Zinnias from my garden in a pitcher my daughter's bought for me in Croatia.
The table is set: placemats from Wal-mart, napkins from a gift shop, and flowers from my garden.
We are having friends over for dinner this evening. If it wasn't so hot, we would eat out on the back patio. But I think we will all be more comfortable inside in the air conditioning. Maybe we will take our strawberry shortcake outside after dinner if it cools off.
Does having guests for dinner stress you out? I hope not. Sometimes we spend too much energy worrying about everything being just right instead of just enjoying the preparation. I have tidied things up a bit, but I haven't cleaned the entire house. I have come to the conclusion that a stressed-out hostess doesn't create the warm, friendly atmosphere that I desire for my guests. Family and friends will generally overlook a little imperfection when the mood and food exude a welcoming environment.
Here's a good summertime potatoe recipe (I'm serving this tonight!) that is good served warm or at room temperature:
PARSLIED POTATOES
4 boiling pototoes---peel and slice 1/4 inch thick. Boil in salted water
until tender. Drain and add to the following mixture. Toss.
1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
3 Tablespoons olive oil, either light or extra virgin
1 or 2 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon fresh chopped Italian parsley (If I don't have the fresh
parsley, I use dried parsley or dill.)
If you have leftovers, make some pototoes salad with it! I rarely have any left, even if I double the recipe.
4 comments:
can i come for dinner? the a/c, potatoe salad and dessert sound great! :)
Beautiful zinnias and lovely vase. My son and his fiancee have been travelling in Croatia recently and have had such a wonderful time in this beautiful country.
Great advice about relaxing when having guests. I really must remember it myself!!!
Hope you are not suffering too much with the heat. Shall I send you some cold?
A beautiful table and I am sure the dinner was good to. Good friends and dinner....what more does one need..
I plan to grow more zinnias for cutting next year. Yours are so pretty, and I love the blue vase. Very wise advise. I intend to remember your words of wisdom at Thanksgiving in a few weeks :)
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