First United Methodist Church of Pearisburg, Virginia, has been making these fruit-filled handheld pies for some 40 years to raise money for different projects. This year, the church made and sold 710 apple and cherry pies to help fund improvements in their building. Particularly in the American South, people of a certain age loooooove fried... Continue Reading →
Chocolate Easter eggs by the thousands
It’s been years since I did a chocolate Easter egg story. So when I heard the Mt. Olivet United Methodist Women were prepping for a season of peanut butter-mixing and chocolate-dipping, I had to find out more. Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church is located in Galax, Virginia. Nancy Spicer, who the pastor called “the main... Continue Reading →
In the kitchen with Martee: Cooking for the homeless
This spacious, well-lit, well-equipped kitchen has been the source of many, many meals over the last four decades – most often prepared for students participating in the United Methodist ministry located one block from Radford University. But on a recent chilly March afternoon, this kitchen is where a meal is being prepared for 11 homeless... Continue Reading →
Surprised by the broccoli salad
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 →
Breakfast in Bishop: Feeding 120 people on a shoestring
For the first time since the pandemic started in March, I went on an overnight work trip last week. I visited Alexander Memorial United Methodist Church, where every Thursday a small team led by Pastor Daniel Bradley cooks and delivers hot meals to hungry neighbors in and around Bishop, Virginia. The church struggles financially. Last... Continue Reading →
How the little girl in the photo became a cake decorator
You could say Alex Shelton has a bun in the oven, but for the moment, she’s taking a break from baking cakes. That’s because this talented cake decorator is expecting her second child, Sophia Grace, on June 18. She’s staying off her feet until the baby comes, yet the requests for sugary fantasies have not... Continue Reading →
So we got your attention?
It’s been a while since we posted about chocolate gravy from Camp Lookout. Several people responded, saying they have great memories of chocolate-infused Southern breakfasts. We reached out to three of them to find out more. Click here for the chocolate gravy recipe. Soppin' chocolate “My grandmother used to call it ‘soppin’ chocolate,’” said Bernice... Continue Reading →
‘Magic bars’ for hospital workers on the front lines
When the churches were closed due to coronavirus, a couple of youth members at Rye Cove United Methodist Church didn’t want to stop reaching out to the community. Allison Vincent, age 12, and Lindsey Vincent, age 11, are part of a youth group that “absolutely loves to cook,” says their mother. Cooking has been a... Continue Reading →
How to show hospitality: Part 2
I appreciate Angel Smith. She wrote me a few weeks ago and offered to share her experience in showing hospitality to church dinner guests. If you’ve been following this blog, you know I’m trying to learn more about serving guests with allergies and sensitivities to gluten. It’s a lot more difficult and complicated than I... Continue Reading →
Onions and pantyhose go together like … Wait, what?
The photos that come out of Elk Garden School Community Ministry Center are always intriguing. The onions-and-pantyhose post led me to give Rev. Brooke Atchley a call! Brooke is a Church and Community Worker -- a local missionary in The United Methodist Church -- who hosts all sorts of mission teams and volunteers at the... Continue Reading →