Happy New Year!

My Christmas season has been extremely busy, and richly blessed, as I sincerely hope yours has been. As 2014 comes to a close and we begin a brand new year, I want to thank each one of you for stopping by my blog. I can't even begin to express to you how much I appreciate your faithfulness. With a new year comes many new recipe ideas and posts. I hope that you might find some of interest for your family here at The Heart of the Home. Blessings to you and yours for a wonderful new year!

A Cup of Tea, a Warm Muffin and a Friend

When was the last time you got together with a special friend for some catching up and something yummy to eat? I must confess that the last time I did was when we went home for a vacation in July. Right now that time seems like a lifetime ago. I have a very special friend that I haven't had lunch with since February of this year and another friend that I haven't been able to connect with on the phone in weeks. We play phone tag. My point? Life gets way too busy and relationships suffer.

We brought a puppy home with us when we went on vacation. My life has been turned upside down and my clean home, is no longer. My husband and I rarely sleep through the night because of crate training, and stomach and intestinal distress. Three visits to the vet in two months; we are almost on a first name basis with her. And the bank account is sorely lacking in funds, at this time.

It seems my relationships have taken a dramatic turn away from my lady friends toward a precious female Labrador Retriever, for the time being. I long to spend time with my friends to do all the catching up, but puppy training doesn't wait and we will have a good puppy-citizen, which takes lots of time. This is also the reason that I struggle to get more than two posts done in a week. It's frustrating, but a very real part of my life for right now. I'm looking forward to the time when she is old enough to go out for walks with me, and when my time is more my own again.

Never in my life did I think I would be "parenting" again, but I am. There will be time for lunch with a friend again soon, but in the meantime, we email one another and I will continue to use the phone to stay in touch the best I can. Relationships with our friends and family are so important, and the stuff of life does tend to get in the way of our time together. Thankfully, the Lord willing, we will have another day and time to connect. We must be careful that not too much time goes by though. We simply don't get the time back. Blessings...

The Humble Gift of Welcome

Hospitality is the humble gift of welcome, while entertaining is prideful, showy, wants to impress, and as my husband and I have experienced personally, very hurtful for those being "entertained". The most important part of hospitality is conveying an attitude of welcome, care and love toward those who are coming into your home. Our guests couldn't care less about the size of our home, kind or condition of the furniture, how the table is set or even what is being served, as long as they feel welcomed, loved, and cared for. Hospitality does not say, "hey, look at me", it says, "I'm glad you're here and I'm caring for you".

People are longing for relationship, connection, and a sense of acceptance, none of which are being supplied on Facebook or any other form of social media. Inviting people into our lives and our homes is where connecting takes place, especially around the table and a meal. The meal need not be elaborate; simplicity is key to easing stress and a feeling of being relaxed, for us and our guests. Our guests have come into our home for fellowship and an enjoyable time, and I have found that guests always ask what they can contribute to the meal, which causes them to feel more apart of the meal.

Recently we had some friends in our home to help celebrate my birthday, hence the picture of the lovely cake my husband purchased for the meal. The evening was filled with laughter and good food. There is no better way to connect with friends and family than to share laughter, conversation that includes everyone, and good food. Blessings...

New Friendships

A few years ago when my husband and I were doing a ministry to help new people connect in our then place of worship, we met a couple new to us. That summer another friend and I went out to Angela's home to pick vegetables one evening after dinner. When I say we went out, I mean we went "out" on an adventure to find Angela's home. She lives way out in the country from us city girls. She grows vegetables and herbs, her husband raises beef, they home school, and probably much more that I am not even aware of. I share this with you as a way of introduction to Angela's blog, http://www.reluctantfarmwife.com/. I would encourage a visit to this blog to read what a reluctant farm wife has to share about life and it's ups and downs. Angela is a godly woman with a story to tell, and I think she does it very well. She has been a very real encouragement to me many times.
Blessings...

Good Friends and Wonderful Meals

Years ago, when our family lived in Santa Cruz, CA., we had the wonderful blessing of having Marv and Sally as part of our lives. Marv was not only a very special "much older" friend, but he was also our family doctor. This man helped to save my life emotionally many times, not to mention his other gifts as a physician in our families lives, especially with two little boys.

Sally was a dear and special friend to this new bride. She was instrumental in the formation of my love of inviting new friends into our home. We spent many hours with Marv and Sally over wonderful food and wine. Sally was an exceptional cook, and very relaxed in the kitchen. We have since lost touch with Marv and Sally, they having moved away from Santa Cruz and us making a move back to Modesto, and then to Idaho. I still think of them fondly as they were a gift from God in our lives at that time.

This recipe is one Sally prepared for us one Friday evening as we all sat on their deck overlooking the bay. In Santa Cruz we could go down to the wharf and get fresh salmon that still smelled of the sea, oh what a blessing! The recipe will seem odd, but is very safe and tastes absolutely wonderful. We first had the dish about 25 years ago and I still make it regularly, so I can attest to the safety.

Salmon Marinade:

This recipe makes enough for 1 lb. of salmon fillet
1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 tablespoon minced parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, room temperature
1-1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, room temperature

1. Combine fresh lemon juice and soy sauce and allow to come to room temperature, if cold.
2. When ready to marinate fish, melt butter in a glass bowl in the microwave that will hold the pound of fish. Add the parsley, room temperature lemon juice and soy sauce. Stir to combine.
3. Rinse fish and pat dry. Add to marinade, pushing the fish down so it is covered with the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate for 2 - 3 hours at room temperature in a cool kitchen.
4. Place the salmon on the grill skin side down and cook over hot coals for about 12 minutes per one inch of flesh. Turn once during cooking time. Be careful to not overcook and dry the flesh out. The timing is completely dependent on how hot the fire is

Tip: The layer of gray colored stuff laying on the flesh is fat. I think the salmon tastes better if that is removed. Just gently scrape it off with a table knife.