Creating A Welcoming Home - 5

Good morning! It's Thursday & time for Creating a Welcoming Home! Today I'll give you some welcoming tips based on the sense of TASTE!!

PLUS, a yummy recipe for Zucchini Bread:

3 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. oil

4 eggs

3 c. grated zucchini

3 c. flour

2 t. baking powder (small t = teaspoon)

1 t. baking soda

1 1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

1 c. chopped nuts

1. Cream sugar & oil together
2. Beat in eggs
3. Sift dry ingredients & mix w/ sugar/oil/eggs mixture
4. Add zucchini & nuts (use wooden spoon for this step)
5. Grease & flour 2 loaf pans

Bake @ 350 degrees for 1 hour, or 325 degrees if using a glass pan.

(To make recipe GLUTEN-FREE, just substitute white rice flour cup for cup, and for flouring the pans! Super easy!)

This is the recipe my family used since forever, and we enjoy it with butter & powdered sugar on top! But "any way you slice it" (HA!) it'll be yummy-yummers!!

Tips for using TASTE to create a welcoming home:

So often people gather together to enjoy one another's company over food! It's such a large part of entertainment & hospitality, and mealtime can be special family time as well. Make mealtimes special at your house. Plan to eat together as much as possible. It lets everyone relax from their busy day and fosters communication.

Master a few simple dishes, and invite someone over to share it with! Hold a "get-to-know-you" or "haven't seen you in awhile" neighborhood barbeque or potluck. Our block has several block parties a year, usually for July 4th or Labor Day, and are planning a Halloween parade & treats. It really lets the neighbors connect! While living in TX one year there were lots of us with no family to share Thanksgiving with, so a group of my work friends did a pitch-in (potluck) and it was one of my best Thanksgivings ever!

Use fresh ingredients when possible. Many towns have lovely Farmer's Markets that sell local & super fresh fruits & veggies. Or if you planted your own backyard garden you are able to enjoy delicious foods only a few steps away! Foods in season have the best color & flavor, and add so much to your dishes. I love to add fresh herbs to our foods for the best flavor.

For older kids, provide a kid or teen friendly place for your kids and their friends to hang out. Have a cookie jar with "open access" during group times. My best friend's house was the one everyone wanted to hang out at. Not cause we could get away with anything, quite the contrary! Her parents were always there and friendly with the kids. But her home was comfy, the mom was welcoming, and she had the MOST AMAZING brownies & cookies that she put in a jar on the counter for everyone!! Yum!

Give a tasty meal or treat to someone who needs some love in their life. Maybe someone just had a baby or surgery and could use the extra help! Maybe someone lost a loved one and is too overcome to think about grocery shopping or cooking a meal. Maybe an elderly neighbor or co-worker could use a cupcake or treat (tie 3 cookies with ribbon) to feel important. You can do this as an act of love for someone, and they'll never forget your kindness!

That's all for today, folks! If you want some more lovely ideas for a Welcoming Home you should also check out Emilie Barnes &/or Terry Willits fabulous books. They are Christians who make a welcoming home their focus.

Don't forget to visit The Inspired Room for more fall nesting ideas!

And of course I'll be back every Thursday for "Creating a Welcoming Home"!

How do YOU use Taste to create a Welcoming Home?

Blessings,

Stacey