Gather your family and friends around the table with these delicious dishes.

Several years ago, my book club gathered for brunch. While there, I ate the most delicious chicken casserole I'd tasted in a long time. I just had to get our hostess’s recipe. She happily shared this easy-to-make dish with me, and it's become a favorite of my family and friends.

Since then, I've also made this Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole more times than I can count for church friends who need the comfort of a caringly prepared meal.

I'm never shy about asking for recipes—that's how I've obtained some of my most treasured ones. And I'm never reticent to share them in turn. So I asked the other members of the TCW staff to share their favorite dishes as well. I hope you'll enjoy these recipes as much as we have—and you'll share the dishes with those you love.

Why I struggle to pray out loud

My palms sweat. My heart races. And I’m certain everyone can hear its pounding over the softly spoken prayers that wind through the small prayer group I attend each Tuesday morning.

The petitions usually travel in a circle, progressing from the volunteer opener to the designated closer. And as I bow my head, I begin quick mental arithmetic to determine how long I have before the arrival of the long, deafening pause that indicates the circle’s once again reached me.

Suddenly, my molehill grew into a mountain.

It was a glorious autumn getaway. My husband and I, along with our mischievous black Lab puppy, Boomer, escaped last weekend to Wisconsin, where we took long, leisurely hikes among a kaleidoscope of colorful leaves, bit into crisp Cortland apples from our favorite roadside orchard, and ate a hearty dinner at the kitschy Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty. Unfortunately, our weekend didn’t end so gloriously.

I can’t blame the usual suspects for spoiling my vacation afterglow. Boomer didn’t chew up another pair of my shoes (although he tried). Rich and I didn’t argue over something silly. In fact, we had a great time recuperating from the happy hoopla of our eldest daughter’s wedding the weekend before. We returned home deliciously tired, mellow, and content.

Then I made my mistake—checking e-mail before collapsing into bed. Who knew what important messages I might have missed during the two whole days I was gone?

How I’ve learned that being one is a precious privilege and an awesome responsibility

The question has stayed with me for nearly three years. It pops up in my consciousness every now and then like a buoy, making me a bit uncomfortable. But I'm learning that’s not such a bad thing.

When I first heard the question, I was in California visiting my friends Sandie and Estera, two women I’d met the year before at an overseas conference for women in Christian publishing. Since my friends were both missions-minded and poised at crossroads in their lives, I knew we’d enjoy stimulating conversation about life, purpose, and direction. I couldn't wait.

I have to admit it: I enjoy watching television.

One of my daughters got me hooked on watching the Bravo network’s Project Runway, featuring style guru Tim Gunn (who now has his own show on Bravo) and supermodel Heidi Klum. But my favorite program is The Learning Channel’s What Not to Wear, hosted by sassy Stacy London and Clinton Kelly. Any given Friday night my husband and I aren’t busy, I love hunkering down to watch this duo surprise an unsuspecting woman in dire need of style savvy.

Stacy and Clinton quickly dispatch her ratty tees, baggy jeans, and—horror of horrors!—theme sweaters to the garbage can, then arm her with a credit card worth $5,000 and their shopping guidelines. She gets two days in Manhattan to shop till she drops (or breaks down in frustration and the fashionistas come to her emotional rescue). Then she’s off to the hairstylist and makeup artist for a makeover to complete the look. Voilà! She’s transformed. I love watching that process of exterior metamorphosis.