Several of you asked this exact question after reading my post about offering practical, specific help to friends who are going through it.

It was a great question (you’re very thoughtful people!), and one that I’ve enjoyed deep diving and puzzling over the last few days. Here’s the good news: there are a lot of ways to give care from afar! Between digital gift cards, delivery services like Instacart, and apps that help us stay connected, we have so many more options than we had even a decade ago.

Here’s my small challenge to you and myself: Do something, even if it feels like a ridiculous drop in the ocean of their sorrow. So much of care is simply about showing someone they’re seen and that they won’t be abandoned. Don’t let awkwardness or your inability to be physically present or a lack of money keep you from doing something.

Katharine shared this beautiful story that sums it up perfectly.

Never underestimate the power of a Starbucks gift card, y’all. Whatever you can do, big or small, it matters. Let the people in your life know they are seen, that you’re not afraid of their pain, and that you’re going to stick around.

My Best Tips for Caring for a Long Distance Friend

Alright, enough preamble from me. Let’s get down to it! Here are practical ways you can love your long distance people. I tried to include fun ideas too, because sometimes a little light hearted (or dark) humor is exactly what we need to get us through the heaviest times.

Set Reminders to Check In

The sneaky gift of being long distance might mean that you have more capacity for regular emotional support check-ins. Be the friend who sets an alarm to send a text or call on a weekly or monthly basis, whatever makes the most sense for their situation. For recently divorced or widowed friends, put dates like their anniversary or Valentine’s Day on your calendar so you can check in or send a gift. I have a few “heavenly birthdays” on my calendar so I can check in every year on days that I know are difficult.

Commit to one regular care piece over a longer period of time

This not only provides meaningful help, but also let’s people know they’re not forgotten over the long haul.

• Examples:

  • “Your coffee run is on me every Wednesday morning for the next 3 months." Then send them a Starbucks gift card or Venmo them $10 every Tuesday.

  • “I’ve got dinner the first Friday of the month through September. Expect a gift card from me in your inbox!” Or, if you know them well enough, order takeout they would enjoy and have it delivered on the agreed upon date.

Send a DoorDash gift card

This is my #1 go-to. It is not the most personal, but it is extremely practical. DoorDash gift cards are ELITE care for people in crisis, and they’re easy to send to people who live far away.

Use delivery memberships

Memberships like Instacart and Thrive1 allow you to deliver groceries to any address. Things that are especially helpful: Refills on TP, paper towel, tissues, and paper plates (not having to manage dishes is SUCH a help when you’re struggling), packaged snacks, heat-and-serve meals, rotisserie chickens, pre-chopped fruits, and prepared salads.

Send a card

Snail mail is seriously underrated! There are a lot of really bad/cheesy/unhelpful/overly sentimental cards out there, but there are also some really GREAT ones. These are a few companies I recommend:

• XO Laughlin, Co (she also has a lot of great stickers and pins)

• Em and Friends

• Curly Girl Design

Be a Marco Polo Emotional Support Person

Before my dad’s death, I had never used Marco Polo, but soon after he died, a friend sent me a Marco, and it quickly became one of my favorite ways to communicate with people, both near and far. If you’re unfamiliar, Marco Polo allows you to record and send video messages. They can be watched/listened to whenever it is convenient for the other person, and they can respond whenever they’re able as well. It was a great way to emotionally process with friends without having to schedule a phone call.

Deliver a meal

You might not be able to cook and deliver something yourself, but there are several services that offer meal deliveries. A few readers recommended Spoonful of Comfort, which delivers homemade soup, bread, and cookies—the Holy Trinity of comfort foods. What a Crock Meals also has gift boxes with freezer meals that only need to be dumped and reheated in a crock pot.

Be the One that Makes Them Laugh

Send them all the reels you know they’ll love. Fill the text thread with the most ridiculous gifs. Send a card filled with silly stickers. Etsy is FILLED with goofy stickers from TV shows, movies, and pretty much any niche interest you can imagine. These Nick Miller and New Girl stickers feel especially apt for people going through it. I also love these low-expectation gold stars. I went down a sticker rabbit hole, so here are a few more favorites because stickers are the best. I also have to give a shout out to this adorable crocheted Emotional Support Toast. Perfect to slip into a card or care package.

Send a Care Package

Cozy blankets, candles, cookies, snacks, or little treats, slippers or cozy socks, a book, a magazine, chapstick, fancy teas or coffee beans—all of these make great gifts that lean into comfort. If you’re not able to put one together yourself, consider these options from Gift Box Love Co or Unbox Me. For the right friend, a sympathy charcuterie board could be perfect. Also, Jeni’s Ice Cream and Levain Bakery deliver, just saying.

Organize a House Cleaning

Vet some local house cleaners and pay to have them come once or a few times (ask your friend if this is truly helpful before committing!). Some friends might feel they have to pre-clean, which is not helpful.

Send a Gift Card

We’ve already talked about the more obvious ones, but depending on the friend, you might consider a gift card for a massage or pedicure, sending credits on Audible or Libro.fm, or sending an AMC or other movie chain gift card.

Thank you all so much for your kind and generous and thoughtful comments on my last post. I love being a part of a community that wants to show up when shit hits the fan. Please share any ways you’ve given or received love from a friend afar in the comments!

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If you enjoyed this post, you might also want to check out these:

Our Best Meal Train Recipes + Tips

It should surprise me, perhaps, that we found fellow fans so far from home, but it doesn’t. I grew up in Buckeye-land, so I know the deal. My family followed Ohio State football and the Cleveland Browns with a devotion that almost rivaled our Sunday church attendance.

To find another Buckeye out in the wild is to find a friend. It’s to share a common language, an instant connection that transcends geographic location, age, and gender. And while there are plenty of reasons to have complicated feelings about sports (trust me, I have my own), there’s something absolutely lovely about that.

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I recently came across More in Common’s study about sports fandom and belonging. I recommend you read the whole thing—it’s utterly fascinating—but I was especially intrigued by these two findings:

I didn’t expect my thesis to be that we need to watch more sports together, but it appears that’s absolutely the case. Sports fandom might be the easiest, most accessible lever to pull if we’re hoping to gather people across generational divides, political differences, and income brackets. Folks might not want to attend a city council meeting, but they’ll show up for a game day watch party. And that actually really matters! Having opportunities to talk with people who are different than us, especially around a shared interest, breaks down misconceptions and barriers that keep us apart.

Not only that, but shared fandom also combats loneliness and isolation. Outside of faith communities, it’s tough to find an arena so rich with traditions and rituals, corporate singing and shared chants. Like I said before, if you shout an “O-H” at any airport in the world, you’re likely to get an “I-O!” in reply. Watching sports together holds the possibility of both group celebration AND commiseration, each of which increases social bonds and feelings of belonging.

Importantly, More in Common’s study found that watching sports together increased a sense of belonging, regardless of the individual’s level of fandom. You don’t have to paint your face or know what a first down is to get the benefits of gathering.

A game day watch party is one of the easiest invitations you’ll ever make. You don’t need a theme or decorations. You don’t even have to coordinate schedules or plan ahead. If fifty million people are tuning in on any given Saturday, chances are good a lot of folks near you already had time in front of the TV on their schedules. Why not take advantage of that and enjoy the game together?

We love to host potlucks for game days, and often ask guests to bring an appetizer or drinks to share. At our last watch party, we explicitly said we “weren’t doing dinner,” and this is the spread we ended up with. 😅

What can I say? People love an excuse to order a massive amount of wings and spend a whole evening munching on potato skins while half-watching/half-chatting with friends.

If you’re wanting to connect with your neighbors and build stronger social bonds, maybe it’s as easy as sending off a “Hey, want to come watch the game with me?” text and making a big batch of chili.

With that in mind, I’ve rounded up my favorite recipes for game day below. This list is very crock pot heavy, because that’s the vibe. We’re going for easy, laid-back recipes that feed a crowd. Here’s to cheering on our favorite teams and making friends along the way!

➡️ Reuben Dip

For some reason it feels wrong to make this outside of the three week St. Patrick’s Day window, but what could be more right than a crock pot full of cream cheese, Swiss cheese, corned beef, and Thousand Island dressing? This stuff is too delicious to not be a year round staple.

➡️ Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

If you want to serve a meal, this recipe is your girl. It’s sweet and just a touch spicy, great with any kind of BBQ sauce, and perfect piled on buns, tortilla chips, or mac and cheese.

➡️ Sliders

A couple of years ago, I got very into sliders, and hence, I have three great choices for you: Roast Beef Sliders, Shredded Beef Sliders, and Hawaiian Ham and Swiss Sliders. I even made Sliders on Ritz Crackers. Y’all, do I have a problem?

➡️ 3 Bean Cilantro Lime Salad

When you need something colorful and vaguely healthy on the table, this salad delivers. It’s fresh and tangy, great on its own or as a dip with tortilla chips. It’s also vegan and gluten free, so a great option to fit a variety of dietary restrictions.

➡️ Crock Pot Steak Chili

I’m just a girl, standing in front of her weather app, begging it to be 60 degrees so I can finally make some ding dang chili. This steak chili is a crowd favorite, but if you’re craving something a little lighter and less likely to give you heartburn (hello, middle aged friends!), we also love this Crock Pot White Chicken Chili.

➡️ Knorr Spinach Dip

I'm always skeptical of recipes that come off the back of packaging, but I'm happy to report this one earns its reputation. It's cool, creamy, takes about 10 minutes to stir together, and always disappears. We like to serve it in a sourdough bread bowl, with hunks of the bread for dipping, but of course it’s great with vegetables, too.

➡️ Meat Candy

These are ridiculous in the best way. Bacon wrapped Lil Smokies covered in brown sugar and baked until their crispy savory little meat candies. These are always the most popular thing I make for any party.

➡️ Walking Tacos

I’m guessing several of you have had these while watching a sporting event at your high school. They’re the perfect portable dinner, and kids and grown ups both love them!

➡️ Sheet Pan Chocolate Chip Cookies

A classic made for a crowd! Cut these into bars and you can feed a small army of fans (or perhaps your kid’s entire football team).

We had just finished loading the picnic blanket and cooler when we found out our babysitter couldn’t make it. Five years ago, this would’ve been the end of the story. We would’ve retreated inside, resigned ourselves to frozen pizza and a grumpy bedtime, and called it a day.

Instead, I called up a neighbor and she told me to send the kids over, no worries. In minutes, we were on the road, amazed at how easy it had been. Then my husband said something that stopped me in my tracks: “The crazy thing is, I think we had at least four other people we could’ve called if we’d needed to.”

I had to let that sink in for a minute. He was right. We did. Over the last almost decade we’ve lived in our neighborhood, we’ve slowly built the village we always dreamed about. It isn’t glamorous, and it’s not always easy, but it is as rich and full and lovely as I imagined it could be.

For years, I have hesitated to write about village building outside the context of food. In many ways, it feels like we lucked into our community. I wasn’t sure I had any wisdom or transferable skills to impart, and I didn’t want to be the insufferable braggart who can’t stop talking about how great it is to have nice neighbors.

The reality is we have gotten lucky in many ways, but we’ve also intentionally structured our lives to be open to and actively investing in relationships with our neighbors. And those decisions have mattered. They’ve moved the needle from having “nice” neighbors to having neighbors who show up in an emergency, neighbors who really love your kids and your dog, and neighbors who invite you over for a crab boil on a Friday night.

What follows is not prescriptive. Your village is going to be as unique as your neighborhood and family are. We live in Columbus, OH, in a neighborhood with modest homes built in the 1960s. Our immediate neighborhood block is made up of several families with school-age kids, an older retired couple, and a single mom with college-age kids.

I can’t tell you exactly how to build your perfect village, partly because a “perfect” village doesn’t exist, but also because how you are situated geographically and socially matters a lot. What I can give you are ways you can set up your life to make village building easier. These are the choices you actually have control over, things you can proactively do to clear roadblocks and create opportunities for connection. I’ll also share things that have helped us avoid the common pitfalls in close relationships, including boundary setting and conversations about shared values.

What I hope you’ll take from this is that you don’t need elaborate theme parties or a huge house or the boundless energy of an extrovert to make friends with your neighbors. Our village started with 10 minute conversations in the driveway that led to checking out someone’s garden that led to inviting the kids over to play that led to birthday parties and backyard hangs and a group chat and the village that showed up for us when we really wanted to go on a date. You don’t have to be fancy or show up as anyone but yourself, but you do have to show up.

An Accidentally On Purpose Guide to Turning Neighbors into Friends

1. This first one is for folks who are moving or deciding where to live, so you can skip this if you’re already settled! If you have the privilege of choosing where to live, think about the neighborhood or apartment building as much as you think about the house itself. You can prioritize a certain number of bedrooms or a gleaming kitchen, but you can also look for signs that a solid community already exists. Does the neighborhood have sidewalks? A park in walking distance? Are there little free libraries or pantries in the area? Is the local elementary school playground full, even on off hours? Are people outside walking their dogs or pushing strollers or sitting on porches? Are there signs posted for events in the hallways? Consider what you might be willing to sacrifice in a house or apartment for the sake of a community. I grew up in the country and will always long for wide open spaces, but at the end of the day, I chose living in closer proximity to people (and potential friends!) over a giant yard.

2. Open the gates, literally or figuratively. Our backyard juts up to another backyard with a fence in between. When we moved in, there was a rusty gate between our homes that didn’t really work. Our kids would see the neighbor kids over the fence and yell/talk to each other, but they couldn’t really play. Then one day we finagled the gate open, and our kids have been running back and forth between our homes ever since. We have a swing set; they have a trampoline. Our kids use both freely. And with the gate open and the kids playing, the grown ups had so many more excuses to connect as well. We started having conversations at the fence, then in each other’s backyards, then in our homes. It didn’t happen overnight, but so much of the relationship we have now was simply because we were willing to open the gates. For you, that might mean inviting your neighbors to share coffee on the front porch, like this, or to an apartment group chat, like this. Or, it might simply mean making yourself available to meet-cutes with your neighbors, which brings me to my next suggestion.

3. Be outside. Garden. Walk the dog. Walk the kids. Walk yourself. Read outside on a blanket. Eat dinner in the front yard. Drink a cocktail or a coffee on the front porch. Wave at people as they go by. My friend Erin is an extrovert and excellent at striking up conversations with strangers. That is not my strong suit, but I’ve learned from watching her. When she’s in her front yard, she manages to find any entry into conversation. She compliments people’s hair, their pets, their outfit. She asks their names, how long they’ve lived there, where the kids go to school. She finds a way to connect simply by being outside, observant, and curious.

4. Allow yourself to be seen when you’re not at your best. I think neighbors offer the easiest path to friendship partly because they’re the people who see you when you aren’t prepared to be seen. They see you when you’re still in your pjs chasing a runaway dog down the street. They see you when your teeth aren’t brushed and you’re still bleary eyed, watching the kids chase each other with sticks in the back yard. Nothing builds intimacy like this kind of every day proximity. Yes, it feels vulnerable, but it is also freeing to show up without any pretense or preparation.

5. Leave room in your life for spontaneous conversations and gatherings. I think Lisa from the Auntie Bulletin said it best: the white space in your calendar is a service to your community. We are a busy family, but we also intentionally don’t fill up every day on the calendar. We don’t do travel sports or volunteer for everything at church. This has allowed us to give easy YESes to last minute BBQs, pack walks around the neighborhood, and having other poeple’s children in our house on a regular basis.

6. Food is the best wing man. If you’re feeling a little shy or intimidated, let food grease the wheels for you. Make this sour cream banana bread or triple chip cookies and use them as an excuse to introduce yourself.

7. Share what you have, and ask for what you don’t. Instead of going out and buying something you don’t have, consider asking a neighbor if you can borrow it first. Need a second loaf pan for a big baking day? Ask a neighbor. Need a special tool or a contractor recommendation or a literal cup of sugar? Ask! And be willing to share your own stuff and expertise, too. Not everyone needs to own a 15 ft ladder, but it sure comes in handy when one person in the neighborhood owns one. Pool your stuff!

Those first few are more about initial encounters and getting to a first name basis with your neighbors. These next tips are for establishing a deeper connection, and can be especially helpful if you have kids.

8. Start a group chat. This feels like the easiest way to go beyond the front yard hello. In a group chat, you can check in on each other during storms or power outages, ask for help with house maintenance or emergencies, or keep tabs on which house the kids are currently playing at.

9. Be willing to have your peace disturbed. Listen, if you want to be able to control everything about your day and your time, the village life might not be for you. Sometimes I have five pre-teen boys in my house and it is loud and chaotic and I’m tripping over nerf darts and light sabers. Do I sometimes have to tell everyone that they’re bringing outdoor energy to an indoor party and kick them outside? Yes. Do I get interrupted a lot? Yes. Is this 100% worth it? Also yes.

10. Have a conversation about shared values and boundaries. Our neighbor crew knew our kids would be spending a lot of time in each other’s homes during the summer, so before the break, we sat down and discussed everything from what each kid likes to eat for lunch to what to do if a kid is crashing out. We talked about things like etiquette (example: no knocks before 10 AM), and house rules (snack wrappers left out of the trash will drive me up the wall and put an end to fun summer Courtney). This is also a great time to talk about media and what’s comfortable for each parent and their kids.

11. Be willing to release the micromanagement of your children. You should absolutely do your due diligence and have conversations about core safety concerns (guns in the home, Internet access, food allergies, etc), BUT if you want a village, you’ll have to let go of some of the small stuff. Sometimes my kids doubled up on sweet treats or screen time, because they were at someone else’s house. Sometimes they didn’t keep the same rest or chore time routine they do at our house. Sometimes I’m sure conversations were handled a bit differently than I would have handled them. To me, this trade off was more than worth it. The memories and friendships they have made (and that we’ve enjoyed as well!), are worth them having two ice cream sandwiches in a day.

12. Ask for help and show up when other people need it. I think many of us are actually better at giving help than we are about asking for help. But WOW, it has been such a gift to learn to reach out for help rather than just trying to do it all on our own. If you need ideas for how to show up for the people in your life, I’ve got ten things you can text besides “Let me know how I can help!”

Building relationships with our neighbors has made everything from traveling to managing summer break feel less stressful and more joyful. Not to mention, I now get to count these people as some of my dearest friends. I’m so glad we opened the gates and kept them open!

I would love to hear from you! What’s your biggest obstacle to knowing your neighbors. What are the pain points? What’s something that’s worked well for you? Let’s practice neighboring in the comments. ❤️

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If you’re interested in how to love your neighbors even (and especially) when the world is breaking your heart, join the NeighborFood community! You’ll hear practical advice and real talk from a former community organizer turned food blogger on friendship and motherhood, faith and grief, and the ministry of casseroles.

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Please, grab a cup of tea and pull up a chair! If you’re craving more connection, but aren’t sure how to make it happen in the midst of *waves hand around* everything else, you’ve come to the right place!

We’re here to talk about neighboring, an everyday practice of showing up for the people in your real life, with all your grief and joy, and letting them show up for you, too. My favorite way to neighbor is through food, but it’s only a small piece of the pie (sorry, I hope you’re here for food puns, too!).

We’re here to talk about what it’s like to be a person raising kids, caring for aging parents, and holding on to the fleeting hope that you might get to have dinner with friends sometime in the next 3 months.

We’re here to embrace Good Enough Hospitality. Paper plates and the scrapings of your cheese drawer absolutely count.

We’re here to share our go-to soup recipes and discuss that book we loved (or love to hate).

We’re here to talk about faith, and what it feels like when the religious scaffolding of your youth no longer holds you up.

Imagine us gathered around a giant sheet pan of chocolate chip cookies to share the joys and trials of motherhood and aging, of faith and politics, of loving our neighbors even when it feels like the world is falling apart. I believe in the power of the table, and I’m so glad you landed here at mine.

If you’re looking for a space where you can be a person who’s still figuring it out, Hi! Welcome! I’m Courtney, and I’m right there with you. If you’re like, whoa, this person feels like a kindred spirit, please subscribe, and welcome to the NeighborFood Community.

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So, What’s In this NeighborFood Community You Speak Of?

All subscribers receive regular essays on neighboring and village building, tips for hosting without losing your mind, and our “What I’d Make For…” monthly series.

Paid subscribers ALSO receive exclusive recipes (check out the full index!), baking meditations, and my most tender essays, where we navigate deconstructing faith, grief, and the sandwich years of caregiving, together. You’ll also get our quarterly Snack Chats, filled with book and music recommendations, funny memes, and lots of warm fuzzies.

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If you’d like to jump in and start exploring, I recommend checking out these posts:

I’m so glad you’re here! Please leave a comment and say hi + let me know your go-to potluck dish! I can’t wait to connect with you!

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I’ve been making my way back to the kitchen after taking most of August off, and it’s felt really good. I revisited these Amish Apple Fry Pies that have been popular on the site for years, and dang, they’ve still got it. I made a few tweaks to make them even better, and I got my husband to give me the full eyes-roll-back-in-head reaction, which is always my goal. Put them on your fall bake list!

And I don’t know what else to say about these Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies except they feel like a grown woman. They’re chewy and rich, with caramelized edges, and a hit of espresso to keep them from being too sweet. Writing about them makes me want to make another batch immediately.

Now, let’s get into the best reads and listens from the month! Plus, I have some skin care recommendations for the super sensitive and rosacea-prone girlies among us.

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While I wouldn’t have planned it this way on purpose, I’m not altogether sad about how things worked out. Our family thrives on routine, and the loosey goosey days of summer were starting to feel more burdensome than freeing.

But, wow, I forgot how absolutely RAVENOUS kids are after school. They roll in hungry with a side of testy and tired, so their first instinct is to melt into the couch, immediately start bugging each other, or troll the pantry like trash pandas. Giving them a soft landing with a little snack is my best strategy for warding off the crankiness and reducing the number of “when’s dinner, mom???” questions I get.

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The Wonder of the After School Grazing Plate

The great news is, you don’t have to be the On Top Of It Mom to cure the after school hangries. I’m usually working until the second I have to leave to pick the kids up, so I don’t have a lot of margin for fancy snacks. My go-to is a grazing plate with whatever I can cobble together from the fruit drawer and the pantry. Here are some of the most common things that get thrown onto our plates:

• Cheese slices, sticks, or cubes

• Crackers

• Pretzel crisps

• Hummus

• Popcorn

• Baby carrots

• Peanut butter

• Apple slices

• Berries

• Pepperoni

Now, if you’d like to cosplay as the On Top of It Mom occasionally (which I do), here are some really simple recipes you can make ahead of time or whip up in 15 minutes or less to add to your after school rotation.

Amish Peanut Butter Spread

This addictive peanut butter and fluff dip is made in just 5 minutes and pairs great with fruit or pretzels. My kids LOVE this stuff.

Sweet and Salty Trail Mix

A college roommate of mine taught me to add oyster crackers to trail mix for a sweet and salty snack with a really satisfying crunch.

Savory Ranch Chex Mix

This stuff is DANGEROUS. A combo of addictive salty snacks covered in Ranch dressing mix and baked for even more crunch. So, so good.

Old Fashioned Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I finally made an oatmeal raisin cookie that my kids like! (Though they like them even more when I add chocolate chips). These are a lovely sweet treat that offers a little more than straight sugar.

Easy Blender Pumpkin Muffins

These come together entirely in a blender, and they’ve got some nutritional heft thanks to the oats and pumpkin. They work equally well with smashed bananas!

Sour Cream Banana Bread

This is our gold standard quick bread, and my youngest son’s favorite. It’s easy to make, easy to double, and freezes well. I love keeping a loaf of this in the freezer to pull out during really busy weeks.

Orange Julius

My kids love these Orange Julius copy cats, and I love feeling like we’re at a mall in 2002. They aren’t the most nutritious snack around, but they’re delicious and refreshing. It’s tough to be hangry in the presence of an Orange Julius.

Fluffernutter Sandwiches

For extreme hanger emergencies and generally no good very bad days, there’s always a Fluffernutter Sandwich. Peanut butter and fluff and banana sandwiched between the whitest of white breads can cure a multitude of ailments. You can enjoy it as-is or grill it for max gooey comfort food.

I hope that having some easy YESes available to you for after school snacks makes your days a little bit easier. If you have a favorite after school hack, please share it in the comments!

As we mark the last month of our summer vacation and celebrate so many anniversaries (my oldest’s birthday, our wedding anniversary, and 1 year as the owners of a cool old event space) we are taking a break to vacation, adventure, and have some fun before getting back to business and the start of another school year.

We took a break last year and decided this was definitely time worth reclaiming for personal/mental/family health. As such, we won’t be sending out the same weekly updates through the month of August.

Don’t worry, we are still providing your full month August meal plan, we just won’t be giving you the weekly break downs, round ups, essays or grocery lists until we get back at it for September.

Your FULL MONTH, downloadable plan is at the end of this post.

Now on to this week’s meals!!!

Monday: Chicken Margherita

Cherry tomatoes are going ham right now, so this recipe is just in time. Using just a few seasonings, some mozz, and a jar of pesto, you’ll have this satisfying Italian inspired dinner on the table in no time (about 30 minutes).

Tuesday: Italian Chopped Subs

More flavors, more evenly distributed into every bite and all with less chewing. What’s not to love?

Wednesday: Southwest Pasta Salad

When you have a crizazy week coming up (one where you KNOW you won’t have time to prep a meal), do what we do. Make a big ol bowl of pasta salad, and graze that stuff till it’s gone baibeee. This Southwest recipe includes our favorite creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing, and tastes great with a little leftover chicken mixed in.

Thursday: Brie Cheeseburgers

Gourmet chefs, we are not. But a fancy restaurant is NOT required to enjoy a little bougie bite now and again. We enhanced our classic cheeseburger recipe here by adding some charcuterie board flavors to the mix. Crispy prosciutto, apricot jam and brie cheese are a dynamite combo.

Friday: Foil Packet Lemon Dill Tilapia

There may be no easier way to cook fish, and ensure that you are sealing in all the fresh juicy flavor without drying it out. We love this easy grill (or oven) meal because it’s just too easy to customize with whatever veggies and seasonings you’ve got on hand.

Grab your customizable full month meal plan printable at the Canva link below, or download it as is and get cooking!

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Your plan to customize (You’ll need a free Canva account to make changes): Customizable AUGUST Meal Plan

Or download the PDF as-is:

August Monthly Meal Plan

365KB ∙ PDF file

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See last year’s post from July:

In today’s variation, we start with orzo pasta, then pile it high with Mediterranean inspired shrimp, juicy cherry tomatoes, and feta cheese. It’s seasoned with lemon juice and zest, and a whole cup of fresh chopped herbs. The shrimp cooks in the time it takes to boil the orzo, so the whole thing can be tossed together and on the table in about 20 minutes.

I took full advantage of my herb garden and used a combination of parsley, basil, mint, and dill, but just two varieties of herbs will do just fine here. If you’ve got zucchini, you can toss it with the same seasonings used for the shrimp, and saute it quickly before adding it to the mix. Feel free to experiment with other pasta shapes here as well! It’s a formula you can continue to use all summer long!

Zesty Mediterranean Shrimp and Orzo

Tip: Gather and chop all of your ingredients while the pasta is boiling. Things will go quickly once your start! Saute the shrimp as soon as the orzo is in the pot, and then everything will be ready to toss together at about the same time.

Ingredients:

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Of course, this is happening during a season when we most want to enjoy salads! A bevy of ripe tomatoes are just begging for a bed of fresh, leafy greens on which to rest their juicy heads. But alas, I’m not risking developing an intimate relationship with the toilet for a salad.

There are plenty of other fish in the sea—or rather, benign vegetables in the market—for us to enjoy this summer. You can let your anxiety take a back seat with these recipes that make the most of summer’s bounty, no lettuce needed.

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Zucchini Casserole with Ground Beef- Zucchinis are PLENTIFUL this time of year, and I love finding new ways to use them. This casserole is like a lighter take on lasagna, with a creamy tomato sauce, ground beef, and cheesy zucchini.

Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos- If all the vegetables are giving you the ick, roasting is the answer! Here, we roast summer squash and tomatoes right alongside shrimp for an easy sheet pan supper.

Spicy Asian Zucchini- A 10 minute side dish that’s perfect with fried rice, dumplings, stir fry, or noodles.

Chicken Margherita- Grilled chicken heaped with pesto, mozzarella cheese, and gobs of fresh cherry tomatoes. An easy dinner that makes you feel like you’re eating al fresco at a fancy restaurant.

Roasted Vegetable Sandwich- One of my all time favs, this roasted veggie sandwich is so satisfying and flavorful. You won’t miss the meat, I promise!

Roasted Zucchini and Peppers- This is really the ticket to filling the void left by salad. Roast your veggies, then top them with whatever fresh herbs you’ve got in the garden. Maybe give them a squeeze of lemon juice for good measure. So fresh! So satisfying!

Bruschetta Pasta- My easy summer dinner formula: Pasta + Olive Oil + Lemon Juice or Balsamic Vinegar + Tomatoes + Cheese. You’re welcome.

Poached Tilapia with Cherry Tomatoes- Fresh tomatoes are reduced with shallots and garlic into a sweet and savory white wine broth, then the fish is nestled right in the sauce to poach. It’s healthy, it’s colorful, and it’s done in 30 minutes flat.

Tomato Bacon Jam- GAH! THIS STUFF! It has no right to be so good. It should be weird, but it’s not. It’s just sweet savory perfection that you’ll want to slather on biscuits (it makes the BEST eggy breakfast sandwich!), BLTs, burgers, crackers, basically any excuse you can find to eat it up.

Zucchini Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting- Sure, you could make zucchini bread again, but why not turn the day into a celebration and make CAKE? With CREAM CHEESE FROSTING?

What are you making with all that fresh summer goodness? And how are you coping with a salad craving in these trying times? Lettuce know in the comments! (Truly, I’m sorry, but around here we cope with puns).

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Sometimes it feels like everything is on fire. And sometimes you look out your window, and it sort of is… Despite the lettuce-plague, the wildfire smoke, and the heat dome, at least you know these recipes will be fire! (Sorry, we’re coping with dark humor…)

Here is your printable grocery list for all of this week’s meals!

Grocery List July 4

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Now on to this week’s recipes!

Monday: Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese

Last Friday, we made a big ol batch of our slow cooker pulled pork, and today we use some leftovers in this cheesy BBQ baked mac. This mac and cheese stands on it’s own, but topped with the pulled pork and a drizzle of BBQ sauce, it transforms into the perfect meal for your next potluck.

Tuesday: Shrimp Taco Salad

I’ll preface this one by saying, “Unless you grow your own, or get organic/hydroponically grown/prewashed… maybe skip the lettuce right now until the current parasite unpleasantness subsides.” Once it does though, I recommend celebrating by going all in on this shrimp taco salad. If you take nothing else away from this recipe, please at least try the avocado lime dressing… It is soooo good.

Wednesday: Pulled Pork Rice Bowls

Finish off those pulled pork leftovers in style. Top some cooked rice with fresh summer veggies and a drizzle of that leftover avocado dressing, and you are set!

Thursday: Sheet Pan Baked Grilled Cheese

What started here as a way to feed a room full of hungry kids lunch, has quickly become a go-to method for making grilled cheese sammies and soup a family-fav dinner. I’m not saying you HAVE to try this with garlic bread and cutting them into tiny cheesy finger sandwiches, but I’m not NOT saying that…

Friday: Grilled T-Bone Steaks with Cowboy Butter

Butter is my favorite food. And it’s even better when mixed up with some fresh herbs and my favorite seasonings and basically becomes a condiment. This cowboy butter is awesome on steaks & burgers. Give it a try the next time you grill out!

We’re having a 90s summer!, says another, and I wonder what that even means. I imagine eating microwaved pizza bagels and strapping Barbies into homemade yarn bungee cords and flinging them off the swing set. I’m not sure that’s what they had in mind.

All of it feels high pressure and high stakes. We need to make the most of this time! Be present. Make memories! Put that phone away (unless you’re recording the memories). These kids are growing up every second. You have to make summer ✨MAGICAL✨.

So, we plan a trip. We go to a cabin. We visit festivals, and go to the pool, and get ice cream, and hike.

But here’s what all those curated summer reels don’t tell you.

You will be on a boat on a spectacularly beautiful lake, and your kids will tell you they’re bored.

You’ll get to the cabin, and they’ll complain that it’s small.

The siblings will bicker…a lot. Like, so, so much.

You’ll turn off the screens and push the kids outside, but it’ll be hot, and someone will get injured or most definitely be dying of starvation within the hour, and oh, remember you still have to work to make money to afford food for the aforementioned starving children?

But also.

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Happy Independence Day! Wishing you all a safe and joyful holiday weekend. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, don’t play with matches, and enjoy these recipes!

Here is your printable grocery list for all of this week’s meals!

Grocery List July 3

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Now on to this week’s recipes!

Monday: Potsticker and Tangy Cucumber Salad

This fresh dumpling and cucumber salad is herby, tangy, sweet and savory. It has something for everybody to love.

Tuesday: Pimento Cheese Burgers

Palmetto cheese has come to the Midwest and you can get it at Costco. Be still my heart! It’s good on everything, but these cheese burgers might be my favorite.

Wednesday: Poached Tilapia with Tomato Wine Broth

White fish can be bland, dry and boring, but when it’s poached in a tangy sweet tomato garlic & wine broth, it is bursting with flavor!

Thursday: The Best Veggie Sandwich with Cream Cheese

My garden is going wild. Help! …and even if it wasn’t we’re having these veggie sandwiches. Herby cream cheese deserves to be on more things than just bagels.

Friday: Slow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork

We’re running back this pulled pork recipe a lot this summer. It makes a big batch, and can either feed a potluck, or stretch to cover 3 meals. So save your leftovers. We’ll use them next week!

Living through my 30s has felt like riding a bus through uncharted terrain. The ride has been bumpy, filled with wonder and happy surprises (Look, a waterfall! Whoa, is that an eagle??), and also stops I very much wished I could skip (Please, driver, no need to linger in the early 2020s).

Ten years ago we had a not-quite one year old and a fledgling side hustle.

I would’ve never predicted that my part time hobby would become a full time gig, not just for myself, but for our whole family. In 2019, my husband was able to quit his miserable job working in IT finance (a special kind of corporate hell) and work from home with me. We got to make food, share food, and be home with our kids. We got to annoy each other at work every single day and then argue about parenting in the evenings!

I’m kidding! But not totally kidding. We added coworker and boss to our already hefty relationship status of besties/co-parents/lovers, and that’s a whole lot for any relationship to hold. The only water cooler gossip in our office was about each other. We have shared many laughs and a lesser, but not insignificant, amount of tears. We’ve mostly figured out how to work through conflict rather than shove it into a little box to fester for years. It’s been a challenge and a gift and a massive privilege. I’m proud of us, and of the weird, wonderful work we’ve produced together (fast forward to the bloopers for an example).

We have enjoyed a level of financial stability that I never expected, and I don’t know that we’ll ever have again. It afforded us a house in a neighborhood we love, but the real treasure and the sweetest surprise has been the neighbors themselves. We now enjoy the kind of open-door, kids-tromping-from-house-to-house, spontaneous-patio-hang-out-life I’ve always dreamed of.

Friends I had barely met or didn’t know at all a decade ago are now some of my nearest and dearest. We’ve seen each other through surprise babies and surprise divorces, new jobs, unexpected losses, bodies changing and breaking and finally settling into some kind of generous truce.

And then there’s the kids, two of them now! And they’ve got muscles where rolls of baby fat used to gather, and they’re funny and they have Interests and Opinions and Friends, and sometimes also Anxiety and Other Big Feelings. My oldest can mow the lawn! No one needs me to clip their fingernails or wipe their butts, a realization that fills me with gratitude and also makes my chest feel like its going to cave in on itself.

And then there were the stops that absolutely sucked. I looked out that bus window and caught nothing but an abandoned shack, two tumbleweeds, and a whiff of dread. I begged the driver to keep going, but he was insistent (what a jerk).

Just as we started to see a ray of light at the end of the Covid tunnel, my dad died, hastily and unexpectedly, in the fall of 2021, just a week after a friend’s daughter died.

It was the worst month of my life, by a mile.

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Happy Independence Day! Wishing you all a safe and joyful holiday weekend. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, don’t play with matches, and enjoy these recipes!

Here is your printable grocery list for all of this week’s meals!

Grocery List June 4

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Now on to this week’s recipes!

Monday: Air Fryer Cod Fish Sandwich

By now, I figure you’ve got burgers and dogs already checked off the bingo card, so here’s something deliciously different that doesn’t require you to grill outdoors during this heat dome… Homemade tartar sauce is legitimately in my top 3 fav sauces.

Tuesday: Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Saucy slow cooker enchilada chicken is about as simple as it can be, so making the actual enchiladas really just comes down to an exercise in assembling. Get your kids involved scooping, rolling and sprinkling cheese, and you’ve got a pleasing dinner that everyone can be proud of.

Wednesday: Homemade Hummus and Tabbouleh

It’s Mediterranean/Vegetarian Night! Our favorite smooooth hummus recipe is joining forces with a Tabbouleh (fresh mint & parsley salad) recipe that we dragged out of the archives. She’s an oldie, but you pair these two together with some pita and fresh veggies, and they’re an unstoppable team.

Thursday: Leftover Chicken Skillet Nachos

So, you know how you ended up with a whole bunch of that leftover slow cooker chicken from Monday night? We’re putting that to good use in these family favorite skillet nachos! *Our Shredded Barbacoa Beef is featured in the linked post, but this recipe is awesome no matter which protein you use, so if you’ve got some leftover pulled pork, go ham!

Friday: Grilled Steak Kabobs with Chimichurri

Steak? In this economy? I hear ya, and that’s why we’re making these Sirloin steaks (a more affordable cut) go even further by cubing, marinading, and turning them into these delicious grilled kabobs. The combo of lemon, oregano, mint, basil, and garlic gives these skewers a bright finish to the savory steak. These are great stand alone or in a wrap, or as a salad topper.

I say extravagant, but nothing about this cake is particularly fussy or difficult. It’s got a few more steps than my typical 9 x 13 inch sheet cake, but each one is very doable, whether you’re a seasoned baker or brand new to the kitchen.

I almost share a birthday with America, which is sometimes cool (fireworks!) and sometimes not cool (fascism!). But if you’re looking to celebrate the holiday weekend with something vaguely patriotic in color, this cake works well. It’s also lovely for family reunions and backyard cookouts and any old Tuesday night where you’d like to treat yourself.

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It’s my birthday week, and I’m dropping a fresh, summery meal plan in your inbox! I’d be lying if I didn’t choose some of my personal favorites for this first week. If I were celebrating (and I am!), I would definitely want the Grilled Salmon on the menu, preferably with a big glass of sweet mint tea and peach cobbler for dessert.

I have to share my birthday week with America, and in case you haven’t heard, it’s kind of a big one this year. Whether you have plans for fireworks or backyard BBQs or stewing in complicated feelings of gratefulness, embarrassment, hope, and grief (oh hi!, it’s me!), an All American Bacon Cheeseburger is the way to go. It’s hard to feel despair when you’ve got cheeseburger juice on your chin.

Because we’re deep in the heart of grilling season, I’d also like to direct you to this collection of sides for burgers and hot dogs. These are perfect for bringing to parties or making a meal out of a package of weiners.

Later this week, I’ll be sharing the cake I made for my birthday (bonus: it doubles as a gorgeous dessert for the holiday weekend). Be sure to subscribe to get the recipe!

Your FULL MONTH, downloadable plan is at the end of this post.

Now on to this week’s meals!!!

Monday: Shrimp Tostadas

This dish hits some of my favorite flavor notes and textures. Bright lime and cilantro, creamy beans, and a crisp tostada make for such a satisfying meal.

Tuesday: Crispy Chicken Salad

This is the type of meal I would be tempted to order at almost any restaurant, but now I can make one that’s just as good at home! Salad is just better with warm, crispy, breaded chicken. I wish it weren’t so, but I can’t argue with the facts.

Wednesday: Marinated Skirt Steak with Summer Salad

I realized this week’s menu is going pretty hard in the cilantro lime paint. It’s one of my favorite flavors, and both Will and I have been craving this marinated skirt steak. We rave about our Cilantro Lime Chicken all the time, but it’s just as tasty on a steak!

Thursday: Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa

This is the easiest way to cook a slab of salmon, and it’s great for entertaining. The foil means it’s nearly impossible to make dry salmon, and the mango salsa is so refreshing on a hot summer night.

Friday: All American Bacon Cheeseburgers

It’s a classic for a reason. This is your go-to when you want a simple burger that you can dress up in 101 different ways. I love the traditional toppings- LTO plus ketchup, mayo, and mustard, but I do like to add pickles, and, of course, bacon. Make this one your own!

Grab your customizable full month meal plan printable at the Canva link below, or download it as is and get cooking!

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Your plan to customize (You’ll need a free Canva account to make changes): Customizable JULY Meal Plan

Or download the PDF as-is:

July Monthly Meal Plan

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This book feels like a balm for anyone who’s felt unseen in their mothering or wondered if God really loves them, or perhaps even more curiously, if God really likes and cares about them. I was, of course, especially intrigued by all the ways Elizabeth discusses God’s care expressed through feeding his beloveds. We talk about the ministry of snacks, go-to meals for new moms, and encouragement for mothers of pre-teens and teens. (God help us all!) I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! For more of Elizabeth’s work, visit her Substack, Back of the Flock.

Back of the Flock

A newsletter for a community of mothers trying to grow their faith & bear God's image right within the beautiful mess of motherhood.

By Elizabeth Berget

One of my favorite parts of your book is when you share the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 19. This man is alone in the wilderness, fearing for his life, exhausted, and in deep despair. And how does the Lord answer him? With a shade tree, a nap, and some snacks. I’m fascinated by the ways food restores us not just physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. Do you have a specific memory of a meal that did this for you?

I also love that story of how God cares for Elijah in such physical, tangible ways. What’s really interesting, if you pull on the thread of that story a bit more, it’s only after Elijah is taken care of in such embodied ways that he is able to cultivate the spiritual awareness to recognize God in the gentle stillness after witnessing hurricane winds, a trembling earthquake, and raging fire outside the mouth of the cave he was hiding out in.

My own restorative meal came from the hands of my mother. I lived and taught in *very* rural South Sudan for a year in my early twenties — think no electricity or running water or email or phone. I ate rice and beans twice a day, everyday. It was good and filling and wildly monotonous, but when I returned home from the equator to the dead of a Midwest winter, my mom made one of my favorite childhood meals — stuffed cabbage + the creamiest mashed potatoes. I just remember feeling the warmth of home and welcome coming back into my bones with that meal.

I’ve found most Midwesterners take pride in caring for people through food. What’s your go-to dish that you love to bring to new moms?

Pinch of Yum’s crockpot carnitas! I know Lindsay of Pinch of Yum well (she’s the Lindsay from the book!) and had the pleasure of being in a dinner club with her for years; her recipes don’t miss! I love to cook up a huge batch of the carnitas meat, save some for my family to have for dinner, and then package it up with all the typical toppings, plus tortillas, rice, chips, and usually a huge bowl of fruit. (Someone brought me a giant fruit salad after I had one of my kids, and I ate it in one glorious sitting). I like to bring the carnitas because it accounts for picky eaters to make their own taco or bowl situation, reheats well, and freezes like a dream if there’s too much. I also always include dessert and pick up a few easy breakfast items like muffins or banana bread because postpartum mornings are hard and...hungry.

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You talk a lot in the book about the very physically demanding years of early motherhood, but you’re also entering into a new season of caregiving for tweens and teens. I loved your story about your oldest son Owen and the first time you allowed him to bike to a friend’s house by himself. I thought about how God’s love is brave enough to give us freedom to change, make mistakes, and learn. What new ways have you seen God reflected in mothering this age group and what encouragement would you give to those of us (ahem, me!) who are entering this new season?

I’m walking into this uncertainty right beside you! It is so strange to have kids that are, in so many ways, so independent and at the same time, so needy. Often I feel like the physicality of motherhood has turned into something more like an emotional/relational doula + chauffeur.

I think I most identify with the heart of God in my kids’ unfurling…in having a front-row seat to their becoming. While I could do without the burgeoning B.O., I am generally delighted at the way my kids are emerging into themselves. I see these hints of adulthood and maturity in them as I witness what makes them laugh, what makes them cry, what makes them afraid. I see their relationships with each other becoming something other than arguing over toys and whose turn it is. They have inside jokes and, I’m pretty sure, a handful of secrets that I am not privy to. And it’s truly and utterly delightful for me to watch them grow.

I think these middle-kid years have softened my heart to understand that God delights in me. God likes me. God knows that, in the relative terms of eternity, I am in many ways still a newborn on uncertain giraffe legs making my way through this world. Just as I watch my kids navigate each new thing, sometimes flailing and sometimes thriving, so God watches me navigate each new season of my life, inviting me to turn to him with my needs, delighting in my every wobbly step. I think of our lives on earth as a metamorphosis that God is eagerly watching and waiting on, clapping with delight at each new stage. Having older kids has helped me realize that God really, really loves us, at every stage.

Your community was deeply involved in caring for your neighbors in Minnesota during Operation Metro Surge. What kind of mothering, nitty-gritty care work did you see play out there? How has that time shaped your idea of what loving your neighbor means?

This winter in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I witnessed so much pain and heartbreak and injustice alongside so much care and connectivity and beauty. I’m still trying to put words to it all. The community mutual aid work that happened here as we sought to protect our most vulnerable neighbors was, largely, the work of mothering. We took care of the basics — we made sure hungry people had food shopped for and delivered to them so they could stay home. We raised funds to cover rent needs as people lost income and found new shelter for people whose apartments or homes had been raided. We ran a whole underground laundry ring so people could have clean clothes without going to the laundromat. We bolstered food and hygiene banks with donations and volunteer power, legal observers roaming the block, whistles at the ready. We got kids safely to and from school. We tracked down in-home medical care for the sick.

It felt like an embodied practice of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 about caring for “the least of these.” What was stunning to witness was how each person gave of what they had — time, resources, skill sets. Our signal chats pinged all day with needs for rides, doctors, groceries, legal assistance, and one by one, each need was met. It wasn’t up to one person, and there wasn’t even one central leader. I learned that the social safety net was real. I think what I most learned about loving my neighbor was that it works best on a collective level, when we all belong to each other.

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I share a lot on NeighborFood about the value of gathering, eating together, and feeding people, but I realized after reading your book that I often overlook the fact that mothers do this every single day, usually multiple times a day, with their kids. Even as a food writer and community organizer, I’ve often glossed over this work like it doesn’t “count” towards community building, but of course it does. This is why Love Like a Mother feels so necessary. It takes all the work of mothering we might call mundane or boring and instead calls it sacred, dignified, even transformative. What are the connections you see between feeding kids and feeding our neighbors? How does motherly care build our capacity for community?

I’m someone who generally moves through the world expecting to find God hiding in plain sight. I am forever taking pictures of clouds and turning over parables in my garden soil. But I wasn’t really expecting to find evidence of Divine care at the bottom of my laundry basket in the earliest years of motherhood. This everyday work of mothering opened my eyes to the unrelenting, specific, intimate care that God has for each one of us.

Because the work of motherhood is cyclical, not linear. We all know the laundry is never really done. Kids get hungry, we make food, we wipe them and their surroundings down, do some dishes, and then start the whole thing all over again a few hours later. Their needs don’t stop, and the work continues. In this, I think the work of mothering provides a picture of community care. We know that human relationships are complex and take intention, effort, and ongoing time; we know that within any group of people, there will always be need. The cyclical work of motherhood reminds us that for communities to thrive, we need to be invested for the long haul.

But the flip side of that is that intimacy is built over met need. Motherhood is rewarding ultimately because it is so connective, and we have the capacity for that in community too if we lean into the never-ending nature of it versus resist it.

To close out, I’d love to hear how you mother yourself or direct the mothering heart of God to your own soul? Are there certain people or practices that have fed your spirit during your most grueling days of mothering?

I love this question.

As for people, I have a handful of older women, my mom and mother-in-law included, who have passed along their wisdom and peace and well-worn perspective when I’ve needed it most. These are also women who have consistently prayed for me and let me know when they do, and anytime I get together with any of them feels like time spent together in God’s presence. My advice to anyone is to find older people that you admire and barnacle yourself into their life until they start sharing their wisdom with you! I also have a group of local friends who feel like family, and these are the people we call in the middle of the night when there’s an emergency, who have brought me meals and watched my kids and brought over flowers picked from their backyard on a hard day. I am so grateful for all of the people who mother me.

I have many spiritual practices that serve as a conduit to God’s maternal love for me. I include many of them in the book, at the end of each chapter - small ways to recognize God’s love in the midst of a busy day, contemplative reflections that don’t add more to an already full schedule. One of my go-to’s is to look at any small act of care that I’m doing - maybe I’m doing dishes for the umpteenth time - and as I rinse each one, I think about how God is in the business of making all things new, restoring me. Or if one of my kids has some big feels and comes to me with tears in their eyes, I think about how God longs for me to look to him when tears fill my own eyes, how God longs to hold me and tell me the truth about myself until I believe it. I think our days are full to the brim of reminders of how God cares for us. This awareness fills my soul when the day or season is too busy for other spiritual practices like meditation or prayer or reading my Bible. God is eager to meet us where we’re at - in every day, in every season.

Thank you, again, Elizabeth, for being so generous with your time and wisdom! We’d love to hear from you, too. How does the idea of God loving like a mother feel to you? I hope if it’s a new idea for you, it's one that feels healing and hopeful!

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Especially this month/week as we celebrate, I hope you all are enjoying freedom (as much of it, and in whatever form) as you can.

Here is your printable grocery list for all of this week’s meals!

Grocery List June 4

84.7KB ∙ PDF file

Download

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Now on to this week’s recipes!

Monday: Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad

Fresh spinach, ripe June strawberries, and toasted pecans combine in this colorful and simple summer salad that’s perfect as a potluck/party side. The sweet lemon dressing in this makes it all work.

Tuesday: Cranberry Pistachio Chicken Salad

Leftover chicken never had it so good. This easy picnic recipe makes a tasty chicken salad that’s substantive (not that watery mayo mess you buy in the tub…)

Wednesday: Potato Huevos Rancheros Skillet

Golden crispy breakfast potatoes are topped with fresh salsa, peppers, cilantro sour cream, and a runny egg. You’re not required to eat it straight from the skillet, but it saves dishes…

Thursday: The Ultimate 4 Cheese Mac and Cheese

I (Will) keep sneaking this recipe back into our personal meal rotation because not only do our kids love it, but you add a tiny bit of customization (some frozen shrimp, tajin seasoning, or buffalo sauce and blue cheese…) and you’ve got a completely unique and outstanding pasta dish that’s WAY better than just plain mac. Also, the leftovers have become my favorite burger topping.

Friday: Italian Burgers

If mac and cheese burgers aren’t your thing, you’re tired of plain ol burgers, or the basil in your garden is taking over, try these Italian burgers! We remixed almost every element from bun to topping to give this one a distinct Italian-inspired profile.

On the shore there are ten people watching. They’re obviously concerned. They love this person! They desperately want to help. So they cup their hands over the mouths and yell towards the drowning person, “Let us know if you need help with anything!”

It’s laughably unhelpful, right? At best, it’s annoying, and at worst, it’s downright insulting. I’M DROWNING OVER HERE, I CAN’T TELL YOU WHAT I NEED.

And yet, this is often what we do when those we care about are struggling. We know they’re carrying a lot. We know they’re grieving or exhausted or depressed. We desperately want to help, but we’re unsure exactly how, so we pass along a hasty, “Let me know if you need anything!,” and put the ball firmly back in the other person’s court, another thing for them to manage, follow up on, and articulate.

I get it. I’ve done it myself many, many times. Offering and receiving care is tricky for all of us. The circumstances surrounding care are often fraught with landmines—grief, chronic illness, health care, parenting—that Americans are notoriously terrible at discussing. We feel awkward and unsure, not wanting to be too pushy or over step.

But here’s what I’ve learned from the times I’ve been the one drowning, or from being in the orbit of Very Tough Times with dear friends and family. You need someone to jump in the water with you. You need an offer of something specific and tangible, and you need it to happen without your management or initiative.

For us, it was the friend who made a meal train sign up, the neighbor who mowed our lawn without us asking, the folks who offered to pick our kids up from school—these were things I needed that I didn’t know how to ask for in the moment.

I didn’t need a vague offer of help, I needed someone to throw me a life raft.

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The Life Rafts: Practical Offers of Care

Here’s the good news. We generally know the types of things people need help with. When someone is grieving, or navigating illness, or struggling with depression, they need practical care for their every day needs, the same needs that we all tend to have.

I think of these needs in 4 categories:

Home: Cleaning, Laundry, Dishes, Lawn Mowing, Weeding

Kids: Babysitting, Pick Ups/Drop offs (from school, sports, appointments, etc)

Eating: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks (never underestimate some good snacks, especially for the grieving and post-partum moms)

Companionship: An offer of presence—maybe to cry, maybe to go to a Dr.’s appointment, or maybe to sit on the couch and watch trash television

When offering help, be specific, tangible, and limited.

Ambiguous offers of help still require the receiver to do a lot of planning and decision making. Putting boundaries around your offer helps both of you! It means you can help within your own capacity, and the person receiving help has something specific they can count on.

Be specific about the times and places you’re available. Only have an hour? Share that. Only free on certain days or nights? Offer help for those specific times.

Offer tangible help. Pick something from the categories above and run with it. If you’re willing to do laundry, say that! If you’ve only got five minutes to drop off coffee or send a DoorDash gift card, that’s great, too.

Keep it limited. It seems counterintuitive, but leaving the door wide open for help at any time or in any way is overwhelming. Instead, limit to one or two options. I also like to ask in advance what the receiver’s capacity for company is. Consider saying something like: “I can drop groceries on the porch or stay for 30 minutes if you’d like to chat. I’m great with whatever you prefer.”

Here’s what an offer of care could look like:

You can use any of the prompts below to send a quick text offer of help to someone in your life who might need it. Or, better yet, pick two or three things to offer a “menu” of care.

🏡 Home

• I’m headed to Costco. Can I pick up TP, tissues, or any other supplies for you? I’ll leave them on your porch this afternoon.

• Hey, would it be helpful if I swung by later tonight and did the dishes or folded laundry?

• I’m running errands all day today—grocery store, post office, and pharmacy. Do you need anything picked up or dropped off?

• Hey, I have 2 free hours this weekend and would love to aggressively clean or organize something. Is there a space in your house I could tackle?

• Can I come mow the lawn or weed your garden on Wednesday night?

👧🏽 Kids

• Can I pick up your kids and take them to the park for an evening this week? I’m available on Monday and Tuesday night. I’ll feed them too!

• Would it be helpful if I took the kids to school on Tuesday and Thursday this week?

🌯 Food

• What’s your coffee order this morning? It’ll be on your doorstep by 9 AM!

• Dinner is on me for one night this week! Could I bring something by on Wednesday, Thursday, or Saturday night?

• I’m prepping cut fruits and veggies for the week. Can I drop some by for you tomorrow?

• I would like to set up a meal train for you. What nights would be best to have meals dropped off at your home? Would four weeks or six weeks be better?

Speaking of meal trains, here are my go-to meal train recipes and all my tips for packaging and delivering food.

👯 Companionship

• Would you like company for your doctor’s appointment this week?

• Want to go for a walk one night this week? I’m free ___, ____, ____.

• Hey, I’m free on Wednesday. Would you like some company? I could help fold laundry or we could just couch rot together.

• I have some time on Saturday and would love to spend it with you if you’re up for it. Let me know if you’d prefer: trashy magazines and gossip or a heart to heart (tears always welcome).

If someone says no:

Respect their answer, and move on. They might not have the capacity to receive help or might not need the specific thing you’re able to offer right now. Check in at another time, but don’t push or take it personally. If someone could use dinner, but doesn’t want to have a conversation, drop the dinner and run!

I’d love to hear from you! What’s one of the best things someone did for you when you were in a Tough Time? Let’s brainstorm more ways to offer care in the comments!

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I can’t seem to get enough of summer fruit, and I didn’t even mention watermelon, cherries, and plums! Luckily, we have an entire summer ahead of us to enjoy the best of the season. This is my summer fruit bucket list, filled with pies, cobblers, refreshing drinks, and fruit-filled cakes to make the most of each one!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments, what’s your favorite summer fruit and which recipe are you most excited to make this summer?

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23 Must-Make Summer Fruit Recipes

First things first, at least one peach must be eaten while standing over the kitchen sink, letting all the juices drip down my chin and arm. Hallelujah, amen.

With that out of the way, here are all the things that actually require a recipe.

A cold, very Midwestern fruit “salad.”

This is an easy one to check off, because it’s the perfect potluck side. I jump between Strawberry Pretzel Salad (I’m a sucker for that sweet salty crust!) and Peach Delight as my favorite.

Fruit pie, served warm with vanilla ice cream.

Bumbleberry Pie is an excellent choice for the Fourth of July, but I’m not sure anything can compare to a Peach Crumble Pie. If you’ve still got rhubarb, make this Blueberry Rhubarb Pie.

Cobblers, Crisps, & Crumbles, also with ice cream, obviously.

This is my heart and soul, the summer dessert I could eat every single day. Don’t ask me to pick a favorite. They’re all lovely and perfect in their own delicious ways.

Buttermilk Biscuit Peach Cobbler- A classic with a hint of bourbon and maple syrup for extra coziness.

Blackberry Peach Cobbler- I love this old fashioned crackly, cakey cobbler crust.

Cherry Almond Crumble

Apple and Blueberry Crumble

Nectarine, Cherry, and Strawberry Crisp

Summery fruit cakes, with ice cream (ok, ok these don’t have to have ice cream, but why not??)

Not the weird, dense Christmas loaves, but gorgeous bundt cakes and cheesecakes that are great for summer gatherings.

Strawberry Bundt Cake with Strawberry Glaze

Bourbon Peach Bundt Cake

Old Fashioned Pound Cake- This has no fruit in it, but I’m including it because it’s the perfect vehicle for strawberry rhubarb compote, another summer favorite.

Peach Cobbler Cheesecake Bars- I always get requests for the recipe when I bring these!

Fruity Summer Drinks, with ice cream. JUST KIDDING. Or am I??

Peach Cherry Wine Slushies- this is front porch drinking at its best.

White Wine Sangria- My go-to for parties.

Raspberry Cordial- A fabulous non-alcoholic drink, perfect for sharing with kindred spirits.

Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream Floats- AhHA! I did manage to sneak ice cream into the drink category.

Summer Fruits for Breakfast!

A breakfast banana split smothered with summer berries is one of the best ways to start a sweltering 90 degree day, as is cold chia pudding with fruit.

Blackberry Coffee Cake with Streusel Topping

Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Pancakes