Update: I'm slowly adding links here to the recipes below…keep checking back or subscribe so you don't miss any new posts. 🙂
For over seven years now we’ve met once a month with six other couples for bible study, and we’ve been friends for even longer. First we go out just as couples for a dinner date (it’s often the only time each month that Kent & I are out alone and can actually talk), and then everyone meets at someone’s home, whoever’s turn it is to host. (Read more about our bible study friends.) We pray together and have some good discussions on whatever bible study we’re into at the time, but we also laugh a LOT and have some deep talks, too. We depend on each other like family and are thankful for the support and advice on parenting or whatever issue might weigh heavily on us at the moment. Something else fun is that many of these friends were into healthy eating waaaay before I was, so they’re also Real Foodies! (Here are past posts from Lyn & Amy, Sue, & Michelle, and there are recipes throughout my blog from many of these friends, too.) We always have some great food when we get together, and they love to joke about all my past food flops – yes, I have a lot of those, as all you regular readers know. 🙂
Our Annual Christmas Potluck
Each year in December we do a Christmas potluck. I posted pictures of our home when we hosted it a couple years ago. I don't know why I haven't done a post on this every year, maybe I will from now on.
(Before you read on, I want to give you the nudge to be sure and read the comments for this post where a couple things are covered that I missed…)
Last Friday it was at Michael & Lyn’s, check out their gorgeous decor:
This appetizer was SO good, even if my picture taking skills don’t reflect that in the slightest. I’ll post the recipe soon and maybe with a better picture. We had more appetizers, but apparently I messed up and didn’t get pictures of those, sorry Amy B.! (I loved your cheese ball, though!)
Our main dish was divine. Lyn’s Chicken Mushroom Parmesan, Sue’s Cashew Rice, and Nancy’s salad with feta cheese, cranberries & oranges:
I made a fruit salad with a homemade vanilla pudding dressing:
Mmmm, David & Michelle brought these to-die-for desserts: a chocolate layer cake and a creamy dreamy caramel apple cheesecake
I love potlucks, but…
It’s not easy coming up with a good potluck dish that everyone loves, that will serve a lot of people, and that is made with Real Food. What are your favorite potluck recipes?
I love the Macaroni and Cheese recipe made with brown rice pasta I have adapted from the files of the Discussing Nourisning Traditions group on Yahoo. I cut the amount of cheese by two ounces per quarter batch (the original feeds an army so I cut it down to a fourth or halve it depending on the size of the group I’m making if for) and omit the mustard powder. This is also a big hit at home.
Sorry messed up the link on your latest post but have just put my sushi instructions on my site. The sushi was my great party success this Christmas and will be making more for my New Year Bash.
Wishing you again a great Chrissie.
Greenearth, I just tried to find how to do your sushi platter on your site but had no luck – I’ll have to email you to see if you’ll share that. 🙂
Calling over to wish you a wonderful Christmas.
My potluck special is a sushi platter. Seems I succeed with making sushi and now it is requested of me.
Wow, it all sounds and looks yummy! I will eagerly wait for the recipes :)! Merry Christmas!
JC, that actually IS totally and completely ON topic. I should’ve mentioned something like that in the post, that holidays are more than just getting together for fun, but also about helping others. I think that because it is something so obvious to us, I don’t bring it up as much as I should, but it may not be as obvious to others. Our friends, Joe & Meg, who you’ve heard me mention here lots of times, are doing something similar for New Year’s Eve. They’re making all the food & bevies and asking others to bring a donation instead of appetizers and beer. The donation will help a local family who has had one tragedy after another in their lives.
Thank you for that nice reminder!
Kelly
Just a thought — and apologies for being off topic — but a story in today’s Wall Street Journal highlights the fact that many kids are asking for SOCKS this year (and toiletries and school supplies) because times or so tough.
One suggestion out of the many on the website I’ve linked to (not mine, I don’t have one) was that everyone who has a Christmas/New Years/other holiday gathering this year ask people to bring a package of new kids’ socks/underwear (any age) or toiletries or school supplies. These can be dropped off at any church, food bank, school (the school secretaries know who needs what), etc. Fraternal organizations like the Elks also distribute, and your local VA Hospital or Veterans’ Affairs office can get donations to the families of veterans or active military personnel who — shamefully — are also hurting. And of course, there’s Toys for Tots and the State Troopers in many states (like mine) conduct annual toy drives.
Collecting socks/underwear for kids is a fun addition to the usual round of seasonal parties, and truly in the traditional Christmas spirit.
I PROMISE my next post will be on-point.
Kelly,
That looks like such a fun night; Oh, wait, I was there, too!!! The food really was delicious, it is funny how it all came together so nicely and complementarily (is that a word??) It is such a blessing to have this Bible study group and these friends. Support like this is so vital in our lives, and on this sometimes tough journey. I love that we have also learned so much together about eating healthy foods as close to the way God made them as possible. It takes time and effort to develop friendships such as these (and honestly, within the seven years that we have been meeting, I can guess that many of us would have lost touch because we branched off to different churches from the one we met at, but thanks to Kelly and her efforts in organizing our group, that hasn’t happened!) I encourage people to make efforts to maintain and find good friends who share your same values, whether it be food, faith, family, or all three!!
Have a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Sue E.
Kelly, no problem! I will wait. Too busy at the moment with holiday preps anyhow 🙂 Thanks.
Tammy, no, I’m sorry, none of these recipes are up yet, but I’ll be adding them in the next couple weeks. 🙂 (If you need it right away, let me know and I’ll email it to you.)
Kelly
Oh yum! It all looks good! Kelly, is the recipe for your fruit salad on your site? I couldn’t find it. I would love to know how you do that, it looks so good and is one of my favorite things to eat. I love fruit!
Merry Christmas!
Wow…first here I think. Of course I’m up late having just posted my Wednesday blog post and up late because our 3rd oldest son rolled in from Arizona and he and dad are still going strong talking. Your Christmas Bible Study Dinner looks awesome, delightful and a blessing. I’ll be back tomorrow when time allows to read through this more completely. For now….my eyes are about to snap shut!
Merry Christmas!