Dressed up chicken salad

INGREDIENTS

• Chicken salad (this is from Sam's Club)
• Grapes, sliced
• Almonds, sliced
• Celery, chopped
• Sweetened pecans

Mix all. Serve on lettuce or buns. Yum!

Dressed Up Chicken Salad

Parables in the Everyday: Keeping People at a Distance or Up Close and Personal

It's definitely springtime in Florida and I can't go out without my camera because something is blooming everywhere I go. The colors are so vivid and it's just lovely here.  Sometimes right under your nose, something is blooming that you may not see until you get closer.

This is a photo of some common day lilies that are starting to bloom in our front yard.  They are perennials have been growing there for many years  with blossoms opening up each spring.  I honestly have never noticed them  much  except for the little while petals which I've seen  from a distance or from this chair.

I like to bring some of the outside inside, so for the first time ever, I snipped one of the white blossoms that was starting to open and brought it inside and put it in a crystal glass on my kitchen windowsill.  I added a geranium head from a potted plant and a yellow daisy and some baby's breath from a flower arrangement that was starting to fade that my husband had given me.

Look what happened within one day...

I had never bothered to look INSIDE the blossom before.  What gorgeous colors and how beautiful it really is on the inside!  How often it is with people we know or think we know.  We cannot see them as they really are until we get to know them.  Appearances can certainly be deceiving.   Just taking some time individually with someone can reveal so much--even those we think we are the closest to.   Some people just blend in with the scenery like these day lilies and don't expose much of themselves without some thoughtful conversation or interest being shown to them.  Who is coming to your mind as you read this?  Make a thoughtful gesture or invite someone to coffee or tea for a couple of hours.  You'll be blessed as will they, I'm  sure and you'll see each other in a different light.  :)

1Sam. 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Hebrews  13:2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 

Luke 12:27 “Consider the lilies, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these."
 

=====================================


I decided to use these photos for my Project 52 assignment this week, #11 --The Eyes of March since it relates to "seeing". [I am #25.]   It will be added to the site on Friday, Mar. 16.   To see my other photos in this 2012 photo project, click HERE.

Taking Meals to Others in Time of Need / Take Them a Meal.com

I'm sure most of you have heard about this site but just in case...    Take Them a Meal  was introduced to our church a year or two ago as a way to handle the organization of meals to the sick, new moms, families with recent deaths, etc.  What a fabulous time saver!  I have called or emailed so many over the years, then re-called and re-emailed...  Learning about this site helps SO much.  Particularly when various events are close together.

The site is takethemameal.com

All you do is  go the site, CLICK the tab to create a schedule, fill in the needed information and voila!  That's all there  is to it.  You can give as many details as you need-- the address, phone number of the recipient and any special instructions i.e. allergies, how many are in the family, etc.

Reminder emails are automatically sent to you (if you are the administrator) AND the person signed up to bring a meal, and dates are deleted as they pass.  People can indicate what they are bringing and then check the site so that there are no duplications.  I can't tell you how much time this has saved me in even just the last couple of years.

The "Southern" tradition of taking food to someone in need is a generous and personal way to show someone that you care.  I hope you, your church, your co-workers and friends can make use of this excellent time-saving site and bless new parents, a mourning family or a family where there is sickness in the household.

TIP #1:  I am testing this site for  snack sign-ups for a ladies group that I participate in as well.  There is a link on the set up page for MORE THAN ONE MEAL PER DAY and I named them SWEET, SAVORY and SWEET OR SAVORY.   We'll see how that goes...

TIP #2:  The administrator need not feel guilty if the schedule does not fill up each day.  A younger woman who had set up a meal schedule contacted me once and was very upset that some of the days where meals were requested were blank.  Not sure who said this originally, but this is a case where  it is what it is.   If the schedule  is set up for people within an office or a church, a blanket email can be sent to make others aware of this, but the preparation of meals is from the goodness of someone's heart and cannot be forced.  Don't take it upon yourself to make all the meals begrudgingly.

Hospitality / Spontaneous Time With Your Friends

I'm trying to be more hospitable.  We have company periodically and the teenagers come for game nights every now and then.  I don't often get to see my girlfriends (just girls, that is) so I am especially trying to be creative in getting together with some of them.  Some of my getting together times are during the day while my husband is at work and my younger son is at college classes.  Some of it is during the home Gator games that my husband is attending with his cousin this year.

Last Saturday night I had two college friends over for dinner [I made stromboli] to celebrate a birthday of one of them.  We had a great time together.  I've had some of the younger women from our church over for a couple of hours lately to visit and talk, each on different mornings.  One came with her young daughter and I thought it would be fun to have a little "tea party" to make her feel comfortable while we talked.  It was very easy and took all the stress out of "entertaining".    We sat in the living room for a couple of hours and had a really nice visit together.

Ingredients:

• One card table
• One white fringed throw
• 3 cloth napkins
• 3 coffee / teacups
• 3 luncheon plates
• One platter
• Storebought decorated sugar cookies
• Sliced apples
• Fresh coffee & cream
• Fruit juice

Very simple, but a little attention to detail  for a guest or two in your home makes them feel loved and welcomed.  Entertaining doesn't have to be complicated and your house doesn't have to look perfect.  Just find a quiet spot for 2-4 friends to sit and chat and enjoy each other's company.

The ornaments of your house will be the guests who frequent it.  ~Author Unknown

Hospitality Tip: Folding Cloth Napkins / Using Your Good China & Crystal

We use cloth napkins almost exclusively at our house.  I pick them up on sale at stores and nice-neighborhood yard sales as well.  Not opposed to paper and if I can buy them at a great price, I'll stock up.  [Found 1,000 last year at Sam's Club for $2.00!]   Using cloth napkins, however, is  one of my few "green" efforts.

Anyway, last week I had a small ladies luncheon here as a birthday surprise for a sweet friend.  At the last minute, and I mean 20 minutes before everyone arrived, I had a crazy idea of folding the napkins in a different way.  Don't laugh, I do last-minute changes all the time.

The table looked nice with the napkins folded flat...

I went to the internet, googled "how to fold cloth napkins" and found THIS SITE on how to fold them. I picked what I thought looked pretty simple [it was the first photo on the page].  They recommended ironing them but, no time for that.  It took me about 20 seconds to fold this.  I even put this on my Pinterest board. :)

In  less than five minutes (8 guests) I had them all folded.

A special touch for special friends.

P.S.  Are you using your good china and crystal regularly? Or does it stay in quilted storage containers or sit in your china cabinet?   [I realize that many of the young couples don't even register for this anymore.]  

This is our wedding china.  My husband and I married at an older age [38 and 31] and had a large wedding since both of us had lived here for most of our lives.  Our friends and family were very generous so we have place settings of china and crystal for twelve.   I use some of the pieces each week, for our family and our guests.  Why save it for __________?  When the meal is finished, it goes in the dishwasher.  I've been doing this for 24+ years and it still looks great.

Who is more special than your family to use your best things?  Your friends feel appreciated as well.  Just another way to show others that you love them.

I generally ask everyone to bring something to share when hosting a meal.  Most people enjoy helping with the food and feel a part of the hospitality at the same time when doing so.  Plus, it takes the pressure off of me since I truly am just an "average" cook.  That way, I can enjoy the party, too!  :)

One of my favorite authors on homemaking, organization and hospitality is Emilie Barnes.  I have been reading her books for many years and wish I knew her personally [Her website].  She's an organizer, like I am, so I feel like I already know her in a way.  I have several of her books.  Two of her titles about hospitality are:   Homewarming and Welcome Home.  I  own the latter book and refer to it occasionally for ideas. The way it's written,  a tour of her own home, feels like you've just visited and had coffee with her.  :)  Browse through one or both for some ideas on making others feel welcome in your home, and click on the link above on her name  for a list of her other books which you may find helpful as well.  

Romans 12:10-13 

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; 

give preference to one another in honor;  

not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, 

serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, 

devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints,

 practicing hospitality...

Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole / AllRecipes.com

I made this breakfast casserole this morning for some friends from college whom I had not seen in many, many years.  It's easy to do most of the prep (slicing meat and veggies, processing the cheese) the night before and just combine everything an hour or so before you want to have it ready to serve.  One person brought sweet rolls and another, fresh fruit.  Some pretty china and flowers, and  an ordinary meal can make old friends feel as special as they are...

Here is THE LINK to the original recipe at AllRecipes.com with my changes in italics below.

Charleston Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

• 12 slices bacon  [I used sliced turkey sausage]
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 3 cups croutons [crumbled Ritz crackers]
• 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
• 6 eggs  [8 eggs for a deep dish]
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1 bell pepper (any color), diced [1/2 red, 1/2 green]
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard [did not use]
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside. [sliced sausage and peppers, stored in frig until ready to prepare]
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
3. Melt butter in the microwave, or in a small pan on the stove over low heat. Spray a 9x12 inch baking dish with vegetable spray. Place croutons [crackers]  in the bottom of the dish, and drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.
4. Crack the eggs into a bowl, whisking to break up the yolks. Add milk, peppers, mustard, salt, and pepper, and beat until well-combined. Pour over the croutons and cheese, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon. [I blended the eggs in a VitaMix and then added all other ingredients, including the cheese,  for one or two pulses, then poured it all on top of the buttered crackers]
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes [I cooked for 50 minutes due to extra liquid (eggs)]. Remove from oven and allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

You can also make individual casseroles using this same recipe.  Just reduce the cooking time by about 5 minutes or so.

Sunday Company for Lunch / Dinner, Hospitality

After church today we are having four guests over for dinner (main meal at lunchtime).  We like to have a variety of people over every now and then from our church especially, to get to know them better.  My husband is an elder there and has a "flock"--group of people that he shepherds throughout the year.  The single man we invited is from that flock; the married couple and young son have been at church for awhile but we just haven't visited for any length of time with them in awhile.

I used to never have company on  Sunday especially when I played the piano regularly and had to be there so early.  How would it be prepared in time for lunch?  Then I discovered the miracles of our self-bake / timer oven and the crockpot.  Tomorrow I'm taking a lasagna out of the freezer and putting it in the oven before we leave for church.  I'll set the oven to turn on an hour before we should get back home. 

When we walk in the door, the kitchen should smell like the maid has been there and prepared lunch for us. :)  It really is amazing.  (The oven's self-cleaning feature is like this for me, too, but more about that another time.)  The dining room table was set when I set the kitchen table for us last night.   A salad is being brought by a guest and I'll prepare fresh green beans to steam when we get home.   Dessert is also in the freezer to thaw.  Voila!  A nice home-cooked meal on  Sunday, mid-day and I don't have to spend an hour in the kitchen getting it ready and can be hospitable with a smile.

The crockpot works the same way, only the food goes in early on a Sunday morning on HIGH to be ready for lunchtime.  These kitchen appliances are must-haves in my book.  I hope any new brides out there have them on their bridal registries.

Saturday: Last-Minute Company for Dinner

Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

After today's chores...I cleaned out a wall of garage bins this morning...my husband and sons had an outdoor project to work on...we all had lunch and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. Half of the family took long naps. I was enjoying reading and watching reruns of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (I loved that old program) when my husband got a phone call at 4:00 p.m.---last-minute company is coming for dinner.

Having company and showing hospitality, even the last-minute kind, does not have to cause major stress, especially if you maintain your home regularly. The house was already clean. There was food in the frig and staples on hand. I quickly wiped the bathrooms and dusted a little. We're ready!

We're having a quick, simple supper but enjoying some time with old friends. What's on the menu?

• Loaded baked potatoes (w. cheese, broccoli, sliced fajita beef, onions, sour cream), requested by my son for dinner tonight
• Salad (they're bringing)
• Fresh oatmeal cookies (coming out of the oven now)
• Tomatoes & mozzarella cheese
• Iced tea

Maintain your home a little each day and enjoy having friends over to visit, rather than having a simple social time turn into a nightmare.