Just what is Small Group Living, you might ask?

I would say it is relaxing with your friends and family in your own private world. It’s coming together and catching up with people that you feel connected to. Sometimes over a quick meal, sometimes just a short visit.

Many times it ends up being impromptu quality, as in last-minute get-togethers. It’s where everyone contributes and pitches in, where the kids help out and participate, and the table is even cleared by all. There are times when friends will start doing dishes at the end of the evening, like our friend Ted who tends to jump in and start loading the dishwasher. The conversation continues from the kitchen all the way out to the front door.

As guests are leaving, my husband Paul will often say, “Come back when you can’t stay as long.” He has said this as long as we’ve been married. It’s the Coughlin way of telling our friends, “We had a great time!” in a rather humerous way.

To me, this is the essence of small group entertaining: sharing the common life with friends and family that I love.
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What did I do with all of those apples? Not only did we make apple sauce, we made Apple Butter with this yummy recipe!

APPLE BUTTER
8 cups apples (I put cook my apples in a big “canner” pot; then put through the Kitchen Aid Fruit and Vegetable Strainer)
3 1/2 cups sugar
1 T cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves

Mix together; cook on low. Jar the cooked jam. Bring your canner water to boil, add jars and process for 15 minutes. Remove and cool.

These beautifully filled jars will come in handy for simple, homemade Christmas gifts this year.

My kids love peanut butter & jelly sandwiches with Apple Butter, and they devour it on toast.

It’s even tastier warmed up over a bowl of vanilla ice cream. YUM!!