Teaching Good Things

Practical Skills for Real Life

The Real Purpose of Eating Together

When you share a meal with someone, whether it be a gourmet seven-course meal or a burger and fries, it intensifies your relationship.

Eating together binds hearts.

As often as possible, a family should eat at least one meal together each day.

Sitting at the table together over a meal seems to connect us in a way that doesn’t happen in any other situation. This is my favorite time of day, not so much because of the food, but because of the conversation and laughter. It’s not always good, always happy, but we are together and working through issues.

Make Ahead Brunch Ideas

If you have been a reader of this blog for any amount of time you know I’m all about family and community. I love gathering people around my table and practicing hospitality.

I find it interesting that there was a table with food and drink in the temple. That one of the sacraments of the Church is around a communion table. Jesus often used the gathering around food to teach and satisfy. One of the last times He spoke intimately with his disciples was around a table.

Pork Chops with Bacon Cheese Grits

A dear sweet friend brought us the ingredients for this amazing meal.

I cooked it tonight and it was amazing on this cold winter’s night! It is most definitely a comfort meal… glad I served my time at the gym today!

You can find the recipe here!

Why Set the Table

Food for the Sick

It’s About the Relationships

Christmas 2013 - Elf Games, Candlelight, Broken Relationships

This is the second Christmas for our three youngest to be with us. Last year this time their birth certificates listed different names and their future was still un-certain.

This year they are FOREVER Brodocks and with each passing day I love them more and more.

As I watch them grow and embrace life I marvel at the mercy of our Heavenly Father… that He would choose for us to be their family…that He would pluck them from the fire and give them a life of grace! May they never take that for granted… nor that we would either!

How to Make Re-Usable Wooden Place-cards

These place-cards are great for dinner parties.

Because they are made with chalkboard paint they are re-usable.

Cut a hardwood tree branch at about 1/8 or 1/4 thick with a miter saw.

Make sure they are dry before you paint them.

Sand one side if you want to, but that is not necessary.

Use chalkboard paint (a quart goes a long way) and a small craft brush to paint on two coats, letting each coat dry completely.

Teaching Good Things Tuesdays – Link Up Party 12/3/13

These are place cards that I made for our Thanksgiving meal. I used the person’s name, the meaning of their name and a condensed Bible verse of praise. Meanings of names are powerful. Sometimes people need to be reminded and encouraged to live up to their name. It gives a sense of purpose! This is an especially good way to witness to and encourage people who may be dining at your table that are not Believers. It also makes them feel welcome and wanted as you take time to make something special just for them!

Fall Banquet Table Decorations

This weekend we helped with an adoption fundraiser for a local family.

I love decorating in the fall, it’s so easy.

I have a lot of dessert glasses, martini glasses, etc…

I like to use them for flowers, tea lights, mints… anything…

The greens, the mini-stumps and pears are from our yard.

Scattering the tables with tea lights in small juice glasses make everything pretty.

Today’s Table - Pocket Sandwiches

This is one of my favorite suppers, and it is so versatile!

In a large bowl mix shredded lettuce, then add whatever salad fixin’s you like. I usually add:

tomatoes
olives
onions
cucumbers
banana peppers

Then to satisfy my hungry man I add cooked shredded chicken or steak.

Then add shredded mozzarella cheese.

Some Greek seasoning is good too!

Pour either ranch or Italian salad dressing, mix it up good.

Cut your pita bread in half, stuff each half full.

Today’s Table - Liv It Up Thursday

Those of you that know me know that I love the supper table. The supper table is the perfect time for the family to come back together after a day of work to reconnect. When done on purpose the table not only feeds us physically, but also emotionally and spiritually.

On Sundays we are the 3rd generation on my husband’s side to carry on the family tradition of pasta and homemade tomato sauce, complete with a salad and garlic bread! Everyone goes to their patriarch/matriarch’s home to eat with their siblings, aunts, uncles cousins, etc… It’s LOUD and it is good! Even though we have lived 1100 miles away from family for the last 25 years we have kept the pasta and sauce tradition!