Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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How to enjoy cooking

September 26, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Everybody’s got to eat, right? I used to think of cooking as a means to an end, but now I enjoy it more. Last week we unexpectedly had two evenings at home in a row. That’s unheard of during soccer season with three kids playing and practicing. I told my oldest one of the reasons I was excited to be home was to cook an actual meal. 

Our family prioritizes dinner together, even if that means eating Zaxby’s after soccer practice. But it’s even better when we gather around our own table with a homecooked meal. The truth is, I run out of inspiration, though. 

So let’s talk about where to go when we need more ideas for cooking.

Screens

I know, I know. Screens get a bad wrap, but let’s be honest, sometimes when we aren’t even trying we might be inspired. TV shows sometimes prompt ideas and scrolling on Facebook sometimes leads to an irresistible recipe. I’ve been known to email myself some links! Plus there are plenty of food documentaries out there available on TV channels and online. 

After a documentary episode or an Instagram story, you may be ready to try cooking a new and exciting dish. Perhaps a creamy and delicious chicken florentine? 

You can find a lot of food ideas on the Internet. This is how I learned to cook salmon, steak in the oven, and French Toast Bake. There are so many recipes online! I save them on my phone in a bookmark folder so I can find them again. 

Vacations

We love traveling to South Carolina so we can eat low-country seafood. And yes, we’re attempted to replicate that at home. My husband and son like to go trout fishing, and I sure do love it when they bring fish home. Lots of locations offer food different from what’s right here in our hometown Kentucky, so leaving home helps me bring new recipe ideas home. 

Restaurants 

When we were social distancing in 2020 and cooking multiple meals a day at home, I would think about restaurants we loved and what food they served. In some instances, I improved upon the food we love. Cooking was so fun then, when we had a ton of time to experiment in the kitchen and put more time into each meal. 

It’s hard to recreate restaurant dishes, but it’s definitely a great source of inspiration. You probably won’t be able to make the dish exactly the same at home, but even if it helps you improve your cooking by 30%, you’ll notice the difference.

Do you love to cook? What are your favorite dishes to make? I’m always accepting new recipes, so send me your favorites and share any good stories that led to good recipes. Speaking of which, I’m going to stir the taco soup I have simmering. 

*****

Most of y’all know my love for gathering together & nourishing souls, like I talk about in my book, “Bringing Home More than Groceries.” Food often is a way to invite others in and build community. If that’s your perspective, that definitely gives cooking a broader purpose. You can download a free printable with ideas on how to be hospitable in every season.

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Filed Under: food Tagged With: family, food, life, motherhood

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

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To live in communion with one another, means to sh To live in communion with one another, means to share meals, space, advice, and prayers. It also means sharing hope, disappointment, dreams, and forgiveness. 

We explore what this looks like in “Created for Communion,” along with other biblical foundations for friendships and community.

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So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictu So many of my Facebook friends shared lovely pictures of their daughters yesterday for the completely made-up National Daughters Day. Regardless, today I'm all in my feelings about my daughters. 

They're 16 and 8 right now. Both of their classes have been studying ancient Egypt and had a joint feast today. Sweet, huh? 

BUT THEN TIMEHOP GOT ME! Apparently, NINE years ago today, when Cate was a second-grader, her class had an Egyptian feast. I think about a particular picture of Cate and her friend Kilee from that day AND THEN IT CAME UP IN MY TIMEHOP TODAY. Facebook also told me that same day nine years ago, Monica and I became Facebook friends. We probably were at the Egyptian feast and decided we'd be friends because our girls were friends. Y'all, God has been so good to me through my friendship with Monica. Our families click in a special way with our three sets of same-aged kids, most of whom have been adopted. 

Anyway, my daughters. They're lovely, funny, and smart. I love that Cate helped Rachel with her Egyptian eye makeup this morning and made her a Nutella and banana sandwich. I love that they got to have a party today at school together. I love that even though they're eight years apart, they're sisters. 

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I do. 💛

#momlife #timehop #documentlife #bettertogether #sisters #siblinglove #nationaldaughtersday #daughters #reallife #schoollife #adoption #adoptionislove #PeaceInTheProcess #CreatedForCommunion #choosingJOY @ncca.lions
I’m pretty much always thinking about my next tr I’m pretty much always thinking about my next trip! Be it a weekend getaway or a family vacation, I’ve always got ideas of where I want to go next. The rest of my family always has suggestions too. Yes, take the (next) trip!

In the blog post HOW TO TAKE THE TRIP, I share lots of links and suggestions on where to go, who can help you, and what to take with you. 

✨ https://kristinhilltaylor.com/2023/09/how-to-take-the-trip.html

Where do you want to go? What do you always take with you?

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I was thankful for some rest time on the couch on I was thankful for some rest time on the couch on Saturday afternoon — and a chance to finish this suspense book. 

“Between Two Strangers” by @katewhite_author had such an intriguing plot that pulled me right in. I was close to figuring out how it was all intertwined, but I didn’t quite get there through all the twists. Good, quick read!

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #weekending #latergram #suspensebooks #goodreads
Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life Recently, in random snapshots. This is a full life, but it’s a good life. 💛

#momlife #siblinglove #bettertogether #reallife #latergram #documentlife #soccermom #boymom #girlmom
When you subscribe to emails from my porch, you ge When you subscribe to emails from my porch, you get some free goodies! Plus, it's a fun way to chat about life, books, and faith. 

I just updated the free gifts to include a lovely PDF that has links to 27 (!!!) how-to posts about life, home, and parenthood. I'm going to give away more goodies when I meet some subscriber goals, so, if you haven't already, please join me on my virtual porch. 

🏠 bit.ly/PorchEmails

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Well, don't they look lovely together! ✨ Find Well, don't they look lovely together! 

✨ Find them all here: https://amzn.to/3sRUHd7

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You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to You’re a light wherever you go! And you like to go! You’re always making friends, asking about our next adventure, wanting to know what’s next, and talking if you’re not singing. You’re the joy our family needed in 2015 and you continue to be the one who makes us laugh and love better than we did before we knew you. 

... You ask a million questions, know the words to thousands of songs, have so many ideas, and still try to sneak into my bed at night. You say I’m the best snuggler in this family. I’ll take it – and your hugs and love, although the middle of the night will never be my favorite time. 

Happy birthday to the girl who loves loudly! 

✨ kristinhilltaylor.com/2023/09/rachel-is-8.html

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In this book about biblical friendships, we’ll l In this book about biblical friendships, we’ll learn how God has created us for communion, allowing His people—then and now—to befriend one another in holy ways.

🌸 FREE RESOURCES & SAMPLE CHAPTER: 
kristinhilltaylor.com/created-for-communion

🌸 GET THE BOOK:
bit.ly/createdforcommunion

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