that serves 24
• a crock pot full of dairy free/gluten free meatballs in sauce
• I also cooked 3 pounds of whole wheat linguine and some gluten free pasta, but I think next time I will only cook one pound.  There was TONS leftover!
• 1 lb. of salad greens loaded up with yummy chopped veggies
• for dessert, I prepared 15x10" pan of brownies, thawed a bag of frozen raspberries, and served a quart of vanilla ice cream.  

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Making a Tea Wreath

my new tea wreath

I wanted to share a simple project that can help you in your efforts to create a hospitable home.  I originally saw this idea on Pinterest, and immediately thought of making it for my mother-in-law.  It was a big hit, and it is in use nearly every Sunday when they have a home full of guests and tea drinkers.  It is a pretty way to display the teas you have available, and I find it helps guests feel more comfortable fixing a cuppa for themselves, especially if you leave some teacups nearby and a kettle ready on the stove.

There is a very helpful tutorial from kojo designs here that can walk you through the very simple process of making a wreath for yourself or for a gift.  

my MIL's tea wreath

This was a very fast project and required few materials.  You'll need some large pieces of cardboard, glue, hot glue, about 16 wooden clothespins, and some pretty paper.  You can hang it from a ribbon or just hang it by the hole in the middle. 

When I have babies that need lots of nursing and diaper changing, it is a challenge to be able to be able to meet all of the needs of my guests myself.  It's also a bigger challenge with a large group.  I like to have things out and available as much as possible and encourage my guests to help themselves to whatever they like, and having my teas on display helps in that way.

Thank you Pinterest! 

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Spaghetti Sundays Part II

I like to share things on this blog that are tried and true so you, my readers, can depend upon the fact that the things I share work well for at least one person, leaving it up to you to decide if they will work for you too. I will tell you that what works for me is having Sunday's lunch ready with only 4 minutes of work that morning!

Want to know how? Read on...



Spaghetti Sundays have been a tradition in our home for the past 18 months or so and it works for us. It works so well, that I think if I live to be 100 years old like dear old "Ma", I will still be serving spaghetti for whatever family and friends I am blessed to entertain each Sunday afternoon.

Our favorite sauce includes these meatballs which I make gluten free and dairy free. I pick up about 4 lbs. total of ground beef, turkey and pork each month and make them in a big batch. I freeze the meatballs in quart size containers ready to add to the sauce on Sunday morning.

Here is how I have Sunday's lunch ready with only four minutes of work that day:
(I do this while I am fixing breakfast and I timed myself!)

• Open 2, 28 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes with a hand crank can opener
• Dump these two cans in the crock pot
• Stir in a palmful each of Italian Seasoning and dehydrated onions
• Add about a teaspoon of garlic powder (I just guesstimate the amount in my palm)
• Dump in a quart of frozen meatballs
• Give it a stir, put on the lid, and turn the crock pot to low so it can simmer for a couple of hours while you are away
• Fill a stock pot with water, put the lid on and set it on the stove

Now, when you get back to the house after an uplifting assembly, the first thing you need to do is turn the burner with the stock pot on it on high. I recommend having the stock pot filled and ready on the stove because if your Littles are like mine, they will be whiny and starving and are not going to be happy if you have to put them down to fill a pot with water and carry it to the stove. If it is already sitting on the stove, you can cuddle your sweet ones and simply turn on the burner with a free hand.

Hopefully you have made the most of preparing on Saturday, so pulling a ready made salad out of the fridge will be a breeze. If not, it's ok to skip the salad. We often do. Honestly, we usually only do salad and bread for company.

Something else that will make life with Littles simpler is to keep a "spaghetti shirt" handy. Bibs have been such a bother. It seems like they always manage to get their food on their clothes anyway, so I just go with a full t-shirt that is dark colored (preferably even red!) and a size too big, and we use these as our bibs when extra messy food is on the menu, and spaghetti is definitely messy!

Lastly, I've added a page under the Sunday tab of my Home Management Notebook with some benchmarks so I can be sure I am on track on Sunday mornings as far as time goes. Mine goes:

• Up by 7:15 am
• Spaghetti Sauce in the crock pot by 8 am
• Start cooking breakfast by 8 am
• Be dressed by 8:45 am
• Have the Littles dressed by 9 am

I also condensed my Preparing for The Lord's Day post into a simple checklist for my notebook for Saturday night:

• baths for everyone
  
• diapers washed
• bags packed
• clothes selected/ironed
• salad prepped
• breakfast: muffins, sausage, boiled eggs?
  

Referring to these lists keeps me on track and it's just another thing I've been doing for a while that works for me. What tips do you have for making Sundays go more smoothly?

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Hospitality Throughout Acts

Remember this?



Last year I joined some fellow bloggers going through the book "Open Heart, Open Home" by Karen Mains. In one of the chapters, she challenges the reader to go through the book of Acts noting each instance of hospitality. I was intrigued by this when I read it, but did not have the time. I finally did it, and below you will see a catalog of every instance of hospitality described in Acts. There are many more instances of implied hospitality, but I did not include those because the list is long enough already!

I just think it is so very interesting that in a book about the early Church and what the Christians did, that hospitality was such a natural part of that. Instructions on hospitality are best found elsewhere in the Bible, but I believe Acts gives us the best example of what Biblical hospitality really looks like. We can see that it is integral to carrying out "the Great Commission". (Mark 16:15)


Chapter 1:
The 120 disciples (vs. 15) were waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, which made for a rather unique experience. Not all were from Jerusalem, and surely needed accommodations and nourishment while they waited. The upper room (vs. 13) surely belonged to someone.
Chapter 2:
44 - “All who believed were together, and had all things in common.”
45- They sold their possessions so they could share with anyone who had need.
46 - The disciples were assembling daily both in the temple and were breaking bread from house to house and “They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart.”
These Christians had a strong desire to be together and they did not allow hangups like language barriers, outside commitments, or even lack of funds prevent it from happening.
Chapter 4:
23, 31 - After being arrested and questioned by the Sanhedrin, Peter and John “went to their own companions” and they all prayed together.
32 - “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”
34 - 35 - “Nor was there anyone among them who lacked...” Many sold lands and houses and gave the proceeds to the apostles to be distributed “as anyone had need”.
Chapter 5:
42 - “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
Chapter 9:
43 - After healing Dorcas, Peter “stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.”
Chapter 10:
23 - Peter provides lodging for the men sent by Cornelius the centurion
28 (11:3) - “God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean”
i.e. - no more barrier between Jew and Gentile
24; 48 - Cornelius asked Peter to stay a few days
Chapter 12:***
5, 12 - many were gathered together in the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark - they were praying for Peter who had been put in prison. (James, the brother of John had already been killed by Herod, and it was his intention to kill Peter also. vs. 2) We know that they were all praying in the middle of the night! (vs. 6)
Chapter 16: it appears this chapter involved Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke
15 - After she and her household were baptized, Lydia said, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.”
34 - After he and his household were baptized, the Philippian jailer “brought them into his house [and] set food before them.”
40 - After being released from prison, Paul and Silas went back to Lydia’s house
Chapter 17:
5 - 7 - We learn Paul and Silas were staying in the house of Jason. Jason’s house was attacked and he along with some of the brethren were dragged to the rulers of the city. Here we see hospitality at a personal risk to yourself and your home.
Chapter 18:
3 - Paul stayed with Priscilla and Aquilla because they were of the same trade, tent-making.
7 - Paul then stayed a while with Justus, “whose house was next door to the synagogue.”
11 - “And he continued there a year and six months...”
20 - In Ephesus, “they asked him to stay a longer time with them...”
27 - “And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him...”
Chapter 20:
7 - 8 - Paul was speaking in an “upper room” where many were gathered together “and continued his message until midnight”.
18 - Paul says, “In what manner I always lived among you...” He did not take any income for his work for the Lord (1 Cor. 9:15-18, 2 Thess. 3:7-8), relying on his tent-making and the generous hospitality of the Christians in every city.
20 - “I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house.”
33 - 35 - Paul on providing for the needs of others: “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Chapter 21:
16 - Paul and Luke met Mnason of Cyprus “an early disciple, with whom we were to lodge”.
17 - “When we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.”
Chapter 27:
3 - Paul is on his way to Rome for trial. “And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care”.
Chapter 28:
7 - Shipwrecked on the island of Malta, “there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days”.
10 - “They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed they provided such things as were necessary.”
14 - Landing at Puteoli, “we found brethren, and were invited to stay with them seven days.”
15 - “And from there, when the brethren heard about us, they came to meet us... When Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.”
23 - Jewish leaders in Rome visited him at his lodging where he “explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God... from morning till evening.”
30 - “Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ...”

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Redeeming the Time

Another study of Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains. Linking up with the Common Room. See the link for more hospitality-related posts.



Chapter 15 - Stewards of Time

Looking long and hard at time - this one unalterable, precious gift which we cannot change, but only learn to use well, I asked, "Am I being a good steward of my time?"

Sometimes I do quite well. Sometimes I fail. I fight being affected by the weather. I'm full of energy on sunny days and get so much done. When it is cloudy and rainy I feel like a slug, dragging myself to get my work done all day. When emotional stress hits, I tend to just give in to depressive thoughts and wallow. Wallowing, is decidedly, a poor use of time. I would be so much better off if I would use that time in prayer. It's a good thing that I have a lifetime, Lord willing, to work on myself!

So am I being a good steward with my time?

The best answer I can give right now is, "I try. Lord, I really, really try. And please help me to do better!"

The amount of time available to us determines the quantity and personality of our hospitality... On the other hand, there are people who can devote large amounts of time and energy to hospitality. The temptation which always accompanies this situation is to do more than is required. It is easy to spend days in elaborate preparations which have nothing to do with ministry but a great deal to do with demonstrating one's own abilities. One must look carefully at those hidden motives and ask, "Am I really seeking to serve, or am I trying to impress?"

We must be sure that "extra frills stem from a desire to give, to minister, rather than from a desire to impress."

A good thermometer as to whether pride was rising in me was to ask two questions: Am I nervous? Am I fussing? These were pretty good indicators of the true nature of my intentions... Again, the answer was pride rearing its subtle and manipulative head, forcing me to think self.

I am not one of those people that can devote lots of time and energy to hospitality. (I used to be, and perhaps that is a big part of my problem.) Elaborate preparations are simply not my style. So you would think pride would not be an issue for me. It is.

Oh pride. What a beast. I try and try to banish it far away, but oh how it loves to creep back in. Learning to be hospitable with Littles has been a good exercise for me in putting away my pride. I simply cannot do what I once could in terms of food preparation and house cleaning. I have to do much of the cleaning last minute for fear that it will all be undone by little hands. Decorations? HA! I'm doing well to light a candle in the bathroom!

I admit that I recently served a bakery dessert for guests and I really struggled with my injured pride when I simply ran out of time to make a homemade dessert. The truth is, I didn't really "run out of time", it's just that my time was needed more elsewhere and a homemade dessert was not the highest on the list of priorities. It happens. I don't regret the way I spent my time. I'm just learning to not let my pride keep me from serving.

Being a good manager of your time makes you a good manager of life.

Oh so true. And we've been talking about that a lot with the Large Family Logistics discussion haven't we?

Chapter 16 - Shortcuts

Most of us don't have all the time we want to carry on ministries of hospitality. We seek to discover shortcuts so that we can open our homes with a minimum of effort.

Yes, please!

1. Never clean before company.
I learned this one after the first couple birthday parties we hosted where the entire house was scattered with cupcake crumbs after everyone left. I vacuum on Tuesdays and Saturdays and do spot cleaning if there is a need. If you visit on any other day, our floors may not be spotless. I'm ok with that. After having large groups of people in your home, the floors will need to be vacuumed again, whether you served food or not, so you may as well save your time and energy and do the cleaning after.

Now DO do the basics of cleaning before company - wipe down the bathroom, tidy and straighten, make the beds with fresh sheets for overnight guests, but if you keep up with your general house cleaning and everyday routines, there shouldn't be a need for much cleaning before having company.



2. Don't be afraid to do things with flair.
I am a rather understated individual and my tastes are very simple, so I'm not much of one for flair. I am learning though. To me, the loveliest addition is a beautiful flower arrangement. It seems like a bit of an extravagance to me, so I don't do it often unless it is my own cut flowers, but a pretty arrangement certainly adds flair!



3. Do as much ahead of time as possible.
This is key for keeping my stress level to a minimum. Use the freezer! Have dessert, breakfast muffins, and part of the meal made up and frozen ahead of time. Take it out to thaw the day before. Use the crockpot! Nothing is nicer than having a hot meal ready to go, and best of all, you don't have to be a slave to the stove as your guests arrive! Prepare the guest room the day before and close the door to all tiny invaders, and you have one less thing to worry about. As much as you can, get things done ahead of time!



4. Clean as you go.
Confession: I'm still working on this one. I'm notorious for leaving the kitchen in a wreck while I do meal prep and often, the dishwasher is full of CLEAN dishes, leaving no place for the dirty ones to go! Yes, I need to improve my skills here!



Wash dishes as you cook, put things away as they are finished, But DON'T unsettle your guests by fussing too much with cleaning. Believe me, it IS unsettling. Your primary concern should be the comfort of your guests, not keeping things as pristine looking as when they arrived.

5. Use all the help that comes your way.
Many hands make light work! If you receive an offer of help, accept it with grace. This would include help in meal preparation, setting the table, cleaning up, planning an event, or bringing food. Allowing guests to help makes them feel more at home... like family. And it takes a burden off of your shoulders. It's a win-win! I LOVE her idea for a "Bring a Pie Night" where each guest or family brings a pie of their choosing. The hostess provides drinks, plates, and silverware. Brilliance!



6. Keep files.
She recommends keeping files of magazine clippings of hospitality ideas. Pinterest anyone? (Sometimes I really love technology!)

Each of us must learn to determine what is important in our lives. We must come to an agreement with the time which we have been allotted. If the Lord is asking us to carry on extensive ministries of hospitality, we will then be able to know the human limitations within which we work. We will learn to adjust our attitudes and discover shortcuts.

Better to just DO IT and show hospitality with shortcuts than to utterly neglect it because you simply haven't the time. (This means you have not made the time.) There is no shame in taking shortcuts. Don't let pride get in the way!

(Just two chapters remain!)

"Lord, Create in Me an Open Heart"

I'm writing a bit more from Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains today. I finished the book on Saturday, but now that I'm ready to write, I have to go back and skim the chapters because the Littles decided that playing with my sticky notes would be a fun thing to do. :P



We've been slowly pressing towards this point... the point at which I visibly squirm while I'm reading and have little to say because I am realizing my inadequacy more and more. So I will plod along through this post, but I am letting you know that my next post, thankfully, will get much lighter in nature as I tackle topics which are nice and comfortable for me... things like not bothering to vacuum before company is coming, but rather after. I really do love those practical, organizational types of tips. This heart work is hard for me. Hard, but necessary. And after all, we Do Hard Things. (Our family motto.)

Chapter 11 - The Finest House in Town
You really must read it yourself to get the full impression of the parable she weaves with this story. I'll share an excerpt in summary:

We have barricaded our lives from one another... We no longer know how to coexist in the seasons of one another's lives... Consequently, newborn babes often starve if they can't find a spiritual household with an open door and provision of sweet warm milk and protein-rich meat of the Word. Slightly muddled, not sure what we are about, we allow the infant to fend for itself. Our house stands; it is there for all to see. It has been crafted in perfect intent by the Master Builder, but all too often the spirit of those within is feeble. Those who abide in these nearly emptied edifices can scarcely hear the cries of strangers beyond the gates.

BUT...

...windows are being thrown open, rooms aired, fires lit on the stone hearths, dry fountain plumbed, food stocked in empty kitchens, the front doors flung wide, gardens tended, people welcomed.

Each renovation makes place for the Spirit of Life to build also into human efforts, to tabernacle in this once locked room, in this formerly dusty attic. Christians are growing into an organic temple.

Reading this strengthens my resolve to continue the work we are doing to strengthen our local body of Christians and to keep pouring our hearts and our lives into that work. Evangelism is important, but having a solid structure to which new babes in Christ can be welcomed is vital.


Chapter 12 - Householding

The home of the Christian is a tool for ministry. Ask the Lord how He wants you to use it... If we understand that we are stewards to a divine Master, we must consider why we are in this place at this time in this town. He is not haphazard in His planning.

Ouch. I guess I need to do this. (making notes...)

(Insensitivity to the needs of others) is not just my problem; it is often the major fault of the church. We become ingrown. If we are not what Christ expects us to be, we have nothing to share; and if our household is filled with His presence, we often become so enamored with... this warm brotherhood that we forget to look for those... waiting for an invitation.

Sensitivity will come as we labor in prayer. In fact, if the work of evangelism is not first instigated in prayerful conduct, that's a pretty fair sign it will have only human results.

Ouch again.

Do you ever feel lonely? I do. Often. In fact, it is a common complaint of preacher's wives. This next bit really pierced my heart. I need to do better.

I am not lonely, because I refuse to be alone, and I have never met anyone who was offended because I opened my door and invited her (or him) to come in.

See what I mean about the inadequacy? *sigh*

These are Hard Things.

Chapter 13 - Open Hearts

Christ came to all men, but His message of redemption found particular appeal on the part of those disenfranchised, without hope, under the heel of unrighteous oppressors. We dare not neglect those who are abandoned by their fellow humans. For the Christian there is no caste, no race, no sex discrimination. We must minister to all people.

I find this to be a VERY difficult thing to balance. We have multiple calls every week from very needy people. We cannot possibly help them all... and really, many do not want what we do have to give - physical and spiritual food. Most just want cash... right now... and they will tell a very good story to try to get it. I feel inadequate and frustrated by this.

I also tend to be very inwardly focused and I feel like I have more than enough work to do keeping my own home and teaching my own children. I could throw all of my life into saving others, but what would be the cost? Would I lose the souls of my own children? It is difficult. I think I need to pray for wisdom in this area... to feed my own lambs and keep them safe and well, but to be open to ways to stretch my capabilities without sacrificing their well-being.

Chapter 14 - The Hospice
Hospice care steps in when the situation is dire. It is a last resort. In this chapter, Mrs. Mains describes radical steps in hospitality and opening our home to those with dire situations with no other hope. She emphasizes that this kind of ministry is not for everyone. Yet, it would be the sort of thing a man aspiring to be an elder ought to be capable of doing.

Maybe someday I will be in that place, but this next part describes something I can do NOW -

You can be a part of the work of the Kingdom though you may not be on the front lines. Think of yourself as a behind-the-lines supply depot, a resting place away from the heat of the battle. Find ways to use the good things the Lord has given to you to ease the battle-scarred veteran or that fresh young recruit.

Hospitality is an open heart as well as an open home. All of us must develop this attitude whether we feel the Lord would have us invite people into our homes twice a year or two hundred times a year. I am not concerned so much about the quantity of hospitality, but I am concerned about the attitudes from which our practice springs. We must all have hospitable hearts...

And that is how this book has opened my eyes more than anything. I am realizing that I have some more heart work to do and that this is FAR more important than improving my culinary skills, and even more important than being more socially gracious to those who are guests in our home. The problem is not in my abilities, it is in my attitude.

A reminder to myself -



Joining The Common Room for a study of the book, Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains.

Open Homes - Inviting Everyone

Chapter 10 - Open Homes

Many a pastor's wife participates in minimal efforts of hospitality because she realizes that, though she invites some, she may not be able to invite all.

I believe that except in very rare cases, you can invite them all.

For several years, Preacher Man and I were a part of a very small congregation that had a beautiful example of hospitality in one of the older ladies of the congregation. For a time before we came, it was only she, her husband and her son keeping the doors open. Everyone who ever visited was invited to her home for lunch, except in the summer time, when they were invited to a picnic at a local park. When we arrived, the group expanded somewhat to 6 people, and then 8. There were just 8 of us for quite a long time. The older woman, myself and another hospitable lady took turns hosting everyone for lunch each week. This three home rotation worked beautifully and we were a very close knit group. The group began to grow, and even though we are no longer there, the size of the group has swelled to many times the size of when there were only 8 of us. The group is now too large to get together every week, but there are still summer picnics, and one woman with a larger home hosts everyone about once a month for Sunday lunch. It is a beautiful example of open hearts and open homes and the growth that can come as a result.

When Preacher Man took a job at a much larger congregation, I soon realized that I could not host everyone in our home. I also realized that it would take years for me to systematically invite each family to our home for a Sunday lunch and I was overwhelmed by the prospect. I did not want to show favoritism though, and I wanted to be sure that each person in the group had been invited to our home. Another PW who is a lovely example of hospitality for me, gave me the following idea -

I tracked down the birthdays for each person in our group. I cataloged them, making a list for all of the birthdays for January, all for February, etc... For one year, each month, on the fourth Sunday of the month, everyone who had a birthday that month was invited to our home along with the rest of their family for cupcakes and drinks. We invited some of the singles or women who came alone with no other family connections to come to some of the months with fewer birthdays even if they didn't have a birthday that month. We arranged for the time to be about 2 hours before evening services, leaving plenty of time to sing happy birthday, to visit, and to get to the place where we meet close by. I kept things very simple - I made easy cupcakes, though they were homemade. Preacher Man makes killer coffee, and I'd put out some sodas. I used paper dessert plates, cups, and napkins, and the only thing I did to decorate was to make a poster that said "Happy Birthday" with the names of all of those who had a birthday that month.

This was a great idea because -

1. Everyone received an invitation to our house at least once. (Most more than once.)
2. It always made for a random mix of people... people who might not have a reason to spend much time together outside of our worship... people who might not have very much in common.
   

It was a little sad when some always declined the invitation, but I hope they still felt welcome here. Admittedly, it was a little exhausting, but I am glad to have done it, and I would like to do it again in the future.

If you feel discouraged by your inability to be able to invite everyone, perhaps this will give an idea of something you could do.

Do you have any creative ideas for inviting everyone into your home? I feel like there are some who are so often left out, and I'm always looking for ways to draw them in and get to know them better.

This post is a part of the study of the book, Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains hosted by The Common Room.

The Family of Joint Heirs

A study of Chapter 9, linked with the Common Room's ongoing study of this book.

I feel like my studies on this subject have been pretty gloomy lately. I'm going to try to brighten things up with this one.

Ah... I feel better already! Don't you think that daisies are the friendliest flowers?

In this chapter, Mrs. Mains discusses our family, specifically, our Christian family. She talks about how to build our relationships with one another. Because closeness doesn't just happen, you know. It takes a lot of work!

I especially enjoyed this bit where she quoted the evangelist Tom Skinner -

We are a family. Brothers and sisters in Christ. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine.

Then when people ask, "Where's love?" we can answer, "Over here!"

When they ask, "Where's justice?" we can answer, "Over here!"

When they ask, "Where's unity?" we can shout, "Over here! In Christ's new community!"

May I add that when they ask, "What's happened to the family?" we should be able to respond, "It's alive and well. It's here - in this community cluster, this warm, sheltering, loving, accepting body of Christ."

Oh that we could all enjoy this ideal! All over the world, people yearn for this kind of community, and it is becoming an increasing rarity in modern society. I'm afraid it does not come easy. It requires an investment of time to build these kinds of relationships, and many people that gather together with their fellow Christians on Sundays don't prioritize their time in a way that allows this kind of Christian family community to develop. If we are only showing up for the official times of meeting (and perhaps not all of those) and spend no other time with our fellow Christians, it will not be enough to do it.

Her husband David writes,

An individual believer is able to worship or pray alone. He can share his faith apart from the church, and he can even adequately instruct himself along spiritual lines. It is obviously impossible, however, for him to participate in Christian fellowship without others who share his beliefs.

God knew that we needed each other when he wrote this:

Hebrews 10:22-25 - Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

In order to be a family of joint heirs with Christ and with one another, we must spend time together in worship and in fellowship. We need our Christian family. We need to be stirred up to love and good works. We need exhortation. And in turn, we need to give it back to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Long Term, But Temporary

A study of Chapter 8, linked with the Common Room's ongoing study of this book.

It seems like this chapter and the previous chapter overlap somewhat in their thoughts, but Mrs. Mains introduces a new concept of being welcoming to the people who live with us who are not a part of our nuclear family. I seriously considered keeping my post on this chapter to this:

I wish I had read this a year ago.

But the material here is rich and I think it would benefit myself and others if I flesh things out a little bit more, so I will say,

I wish I had read this a year ago.
But I do not think I was ready to read it a year ago.
And I don't know if I am really ready to read it now. All I can do is to try to learn from grievous mistakes of the past.

Perhaps more difficult than developing attitudes of welcome toward our children is keeping a spirit of invitation open towards those adults with whom we live - husbands, roommates, or parents.

Yes, this is very difficult. Living with people who are not in our nuclear family is very, very, very, very difficult. We have had extra people living with us for roughly 1/3 of our marriage. It is difficult because the persons who have lived with us have not been our children where we could tell them what to do. They have not been our parents. (Though I know some people who are dealing with this challenge, and one day is may be our own.) They have not been employees or renters. They are guests, but very complicated guests, who must bear more responsibility to the functioning of the household with their lengthy stay. There is no pre-existing pattern to use and no real natural order or hierarchy to rely upon. The difficulty cannot be overstated.

I have little wisdom to share on the subject because I feel like a student myself. So I will share a bit of what Mrs. Mains has to say:

We must learn to share our lives, to intermingle thoughts and emotions, and to thereby consecrate our tiny dwellings in this large world as a place in which His Presence is pleased to abide. Disunity is a sure sign that He has not been allowed to become a guest within our inner beings, and therefore has no place in our material abodes either.

I truly believe that whenever we gather together under one roof, be it in a dormitory, a community, or a singular dwelling, we have the opportunity of creating family.

Why is there no welcome in my heart? Is it because of self-centeredness? or resentment? because I have been betrayed? Deep work of the Spirit then has to be done. For most of us, however, it is a matter of simply developing new attitudes.

Simply a matter? Oh if only the matter WERE simple!

Let us work, then, on the welcome we extend to those with whom we live - not just the greeting given at the end of a long day, but the hospitality shared in the moment-to moment meshing of lives. Let us demonstrate to one another, "Your ideas are welcome. Your interests are welcome. Your presence is welcome."

I do not know whether or not we will have the opportunity to have another person join our family for a time. I hope and pray that if there is a next time, I will be able to welcome them moment to moment. As the hostess, it is up to me to set the tone of the home and maintain a positive attitude, no matter how it is reciprocated. This may be the most difficult thing of all and it can only happen with God's help.

Our attitude is what determines if that rare miracle of closeness will occur.

Kind readers, if you have any wisdom to share on the subject, I would dearly love to hear it.

Let the Little Children Come

I didn't do an Open Heart, Open Home post yesterday because I've been kicking myself pretty hard lately on this blog and it was just too mentally taxing to do more of it yesterday. But when you need a good kick, sometimes it's good to just do it. Makes you better and all. So here goes...

Chapter 7 - Telltale Marks
Linked with The Common Room's study of this book.



Do you find that sometimes the people you love the most are the people you treat the worst? Maybe it is that level of comfort and familiarity that makes us feel like we can be rude and impatient with our family, but it ought not to be so. In addition to being hospitable and loving to guests, we must be hospitable and loving to our family. It starts at home.

And it starts with a welcome.

Preacher Man works from home. He leaves for Bible studies during the week, but his schedule changes so often that it is not always predictable. I have often read the advice that a wife should prepare to greet her husband when he comes home by freshening up, making the environment peaceful for him, and by welcoming him with a kiss. I think it is wonderful advice, but it doesn't work very well for the life we live. And really, that is ok. I adopt that practice for the occasional out of town trip he takes, but finally I tried to look for what does work for us on a day to day basis. For him, it is greeting him with a cup of coffee in the morning and refilling his cup when it's empty. He says this is the sweetest thing I can do for him, and how difficult is it to bring him a cup of coffee? It is my pleasure to do this small gesture for him. I enjoy pleasing him.

I used to work with a girl who told me that she brought her fiance a cup of ice water one evening and that he thought it was so sweet of her. She was taken aback by that and said, "I hope he doesn't think I'm going to do that when we get married!" I tried to gently advise her that it would, in fact, be a good practice once they were married, but I'm not sure how successful I was in conveying my thoughts. How backwards is our world if we are bombarded with the message from girlhood that you should serve your guests a drink with love and kindness, but don't you dare serve your husband a glass of water with a loving smile?

And how about our children? Do we serve them with a smile too? I have made a habit of greeting each child as they awaken from bed or from a nap with a hug and a smile, with a cup of water and a little snack soon to follow. I want them to know that I am happy to see them and be with them. Sometimes it is annoying if their waking times out when I am in the middle of something "important". I struggle with my attitude towards these interruptions in my life. I must remind myself daily that these precious souls are more important than any thing.

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

Jesus loves the little children. All the children of the world.

We sing the little song, we remember the sweet story of Jesus welcoming the little children to come into His arms.

Matthew 19:14 - but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."

To quote the wisdom of Charlotte Mason, "Children are born persons." Children are little souls made in God's image. Children are a heritage and a blessing.

This is such a Christlike quality, this hospitality toward children. It is not simply a matter of being open toward our own, difficult as that often is, but it requires that we accept, encourage, and want those born of someone else, whether we are married or not, whether we have children of our own or not. The story of Christ blessing the children is not only for the nursery but for adults as well. If He could welcome the interruption of His ministry by wiggling, wonderstruck, bouncing, impertinent humanity, can we dare do less?

If we would be like Jesus, we will be welcoming to children. We will welcome children with all of their impulsiveness, annoying habits, noise, energy, interruptions, laughter, tears, rudeness, and occasional yuckiness that is inherent in being a child. Now I am NOT saying that children should not be taught manners, self control and how to clean up after themselves. Those things are very important and I start working on teaching those things from infancy. But if we really think about it, we will see that children are not miniature adults. They are works in progress. They are learning, and how can they learn unless we take the time to teach them patiently with grace and love. Being annoyed and just brushing off children does not help them learn and mature, it just enhances our own selfish feelings. This goes for the children that live with us as well as the children we encounter throughout our lives.

This is not easy for me. You may have the impression that I have a natural affection for all children, but honestly, I am easily annoyed by childish behavior. It is a challenge for me to overcome my natural feelings, but I believe that I am called upon by God to do so. This lesson is as much for me as for anyone.

How often do we as adults expect our children to do in their world what we fail to do in our own?

Ouch.

Help me, Lord, to remember what little attention it takes to open the eyes of youth to the glories of the world and to the Kingdom which exists.


We are on the verge of the teen years in our home. I am tempted to draw these children behind the protection of our several walls, to raise my banner of isolation-ism against this crass society. Yet my head knows this is sin... I must swing open those hinges and allow my offspring to forage and explore. I only hope that we have made them feel so welcome in these early years that they will want to hurry home and bring the friends they've discovered home as well.

Since I am still in those early years, this passage strengthens my resolve to daily invest in my children. These are the years that really, really count. These years lay the foundation for our lifelong relationship. Lord, please help me to build a strong foundation for my children.

Proverbs 14:1 - The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

What are some ways you show hospitality to those who live in your home?

Letting Go

I am joining The Common Room's study of Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains.



Today, I'm taking a look at Chapter 6 - "On Serving and Being Served", which I think is especially poignant for a preacher's wife. Notice "a preacher's wife" is lower case. Being the wife of a preacher is not a "position", though at times it is wrongfully treated as one. Wives of preachers have unique struggles, joys, and challenges, and this chapter hits at the heart of some of them.

One thing I believe I have in common with the author is that in our home, what we do as the preacher and family is very much a lifestyle. (I wrote about that some time ago here.) It is our choice and it is who and what we want to be. It can also get overwhelming at times.

The first sentence of the chapter says:

One of the unhealthy syndromes which often develops in the clergy is an unstated attitude of, "I'm here to help you, you're not here to help me." It is rarely that crassly stated, but is usually subconsciously communicated. Ministers, as well as their congregations, need to realize that ministry is a two-way enterprise.

(Note, we do not use the term "clergy". My husband is not "ordained". He is simply a Bible teacher and serves our local group of Christians in that capacity.)

My first impression was that this was not really a problem for me. After all, I could name off several times I have asked for help. But the further I read and the more I reflected, the more I realized that there is often a "great divide". I have asked for help on superficial things including projects for the church and physical tasks, but when it comes to anything beyond that, I have remained self-sufficient and admittedly fearful of revealing personal weakness. Mrs. Mains says, "Each of us at some time should experience the taste of weakness."

Now I don't think we should contrive a situation of helplessness just for the sake of the experience, but I know that for me personally, pride would very likely push me to the edge of my sanity before I would ask for help. I don't think I am alone in this. It is very easy for Preacher Man and I to take burden after burden upon ourselves and our family, both spiritual burdens and physical tasks. We take our burdens to the Lord daily, but perhaps we need to do a better job taking our burdens to our brothers and sisters in Christ? I am learning that I do a dis-service to my brothers and sisters here when I do not use them and work together with them. We want people to get connected to our family of Christians here and sometimes people need help doing that. People like to be needed. People like to use their God-given talents to help.

We must learn how to balance this as we read in Galatians 6:1-5 - "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load."

We learned we need to let go of those things which can't be done. It is simple but difficult to realize that the Lord is the head of the church. We are stewarding on His behalf within it. If there are personnel or program gaps, it is His problem.

I was floored when I read that. Of course I know the Lord is the head of the church. But how difficult is it for me to just let go and leave things undone? SO HARD! How difficult is it for me to let go and wait for another brother or sister to step in knowing that there is a chance that no one will and that it may cause a problem? SO HARD! See, I am very much a forward thinker, I'm detail oriented, and I'm a doer. These are all useful traits. It means that I look farther ahead than most people and notice what needs to be done or notice a problem long before it happens. Being a doer, it is in my nature to just quietly solve that problem myself. But this is not always healthy for me or for the rest of the congregation.

Preacher Man is helping me to learn this. I think it will be good for my future sanity, and for our fellow workers, but it is one of the hardest things I have ever done. So I am learning this life lesson - sometimes I can help by fixing a problem myself, but sometimes the best way for me to help is to let God take care of the problem. After all, He is the head of the church. Not every burden is my burden, and I need to let go of the ones that are not.

The chapter covers more than just this topic, but that is what was the most useful for me. So I will end now with one more little gem of encouragement:

Our homes are used to build one another, to bind ourselves together - not to create barriers of needless competition or comparisons. We can provide healing when we offer to one another small refuges from the battle.

The Heart of the Matter

Remember how I blogged about doing an online study of the book Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains? Well... I got overwhelmed with life. But you can read about chapters 1 & 2 here if you wish.

Evidence of being overwhelmed:



I entitled this picture, "My Desk Runneth Over". You think that doesn't look so bad? Well, it got worse. Much worse. Anyway, I've kept up with the reading, just not the blogging. In order to make up for lost time and share some of the gems from the book, I'm going to devote this week's blogs to the study. I would share the schedule with you here, but I fear my train will get derailed again, so we'll just plod along, shall we?



I've been using sticky flags to mark passages that have been particularly meaningful to me and as you can see there are plenty of them! As with any work by man (or woman), this book has required some sifting... some chapters more than others. But I am continually astonished by some of the convicting passages in this book. This book is about hospitality. But more than just telling us the hows and whys of hospitality, it is about the WHOs... or rather the WHOMs if we are being all proper with our grammar. (Right grammarians? Because I are not one!)

WHOMs =

• the Holy Spirit - the Word working in us, transforming us, conforming us into the image of the ultimate whom...

• Jesus - hospitable even when homeless, our example of ultimate love

• Others - because it is all about others and our service to them

• Me - my need for an Extreme HEART Makeover

God is tearing me down and re-building my heart into a palace fit for a King... for our One Sovereign God. And once this is accomplished, Biblical hospitality will flow from my heart as naturally as a stream flows from a mountain. And I think that is what this book is really about. (Though I can't speak authoritatively because I have only read through chapter 8.)

So.... A few thoughts from Chapter 5 - "The Servant"

Early Friday morning my Master woke me with, "Who do you think you are, ordering your life? You're my servant. You've given yourself to Me. It is I who orders your days and brings order into them.

Maybe that is the problem. Perhaps I have not FULLY given myself to God. Perhaps I am still hanging on to my part with a death grip, wrestling for CONTROL in my life. I think this is an excellent bit to add to my daily prayers.

"Lord, order my days according to Your will and help me to use the time You have granted to me to bring You glory."

Often we aren't servants to one another because we haven't allowed the Spirit to sensitize ourselves to one another's cries of need. People say, "I need help," in many different ways. Sometimes these messages are barely audible, fragments of sentences, a look, a sigh. Hearing the meaning behind these whispers demands the highly developed antennae of spiritually mature people... The simple point is that even these articulate, loving, and sensitive women simply had not heard the cry of help in a way that demanded action.

This passage pierced my heart and made me think of all of the times that I may have missed someone's quiet whisper for help. Perhaps I have not been as tuned in to my sisters in Christ as I ought to be. I know that I have a tendency to be overly self-focused, and perhaps I am not noticing the bedraggled looks from a battle-weary sister. Perhaps I have listened to someone's plea, and thought that in listening, I was serving, but missed the fact that action was needed. This realization makes me feel rather hopeless to accomplish the task and I do not think I possess the "antennae" of the "spiritually mature". The only way I know to do better is to pray about it. After all, we are told in James 1:5, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

"Lord, help me to be more in tune with the needs of the people around me and give me the wisdom to know when I am called to action."

Stay tuned for Chapter 6 - "On Serving and Being Served", a particularly poignant chapter for Preacher's Wives.

Joining The Common Room's study of Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains.

Open Heart, Open Home

I'm joining my blogging friends from "The Common Room" in a study on hospitality, reading the book Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Burton Mains.

I actually got the book on Paperback Swap (it's more than paperbacks!) so it was virtually free. Paperback Swap is my favorite way to get books online! Click on the little button for more info.

So, I'm only two chapters into the book, but I am already inspired! Mrs. Mains encourages her readers to cultivate a heart for Biblical hospitality. I broke down the comparisons she made in chapter 2 between worldly entertainment and Biblical hospitality into a chart because that is the way my brain works. :) I found these ideas very humbling and they have caused me to re-examine my motives for hospitality. I'm afraid I have a bit more work to do to bring myself into line with true Biblical hospitality. Pride sneaks in all too often.

Come join in the study! Everyone is invited! Open heart, open blog. ;)

Worldly Entertainment	Biblical Hospitality
Seeks to impress	Seeks to minister
Puts things before people	Puts people before things
Works to hide our weaknesses	Allows people to see our humanity
PRIDE	HUMILITY
Says, “This is mine”	Says, “What’s mine is yours”
Looks for payment	No thought of reward
Model is found on TV/magazines	Model found in God’s word

Three Summer Salads

Deja vu?

Yes, it is likely you have seen this post before! Blogger had some very annoying problems a week or two ago and I thought this post was lost and gone forever! Then I remembered that I subscribe to my own posts on Google Reader and wondered if it was still there. I copied/pasted and am so happy to be able to salvage this post.

Thanks for your patience!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The weather is finally warming up and it is oh-so-satisfying to dig into a nice cool salad for supper without having to turn on the oven! Adding meat to a salad can make it stand on its own as the main course, and in the summer, I love getting the Preacher Man to do some grilling for just such an occasion. In fact, every time we grill, I try to give him a couple of boneless skinless chicken breasts to throw on the side. I slice them up after they are cooked and freeze them in ziploc bags to make it easy to add them to a salad or pasta dish. These are especially wonderful to have in the winter when the snow makes grilling a bit more of a hassle. There's just nothing like that wonderful charcoal grilled taste!

Think of these recipes as inspiration. These are my three favorite "company salads" that I like to bring to a potluck or serve to guests because they are more distinctive than our every day green salads. I use a recipe because it helps my poor addled brain to remember what worked and what we liked in the past, but I don't make any of them the same way twice. Use the ingredients you have on hand, what is in season, and hopefully by June or July, whatever is fresh from your garden for the best tasting salad.

These salads are sometimes made up ahead of time, but do be mindful of your company. When we have guests in our home, I'm usually chopping veggies while we are visiting and I try to ask if there is anything they would prefer to have on the side. Some people have strong aversions to certain things, and I am happy to indulge them.

Which also reminds me... working alongside someone in the kitchen is a wonderful way to break the ice. Handing over a cutting board, knife and a few veggies to prepare may help someone feel more at home with you and it will free up your hands to finish up the dressing, wash up a few dishes, or something else that needs doing.

Enjoy your salad with some southern sweet tea, some bread, and dine al fresco if the weather cooperates. Sounds like the recipe for a delightful evening with friends.



Chinese Chicken Salad

• 2-3 grilled boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced
• 2 oz. slivered almonds
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 Tbs. sesame seeds
• 1 head lettuce
• small can mandarin oranges, drained
• 2 pkgs. crushed Ramen noodles (uncooked)
  

Dressing -

• 1/2 c. sesame oil (or use part olive oil)
• 1/2 c. rice wine vinegar (may substitute plain white vinegar)
• 1 Tbs. sugar
  
• 1 Ramen flavor packet - I like oriental
  

Toss the salad, toss in the dressing, let it all marinate for up about an hour in the fridge before serving.

Corn Salad - the fresh corn really makes this salad!

• 3 ears corn
• 1 english cucumber
• 1 small red onion, sliced in slivers
• 1 c. grape tomatoes, halved
• 2 heads of lettuce, torn

Dressing -

• 3 Tbs. red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbs. olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Cook the corn in a pot of boiling water until tender (8-12 min.) Run under cold water to cool completely. Slice off the kernels. Peel the cucumber and thinly slice. Combine all of the vegetables in a large bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with the dressing and toss.



Classic Pasta Salad

• 1 lb. cooked and drained pasta (I like the tricolor rotini the best.)
• 1/2 c. diced carrots
• 2 stalks diced celery
• 1 diced bell pepper
• 1 diced english cucumber
• 2 lg. diced tomatoes
• 1 diced red onion
• 1 small can sliced black olives
• 16 oz. bottle Italian dressing (or make your own)
  

Toss it all in a large bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.


This post is a part of the Four Moms Linkup on Summer Hospitality.

You may also enjoy reading How HGTV and The Food Network Have Killed Hospitality and More on Hospitality.