From Your Kitchen to Ours: Sharing Your Family Traditions with Our Youth

Covenant House invited supporters to share the recipes that hold a special place in their hearts, and once again, our community responded. This time with more than 700 recipes! Six of your recipes made their way from your family’s kitchen into one of our residences, where young people and staff spent an evening cooking together, learning new skills, tasting new flavors, and sharing a meal.

At Covenant House, food is about more than nourishment. It is about connection. It is about gathering around a table, trying something new, and creating a sense of belonging. Thanks to our incredible community of supporters, residents had the opportunity to do exactly that.

The menu reflected a wide range of family traditions and flavors. Nancy shared Doris’s Mac & Cheese, a comforting classic made with sharp cheese, creamy sauce, and baked until golden and bubbly. Gloria contributed Arroz Caldo, a hearty Filipino rice porridge simmered with chicken, garlic, onion, and ginger. Marie sent a Mexican casserole layered with seasoned beef, tortillas, black beans, corn, peppers, sour cream, and cheese. Rita shared her recipe for real Southern Collard Greens, rich with smoked meat and slow-cooked flavor. For dessert and breakfast-inspired treats, Joann submitted a Blueberry Breakfast Bake filled with oats, blueberries, cinnamon, and almonds, while Daphne sent Aunt Hilda’s Baked Rice Custard, a nostalgic recipe topped with cinnamon and sugar. We are deeply grateful to each of these supporters for sharing a piece of their family traditions with our young people.

As ingredients spread across the countertop, residents quickly found their favorite tasks. Some gravitated toward chopping vegetables, while others volunteered to stir sauces and mix batters. The kitchen felt so alive with energy and teamwork as everyone worked together to follow every step in each recipe.

The savory dishes were among the first to come together. The rich aroma of garlic, onion, and ginger filled the room as the Arroz Caldo simmered on the stove. Meanwhile, several young people played a role in layering Marie’s Mexican casserole, adding tortillas, seasoned beef, black beans, and cheese. The making of the mac and cheese drew plenty of attention while all of this was happening.  

Rita’s collard greens required the most preparation, which became a lesson in patience and care. Our residents learned the importance of thoroughly washing, trimming, and slicing the greens before adding them to the pot. We were reminded that a pile of collards may look like a lot but shrinks down to a little. This slow-cooked dish sparked conversations about family recipes and traditions.

The dessert station was a hit. Fresh blueberries were folded into Joann’s breakfast bake with oats, vanilla, and cinnamon. Aunt Hilda’s custard required careful mixing of rice, eggs, sugar, cream, and vanilla before sprinkling cinnamon and sugar across the top. Both desserts filled the kitchen with sugary goodness.

For many residents, this cooking experience was also a reminder of the stability and support they have found at Covenant House. Kareem reflected on the importance of having consistent access to meals, sharing: “I don’t have to spend any money on food being at Covenant House. It is a relief. I can focus on other things.” Walter echoed that sentiment. “It’s a relief. The food is good, the place is good. You have a place to sleep, and some coffee too. It's good.”

As the cooking wrapped up, we gathered around the table to enjoy all six dishes. Plates were filled with generous servings of mac and cheese, Mexican casserole, collard greens, and Arroz Caldo. Dessert quickly followed with the sampling of both the blueberry breakfast bake and the rice custard.

The experience was about more than preparing food; it was an opportunity for our residents and staff to spend meaningful time together outside their daily routines. “Cooking these recipes was a great engagement with the youth. It was fun, the food was good, and I loved how at the end we all ate dinner together,” shared Shaunie. Ramona reflected on the collaborative spirit of the day, saying, “The cooking activity was engaging and harmonious. It was a pleasure and joy sharing this experience with the residents.” Oniesh shared, “It was an amazing experience cooking with the residents and other members of the team, especially getting to try and prepare new dishes together. I can't wait to do it again!”

What stood out most was the sense of community in the room. Young people who had arrived at Covenant House on their own, from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, were now learning from one another and sharing a meal like family.

Moments like these remind us that a recipe is never just a list of ingredients. It carries memories, traditions, and a sense of belonging. By sharing your recipes, you helped us create an evening filled with laughter, teamwork, and discovery.

To Nancy, Gloria, Marie, Rita, Joann, and Daphne: Thank you for opening your family cookbooks and sharing a part of yourselves with Covenant House youth. Your recipes nourished more than appetites.  

To everyone who shared a recipe, thank you. Whether it was a treasured family favorite passed down through generations or a dish that brings comfort to your own table, your generosity made this experience possible. Thank you for helping make Covenant House feel a little more like home.

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To submit recipes in the future, stay connected to our mission, and discover new ways to get involved, we invite you to join the Covenant House newsletter today.