Food & Faith in Our United Methodist Churches
It was easy to find Sherry Steele, her adorable daughter, and this recipe for homemade dog treats on the internet. All I did was search “methodist dog treats,” which led me straight to Plainfield United Methodist Church in Plainfield, Illinois. Why would I do such a thing, you ask? I recently noticed dogs are often... Continue Reading →
I learned how to crack an egg at Kitty’s house. I was maybe 10 years old, staying overnight on a weekend. I said I wanted to learn to cook someday. Kitty’s mother decided we could all make brownies together. I was so nervous as Kitty’s mom stood beside me. She instructed me how to gently... Continue Reading →
Somehow, we got into the business of making old-fashioned salads for our free drive-thru meal ministry at a United Methodist church in Knoxville, Tennessee. That may have happened because we have limited oven and storage space, so we aim to have at least one cold dish to make ahead and stash in the refrigerator. At... Continue Reading →
A month ago, we went on a quest for a great broccoli salad to serve at our free community drive-thru lunch. Several tasty suggestions were shared, but we chose this recipe from the collection of a 102-year-old woman who lived in Kenbridge, Virginia. We didn’t expect all of our 90 guests to like it, but... Continue Reading →
Eston Boles was a great cook, his daughter remembers. He had to be, because he was the eldest of 13 children born to tenant farmers in Spring City, Tennessee. “His mother taught him to cook to help her,” says his daughter, the Rev. Sherry Boles. When Sherry’s parents married, they moved to Chattanooga, but Eston... Continue Reading →
“To ease the pandemic stress, we started baking.” That’s what Chris Sneed posted on his Facebook page with this photo of an appealing slice of cake. Of course, I had to call Chris to find out more. “Today we made my Great-Granny Mattson's Oatmeal Cake,” Chris said. “Many people say I am just like my... Continue Reading →
Tonight is the first time in a few years that Susan felt like doing a quintessentially autumnal ordinary meal photo, as she likes to say. Sometimes Susan and I think the ordinary things that used to seem fun and heartwarming will never hold any charm or interest again, with the losses we have undergone as... Continue Reading →
When autumn finally chills the evening, what do you crave for supper? Could it be potato soup? Scott Ketron posts incredible photos of the cooking he’s been doing since he retired first as Holston Conference clergy and later as an entrepreneur. Recently, he posted videos and photos of potato soup, which were too appealing... Continue Reading →
En español Isaac López baked 47 cheesecakes this weekend. He’s got 65 cheesecakes to go. That’s because Isaac, age 12, is trying to earn enough money to go on his first mission trip. The idea for the fundraiser came after Isaac made a cheesecake for a celebration of his church’s seventh anniversary. Isaac is the... Continue Reading →
I saw this photo on a pastor's page and had to share it. Gracianna, age 9, is the daughter of the Rev. Paige Pearson Wimberly, pastor at Newbern United Methodist Church and Mountain View United Methodist Church in Dublin, Virginia. After Gracianna spent two weeks with her grandparents in Florida, her mother traveled down to... Continue Reading →
The Call to Cook 