The Ways of Her Home

Embracing the homeward call

Father’s Day Meal for the Meat and Potatoes Guy!

  Since Father’s Day is coming up this weekend, I thought I’d share some recipes for a special occasion meal that my kids’ number one Dad always enjoys! What man doesn’t love red meat with a side of starch? Here’s a meat and potatoes meal that’s always a winner with our Super Dad, and I’m assuming it would be with most other men as well. Let’s start with the MEAT!! I season some New York Strips with my favorite go-to seasoning from the Biltmore Traditions cookbook. It’s a very flavorful seasoning, full of herbs and spices. I always triple or quadruple the recipe to have plenty of extra on hand for other meals. I love this on beef, chicken, pork, fish, and potatoes! 1 1/2 tsp dried ... Read more

Birthday Melodies

My oldest daughter, Piano Girl, is in her first year as a music major in a local Christian university. She is loving it, learning a lot, and making great friends! A while back, her little sister and a couple of friends started to talk about a wanting to throw a surprise party for her 19th birthday! With their help, everything came together without the birthday girl suspecting a thing! One of the girls attends the same college as Piano Girl so she took care of the guest list, scheduling, and inviting. This was a huge help since I had not yet met some of the new friends and didn’t know how to contact them. Country Girl helped with color and pattern choices for the tables. We purchased ... Read more

Sloppy Joes for 4 or 24

Sloppy Joes make a warm and filling meal for a chilly weeknight at home, or to feed a crowd at a large gathering! When making this for my own family, I cook the meat mixture right before serving it for dinner. But when preparing it for a larger gathering, I cook and freeze the mixture days in advance. On the day of the gathering, it's ready to be thawed and warmed up in a crock pot on low. I adapted this recipe from one by Rachel Ray, leaving out the bell pepper for those in my family who consider them an abomination, and making a few other minor adjustments. What I post here reflects my changes. Sloppy Joes for 4 Ingredients: 1 Tbsp. olive oil salt 1/2 medium onion, chopped 1 1/4 pounds ... Read more

Her Hands, Her Home

Among the women I've been blessed to know, I've observed a common thread in their God-given nature: a draw toward the home. Whether single or married, younger or older, mother of children or fur babies, employed at the house or office, a woman has a heart for her home. And somewhere between heart and home, her hands swing into action! Just think of all that her hands do in a day in support of her household! From performing housekeeping tasks to nurturing souls to clasping her fingers in prayer, a woman's hands are persistently and painstakingly employed. And, at times, her hands also become the extension of her home, reaching out beyond her own walls to serve others in church and ... Read more