Welcome to our Sunday Food for the Soul — because feeding our bodies is simply not enough.
I’ve heard from many of you that these reflections are meaningful and matter. And truth be told, sometimes something you share with me becomes the very thing that inspires my heart in return.
So today, I hope you carve out a little margin. Take a walk in the sunshine. Enjoy a nap on the couch. Read a favorite book. Listen to something beautiful — music, birdsong, the quiet hum of your own home.
Let’s rest a little. Together.
When the Recipe Rises Too High
I truly thought this one would be simple.
The recipe came from a trusted pastry chef’s cookbook. Solid. Professional. Surely foolproof. I was so confident it would turn out beautifully that I sent it to my recipe testers before I even baked it myself.
Note to self… don’t do that.
They baked. And reported back.
The cupcakes mushroomed right over the tops of the pan. Delicious? Yes. The structure I was going for? Not even close. Too soft. Almost dainty. They couldn’t hold the filling or the frosting the way I intended.
Three test batches later.
Tweaking the flour.
Adjusting the temperature.
Changing the method entirely.
Third time was the charm.
And in the end? It looked nothing like the original recipe.
Isn’t life like that?
We assume we’ve got it figured out. We’ve read the book. Followed the steps. We’re confident enough to send it out into the world before we’ve truly tested it in our own “kitchen”.
And then it overflows.
Not ruined.
Still good, even.
But not what we were aiming for.
Sometimes it takes the interruption to make us pause. To reconsider. To adjust the temperature. To admit we might not know as much as we thought we did.
After six decades under my belt, you’d think I’d remember this by now. Apparently, I’m still learning. Which is a good thing!
God’s plans are better structured than mine anyway.
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.“
— Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)
What feels like failure might be refinement.
What feels like overflow might be redirection.
What feels like “wasted” batches might actually be grace.
So today, if something in your life has risen higher than expected, spilled over, or refused to hold its shape, pause before you scrap the whole thing.
Adjust.
Pray.
Trust.
His recipe is better. Always.
Still cooking, still learning — with grace at the table. 💚
What I’m Reading & Watching
Once a month, I’ll try to update you on what I am reading and watching!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
Oh, I loved this one. If you read Becoming Mrs. Lewis like I did and didn’t want it to end, this story carries that same gentle depth. Set in 1950s England, it follows a determined sister who sets out to discover where C.S. Lewis found the inspiration for Narnia, all because her beloved brother asks. It’s tender, imaginative, and full of heart. The kind of book that quietly reminds you how powerful story can be — especially when it’s woven with faith, grief, and hope.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
I’m finishing this one and am thoroughly enjoying it. A mysterious older gentleman shows up in a small Southern town and begins buying artists’ portraits, then deliberately delivers them to the very people depicted in the paintings. He only gives his first name. Clearly, there’s a backstory there, and I still don’t fully know why he’s doing what he’s doing — and honestly? I’m enjoying not knowing.
It’s steady, thoughtful, and beautifully written. The journey feels meaningful, even before all the answers come. Unless it takes a wild turn at the end, it’s a solid five stars from me.
What We’re Watching
If you haven’t started All Creatures Great and Small, run — don’t walk. It’s that good.
It stays beautifully true to the original books, the characters are the kind you fall in love with (and occasionally get frustrated with), and the writing and acting are just marvelous. It’s comforting, heartfelt, and the kind of series you look forward to at the end of the day.
We’ve also been enjoying Miss Scarlet. It begins with the Duke as her Scotland Yard connection, but clearly he had other things to do because they write him out of the story. I wasn’t sure how that would go, but they’ve done a surprisingly good job weaving in new, intriguing characters.
Set in Victorian London, it follows Eliza Scarlet as she takes over her late father’s detective agency and insists on working in a profession that was decidedly not meant for women at the time. It’s clever, a little gritty without being over the top, and full of sharp dialogue and slow-building tension. Eliza is determined and imperfect, which makes her easy to root for.
So far so good. Fingers crossed it keeps its footing.
What are you reading and watching? Comment below or email me! I’d love to hear!
Just a quick reminder that I read and respond to every email, and I’m truly thankful for every one of you who comes back week after week! Your support means the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read and click through to a few recipes—I’m incredibly grateful!
Please come back and rate and comment on a post if you try it.
Coming soon…Banana Cinnamon Rolls, Roasted Cabbage, Braised Cabbage Wedges, Cinnamon Rolls with Crescent Dough…and much more!
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Eliza
Love your new meal plans and Sunday Food for the Soul! Thank you for giving me something new to look forward to each week. (Can’t wait for those well-tested lemon meringue cupcakes, too!)
Thank you my friend! 🥰
Cyndi McMahan
I love this, Kathleen. Thank you for sharing your recipes, and your faith!
Thank you so much Cyndi!