This week I interviewed author L.M. Hinton on her harrowing story of loss. You can listen to the full interview on the Life Lessons Podcast page. No one should ever have to lose that many people, care for that many sick loved ones or see things happen to children as she has.

I’d love to tell you that she kept her faith all those years. But she didn’t. She gave up on God. She couldn’t see how He could be in the midst of that many deaths and accidents. I know that many of us have felt like that before. How can we trust that God is there when everything falls apart and there is so much pain?

The question many people ask is how can a good God allow such bad things?
We have answers to that. The Bible does tell us how to live in the world when we cannot fathom the consequences of life. Sometimes that doesn’t make it any easier.
Leah did find her way back to God. It was after much self-medicating though. And God used the words of a praying friend to begin that journey.

Maybe we will never grasp that this life will have so much pain at times. Maybe in those moments, when we see loved ones hurting, our role is to be that praying friend? Maybe it is to not lose our faith so that we can help carry others through their darkest moments. And then, when we need it done for us, we can rest assured that no matter how dark it gets, someone is praying for us and will help us through.
Who do you know that is hurting right now? How can you pray for them? How can reach out to let them know they are not alone? As Leah describes in our interview, many people left their family’s side out of discomfort. They didn’t know what to do so they walked away. It is very hard to know how to care for those who are suffering. It is important to now leave, but to find a way to communicate that you are praying and that they are not alone.

Leah Hinton now only found her way back to God, but she found Him waiting for her. She has seen and suffered so much but today she stands as an example of love and joy. She does not let the tragedies of her life define her, nor weigh down her zest for life. If you have an hour to spare, join us on her journey. If you don’t then just know that we are created to love one another and to help each other through dark times.

Life Lesson: Don’t turn away from giving or receiving love & care.

I won’t lie, this did not sound like it would work out well but, oh, how wrong I was! We LOVED it! It made a huge amount of food so for our family of three, it fed us for two days. My husband and son are not lovers of leftovers but with this recipe that was not the case. Other than the cutting and peeling (if you choose to peel your taters), it was not time-consuming at all. It also only has a few ingredients so it was cheap and easy. 

I think this one is from my Grandmother, it seems to match her other recipes’ handwriting but it is not named so we can only assume. 

Pork Chop Casserole

4 Pork Chops – deboned and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup 

1/2 Cp. sour cream (I added more because it looks yummy)

1/4 Cp. water

4 Cps. thinly sliced potatoes (I leave the peel on ours but that is your call on peel or no peel.)

1/2 onion – finely chopped

salt and pepper to taste – I salted and peppered the top layer only and we did not have to use salt/pepper after it baked. 

 – – –

Heat oven to 375. You can easily make this ahead of time too and refrigerate until you need to bake it. I think it could hold for even 24 hours.

In a pan, brown chop pieces and onion in a little oil. When completely cooked and well browned, transfer to a lightly oiled dutch oven dish. Spread the meat out evenly on the oiled bottom of the dish.

Mix the soup, sour cream and water in a bowl. 

Layer the potato on top of the meat and then soup some of the soup mixture on in – spread it out over the taters. Keep adding layers (see pics) and soup until you run out. 

Salt and pepper the stop layer. Cover and bake at 375 for 1/2 hour to 45 mins. Mine took a little longer. 

We served with a simple salad and vinaigrette. Voila, a feast is finished!

Enjoy during these cold days and look out for some yummy baked holiday goods coming your way and some more fabulous family style eats!

Guten appetite. 

This year has been a year of blessing for my family. My parents moved to Texas, from California, after being in the Golden State for over sixty years so that we can all be close together. They now live 18 minutes door to door from my home. My sister came back to Texas, from Maui (yes, everyone wants to know why but its Texas so we get it!) the year before. Now we are all close and can be together again. We have not lived together for over 20 years! My brother also joined us here in Texas and the brother to my brother-in-law just moved here from Michigan. Needless to say, we are making quite the historical migration in the Kincaid-Stahl-Hadley Clan. 

During the time that my parents were preparing their lives to make that move, which took about two years from conception to actual drive the U-Haul across state lines date, my Grandfather passed away and left all of his many family treasures with my father. In that collection of items were the recipes from my Great Grandmother, Grandmother, and my own Mother- along with Great-Aunts, cousins twice removed and so forth and so forth. These recipes are the stuff of life- literally. The recipes fed my Grandfather, my dad and my siblings and I are now in my hands. They are such a treasure to behold and now I have the opportunity to teach my own son the flavors of our family. 

As I go through these recipes, some written on scraps of paper, some typed from archaic typewriters and others handwritten on the classic recipe share-card, I am moved by the nostalgia of it all. Nostalgia is a wonderful gift given to us by God. The Bible tells us, “Taste and see what the Lord has done.” Taste and see. I feel as if I am walking down memory lane while tasting the stories, and the blessings of my kin and the nostalgia of it all is quite lovely. Not being one to hoard things, I have decided to make this into a collection for my siblings to have to share in their homes. That project is going to take a while to perfect so in the meantime, I thought I’d give you all a special gift from my heart this season. 

All through December, my blog and podcast will be sprinkled with the perfected recipes of my family, for you to make for your family and friends. These are hearty, classic American meals that can be shared with everyone you know. I know you will love them and enjoy every bite, too! I cannot invite you all to my home to eat, though I would love having you here, so this is my way to share something I treasure with you. 

Guten Appetite and Merry Christmas!

(Feel free to vary your recipes as you see fit! Send me any changes you do and I will make notes for my family. Thank you!)

Tamale Pie 

Ingredients:

1 C. Chopped Onion 

1 C. Choppped, seeded, green pepper

1 lb. Ground Beef

2 8 oz. cans seasoned tomato sauce

1 12 oz. can whole kernel corn- drained

1 C. black olives (I made mine without this)

1/4 cup minced garlic

1 tbs. sugar

1 tsp. salt

2-3 tsp chili powder

1 1/2 Cps. shredded cheddar cheese

dash of pepper

_____________________

Corn Meal Topper Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups cornmeal 

1/2 tsp salt

2 Cps. Water

1 tbs. mayonnaise

Heat over to 375. (You can make this meal and cook it later as well.) Cook onion and pepper in oil or bacon grease until tender, add ground beef and next 8 ingredients. Simmer for 2-25 mins. until thick and cooked thoroughly. Mix ingredients periodically and make sure beef is crumbly. Add cheese and mix until melted through beef and veggies. Pour into a baking dish. 

Cornmeal topper: pour corn meal and salt in hot water and then cook over med heat until thick. Add mayo and mix thoroughly. Spoon over the meat mixture and spread as evenly as possible. 

Bake at 375 for 40 minutes. Makes 6-8 large servings. I fed 8 people with leftovers. 

Serve with heated black beans or green salad and salsa. I topped mine with avocado slices. This would be yummy topped with sour cream too.