Gracious Hospitality: September 2025

Monday, September 29, 2025

Tablescapes

One of our favorite classes is for the presentation of our Tablescapes.

Each student creates a Tablescape from what she already has or can borrow.

The goal is to create an interesting and engaging theme and

not spend any money to decorate.

We are often called upon to decorate for an event and create a theme, and

decorations without funds to spend.

These ladies were wonderfully creative.

Pam presents

Cold Process Soap

Jan presents

Heart and Home

Millie presents

Rhyme and Dine

Shayla presents

Heartbeat and Hoofbeats

Anna Presents

Dinner at Abuelita's

Friday, September 26, 2025

Special Opportunities for Service

Find a Need and Fill It

This week, we looked for special opportunities

at events, showers, and holidays.

Today's baking reflects some of the recipes we

prepared for such occasions.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the

Lord and not for men, knowing that from

the Lord you will receive the inheritance as

your reward. You are serving the Lord

Christ. Colossians 3:23-24

Pastries and Sweets

Pumpkin Roll

Pecan Pie Tarts

Rustic Pear Tart

Flowerless Chocolate Cake

Friday, September 19, 2025

Hospitality in the Church

Making others welcome in the body of Christ

14 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those

who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened,

help the weak, be patient with everyone. (NIV) 1

Thessalonians 5:14

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your

part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get

a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers and reach

out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be

patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.

And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves

you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each

other, and always do your best to bring it out. The

Message 1 Thessalonians 5:13-15

Our study this week was from the Book of James,

learning how to treat one another in the body of Christ.

Breaking bread is a universal language all around the world.

It is also one of the most economical ways to feed a crowd.

Today's bread baking recipes.

New York Style Calzones

Buttery Crescent Rolls

Foccacia Bread

Cowboy Bread

Slap Your Brains Out Biscuits

Friday, September 12, 2025

Hospitality of Kindness, Encouragement and Sharing

A kindhearted woman gains honor……..Proverbs 11:16a NIV

A gracious woman attains honor……….Proverbs 11:16a ESV

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:26 ESV

Jams and Jellies

In today's practical lesson, we practiced Water Bath Canning.

We practiced this canning process by making Jam and Jellies.

They turned out beautifully.

Amaretto Peach Jam

Red Hot Apple Jam

Cherries Jubilee Jelly

Finished Hot Water Bath Canning

Even though our kitchen layout is not ideal for waterbath canning,

these ladies were able to overcome the challenges and

prepared some wonderful jams and jelly.

The finished product was amazing.

Gracious Hospitality Overview

90 Minute Cinnamon Rolls

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 envelope yeast
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup margarine
1 egg
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine, softened

*Set aside 1 cup all purpose flour from total amount. Mix remaining flour, yeast ,sugar, and salt in large bowl.
**Heat milk, water, and 1/4 cup margarine until hot to the touch, about 115F. Stir hot liquid into dry ingredients. Mix in egg. Mix in enough reserved flour to make a soft dough, so that it does not stick to the bowl. Turn out onto floured board and knead 5 minutes. Cover dough and let rest 10 minutes.
***Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and margarine together. Roll dough into 12 x 9-inch rectangle. Spread with cinnamon mixture. Roll from long side, jelly-roll style; pinch to seal the seam.
****Cut into 12 equal slices with a sharp knife. Place cut side up into large greased muffin cups; place on baking sheet over a shallow pan half-filled with boiling water. Cover dough and let rise 20 mins. Bake at 375 F for 20 mins or until browned. Remove from muffin cups to cool.

Frosting

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

In a mixing bowl, beat frosting ingredients until well mixed. Frost warm rolls.

Perfect Pie Crust

2 Cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp Sugar
3/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 egg lightly beaten
1 tsp vinegar
3 - 4 Tbsp cold water

*Combine flour, salt and sugar in a 2 qt. bowl. Evenly cut shortening into flour mixture with a pastry blender or fork. *Combine egg and vinegar in a small bowl and add to flour mixture.
*Add water a tablespoon at a time until dough is moist enough to form ball.
*Shape dough into 2 balls. Flatten one ball to 1/2 inch thickness, rounding and smoothing edges.
*On lightly floured surface roll into 11 inch circle.
*Transfer dough to a 9" pie plate.
*Unfold gently and press in bottom and up sides of plate.
*Roll out remaining pastry; set aside. Continue as directed in pie recipe.

HOMEMADE WHITE BREAD

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 c. lukewarm water
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/4 c. butter
or solid shortening
3/4 c. water
1 c. hot milk
5 to 6 c. flour

Proof yeast in 1/4 cup of the lukewarm water for 5 minutes. Measure sugar, salt and butter into mixing bowl, pour hot milk over them and stir allowing the butter to melt. Add remaining water and cool to lukewarm. Stir in 1 cup flour. Add yeast mixture and 2 more cups flour and beat with a wooden spoon until batter is smooth and elastic. Stir in 1 1/2 to 2 cups more flour, then, with floured fingers, work in enough additional flour to make a soft dough that does not stick to your fingers.

Turn dough onto lightly floured board and knead for 2-5 minutes, about 100 kneading strokes. Shape dough into a ball and put it in an oiled or buttered bowl. Roll the dough in the oil until coated on all sides, cover with a towel and let dough rise until double in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Punch dough down and turn onto floured surface. Divide dough in half and shape each half into a smooth ball. Shape each ball into a loaf and put into a greased loaf pan. Cover pans with a towel and let bread rise until the sides of the raised bread reach the top of the pans and the center is nicely rounded above it, about 1 hour.

To bake: Bake loaves at 375 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown and sound hollow when lightly tapped.

When baked: Turn loaves from pans immediately onto a cooling rack to keep crust crisp. For a soft, tender crust: Brush loaves with butter as soon as they come from oven.

Peel and remove pit, finely Chop
4 cups prepared peaches
5 1/2 cups sugar
1 package powdered pectin

*Measure sugar and keep ready.
*Mix pectin with fruit and using high heat to bring to a boil.
*At once add sugar.
*Bring to a full boil (a boil that cannot be stirred down).
*Boil hard for one minute.
*Remove from heat and skim foam for 5 minutes. This prevents floating fruit.
*Put quickly into jars leaving 1/4-inch head space.
*Clean rim and seal with rings.
*Water bath in boiling water for 10 minutes for pints and quarts.
*It should set in 24 hours.
*Makes about 4 pints jam