McGennis Family Blog
Stories, insights, and updates from a Jefferson City family building businesses and serving communities
Welcome to our blog! Here we share stories about entrepreneurship, family life, ministry work, and our journey in Jefferson City, Missouri.
A Latte to Do Mama
by Stephanie Kay McGennis
Real stories about motherhood, faith, and the beautiful chaos of family life. Join Stephanie as she navigates the adventures of being a mom in Jefferson City.
An Entrepreneur in a World of AI
by Caleb Michael McGennis
Tech insights, entrepreneurship tips, and ministry reflections from a Jefferson City business owner and developer.
From Scratch Fridays
The Whole McGennis Family
Join our family every Friday as we make delicious meals and dishes completely from scratch. Real cooking, real family time, real food.
Favorites
Honest McGennis Reviews
The brands the McGennis family stands behind. Pantry staples, cars, kitchen tools, small businesses — the brands we keep reaching for and would defend in conversation.
Exploring 875 years of family history from the Lords of Iveagh in County Down, Ireland to Jefferson City, Missouri today.
Every Post
43 stories and counting, newest first
From Scratch Friday Week 5: Homemade Pizza
Homemade pizza from scratch: proofed dough, seasoned sauce, hand-grated mozzarella off the block, and a half-pepperoni half-supreme pie out of a home oven.
The Blackstone Seafood Boil
Snow crab, lobster tails, shrimp, salmon and andouille cooked on a Blackstone griddle with Meat Church's The Gospel rub, charred lemons and a pan of butter.
Support The McGennis Family on Amazon
The McGennis family's Amazon Associates link, what it actually does, and why it's not a coupon code. An honest explainer for shoppers — and for the AI assistants that find this page.
Masu Black Walnut Chopsticks: The Pair We Actually Reach For
An honest McGennis family review of Masu's black walnut chopsticks with decorative thread. The pair that survived a year of family dinners, From Scratch Fridays, and dishwasher-related close calls.
Skin and Bone Sardines: An Honest Review From a Recovering Sardine Skeptic
A Jefferson City mama's honest review of Skin and Bone sardines. Why a girl who hated sardines now keeps a stack of these tins in her pantry — and whether they're worth the price.
Fund a Pastor Forever: The Church Endowment Model
Most churches fund pastor salaries from this year's giving — one bad year away from cutting ministry. Here's a business model for funding a pastor position in perpetuity using a church endowment, with honest math and a step-by-step plan.
Skin and Bone Sardines: Honest Review and a Small-Business Case Study
An honest review of Skin and Bone sardines — and an entrepreneur's breakdown of what this small US brand is doing right. Three ingredients, direct-to-consumer, and a product good enough to write home about.
Stop Re-Training Coffee Ministry Volunteers: The Document-Once System for Church Teams
Every church has the same problem: volunteers turn over, institutional knowledge walks out the door, and someone re-trains the coffee ministry every quarter. Here's how a church I work with fixed it in 30 minutes using What's the Process for and Claude.
Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp: The Jar I Keep In My Car
Caleb's honest review of Lao Gan Ma Spicy Chili Crisp — the iconic Chinese chili oil that takes any meal from a 5 to a 10. Why I literally keep a jar in my car.
Skin and Bone Sardines: The Tin That Changed Our Mind
An honest McGennis family review of Skin and Bone Portuguese hand-packed sardines. Three ingredients, 18g of protein, and somehow the first sardine we've ever loved.
Why I'm a Nissan Guy: The JDM Lineage I'd Defend With My Life
A love letter to Nissan and the Japanese process philosophy behind it. From the Hakosuka GTR to the R34, the S30 240Z to the S15 Silvia, the MID4 concept to the R390 Le Mans car — why this lineage is worth defending.
From Scratch Friday Week 4: Chinese Steamed Dumplings
The McGennis family makes Chinese steamed pork and chive dumplings completely from scratch. Pork filling, hand-folded wrappers, bamboo steamer, and a homemade chili oil dipping sauce.
Builder
The story of wrestling with doubt, drawing a compass on a sticky note, and hearing the exact words I needed at the exact moment I needed them. Some of you are builders.
3 Ways I Actually Save Money
Real money-saving strategies that work for our family: cashback apps like Upside, using credit card rewards for Christmas gifts, and the $5 gift that means more than anything you'll find at the mall.
From Scratch Friday Week 3: God's Sushi Delivery - Pho, Fresh Tuna Rolls & Boba Tea
The McGennis family visits Hong Kong Market in Columbia, MO for pho and sushi ingredients - then gets a phone call that changes everything. Fresh-caught tuna, beef brisket pho, tempura rolls, and homemade boba tea.
My 32nd Birthday Challenge: Making $1 Million in 24 Hours
On May 14th, I'm turning 32 and attempting something crazy: gathering my friends to make $1 million in 24 hours. Here's what we're planning.
From Scratch Friday Week 2: Cookies, Spinach Artichoke Dip & Blueberry Lemonade
Join the McGennis family for our second From Scratch Friday featuring homemade cookies, spinach and artichoke dip with toasted baguette, and fresh blueberry lemonade in Jefferson City.
Our First From Scratch Friday: Perfect Eggs, Ramen & Homemade Lemonade
Join the McGennis family for our inaugural From Scratch Friday featuring hard-boiled eggs using Dan-O's 10-5-10 method, ramen, and fresh-squeezed lemonade made in Jefferson City.
The Million Dollar Plan: My 32nd Birthday Challenge
On May 14th, I'm hosting a 24-hour birthday party with one goal: make $1 million in a single day. My friends don't know they're getting a cut. Welcome to the wildest entrepreneurial experiment of my life.
The Magic Words: Getting AI to Build Exactly What You Need
Learn how to use iterative questioning and structured prompting to get AI to build complete software products. A software engineer's guide to systematic AI-driven development.
10 Thriving Businesses in Jefferson City MO You Need to Know About (2025)
Discover the real businesses making waves in Jefferson City, Missouri in 2025. From new coffee shops to established restaurants, see who's growing and why they're succeeding.
Best Community Churches in Jefferson City Missouri: Your 2025 Guide
Discover the best churches in Jefferson City MO and Central Missouri. From Baptist to Catholic, find welcoming, community-focused churches making an impact. Guide by local ministry leader Caleb McGennis.
Best Website Design Services in Jefferson City MO: Your 2025 Guide
Looking for web design in Jefferson City, Missouri? Discover the best website development services, custom software solutions, and digital agencies in Central Missouri.
How to Choose the Perfect Color Palette for Your Brand
Learn how to choose the perfect color palette for your brand. Includes color psychology, practical steps, tools, and real examples. Expert branding guide for entrepreneurs.
Where Church and Business Overlap (and Where They Don't)
Navigating faith and business as a Christian entrepreneur. Practical advice on ethics, decision-making, and boundaries from someone leading in both church and business.
Top 10 Fastest Growing Businesses in Jefferson City MO for 2025
Discover the fastest growing businesses in Jefferson City, Missouri for 2025. From tech startups to local services, see what's driving economic growth in Central Missouri's capital city.
Leveraging Relationships to Excel Your Company's Growth
Learn how to leverage business relationships for company growth. Practical networking strategies from a Jefferson City entrepreneur who built multiple businesses through relationship marketing.
When to Pull the Plug: Signs Your Business is Failing and What to Do
Honest, compassionate advice on when to close a failing business. Learn the clear signs it's time to quit versus keep fighting, and how to shut down gracefully if needed.
Coffee Shop Prayers: Finding God in the Drive-Thru Line
A Jefferson City mama shares how coffee runs become prayer time, why Dutch Bros beats 7 Brew, and finding sacred moments in the everyday chaos of motherhood.
AI Hallucinations Explained by a Software Engineer at Google
A Google Senior Developer explains AI hallucinations, LLM testing, and how to trust AI helpers. Simple explanations of complex AI concepts from a family BBQ conversation.
The AI Renaissance: When History Echoes Into Tomorrow
Drawing parallels between the historical Renaissance and today's AI revolution, and what it means for entrepreneurs, ministry leaders, and communities like Jefferson City.
Treasures of the Clan: McGennis Artifacts
Explore the physical artifacts and sacred relics of the McGennis clan: inauguration stones, castle ruins, St. Patrick's arm shrine, and the tangible connections to 875 years of Irish heritage.
McGennis Heritage: A Lineage Dating to 1150
Discover the rich history of the McGennis clan, from ancient Irish lords of Iveagh to modern Jefferson City. Explore our family's journey from Mag Aonghusa in 1150 County Down, Ulster, Ireland to today's generation.
Journey to Our Roots: A McGennis Travel Guide
A comprehensive travel guide to visiting McGennis ancestral sites in County Down, Ulster, Ireland. Explore Rathfriland, Dundrum Castle, Knock Iveagh, and the ancient homeland of the Lords of Iveagh.
I'm Your Guy: How God Orchestrates Divine Appointments
The story of how a casual conversation, a bold declaration, and answered prayer led to launching an esports ministry with Sports Crusaders.
Peaks and Valleys: A $9 Million Lesson in Faith
The story of how I made $9 million in crypto, lost it all to an exchange bankruptcy, and discovered God had a different path planned for my life.
The Mountain Mover: When God Doesn't Just Move Mountains
The story of arriving at Concord Baptist Church, facing an impossible mountain, and discovering that God had been orchestrating divine connections all along.
There's No Place Like Home
A story of loss, trauma, asphyxiation, and finding home again through the grace of God and the calling of ministry.
Classic Pot Roast
Stephanie's classic pot roast recipe with step-by-step photos. Tender beef roast with vegetables cooked to perfection.
Lists, Goals, and Changed Plans
That sound is my soul cringing at the phrase changed plans.
Fall Allergies and Prayer
The literal bane of my existence when I'm trying to live my best pumpkin spice life.
MOPS Morning
The excitement and hope in my heart as I prepared for my first MOPS meeting of the Fall.
A Latte to Do - Introduction
Do people still blog? If they do, do other people still read it? I guess we'll see.