I feel like I’ve discovered something new, and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Well, maybe you’ve already heard of the Sisterchicks series by Robin Jones Gunn — and I’m a bit late to the party. Why didn’t someone tell me? I’ve recently decided I want to branch out from reviewing nonfiction, and so when the opportunity to review this novel came up, I jumped on it. And I feel like I’m just starting a grand adventure!

Venice … as Gunn says, is “the city that Italy wears proudly like a diamond-studded broach on the cuff of her tall boot.” From the very first page of this book, I felt like I was whisked away to the land of canals and chilled Italian gelato ice cream. It was almost comical how I could actually hear the sweet sounds of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” being played by an Italian violinist every time I opened the book. I hope I didn’t start waving my arms around like a conductor while I waited in my kids’ pick-up line (the best spot for reading).

The setting in the jewel of Italy is magnificent, and the characters captivated me as well. Jenna and Sue have been sisters-in-law for almost 30 years, yet their friendship has become tightly knit only in the last five. In exchange for cooking for a group on a retreat, the women are invited to stay in a 15th-century restored palace on a quiet Venician canal. The descriptions of this palace are breathtaking.

What’s even more fun is that Sue and Jenna decide to sleep on the roof of the palace, since the other guests need all the bedroom space. And we’re right there with them. Jenna narrates for us:

Once we managed to heave both mattresses onto the rooftop, I stood back and caught my breath. The evening air swirled with the scent of salt air and garlic. Accordian music floated our way from one of the alleyways where I could picture an Italian musician playing his or her heart out for locals who were making their evening commute on foot.

Not only do readers get to enjoy the scenery, we’re also gently pulled along into the author’s deep Christian faith. While on the rooftop, Jenna ponders her relationship with God. She remembers how He comforted her years ago when her husband left her, when her daughter was only a few months old. Even though she’d prayed fervently for her marriage to be restored, she was left alone, as a single mom. Yet God carried her through the years.

He didn’t give me any of the solutions I begged and bargained for. All God gave me was Himself. His presence. And even though I didn’t recognize it at the time, the grace of His presence was sufficient. His abiding Spirit was like the moon. A sliver of comfort and light rising even on the darkest night. This night, on the Venecian rooftop, His presence was more than sufficient. He filled heaven and earth.

I couldn’t get enough of this wonderful, faith-driven writing. And it’s laugh-out-loud funny too! Native Texan Sue brings humor to their excursions through Venice as she pronounces Italian words with her Southern drawl. I found myself picking up certain words and phrases from my reading and teaching my children how to pronounce grazie and prego. (I never knew the word Prego on all those spaghetti sauce jars means “you’re welcome!”)

I’ll keep the plot a secret so you can read it for yourself, but this trip is a season of awakening for these two women. Both have been through deep valleys — Jenna’s brother (Sue’s husband) has recently been through a horrific accident and will never fully recover. But their trip to Italy is the perfect salve to their wounds, and you can sense their refreshment as they both enter a new season of their lives. One that will be full of joy cut from the grooves of sorrow.

Now I’ve become a new Sisterchicks fan, and I can’t wait to read the other books in this bestselling series. They’ve sold more than three million copies worldwide (see — I am late to the party!). Other titles include Sisterchicks Say Ooh La La!, Sisterchicks Down Under, Sisterchicks in Sombreros, and Sisterchicks Do the Hula. Don’t they sound fun?

There’s no bad language or smut in these books. Author Robin Jones Gunn is the mother of two and has been married for 28 years. She makes her home in Portland, Oregon, and has written over 60 books in all genres! I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to discover Christian fiction. It’s so refreshing to read! I’m absolutely SICK of reading novels that have bad language — I bought a paperback at the grocery store a year ago in my ninth month of pregnancy — in complete desperation for a light-hearted distraction. I won’t say who — she’s a topselling author — but the language and immorality left me feeling defeated. In contrast, Gunn’s books inspire me and encourage my faith.

Sorry, I just discovered you’ll have to wait until May for this book to come out! But if you happen to read any of the other Sisterchicks novels, let me know what you think! Y’all know I love my armchair traveling these days. (sigh) Click here to see a cute picture of the author riding a gondola through a canal in Venice.

— Reviewed by Heather Ivester

This is a post to test Lauren’s fabulous design work — I don’t know if it will fit in my skinny ol’ blog, so I’ll test and see. [Edit: It fits!]

Right now, there are 27 of us signed up to study Beth Moore’s Living Beyond Yourself, and there’s still plenty of room for you!

Click here, and you can sign up:

It’s really easy. I’m not techno-savvy at all, and I signed up in five minutes. I clicked another button and downloaded my first week’s homework.

Here’s what Lauren of Created for HIS Glory says we’re going to do:

On Monday we will each watch the video in the comfort of our own homes and then begin the homework. We will each be posting on an open topic; for example you might want to post on something Beth said that touched you or a particular truth that God is working on teaching you. Maybe you’ll want to write about an instance that happened during the week where you were able to apply the teaching. The posting should be between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. We will then have the weekend to read through each other’s posts and discuss the study.

She’s also graciously given us a blogroll for our sidebars (ooh … lots of bloggy talk here). That way, we’ll always know who is studying with us, and we can chat back and forth. Not everyone in our group has a blog — you’re welcome to jump in if you don’t have a blog. You can leave comments in anyone’s blog — and be a part of this group!

This will be interesting — has anyone ever done this before? What do you call this — a Blog study? Cyber-study? Cyber-club?

Addie	Faith	Heather*
M	Rachel	Jeana
Flipflop	Amanda	MamaB
GiBee	Boomama	Maria
Blair	Lauren	Nancy
Janna	Carol	Robin
Sherry	Patricia	Tara
Heather	HolyMama!	Eph2810
Kim	Jenn	Christy
This is a list of the women participating in the study and links to their blogs. New postings on the study will be published weekly, between Friday 8pm – Saturday 8am. Please feel free to visit each of us and comment. Everyone is welcome to participate in this discussion as we seek to live beyond ourselves. May God bless you richly from the hearing of His Word.

This is a reprint of a great article I read this week in the Hearts at Home newsletter. It’s written by Becky Wiese.

We females are a highly relational bunch. We are typically more expressive, emotional, and empathetic than our male counterparts.

That’s why friends are so important to us. We need the support, understanding, and encouragement from others who know what we’re going through.

For women whose career currently focuses specifically on caring for our children and nurturing of our family, friends are not only good to have around, they are vital to our survival and sanity. A professional mom’s friends are her co-workers, her peers, her colleagues.

They hold us accountable, encourage us, and celebrate with us.

Hopefully our husbands are at the head of the pack cheering us on, telling us we’re doing a great job, helping us with the parenting issues, but they are not always able to understand the issues we face in the same way another mom can.

It’s a lot like labor and delivery: Our hubbies are there to cheer us, coach us, coax us, and celebrate our accomplishment, but only another mom knows exactly what it feels like to give birth.

Similarly, only another mom can understand the emotion and commotion associated with the daily care and nurturing of children.

What’s interesting, given the importance of friends, is that often an at-home mom’s biggest challenge is dealing with isolation. While friends are vitally important to us, sometimes it’s hard to find them.

It can be discouraging to drive through your neighborhood and realize that you are the only one home during the day. It’s frustrating when you know no one with whom you can swap childcare duties — just so you can run errands in peace and quiet every so often. It’s difficult to feel that you’re a productive and valuable member of society when “all” you do is wipe noses, bottoms, and floors.

So how can you get past the isolation issue?

First, you have to get out of your house. The only at-home mom at your house is you! Go to the park, the library, the indoor play land — places where other moms tend to hang out with their kids. If your child attends school, volunteer periodically — you’ll find other moms doing the same thing.

You can also enroll yourself in a class that provides childcare during the meeting. Chances are many of the other women are just like you: Moms wanting to find other moms.

Find out if there are any support groups for moms, or babysitting co-ops, or other types of gatherings that would make it easy for you to meet other moms in your area.

Once you’ve found some friends, remember to nurture your friendships.

There is an old adage that says to have a friend, you have to be a friend. Be a giver, not only a taker, in the relationship. Be honest in your conversation, gentle in your response, and supportive in your actions.

Finally, remember there are different levels of friendship. It’s similar to the ripples made by tossing a rock in a pond. There might be one or two really close “sister” friends who are there with you “at impact,” a group of close friends who make up the first ripple, a larger group of “good” friends in the second ripple, a group of gals you know but don’t spend a huge amount of time with in the third ripple, and so on. All of these relationships are important and fill a specific role. Remember that not every acquaintance will end up being a “sister” friend, and that’s okay.

Friends help us through the ups and downs of life. There is much truth to the saying “(s)he who has found a friend has found a treasure.”

Find and treasure your friends — you’ll be blessed over and over for it.

Becky Wiese and her husband of twenty years, Mike, make their home in Bloomington, Illinois, with their four children. She is a frequent contributor to Hearts at Home publications and serves as the Director of Communications for the organization. In her free time, she enjoys sports, reading, music, and travel.

Copyright Hearts at Home 2006, used with permission. For more information about Hearts at Home: 309-888-MOMS or visit the website.

[Heather’s note: This article didn’t mention how great it is to find friendships among fellow women bloggers! I mean, how are we going to bump into a mom who lives in another country at the indoor playground? And to be honest, after a few years, my kids and I decided we’re allergic to the smell of socks at those places.]

P.S. I just can’t keep off my own blog! Stay tuned because NEXT week, we’re having an awesome lady come tell us all about the MOPS organization — Moms of Preschoolers. Here’s a great way to make new friends with moms who live near you — and if you don’t have preschoolers, she’ll tell us how you can become a mentor mom. You can visit their website and find out if there’s a group near you.

I’ve been alerted to the fact that my post this morning was a bit too bloggy for my non-blogging blog readers. I’m sorry about that. Someone who has NEVER ONCE left me a comment said my blog is “getting blogged down in all the blogocentricities of the blogosphere.”

OK … I can’t help it. This is just what happens. I’ve seen a slow evolution occurring in the blogosphere. Here are four things I’ve noticed happening lately:

1) Some people just get sick of blogging and quit. When you go to their site, you see a last post that says something like, “Good-bye, y’all. It’s been real.”

2) Some people enjoy the online journaling part, but not the whole bloggy comments thing, so they turn their comments off and say something along the lines of, “Please contact me by email only.” This is how I started out my blog because I was afraid I’d get spammed all the time. There is certainly nothing wrong with this, and it’s useful for many people.

3) Others will go commercial with their blogs and start accepting paid advertising. Why not? What’s the difference between a blog and a newspaper? How do editors and writers make a living? From advertising. Or the blogs become part of the person’s overall for-profit or not-for-profit business. (For example, to build up expertise or leadership skills.)

4) Some people just keep on going, year after year. I don’t know any of these people yet.

I enjoy participating in the Carnival of Beauty because I spend time thinking deeply about a topic and writing out my best. But if I did this every day, I’d have nothing left to submit for publication — to places that actually pay for writing. This is what I do “behind the scenes” of my blog — I submit articles and stories for publication. Once something is posted online, you can’t submit it for first rights anymore. So, your payment might be zero, as compared to several hundred dollars for first rights.

It would be easier to post all of my favorite ideas and stories online, but it would also be lazy of me. It’s hard to submit for publication because you have to seek out the exact editor who might want to buy your story, and you get REJECTED a lot. You get these nice form letters that tell you, “Thanks, but no thanks.”

People have to eat, you know. And our five kids have the stubborn habit of outgrowing their clothes and shoes. But I do love the people out here in the blogosphere — I’d miss out on an awful lot of fellowship if I only wrote for print publications.

Here’s a nice picture so my post is not all bloggy:

What do you call it when someone gets a new look for their blog? I guess I’d call it a “bloglift.” Does this word already exist? There are changes going on all over the blogosphere, so I thought I’d highlight a few recent ones.

Sallie has been making some changes to her blog at Two Talent Living that look great. It’s interesting for me to see — she and her husband run a home business together, and blogging is one aspect of it.

Carol at She Lives has a new header for her blog that really shows who she is — a mom and a musician at the foot of the Cross. It looks fabulous!

And I love Mama B’s new blogskin over at Confessions of a Busy Mom. Great design work by Kelly of Nello Design.

Now here’s another total transformation. Have you visited Mind & Media lately? Stacy just celebrated the one-year anniversary of starting her business blog. So I’ve heard this called a “blogiversary.” She’s expanded her site to encompass several different pages, packed with information, designed by Natalie Jost.

She sent out this press release:

Orange, CA (PRWEB) March 20, 2006 — Mind & Media, the very first online publicity company that utilizes the blogosphere to promote Christian media, including books, film, and music, has just completed our first year of business.

Using Christian and conservative bloggers, Mind & Media has proven that companies and independent authors realize the power of the blogosphere.

We have placed books for some of the top Christian publishers and authors in the industry, including Crossway Books, Bethany House, Tyndale House, and World Ahead Publishing.

If you would like to learn about how you can blog for books, or have your books, music or film promoted through Mind & Media we invite you to join us as we enter our second year of business.

But this morning I found out some more breaking news — Mind & Media will soon be undergoing a name change! I don’t know if this is public yet, so go visit her site to find out more details.

I’ve been reviewing books for Mind & Media since last fall, and I really enjoy it. I’ve been introduced to books and authors I never would have known about. And believe me, when I read a book I love, I don’t just keep it within the blogosphere — I tell everybody I know! In fact, a few people have referred to me lately as an “influencer.” I guess that’s what happens to bossy big sisters (which is what I was growing up). Shi kata ga nai! [for my Japanese readers.]

I think every blogger who likes to read Christian books ought to check out what’s going on over there. The requirements for reviewers have changed a bit in the past year. She wants you to have at least 1500 unique visitors (not hits) to your site per month. And there’s a nominal yearly fee for new reviewers — this is just to make sure she only gets people who are serious about writing reviews. (And she needs some more good writers who will post thought-provoking reviews.)

If you’d like to join and your blog is approved, then you get to choose which books you want to review — and they’re shipped to you absolutely free — no tax, no shipping, nada. There have been some great books on the list lately. I’ve signed up to review James Scott Bell’s thriller, Presumed Guilty, even though I don’t normally read suspense. But I did hear Bell speak last fall, and he’s a huge fan of A.W. Tozer, so I’m curious to see how he writes fiction.

Another bestselling author who has a new book on the list is Karen Kingsbury. Her website says she’s the “top-selling Christian fiction author of our day.” I remember reading an article about her in MomSense Magazine that she has six children — and three are adopted. I’ve signed up to review her new novel, Divine. Ooh … and I just discovered Karen has an online journal.

There are many other benefits for being part of the Mind & Media team. For example, last week Family Research Council announced a full-time web editorial position; reviewers were invited to apply, and we were given the name of the contact person. (I’m not looking for a full-time job right now, in case you’re wondering. I prefer part-time work that I can do from home.)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are more professional positions opening up for bloggers. So if you think you might like to get paid to blog someday, remember that everything you write in your blog may be seen by a potential employer. Just a thought.

Mary Yerkes also has some information about blog evangelism that I found interesting.

Guten Tag! Wie gehts? Danke gut. I have Germany on my mind today since our friend Iris, who is a native of Germany, is hosting today’s Carnival of Beauty. Be sure to bookmark her site and read through the ten submissions on the topic of “The Beauty of God’s Sovereignty.”

I’m not at all an expert on German language or culture, though I did plow through two years of der/die/das and German/English translation work in high school. Yet all I can remember is what we sang on Fridays in our class. If I ever go to Germany, I’ll actually be able to order a pizza, with lots of cheese — because that’s what I remember from one of those silly songs. (Actually, kind of useful, huh?)

I wanted to share with you all a great opportunity if you have an interest in German language and culture. There’s a magazine called German Life that is seeking good writing and photographs. If you’re a homeschooling parent who is teaching a unit on Germany, this might be an activity you could involve your whole family in. Or if you’re a teacher in a school, this may interest your whole class.

I KNOW many of you bloggers are incredible and PROLIFIC writers; in addition, some of you are also fabulous photographers.

Did you ever think that a magazine might be interested in paying you good money for your stories and photographs?

Most magazines use freelance writers for at least some of their content, and since they work several months in advance, now’s the time to be submitting fall story ideas.

Do you have an Oktoberfest in your area? If you’ve ever been to it and taken pictures, you could write something up and send it to German Life. Here’s some information from the magazine’s website about submissions:

“German Life is a bimonthly magazine, written for all interested in the diversity of German culture, past and present, and in the various ways that the United States has been shaped by its German element. The magazine is dedicated to solid reporting on cultural and historical events as well as travel information. ”

“Each issue of German Life is bound by our editorial calendar and seasonal events. The April/May issue deals with travel in Germany and other parts of German-speaking Europe. The June/July issue is primarily on German-American travel destinations. Our August/September issue includes Oktoberfest and educational pieces. Given scheduling restraints, we prefer that you submit your work several months prior to the appropriate issue. Deadlines will be given when the article topic is accepted.”

And payment? Is it possible to be paid for writing about something you love? YES! German Life is a well-paying publication, making it worth your time to research and write a great story:

“Payment is upon publication and ranges from $300 to $500 for feature articles, from $100 to $130 for reviews and short pieces, and up to $80 for fillers.”

If you have any kind of German festival or event in your hometown, you may have a great idea for a story or review — here’s something your kids could even help you with. If you’ve been studying Germany in school, why not go visit a German restaurant and write a review of it? Or read some brand new books about Germany and write reviews. If it fascinates you, chances are it might fascinate someone else — and this could be something you could write for German Life!

And I can’t resist passing along this information. On the topic of writing (one of my favorite subjects of course), have you ever considered becoming a travel writer? These are people who get PAID to travel to exotic places and write about their adventures. Well, here’s a quick plug for the Travel Writing program I took a couple of years ago.

So far, I haven’t traveled on assignment to faraway lands, but it’s given me new insight into discovering interesting places in my own state. Since finishing the course, I’ve become a regular contributing writer to a regional magazine that highlights travel, arts, and leisure in my area. I’ve enjoyed writing about our state parks, gardens, and other areas of interest. In fact, my editor wrote yesterday and asked if I’d like to work on an article featuring fun things for families to do this summer. (A topic I’m researching now anyway!)

Since graduating from the travel writing program, I’ve more than paid for the cost of my tuition. (In fact, I sold my second course assignment!) I’ve also learned that many places will offer writers and photographers free admission, meals, and overnight stays in exchange for publicity. Although I can’t do much international traveling right now because our children are so young, I dream of helping to fund future family trips through selling articles and photographs. And you can too!

In fact, you can become a travel writer right now by jotting things down when you’re visiting places in your hometown. If you go to a great restaurant, ask for a take-out menu. Describe the food you ate, and write a review of it. Your local newspaper is a great place to start. Or blog about it! (OK, Lauren, you’ve got me totally interested in that adorable coffee shop that serves plate-lickin’ good quiche!!)

For me, when I’m working on a story, it makes my senses come alive — I start noticing details that I would have missed. I overcome my naturally shy nature and start asking people questions. Having a notebook with me even seals some memories I would have forgotten. If you like to write fiction (as some of you do), being a travel writer will make your fictional stories more captivating because you’ll intrigue your readers with vivid detail (and you may even find a way to fund your research!)

Don’t forget to stop by Iris’s place today and tell her Guten Tag!

A couple of days ago, I somehow managed to take a walk alone — just a 15-minute stroll around the back of our house.

It was chilly, so I wore my heavy wool coat. When I came up the hill of our driveway, our little beagle mix puppy came running out toward me barking.

He didn’t recognize me!

Normally, he takes a walk with me while I push a baby stroller, but that day he’d been busy “helping” the others work in the garden. So I was completely surprised to see him acting like I was a stranger.

Then I called out his name, “Jasper!” When he heard my voice, he immediately quit barking and ran over to me, yipping and showing his happiness to see me.

He knew my voice.

This reminded me of the verse in the Bible about the sheep knowing the voice of the Shepherd. I looked it up, and here it is:

My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. So no one can take them from me. The Father and I are one.

John 10:27-30
New Living Translation

Do I know my Master’s voice? When He calls me, do I listen and follow Him? If Christ is truly Lord of my life, then I’ll want to stay near Him, so I can continue to hear His voice calling me.

The best way for me to do this is to keep reading from my Bible every day. Little by little. Some days, I have more time and can slowly absorb whole chapters or fill in a Bible study workbook. Other days, I may be hanging by a thin thread and only have a minute to read a verse and meditate on it throughout the day. (And that’s OK, according to Barbara Curtis — when she had a super busy household of 12 children, she found her moments with God in the laundry room!)

Do you know your Master’s voice? If He called your name, would you recognize Him? If He asked you to follow Him, would you go?

P.S. For those of you who entered Barbara’s Laundry Room contest, have you seen her suprise for you in her Contest Winners post?

Author Susan Thacker is back with us again today to tell us more about her passion for restoring the “dinnertime hour.” If you missed yesterday’s discussion full of inspiring kitchen ideas for spring, you’ll want to read here first.

Welcome back, Susan. Well, I’m holding a copy of your book right now, and I must say I love the hardy design with a glossy cover that looks easy to wipe off. In the first few chapters, you introduce us to the concept of supper swapping, and share how we can eat healthy and build friendships at the same time.

But the recipes are the true heart and soul of your book, an eclectic variety of mouth-watering meals! You feature recipes from several top chefs around the country. Why did you seek out these well-known chefs?

Would you believe — because I wasn’t a very good cook. You know how some people have a mental block against math? Well, I had been like that with cooking. So I literally called up all these chefs and said, “I need your easiest recipe. I’m not a very good cook.” Then they were like, “Yeah, right.” One of them even said, “That’s very humble of you.” It kind of tickled me that this big-time chef didn’t believe me. Oh by the way, I didn’t use his recipe. It was too hard.

I’m looking at the Chicken Picatta recipe on p.120 from Edible Arts in Franklin, Tennessee. This one got a double thumbs-up rating from both of your kids (which I think is a great idea, by the way — the ratings!). You’ve only got nine simple ingredients, and you even tell us how to get more juice from a lemon on p. 66.

Although the recipe has a fancy name, it looks do-able the way you describe it. You write, “Everyone loves it … This dish is versatile. Try making it without the capers and parsley and garnishing with Black Bean Asparagus Salad on p. 88. It’s beautiful!” I’d feel like a real gourmet cook if I prepared a meal like this! Do you think it’s possible for today’s busy parents to serve fabulous meals like these professional chefs do?

Yes, that’s one of the great things that I learned. Chefs all have a few simple recipes that they just throw together. At our website you can click “Recipes” to try some.

Well, I’m going to have to give these a try — it will be fun to say, “Tonight we’re having ‘Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Walnuts’ from Chicago’s internationally renowned Chef John Coletta of Quartino.” Sounds fancy.

Now can you tell us what it was like to be featured on the Dr. Laura radio show?

It was awesome. It’s kind of a funny story, but I have to first say, on a serious note, that the Lord handed me that endorsement. I had been second-guessing all the work I’d put into collecting these recipes, and I said, “Lord, please bless me with some kind of recognition on a national level.” I needed the encouragement. Right after that, Dr. Laura said she wanted to feature it.

The funny part of the story was that one day I just spontaneously decided to send Dr. Laura a silly fax mimicking one of her books called 10 Stupid Things Men Do to Mess Up Their Lives. My fax said, “10 Stupendous Reasons Dr. Laura wants to give away 50 Supper Swapping cookbooks,” and it looked like her book.

Then I listed 10 stupendous reasons, of course. It cracked her up! Her assistant called me immediately and said, “Dr. Laura wants to review Supper Swapping.” She loved it!

And now your book is featured on Dr. Laura’s website, and we can hear an audio of the broadcast on your Supper Swapping website.

Susan, this has been fun getting to know you and sharing your ideas about making family dinners practical and special.

Thanks so much, Heather, for interviewing me. If anyone has any additional questions or wants to obtain Supper Swapping through our website, I’ll send them my personal list of the meals that I think are the fastest and easiest in the cookbook. I think it’s a good cheat sheet for getting started, particularly if you don’t like to cook.

Now, do you have one recipe you wouldn’t mind sharing with us as we head into the spring season?

Yes! For spring, I love the Spinach Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette — a recipe in Supper Swapping from Post Oak Grill in Houston. It’s what we all want: nutritious, few ingredients and kid-friendly. I wait to make this when blueberries are on special; otherwise it can be expensive.

*******************************************

[This recipe also appears on p. 78-79 in Supper Swapping, along with a tip from Chef Polo Becerra on how to cook fish properly so you don’t lose the juice and protein.]

Here’s a recipe from Susan Thacker’s book, Supper Swapping, which you can read more about in our interview with Susan here and here. This recipe is printed with permission from the author as well as Chef/Owner Polo Becerra of Post Oak Grill in Houston. Please feel free to link to this recipe, but don’t copy it unless you ask for permission from the author. Thanks!

Blueberry Vinaigrette from Post Oak Grill
This beautiful deep purple vinaigrette perfectly complements Chef Becerra’s Blueberry Spinach Salad with Toasted Pecans and Blue Cheese (from Supper Swapping, p. 78).

1 shallot, minced
1 cup blueberries
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup raspberry vinegar (Alessi is one brand.)
1 cup vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients in an electric blender. Puree until smooth.
(Yields 1 Pint — enough to split with a friend.)

Blueberry Spinach Salad Topped with Toasted Pecans, Blue Cheese and Grilled Chicken
(from Supper Swapping, p. 79)

8 cups baby spinach (a 5 ounce bag is about 5 cups)
1 cup blueberries
½ cup pecan pieces, toasted
½ cup (2 ounces) blue cheese, crumbled (not necessary for kids)
4 grilled chicken breasts, sliced
* Radicchio (purplish) leaves may be used as an optional garnish.

Measure ingredients. Divide the spinach between the plates. Garnish each plate with radicchio leaves if using. Top spinach with pecan pieces, blue cheese and grilled chicken slices. Drizzle desired amount of Blueberry Vinaigrette over each salad when ready to serve. (Yields 4 Large Servings.)

I know a lot of you out there are looking for some inspiration in the kitchen. With kids, it’s easy to fall into a cooking slump when the demands of shopping, preparing, and cleaning up after meals — day after day — can wear down even the most energetic mom (where is she?)

That’s why I’ve invited author and mom Susan Thacker of Texas to rejuvenate us with her awesome idea of sharing the mealtime madness with a friend or two. In fact, she wrote a book on this topic called Supper Swapping. Her story has already been featured on the Dr. Laura radio show, a homeschool magazine, several newspapers, and she’ll be highlighted in the June issue of Family Circle. Way to go, Susan!

If you’re from the Lone Star state, you can also look for her in the Texas insert of an upcoming Southern Living Magazine. So, we’re privileged to have a chat with this busy author!

Welcome to Mom 2 Mom Connection, Susan. I’m so glad you could stop in. OK, I must say I’m intrigued with this whole idea of supper swapping. Can you tell us a little more about it?

Hi, Heather. Supper swapping is when friends trade meals. You don’t necessarily eat together. It’s a concept that can be used by people who hate cooking because then they don’t have to cook as much. Or it’s for people who love cooking because then they get to try new recipes and share them. There are all kinds of benefits, including saving money, saving time, upgrading meals, and having a growing friendship.

Sounds like this would appeal to a lot of us — whether we like being in the kitchen or not. Can you tell us how you got started with supper swapping?

I was talking to my friend on the phone one day, and she asked me if I wanted to come over to her house and cook a bunch of food to freeze. I said, “Not really.” You see, I didn’t like to cook. Then I thought about it and said, “Hey, why don’t I cook for you early this week and then you cook for me later in the week?” She said, “O.K., What do you want to eat?”

I can still remember how hilarious it was when I took the meal over there, and her husband looked blankly at us like we were nuts. Heather, my husband acted the same way when she brought her meal to us.

That does sound funny — he probably wondered what in the world you two were up to! Do you have any thoughts on what it is that hinders many women from preparing home-cooked meals for their families?

That’s a huge question. Our whole culture is changing. More women work. Kids have more structured activities like sports and different lessons, and that’s a fact according to a study by The University of Michigan. So women are in the car a lot. I also think that we have access to more ready-made foods today. So it’s tempting not to cook.

I can relate to being in the car a lot. If we’re not careful, we can have activities planned for every night of the week. Do you have any tips on how moms can get kids involved in the kitchen?

Yes, I think we can nurture the love of cooking by first making the family dinner an event each night, so that children have a positive association with food. Young children will emulate their mothers as they play with pots and pans. As they get older they can help by washing vegetables and participating in menu planning.

Do you usually have a sitter when you have company over for a meal, or do you prefer kids to eat with your guests?

They eat with us. I’m a firm believer in date nights, but our home is centered around the family. So, when we have big dinners, everyone is there. The kids get excited about company because the food is more extravagant, the candles are set, and the house is actually clean!

Well, Susan, you’ve given us a real SMORGASBORD of ideas here. Do you have any last words to help inspire us to dish up a springtime feast?

Sure, here are three springtime tips:

1. Start small and enjoy — Only trade one easy meal a week with a friend who reciprocates at first. On the day you receive your meal, take the kids to the park instead of cooking!

2. Make your cooking day fun — Do some of the food prep while the kids are asleep the evening before so cooking can be relaxing. Entertain yourself while you cook. Open the windows, listen to music or a book on tape. Make snacks for yourself while you cook.

3. Serve dinner outdoors and make dinner an event — Linger at the patio table after dinner and let the kids play in the yard. Springtime gives us the opportunity to unplug and tune into family.

These are great ideas. I hope everyone who’s stopping in to read this today will also go visit Susan Thacker at her Supper Swapping website.

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Susan will be back tomorrow to tell us more about how she contacted dozens of top chefs around the country to compile her book. And she’s even promised to share with us one of her favorite recipes from The Post Oak Grill in Houston. Sounds delicious!

🙂