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Yesterday for Mother’s Day I had the joy of inviting my daughter and her family to our home for dinner. She’s a busy mom with little guys, and I felt like she needed a break. It was such a fun time together. The menu was important because we are “foodies!” We want to have delicious food, worthy the occasion. We decided I’d make the meal and she would make dessert! I was excited already!
We eat lots of salads at our house, so that means we need salad dressings. I like Ranch, but that can be pretty boring after a while! I love to make my own dressings for three reasons:
I’ve recently tried two new dressing recipes and they were so fresh and delicious that I just have to share them with you!
Continue reading “Mason Jar Salads and Homemade Dressings”Our family loves to celebrate, and that is usually interpreted into the meal planning. If it’s someone who is being celebrated, they rightfully get to help select their favorites.”What should we have for dinner for Father’s Day?” was an important question I asked my husband last week. He landed on some old favorites, then I chose one new recipe, and one I hadn’t made in a while. The result was a sumptuous fare that celebrated him and the gift he is to our family.
Wow! What a special Easter week this was! Good Friday’s service was such a blessing as we were reminded of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross in our place. Then Sunday we rejoiced and worshiped and sang and had sweet fellowship with our church family as well as our physical family.
After our morning service we gathered in our home with our girls and their families, and also some dear friends. My daughters and I collaborated on the meal, and it was so much fun to work together and put out a spread we all enjoyed. Here’s the menu:
Glazed Ham
Gourmet Potatoes
Corn Saute’
Green Salad with peaches and Craisins
Deviled Eggs
Cheddar Biscuits
Coconut Cake ~ Chocolate Fudge Pie
My contribution was the cake, ham and potatoes. These Gourmet potatoes have a long history in our family. They are perfect for a busy meal because they are all made up ahead of time and then just slid into the oven to bake for 30 minutes.
Gourmet Potatoes
6 medium potatoes
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 C butter
1 1/2 C sour cream (I used light)
1/3 C chopped onion
1 t. salt
paprika
Peel the potatoes. Leave them whole. Cook in boiling water ’til tender. Cool.
Shred potatoes coarsely. In medium-sized saucepan, melt butter and cheese. Stir ’til melted. Remove from heat; blend in sour cream, onions and salt. Fold in potatoes and pour into a 2 qt. casserole dish.
Sprinkle with paprika on top. Refrigerate overnight. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
The meal was all so good, and it was such a blessing having help with the meal. What fun it was to work together in the kitchen with my girls.
Teach your daughters to cook! It is so rewarding! Do you enjoy having help while you’re cooking? Have you taught your daughters to cook, too? I’d love ot hear!
My pictures on my site here are still an issue, so please go to my Instagram ~ Refreshherblog and you’ll find pictures of our Easter dinner and celebration. If you’re not following me on Instagram, what are you waiting for? It’s where I post most often! You can click to Instagram by scrolling all the way down to the bottom of the page if you are reading on your phone. Look for the camera icon for Instagram.
We are traditionalists on most holidays. The same foods are usually served each year on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But you know what? Sometimes it’s really fun to break out of that “mold” and do something completely different! That’s what happened this year.
My daughter hosted us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and she and her sister did all the food. Not only did I not contribute to the meal, I wasn’t allowed to lift a finger. That was a gift in itself. They are the sweetest.
Here are the meals they planned and prepared.
Christmas Eve night, they had all appetizers. (BTW, This would make a great menu for New Year’s Eve, too!)
From Monte Cristo Sliders, Chicken sliders (something like these), Cocktail Wieners and Pizza Dip it was a delicious spread.
We had a mid-morning brunch on Christmas morning. The egg casserole Whitney made was a.maz.ing! It had all the brunchy feels to it and balanced out the sweetness of the Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls that Alli and her husband made! What a way to start the day!
Here was the menu for supper
Steak with Texas Roadhouse seasoning, and Crispy Onion Straws
Roasted potatoes with Blue Cheese
Caesar Salad
Learn from a 5-year old how to eat a cookie. Fill your plate with your favorites. Look carefully at the cookie to decide which corner to attack first. Then go in and nibble away until completely devoured!
After church yesterday we were blessed to host everyone for Sunday dinner. It was very impromptu, but I made a simple meal everyone loves – Soup beans and cornbread. I used the simple recipe I’ve shared here. This is such a great meal for ease and for comfort. I served it with roasted potatoes, cornbread, and cooked apples. Even our little guys love this meal.
All these meals were great, yes, but the best part was sitting around the table as a family, thanking the Lord, chatting, laughing, listening, watching, loving, caring and serving. That’s what mealtime is all about.
Plan something simple this week and invite others to join around your table. Eat slowly. Make conversation. Serve them. Love them. There’s nothing that tastes any better!
What kind of foods did your family share over Chrismtas?
RefreshHer 