3 Positive Hospitality Tips and One-Pot Baked Kalamata Chicken Recipe
For the reluctant or new entertainer, this One-Pot Baked Kalamata Chicken Recipe is perfect for serving at a small, intimate dinner party!
Hello, Friends. Have you ever thought of how focusing on the negative side of hospitality can actually steal your love and joy for getting to know others better?
Last week I was thinking about how I could help people more with hospitality. So many I know never open their homes, yet they live in beautiful spaces with so much to offer. I can think of several women (now in their 60s) who’ve never opened their homes to share a meal around their family table. I mean, it’s just not what they did. Now given the fact these woman have been very involved in other groups and ministries, it makes me wonder how many of us struggle with showing others who we are on the inside (our true authentic selves in the comfort of our homes is often the most accurate reflection of who we are), or if we worry too much about how it will all look on the outside?
We worry about image.
This is not easy to write! Too many of us worry about image– how we look to others. I know for a fact that so many of us are blessed with resources for entertaining, plus beautiful spaces (with rooms in our houses that never get used).
I don’t buy the “spiritual gifts” argument … Hospitality is just not my spiritual gift.
True. It may not be our spiritual gifting, but does that mean we are not called to be hospitable? Absolutely not. We’re all called to be hospitable people!
3 simple tips to get started.
Today I’m sharing 3 simple tips to get you started, if you’re feeling the tug to make that initial invite:
1. Start small. Start by inviting 1-2 people over for lunch! Or 2-3 people over for dinner.
2. Focus on the positive. Focus on things that are good and true, such as, I can’t wait to deepen my friendship. I’m confident in my “chicken dish” that I’ve served many times, and know that it will turn out just fine. My table is simple, yet pretty, and I know that hospitality goes beyond how things “look.” I am being used to connect and introduce others around my table, with all insecurity aside.
3. Defeat the ‘what ifs’. Don’t let your mind wander down the path to the negative side. Most of the time when you focus on the ‘what ifs’ (will they like me? will my food turn out? will they judge my house?) those things never even come to pass. What a waste of energy!
Embrace the positive.
With those 3 tips, I’ve learned to embrace these positive thoughts:
People are coming to my home for connection.
People are coming to my home because they want to be known.
People are coming to my home because they need encouragement.
People are coming to my home because they want to be included and loved.
People are coming to relax and let their hair down.
People are coming to my home because they want to learn more about me.
People are coming to my home because they want to laug, and sometimes cry.
One-Pot Baked Kalamata Chicken.
And with these postive thoughts, here’s one of the easiest recipes that is so delicous, it’s good enough for company!
Start with these ingredients.
Tenderize the chicken.
Brown the chicken and saute the onions.
With your favorite cheese, layer the breasts, and spread sour cream on top.
Top with delicous onions and olives. Fresh thyme! Fresh herbs always brings the recipe up a notch.
Bake and serve with brown rice!
What have you found to be the biggest blessing of sharing your life or home with others?
Get the Recipe:
One-Pot Baked Kalamata Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 pounds chicken breasts, tenderized
- Seasoning or salt and pepper
- Your favorite cheese, I use Dubliner and Gouda
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
- Fresh thyme, chopped
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in a Ziploc bag and tenderize on both sides. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- In a medium frying pan, brown both sides of the chicken breasts in 2 Tbsp. olive oil; season with salt and pepper (or your favorite seasoning). Set aside.
- Add 2 Tbsp. more olive oil to the hot pan and sauté the red onion for about 5 minutes until tender and caramelized.
- Lay the chicken in a prepared (sprayed) baking pan; layer cheese slices on top of the breasts.
- Spread about 1 cup (or more) sour cream on top of cheese; sprinkle with chopped olives and fresh thyme.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Delicious served on brown rice!
More one-pot chicken recipes:
Paprika Chicken Thighs {most popular post on RE}
Chicken Marsala
Paprika Sweet Potato Chicken Thighs
Greek Chicken Thighs
Skillet Lemon Chicken
Are you following me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest? If you’d like to subscribe to Reluctant Entertainer, to have each post delivered straight to your e-mail box, then please add your email, here. It’s really easy! Thanks for being here today!
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Thank you!!!!! Always good to step out & grow.
Will be helpful when several of my son’s friends will be at home!
This looks delicious, love your tips!
Making people feel special.
Having no expectations on them but to be real and be themselves.
I have a friend who said, “Why would I want to have people over to my house?”
They are missing out on one of life’s blessings. Entertaining is a great way to be the hands and feet of Christ…. Spread some love…. or Spoil somebody.
You never know how a small dinner gathering could impact another. Love it!
The biggest blessing that comes from sharing our home with others is how it breaks down walls and pretenses. When there’s time to go beyond superficial conversation and share deeper and more honestly about life – This is where friendship blooms. This recipe looks like a keeper too! Thanks Sandy.
Oh my gaaawsh I HAVE to do this. HAFFF TEWWW.