Ann Kroeker, Writing Coach

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Food on Fridays: Cheese, Tea and Soup

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Here at the Food on Fridays carnival, any post remotely related to food is welcome. Just write about a great waiter who served you recently, snap some pictures at the farmer’s market, or describe the best cheese slicer you’ve ever owned.In other words, the Food on Fridays parameters are not at all narrow. I think of it as a virtual pitch-in where everyone brings something to share; even if the content of one item is unrelated to the rest, we sample it all anyway and have a great time.When your Food on Fridays contribution is ready, just grab the broccoli button (the big one above or the new smaller option at the bottom) to paste at the top of your post and join us through Mr. Linky.Here’s a Mr. Linky tutorial(Mr. Linky is having technical difficulties. Please leave your link in the comments and I’ll update this post myself throughout the day):

Write up a post, publish, then return here and click on Mr. Linky below. A screen will pop up where you can type in your blog name and paste in the url to your own Food on Fridays post (give us the exact link to your Food on Fridays page, not just the link to your blog).You can also visit other people’s posts by clicking on Mr. Linky and then clicking participants’ names–you should be taken straight to their posts. 

Food on Fridays Participants

  1. Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker (Peach Cobbler in a Muffin)
  2. Like Mother, Like Daughter (Who Wouldn’t Want Darling Corningware? A Giveaway)
  3. Stretch Mark Mama (Chile Rellenos Burgers)
  4. Glimpses of Sonshine (Creamy Pork Loin over Noodles)
  5. Finding Joy in My Kitchen (Ranch Pretzels)
  6. Inside the White Picket Fence (Wilted Lettuce)
  7. Hoosier Homemade (Spaghetti Sauce & Cupcakes)
  8. Beauty in the Mundane (Weddingness: Cream Cheese Mints)
  9. Better Is Little (Basic Meatloaf Recipe)
  10. It’s Frugal Being Green (Oven Barbequed Chicken)
  11. Outward Expression (Simple Tomato Sauce)
  12. My Practically Perfect Life (Whisking Again)
  13. This Pilgrimage (Froggy Cupcakes)
  14. Butter Yum (Stuffed Shells with 3 Cheeses)
  15. Frugal Homekeeping (Artichoke & Almond Dip)
  16. God’s Smallest Graces (Loaded Potato Salad)

Food on Fridays with AnnYesterday a friend needed me to watch her kids while she went to an appointment. When she returned, we sat for a while and caught up.I made tea.A lot has been going on in her life, so we sipped for a while.In fact, I made a second pot.(Don’t worry; I was in my safe caffeine-consumption range).Eventually, though, we realized that it was past lunch time. So I scrounged in my fridge to see what was on hand.I found homemade soup that started as chicken and rice soup, but I didn’ t have enough rice, so I snapped spaghetti noodles into bits and turned it into chicken-noodle soup … with rice. So it was kind of odd, but we heated it up and ate it anyway.Sandwiches with lunchmeat.I attempted to slice some cheese, but it had been previously frozen, and you know how block cheese kind of crumbles after it’s been frozen and thawed? Well, that’s what happened. No nice, smooth slices for us. I had to pile bits and shreds of cheese on top of her salami.Apple slices.Water with ice.It was a pretty humble offering.But I remembered what another friend of mine told me once. She said, “Hospitality isn’t the same as entertaining. I think of hospitality as sharing whatever I have, no matter how little it is.” She told me that while she was cutting up a tiny block of sample cheese from one of those gift packs you get at Christmas with the summer sausages and tiny mustards. She served me a small piece of pumpernickel bread, tiny slices of cheese, and tiny slices of summer sausage. It’s all she had, but she shared.I thought of that morsel of pumpernickel as I shared my odd soup and cheese crumbles with this friend.We shared stories. We shared life. We shared bits of cheese, tea, and some soup.It would be easy to feel a little embarrassed at my lunch offering.But in the end, I like to think we enjoyed hospitality at its richest.Because most importantly, in those hours around the table, we shared friendship.

More Friday Carnivals

Is Food on Fridays not fun enough for you?  Not in the mood for food? Check out these other great carnivals!

 

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Comments

  2. Kate @ Stolen Moments says

    I love this post so much! I always have a hard time saying yes to having some one over when I know I can’t provide them with a lavish meal. I know that’s wrong and you’ve definitely given me some words to hold onto. Thank you!

    Reply

  4. Stretch Mark Mama says

    I always enjoy your examples of what to post for food fridays.

    And speaking of, the cheese slicer made by OxO is nice.

    I too have ended up in those “oh dear, she’s staying for lunch and my fridge is near empty” kinds of meals. But somehow it always works out, and makes me think of Corrie Ten Boom (vial of meds) and George Muller.

    Reply

  6. Llama Momma says

    Yes, yes, yes! This is so right on, Ann!

    It reminds me of the early days with the twins. I made a good friend, also with twins, and we used to hang out with the kids a lot back then. At lunchtime, we would scrounge through the fridge.

    We both hated shopping, so we had some interesting meals!

    A few favorites: peanut butter and jelly roll ups (on tortillas because I was out of bread!), grilled cheese on hot dog buns, and french toast sticks.

    But I can’t tell you how much I cherish those memories!! Our friendship got me through those early years…

    Reply

  14. Sharinskishe says

    What a beautiful Blog post. Humble, serving and generous. You are awesome! I am happy for you that you decided to feel grateful for what you could provide and not be embarrassed. The Lord provides us with great lessons and challenges and I would have to say that you aced this one!!

    Well done, my friend. Thanks so much for sharing this with me!!!! (us all)

    Shari

    Reply

  15. Esther says

    The time spent in company of a good friend is a great feast…what a pity it would have been to miss that just because of odd soup and crumbly cheese. It’s been way too long since I’ve had friends sit at my table….you’ve made me hungry 🙂

    Reply

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