Welcome Gracious Hospitality Class Fall 2008

God's grace abounds!! As we are reminded of the grace and mercy our Heavenly Father has shown and continues to show toward us we are truly humbled. Knowing that we are the vessels through which He has chosen to show his love and grace to a lost world changes us. Knowing His sacrifice, accepting His gracious forgiveness, awe struck by his power and mercy transforms us. It opens our eyes and hearts and we become more aware of those in need around us. As we define hospitality ("philoxenia" in the Greek), it literally means love of strangers. Developing a deeper relationship with God creates a natural out pouring of this kind of love for others and their needs. Our homes become a nurturing invironment for the gospel. Our daily walk glistens with joy of sharing His love with others. Hospitality is not a suggestion but a command, a way of life.
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. " (Hebrews 13:2)
"Use hospitality one to another without grudging," (I Peter 4:9).

How can we not be continually seeking ways to share His Gracious Hospitality?

We began our first class for Gracious Hospitality today. The herb garden is bountiful this year and continues to flourish. The summer sun's heat is still in the upper 90's and the herbs are loving it. This year's herb bounty has provided plenty of variety for our class and the experiments began. Yellow squash, zucchini, and white scalloped squash from the garden provided the perfect medium to show case herb flavors. Fresh aromas and delicious flavors filled the kitchen as we began our first cooking session. Quite the tasty fare as you can see.

Cream Cheese and Dill Corn

1 1 lb pkg frozen yellow corn
3oz pkg cream cheese
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 to 1 tsp dried dill

*Cook corn according to package directions.
*In microwave safe bowl, melt butter, stir in dill, add diced cream cheese.
*Microwave a few seconds until cheese is soft and blends well. (about 20-30 seconds)
*Add cream cheese mixture to corn
and stir till well blended.
*Salt to taste if desired.
*Serve warm.

Summer Squash and Fresh Herbs

3-4 medium summer squash, sliced
3-4 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs, choose one or more of your favorites,
basil, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, etc.
2 Tbsp olive oil for sautéing
salt and pepper to taste

*Slice squash into uniform pieces for sautéing.
*Heat oil in sauté pan.
*Add squash and stir until tender crisp.
*Add chopped fresh herbs. Stir until flavors are blended.
*Do not over cook.
4-6 servings

Dill Peas and Walnuts

1 10 oz package frozen peas
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh dill or 1/2 tsp dried dill
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 Tablespoons broken walnuts or slivered almonds, toasted

*Cook frozen peas according to the package directions. Drain.
*Saute' onions in butter until tender.
* Stir in dill.
*Add cooked peas.
*Season with salt and pepper
*Sprinkle with toasted walnuts.

Toasting walnuts:
Break into small pea sized pieces. Toast in dry skillet or in oven just until fragrant and slightly brown. Watch carefully. May toast almonds with the same method.

My, How You Have Grown!!!

In just a few weeks time God has doubled and tripled the size of the herb garden.

The Harvest Begins

Gibby dug up the potatoes and onions this week.
There will be enough to last us quite a while.
The flavorful freshness of the Yukon Gold and
Red potatoes is truly amazing.














God has blessed us with an amazing harvest
this year and His bounty continues to bless us
and others.

The herbs are growing!!

The hot summer sun is bearing down on us and it seems unbearable to be outside at midday. The long hot days bring with them the blessing of the growing season for our little garden here in west Texas. Those of you that will be joining our class in August will be glad to see the herb garden has finally begun to flourish. I am looking forward to sharing the wonderful flavors and recipes that fresh herbs bring to cooking. We have added a few new plants this year. Lemon grass for Asian flavors, dill, fennel, stevia are some of the new flavors I hope to share with you. It seems that the lemon basil has done a prolific job of seeding its self from last years plant and there are 30 or 40 little volunteer plants popping up in strange places. You can see it growing in the herb garden path. I love it. There is so much more to experiment with (like lemon basil olive oil, lemon basil vinegar, apricot basil dressing) and more to share with friends. I am looking forward to seeing all of you soon. Until then, may God bless you with many opportunities to touch others with His gracious hospitality. ( The Herb garden sign was a mother's day gift from my daughter and the pinwheels an addition by my grandsons Owen and Clay)

Purple Basil

Purple Basil is a beautiful and colorful addition to the herb garden. One of my favorite ways to use it is in a fresh garden salad. The flavor is mild and adds a pleasing color to the salad as well and the subtle flavor of basil. You can make purple basil pesto for pasta or chicken or make a purple basil butter with garlic chive to spread on your freshly baked bread. Yum!!

Gracious Hospitality in Real Life

It was truly a blessing each week of class to read how each of you graciously shared your lives with those around you. I have asked some of you to share your hospitality experiences with the rest of us. The following is from the Jeff and Kristina Sims family. What a blessing they are to all of us.


Kristina and I have an open invitation to our S.I.B.I. class to come over and eat in our home every Wednesday night before church. We had no idea what a blessing it would be to our family. It started with fourteen people the first week, and it's been growing ever since. We've hosted as many as twenty-six. It has given our class a chance to talk outside of the classroom and to really get to know each other in a deeper way. We feel like we're making relationships that will last a lifetime, and we're having a blast at the same time. Our children have also gotten to know our friends very well and have enjoyed playing together with their children. We've had the chance to play games with each other, to share trials and joys together, and to encourage each other to keep going even when school gets tough. We've been really blessed in our support and know that some of our classmates really appreciate the free meal each Wednesday. Kristina has done a great job cooking and cleaning every week. She is able to try new recipes, and share some old favorites. I love getting to see her enjoy the company and share her recipes. I'm excited that she's getting so much practice in hosting. I know she'll use the skills she's learning now for the rest of our lives, and our family and friends are sure to be blessed for many years to come.

-Jeff Sims

Bed and Breakfast

Serving in ministry often gives us the opportunity to share our homes with fellow Christians, ministers, and missionaries. Sharing our homes is not just a blessing for the traveler but it is a special blessing for those who have opened their home. Not only do we help in furthering the gospel but as hosts we are richly blessed by the experiences of our guest. We are always looking for a way to make them feel comfortable and special as they stay with us. A place to rest and a simple meal is a welcome gesture for our guest. Often we have the opportunity to share the things God has done in our lives as we enjoy a leisure breakfast. But, sometimes it is grab a muffin and run.

Pastries and Desserts

Sometimes I can not believe how good God is to us. His blessings abound even in times of trial. He does not just feed us He even brings dessert. Having a cup of tea (or coffee) and sharing dessert with a friend, old or new, is t me one of the "sweetest treats" God gives to us. What a blessing it is to share our hearts and build relationships with such a simple gesture of dessert. Take some time, bake a pie (or buy one) and invite someone over for dessert and enjoy some of the richest blessings God gives.

Homemade Bread

Bread baking is absolutely one of my favorite things. As the whole house gradually fills with the rich aroma of fresh homemade bread baking in the oven, guest seem to appear from nowhere. They always seem to know when it is bread baking day. I am especially fond of the free form artisan loaves with all their texture, color and variety of shapes. It does not seem to matter in what culture you live, bread is always a staple and often the center of the meal. Often artisan breads require few ingredients and very little equipment to prepare a beautiful and delicious loaf of bread. Presented here are some of the scrumptious breads we prepared. Move you mouse over the photo to view their description.

Food Preservation

Preserving summers bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables can be a real blessing in the cold winter months. Making Jams and Jellies has taught us that preserving food does not have to be difficult. Having friends in the kitchen makes memories and builds relationships. Not to mention what a delight it is to have a special gifts to share with others that has been prepared in your own kitchen.

Stretching our food budget.

When having guest over we often need to stretch our meals to feed a few more. We can still provide visually appealing and wonderfully delicious dishes on a limited budget with a little planning. Having the base of the dish prepared in the freezer cuts down of the meal prep time and gives us more time with our guest and our family. In our cooking session we prepared several flavorful and diverse dishes from a couple of chickens. Move your mouse over the photos for the names of the dishes we prepared.

Tablescapes

What fun it is to look around our house to find new and creative tablescapes. Our table decor can reflect our personality or memories of trips we have taken, gifts that we have received from those who love us, or special collections of just about anything. I have seen quilts and scarves, photos and trinkets, rocks and shells, candles and books, and the list never ends. If it is in your home it could possibly be used to embellish your table. Table decor can be great conversation starters. I always enjoy learning more about my Host by the items she places on her table.

Bean with Herbs

One of the best ways to try different types of herbs are with vegetables that often seem plain served by themselves. Adding different herbs can completely change the outcome of a dish. I have often heard people say they did not like beans. Maybe they just have not found the right combination that appeals to their pallet. The great variety of choices available make it impossible to know if you really do not like the taste or texture until your have tried them all. We probably have a lifetime of trying different combinations before we have tasted them all. So start experimenting!!!

BEANS AND LEGUMES

I always get excited when we get to share about the many different types of beans, legumes and grains. God in his wisdom has given us a beautiful mosaic of wonderful, colorful, flavorful beans and grains. All around the world there are regional favorites. In our United States we probably have more varieties than we will have opportunities to taste them. If you do not think you care for a particular variety do not give up on it until you have tasted it prepared in a variety of ways. Then move on to other varieties. It it truly an adventure for the human pallet.

Our class explored different ways of cooking and preparing beans. Dried, canned or frozen they provide an affordable and convenient staple to our diet. The dishes we prepared included: Campfire Beans, Tex Mex Black Bean Wraps, Tuscan Bean Soup with Sage, and White Beans with Rosemary. The recipe for Tex Mex Bean Wrap can be found in an earlier post.

Gracious Hospitality Class Fall 2007

It is always a blessing to work along side women who love the Lord. Their willing hearts make it a pleasure just to get to know them. With all their hard work and willingness to learn we have grown in God's word and created memories that will last a lifetime. I believe their homes will be a rich environment for the spreading of the gospel, meeting the needs of "strangers", and ministering to missionaries and teachers of the Word. Their homes will also be filled with God's blessing of good food, great times, sincere relationships and lots of joy and laughter as they practice their gifts of "Gracious Hospitality".

Seated: Kristina, Anita, Myra, Judit, Chrissy,
Standing: Jennifer, Pamela, Jessica, Raelynn, Brandon'a, Marsha, Delphinium, Christi, Terra and Dawna (Unable to be with us on photo day: Kay)

Making Pastries

Specially baked pies and cakes are always a welcome gift. Welcoming others into our home for coffee and pie creates an opportunity for lifelong friendships to grow.

Bed and Breakfast

What an honor and a blessing to be able to take care of traveling missionaries and teachers of the gospel. In 3rd John, Gaius is commended for the care he gives those who travel for the sake of Christ. He is also is instructed to send them on their way in a manner that is worthy of Jesus Christ. It is our desire that our own homes become a restful and nourishing place that will be a blessing to those who are actively spreading of the gospel throughout our world.

Napkin Folding for Beautiful Tables

Folding napkins can be an inexpensive way to make your dining experience elegant. This added touch tells your guest they are special. There are so many different patterns available to embellish your table. Here are a few in the photos below. Also check out these websites for more ideas:
www.napkinfoldingguide.com/
and for video instructions visit,
www.wholesale-table-linens.com/napkin-folding.html

Baking Bread

There is nothing quite like the smell of fresh bread coming from the kitchen. It seem to beckon to all who are passing by, drawing them in, making home feel warm and cozy, and naturally growing into robust stories and laughter. It is so simple, so beautiful, so inviting. Welcome someone in with a loaf of fresh bread and begin making many special memories.

Quick Mix

Ingredients:

9 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/3 cup baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
4 tablespoons sugar
1 cup nonfat dry milk
2 cups shortening


Directions:
Sift together twice, the flour, baking powder, salt, cream of tartar, sugar and dry milk. Cut in shortening with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture is crumbly. Store in covered container at room temperature. Use wherever biscuit mix or Bisquick(TM) is called for.

Several of you have requested this recipe knowing the Lord may send you to places in this world where a baking mix is not readily available.

I Peter 4: 8-10

Most importantly, love each other deeply, because love will cause many sins to be forgiven. Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.

JELLY AND JAM

It is so delightful to have beautifully preserved jars of fruit and veggies with their colorful contents lined up and stacked on your kitchen counter. With it comes a great sense of accomplishment and pride. For those of you who want to continue this homecanning tradition here are a few noteworthy websites to visit.

http://www.freshpreserving.com/

http://www.kraftfoods.com/surejell/sj_index.html

http://www.mrswages.com/