a mid-summer dinner

*I set the picnic table under the trees and close to the house. We had two heaters for when the sun went down.*

Very late afternoon, I had some work to do. I am a solo entrepeneaur. The two armchairs on each end were brougth outside from our dining area. I always put the two largest men on the ends with the armchairs regardless of Bill and I being hosts, I always aim to make our guests comfortable. I’m not sure picnic table benches are super comfortable for men of distingquished substance. 🙂

*I made the tart city-side while working muy fashion hustle and drove it out to the country after it cooled.*

*I prepped the blueberry pie cityside but backed it in the country is a small countertop Wolf oven.*

While there is so much talk about fall and back to school and back to work, I’m not ready to give up on you summer ’25 just yet; in fact, I’m going to the official end, Sunday, September 21st. On Monday, September 22nd, the autumn equinox and the official start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, I’m all yours. Until then, let’s soak in every last drop of the waning daylight.

A few weeks ago I hosted a small weeknight al fresco dinner for eight of us. I wanted to make it special, we were hosting family and friends that hadn’t been together in too long a time. Me being me, I carted dinnerware, the good flatware, and linen napkins from the city house to the country house, it’s all in a day’s effort.

*Peach and burrata salad with homemad foccacia.*

*a room with a view, my county kitchen windows*

*always good for breakfast the next day with an over easy egg on top.*

*Chicken from the local market is prepped and ready to go.*

*quickly blanched green beans laying wati to be sauteed with good butter is always a faorite.*

I made a sublime peach and burrata salad using young arugula and fresh small basil leaves from my garden, and a roasted Chicken Provencal that has been a recent favorite and on good rotation. I did a small potato mash using lots of Kerrygold butter and heated whole mild to make them silky and delicious, and fresh, homegrown green beans rounded out the entree.

For dessert I baked my standard blueberry pie. Apricots have been calling my name at the farmers market so I also added in a beautiful apricot upside down tart kind of thing. Both were served with fresh whipped cream. Guests were offered to choose, most chose a small serving of each, myself included.

My husband picked the wines, as he always does. We are quite the duo, I couldn’t tell you what we drank other than it was delicious, and he couldn’t tell you where I sourced the food or how I prepared it, no matter, we made it work, and it was good.

*when all is done and ready to be served i like to turn the lights off in the kitchen proper work area. It’s easeir on the eyes and makes for a better vibe. no harsh lighting during the dinner hour.*

*here we go… Lela Rose bustier, Brunello Cucinelli skirt, I love good clothes.*

*another vibe check, lighting small votive candles*

*later in the evening when the temperature dropped i added a great turtleneck sweater.*

This was a weeknight dinner during a week I host one of four annual trunk shows, meeting women for one to one style appointments to help them choose clothing for their unique lifestyle. Trunk shows in and of themselves take a lot out of me as I take matching luxury clothing with beautiful women quite serious, yet I also love to host family for intimate and meaningful dining experiences so I guess I just have to go forth, put the work in, and enjoy the rewards.