Banana cinnamon pudding

80 grams margarine

100grams cake flour

2 medium, very ripe bananas

½ cup caster sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1 cup milk

¼ cup warm water

2 eggs

Cream together margarine and caster sugar until they are fluffy. In a separate bowl mash the bananas. In a separate bowl beat the eggs. Put the bananas and eggs in the bowl with sugar and margarine and add the other dry ingredients. Add milk and warm water and mix together until the mixture is smooth. Put in a baking dish and put the baking dish in a dish with warm water and bake for 45 minutes.

By Naomi Chitambira

Lady! You've Got What it Takes

Introducing Role Modeling

3 Bid the older women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment (the manner in which one conducts oneself) as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers (oral defamation, malicious talk) or slaves to drink (addicted alcohol). They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what is right and noble,

4 So that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children,

5 To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting and subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited).

6 In a similar way, urge the younger men to be self-restrained and to behave prudently (taking life seriously).

7 And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity (having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive), with dignity and seriousness. Titus 2: 3-7, (AMP with emphasis).

So that they will wisely train the young women to be .........

I believe the scripture above is talking about role modeling rather than mere teaching. The reason being that it starts with what older women are supposed to do. There is power in role modeling than teaching. Teaching is easy but doing (role modeling) is difficulty.

The word 'role model' has lost its meaning overtime. Its authenticity has been overshadowed by myths. To retain its validity, we have to bust the myths to create a common understanding. Here are some of the myths that have held us from playing our part.

·         No one is willing to emulate commoners

·         Role modeling is for the rich and famous

·         Role modeling is for those in leadership positions

·         Role models should appeal to the naked eye

·         Role modeling is for the aged

The truth is everyone is a role model. Someone is looking at you, someone is emulating you, whether you are aware or not that's how simple it is. What you need to begin to think deeply about is what do you have in your hands-to give? Do not think of material things. Examine yourself. I was one of those people who believed that there were better people or better women other ladies could look up to. This mentality was fueled up by our world of materialism, positions and titles. 

It was until I became a mother that it dawned to me that I had something to give and that our children were watching and learning from us. It gave me some confidence to figure out what kind of a mother I would want to be. What do I have in my hands to give? On the other hand I was pushed to add more to what I already had. I started noticing that my influence extends beyond my household. From the shopping mall to the nearest grocery shop I buy bread and beyond. Oh! Yes this changed me and inspired me to grow in character and I'm still growing.

You will notice that the moment you see yourself as someone resourceful, you will believe that someone has a reason to emulate you. I actually believe that the more you feel confident about yourself being a role model the more you will be able to identify your role model. In this series we are going to explore the attributes of role modeling. What does it take for us to be role models to younger women?

We have what it takes!

If all the good people in the world believed in their capacity to role model good, evil would be overshadowed.

Our recipe of the month -Banana Cinnamon Pudding coming next week!

Planning for Guests - Guest Room

Guest Room

Growing up I used to wonder at the seriousness my mother used to take when receiving visitors. One of her area of concern was the guest room. We had enough bedrooms for our family. So if a visitor is coming it meant that some members of the family will have to give way to the guest and she would make sure that we put the room in good order. All things like bed linen and blankets were inspected. It was real work!

One day we had unexpected guests. I watched her organizing the available resources just to make sure the guests were comfortable. She was the type of a host who would go as far taking her best linen from her bed to ensure that the guests were comfortable. One day I asked her why she attached such importance even to unexpected guests. She said, "A woman is the spirit of the home," translated in our shona language as "Musha Mukadzi." Then I understood why she attached so much importance to her guests whether invited or uninvited. She took receiving visitors as a blessing.

You produce after your own!

Newly married, Tinashe and I had not many resources-we were simply two hearts that loved each other. When we had our baby, we started receiving visitors and some were coming over for a weekend to rejoice with us. I found myself executing my mother's principles. I fondly remember one night that the two of us had to share one pillow because we had given the rest to our friends who had visited. It was fun! I grew from such experiences and developed a plan of how to make my guest room comfortable. I remembered how my mum creatively made visitors comfortable with what she had and I knew that not having money was not an excuse but it was the heart's attitude that mattered. Firstly, I listed what the guest room needed. Then I began to save and monthly buy one at a time for the guest room.  It has worked for me to put together my guest room. Now I look back and I feel so proud of having made such a decision.

Tips- Making guest room

• Prepare the room: Even if you have a maid or house help, do the final check yourself  to see if the spirit of the room reflects the person you are. This includes checking the curtains, windows, the floor and the room arrangement.

• Sleep time: It is one of the most important time for all of us. After the special fellowship and catching up from where you left--resting time should be comfortable. Check the bed linen. Use clean, washed and ironed linen. It doesn't matter whether it's new or old. Use what you have. Give your visitors a pillow that you would feel comfortable sleeping on. Pay attention to detail.  
• Bath Time: Take a 360⁰ look at the bathroom. Maybe you have a self contained guest wing or you are sharing the bathroom with the guest, it does not matter. The idea is to be in charge and check the bathroom before your guest enters. I prefer setting up the room with all necessities such as tooth paste, shower gel, set of towels, sewing set, shower cap etc. most of the times I have noticed that my guests uses some  of the things. Let us have a light moment. (I used to put good books with a mission to share empowering messages. I stopped when I realized that it tempted my guests to borrow the books. Now I put the Bible ).

• Let them Know: Let your visitors know that they can approach you if they need help or something. Familiarize them with the house. This includes letting them know where the bathrooms are. It would be embarrassing if your guest get lost into other people's bedrooms. For example water pressure may not allow two people taking a shower the same time. Advice your guest about such issues so as to minimize unpleasant surprises. If there are extra blankets show them where they are kept just in case .

•  Get to know- Get to know your visitors program for the next day. This will help you plan - for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Get to know their area of interest even in conversations. It pays to ask simple questions like what's your favorite sport, scripture, books etc. This applies to those who host guests you have not met before. The first time I hosted a team that I had not met before was not easy. That's how I learnt that some simple questions help you to flow as the host. Note*- it's not wise to engage in political discussions especially with guests you have not met before. It may be annoying.

• Show them- show your visitors that you were expecting them. It's such a blessing. My kids are excellent at that. They cannot hide their joy. Our princesses once  packed some gifts for our guest and we realized the gifts were their drawings. The guest who received them was overwhelmed by the warm welcome and she told us that she kept them in a safe place to preserve the fond memories.

You are being watched!

That's the truth. Remember the paragraph titled "You produce after your own." Our children are watching us. One day my daughters' Ballet teacher (a Scottish lady in her 80's) visited our home. Whilst I was catching up with her, my seven year old princess went into the kitchen. She took a beautiful tray, a small plate then put one of the freshly baked muffins. She came to serve her teacher. Believe me I was shocked and proud at the same time. Seeing that the little lady had already started some work I then had to help her complete the job. The ballet teacher commented her for being a virtuous little girl and she asked for another muffin. Finally when she was leaving she said, "You have beautiful daughters."

This was an awakening call for me that even a seven year girl is watching and emulating what I do. I have to  ensure I model the right version womanhood. I may not have a full understanding of womanhood but I believe in the grace of God.

Be inspired......Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home (homemakers), to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2: 3-5, (NIV with emphasis)

Planning For Guests- Series

Planning for Guests-Series

Meal Plan

Everyone enjoys some moments with beloved ones. We spend most of our time with our family but once in a while the joy of having visitors is something we look forward to. I personally take it as an honor when someone leaves their special home just to be with us. Throughout my life, I have learnt that planning is a day to day tool that is essential in oiling what we do.

One of the things that I take pride in is receiving my visitors or guests and one of the greatest things that makes receiving them an enjoyable experience for me is prior planning and organizing. I plan around the great Shona (my native language) proverb (Ukama igasva huno zadziswa nekudya- relationships are reinforced at the table)- Meal plan.

Meal plan is a great way to enjoy your visitors. I find it easier to plan when I know the time frame I will be hosting visitors. When visitors go beyond a week, I make sure the first week is planned and the period beyond that my guests will enjoy our family routine but still seasoned with our warm welcome.

Below are the benefits that accrues with Meal Planning

·        Resources: Planning enables you to work within available resources. It eradicates the stress of having to figure out what to cook and it allows you to plan around what you can afford.

Remember that receiving your visitors and making them feel at home has nothing to do with money/riches but has all to do with the heart. You can play around with what you have to make your guests feel at home. It's the heart's attitude that counts.

·        Confidence: planning for your guests enables you to be confident and in control of your household. It makes everyone's work easier from your helpers to every family member. I personally find it creating a cohesion whereby family members volunteer their best. In the past two months I was carried away with joy when our 12 year old boy woke up earlier to wash our guests' car followed by ours. When I asked him why he washed the guest car first, he replied he knew the guests were leaving in the morning.

·        Empowerment: having to do meal plans empowers you with a number of choices to make. You will put effort to put the first meal plan, second and third. What follows thereafter is just  rescheduling of what you already have. Usually when I do a meal plan for my guest I write the name of the guest and the meal plan, print it out and stick it on a hidden place where my guest will not access it. This means that if you happen to have the same guests sometime in the future, you will not give them the same meal plan. You will look into your meal plans file or saved files on your computer and choose something different.

·        Control: It results in a well organized environment that brings out the beauty of the home and the host. The host is stress free and has energy to attend to her guests. I attach this to a fraction of the Proverbs 31 Woman. Her husband is confident and trust her with the management of the affairs of their household.

Below is an example of a two day Meal Plan

Friday	Saturday	Sunday	Monday
	Breakfast Cornflakes Eggs Mince meat Bread Sliced tomato	Breakfast Cornflakes Cake slice Fruit (available fruit is ok) Tea	Breakfast Cornflakes Egg Sausage Fruit salad Guests Leave
	Lunch Starch: Potatoes in soup Meat: Fish Vegetable: cabbage salad Desert: Mango/ papaya	Lunch Starch: Bread Rolls Stir fry vegetable Cheese Juice Tea
Dinner Starch: Rice Meat: Tinashe's chicken, Sausage Vegetable: Lettuce salad Desert-Halloween cake Guests arrive	Dinner Starter-Butternut soup Starch: Spaghetti Meat: Roast Steak, Pork chops Steamed vegetable Desert- Fruit Salad	Dinner Starch: Sadza Meat: Traditional chicken, Beef stew Vegetable: Spinach Dessert- Malva pudding

My encouragement for hosting my guest is rooted in  the word of God.

Hebrews 13:2 NIV

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

Take care to keep your house open: because in this way some have had angels as their guests, without being conscious of it.

Be blessed

Naomi Chitambira