Kathy Schooley carefully folds thin slices of prosciutto, places them on top of honeydew melon cubes and gently pierces them with a toothpick. She’s preparing hors d’oeuvres for the church staff Christmas party the next night—the latest of many times she’s used her cooking skills in First Free’s kitchen to serve others.

As Kathy expertly slices and rolls more prosciutto, she talks about the spiritual significance of cooking and hospitality. Working in her aunt’s deli straight out of high school, she knew how to cook. Yet, it wasn’t until her Adult Community, Faith Builders, began talking about service that she realized God could use her cooking for more than just filling bellies.

“Through serving at the church and cooking I’ve gotten to meet so many wonderful people. It’s been an opportunity to not only serve my church family, but also serve God. Food is a social ice breaker. It brings people together.”

Speaking of bringing people together, Kathy hosts almost every holiday at her home. “We have a big home and it’s nice to open it up and share it. Opening up your home is a way to show your love — love to people, love to the Lord and thankfulness for all the blessings in my home.” 

When she hosts, she likes to start every meal with prayer, especially when some of the guests don’t yet know the Lord. “It’s a way to tell people who God is and share my faith in a simple way, without trying to convince them of anything.” 

At Kathy’s holiday gatherings, it’s not uncommon for a traditional Swedish dish or two to be found on the table. 

“Both of my grandparents were both born in Sweden, so we grew up with lutefisk (codfish preserved in lye), lefse (a potato-based flatbread), korv (Swedish sausage) and Swedish meatballs. About the only one I make today are the Swedish meatballs and sometimes I buy the lefse, but not the lutefisk,” she said with a laugh. “The Swedish meatballs are a family favorite. You can never go wrong with that one.”

Aside from being delicious, family-favorite entrees like Kathy’s Swedish meatballs are beloved because they represent cherished memories of special occasions and times with loved ones. 

“When you have some of the food you had as a child, it brings you right back, all the old memories.”

“I don’t remember this, but my sister has a memory of my grandma making us lutefisk as children and me saying that it tastes like hot rubber bands,” she laughed. “At those holidays there’d be nine of us grandkids at the house, waiting for our parents to finish their eating so we could open our gifts—but they were real chatty.” 

“Christmas gets to be a busy time but you always want to take time to plan your meals. It’s a big part of the social aspect of the holiday—picking what you want to present, how you want to bring the tradition into what you’re doing and fill it with love. You want people to feel welcome in your home, have good food, have good fellowship and bring the Lord to the table.” 

Aunt Florence’s Swedish Meatballs

Recipe courtesy of Kathy Schooley

1 pound ground beef

⅛ pound ground pork

⅛ pound ground veal

¾ cup dry bread crumbs

¾ cup milk

1 small grated onion

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. sugar

1 tsp. vinegar

¾ tsp. allspice

⅛ tsp. white pepper

1 egg – beaten

1 tbsp. butter

Soak breadcrumbs in milk.

Mix meats.

Add egg to combine meats.

Add breadcrumbs and milk mixture to meats and mix in.

Add grated onion – mix well.

Add salt, pepper, sugar and allspice – mix well. 

Roll mixture into 1 inch balls and brown them in 1 tablespoon of butter in a dish with a lid. 

Add 1 cup of water to the meatballs, cover with a lid and let steam for 45 min. – 1 hour.