The Turquoise Table: Finding Community and Connection in Your Own Front Yard

by Kristin Schell

Provençal Bistro Chicken

8–10 boneless, skinless chicken thighs Salt and black pepper to taste 2–3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 2 onions, chopped 3–4 garlic cloves, minced 3 teaspoons dried thyme 1 cup red wine 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes

Season the chicken

In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, in batches if necessary, and cook 5–6 minutes per side until

browned. Transfer the chicken to a slow cooker. Melt the butter in the cast-iron skillet, over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic, and thyme. Sauté until the oni...

Add the wine and tomatoes. Scrape up all the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer until well combined, just 1 to 2 minutes. Pour the mixture over the chicken in the slo...

Has God put anyone on your heart who might feel left out, who might not have intuitively been invited to the table—

Tips for Hosting a Neighborhood Soup Party Variety. Make two pots of soup. Use recipes that serve a crowd or can be doubled easily.

Self-Serve from the Stove.

Use a Mix of Bowls and Mugs.

Set up a Topping Bar. Soup toppings are the best part! Put out plenty of versatile toppings such as cheese, chips, chives, and sour cream.

Make It a Potluck.

We take our mismatched mugs of soup and head outside to greet neighbors and trick-or-treaters at the Turquoise Table.

vulnerability is a process, one that leads to compassion. It starts with acknowledging our own brokenness. In I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t)

“Instead of building a taller fence, we should build a longer table.”

If perfection had a slogan, I think it would be something like: “Perfection, the preferred hiding place of people everywhere.”

The most beautiful people I know wear their imperfections with grace and confidence.

Hospitality takes the posture of humility, no longer seeking to impress but to serve. The heart of hospitality is to make people feel welcome and at ease. We can go through the motions to entertain, or we can adopt a way of life that opens us up—good, bad, and ugly—to others.

Ask a Neighbor for Help

Borrow a tool or lawn mower. • Instead of dashing to the store, ask for an egg or cup of sugar. • If you know your neighbor has a certain skill or expertise, ask for advice. • Ask for assistance walking your pet or moving a piece of furniture. • If you know your neighbor is headed on an errand, ask her to pick up milk or stamps.

“I remember a lime blossom plant in our yard called tilia in Spanish,” Carolyn said. “When I was sad, upset, or simply had a stomach ache, my mother would tear off a leaf, boil it, and make it into a soothing tea.”

Mint is one of the most common and versatile herbs. Known for comforting upset tummies and relieving tension headaches, it’s also one of the easiest herbs to grow.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Teddy Roosevelt

2 cups fresh basil leaves ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ⅓ cup pine nuts 2 garlic cloves, rough chopped ½ cup olive oil Salt and black pepper to taste

In a food processor, add basil, cheese, pine nuts, and garlic. Pulse several times until ingredients are chopped.

With the processor running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady stream.

For years the staff and volunteers at ReWork have poured into men like Anthony, training them for far better lives than they ever dreamed possible when they were homeless on the streets.

Kristin Schell is an established speaker and blogger on the subjects of food, faith, and hospitality.

She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Tony, and their four children.

join Kristin at www.theturquoisetable.com