family dinner

*Green goddess dip and crudite. The asparagus is blanched and the other veg are just scattered about. I put the dip in a hollwed out red pepper.*

I had a pticher of pomegrante mocktails on the counter for when everyong arrived. Second son actually ran to dinner and showered at the house. Everyone is into health and wellness and seemingly cutting back on alcohol.

Last night, I hosted a small family dinner. There were eight of us at the table, one high chair pulled up close, one beautiful baby on his beautiful mother’s lap, and ten of us in all.

*A food scale is great to ensure equal layers of the ricotta mixutre. Parchment paper means less dishes. The sauce was made the day before assembly.*

I’ve wanted to try a specific lasagna recipe for two years, so I decided it was time to giddy up and do it. It was two days in the making, and two sons returned for seconds. There might have been thirds, but who’s counting, so it’s a recipe keeper.

*Pierre Frey linen, Juliska Country Estate dinnerware, three small bunches of spring flowers donw the center of the table.*

*Crudite board, pussy willow brancehs from a dear friend, olive oil cake ready to go!*

*Jacqueline wanted some orange slices before dinner.*

At the market, I picked up two bunches of blue hydrangea as I was using my Country Estate dinnerware, which is blue and white. After walking around the store and filling the cart with the necessities, I returned to the floral section and returned the hydrangea. What was I thinking? It’s spring! The table should have spring flowers, not those found in the high summer season. Tulips, hyacinths, and small pussy willow branches in silver julep cups were seasonal and easy.