There is something magical about getting friends together (old and new) to “break bread together”, as the old saying goes. I guess if you are gluten free you can break something else like gluten free baguettes or skip the bread all together. But having a family style dinner around a table, passing plates, hearing different conversations, laughing, and serving each other is one of my favorite kinds of nights. Maybe because I am getting older, I am starting to understand the importance of having others in my home. As I sat on the couch during dessert and listened to two cancer survivors share their stories, I was amazed at how powerful shared relationships can be. The sad thing is, these dinners or conversations in our homes doesn’t happen enough or sometimes ever.
There are lots of reasons for this; for example, maybe the busyness of life or the insecurity of having others over in our humble homes keep us from asking others to join us.
Questions like:
- Will my food be good enough?
- Will my house be clean enough?
- Will I be a good host?
- Will the people I invite get along?
Sometimes these questions and the insecure answers we may come up with keep us from having the most memorable times with the people who can be some of our most treasured friends. We just have to give an opportunity and place for this to happen.
After reading Jen Hatmaker’s book, “For The Love”, I was inspired to start a supper club just like she has done. Invite some friends we know well, invite some I would love to get to know, and just eat dinner around a table (NO KIDS). Because I mean really how much grown up talking is going down when little’s are present? Leave those conversations: “don’t eat that, please finish your veggies, drink the water, oh, no we spilled,” for another night.
For this night eat, talk, laugh, and spend time. That’s it!
For my personality having a dinner party is my super bowl. It gives this girl who loves to decorate, a good reason to do it. I don’t have to make up things to decorate or give excuses (when my husband asks why for the 100th time this week) as to why I am redoing our table. I will dream about what my table will look like for days (this is just the way my brain works). I will Pinterest the crap out of “fall tablescapes,” and figure out how to mismatch different types of fabric and textures.
For some, this is pure torture and can be intimidating. For me, it is pure delight!!
However, the problem with dinner club for me, is that I can’t just HAVE a pretty table! I also have to MAKE dinner (hence the name “Dinner Club”J).
So, I usually leave that part to someone else. I call someone really good at cooking and ask them exactly what I should do. Recipes, measurements and all.
I hold to Richard Branson’s quote:
“It’s OK not to know how to do everything. Bring people on board whose strengths play to your weaknesses."
This month’s supper club deets:
I wanted to do fall veggies, because I am so ready for fall and I love simple herbs and seasonings. I have had to learn how to go simple, even though that is a word that I would hardly associate myself with. Most of the time I am actually asking people to EDIT me. Sometimes simple is the best. Most of the time actually.
SIMPLE: not elaborate or ARTIFICIAL.
My definition for simple would be REAL, JUST RIGHT.
(Because all of my time was taken up getting flowers, rearranging the tablecloths and place settings…I knew, from past experience that I would need a one dish meal. Something I could make a head of time and throw in the oven, while I continue to mess with my table.)
MENU:
SALAD:
Arugula
Watercress
Sweet onion
Apples
Goat cheese
Spiced pecans
Bacon
MAIN COURSE:
CHICKEN AND VEGGIES:
DESSERT:
Paleo Apple Cobbler
Chop 4-5 apples in casserole dish, sprinkle with cinnamon
TOPPING:
1 cup of almond meal
2 TBS of honey or syrup
¼ cup crushed pecans
Melt roasted toasty coconut oil add enough to give it a wet-ish consistency when mixed with other ingredients.
Sprinkle on top of apples and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly.
- Simple flowers in bud vases from Blooming buckets. I have made friends with a local florist who lets me come in the back and pick buds. It is my favorite thing EVER.
- Napkins from T.J.Maxx for $5.99
- Placemats from Target
- Mason jars from random places
- Old burlap
- Rosemary tucked in napkins with raffia that I found in my new organized junk drawer (that someone else organized)
- I honestly don’t have matchy serving dishes, so I just piece things together.
Each month someone else will host and be in charge of dinner. My dinners will probably be easy, but my table will be pretty because I love it. But some days it could look like delivery pizza and a football game or crockpot meals. Sometimes will will even have meals on paper plates. Gasp.
It doesn’t matter what you have or what it looks like, it really just matters about being together. My people could care less if I have cute cuts of rosemary branches on their table. They would be just as happy with paper products, but it’s what I love to do! It’s my love language, so even though the guys may look at my table with confusion, they go with it.
A couple things I would encourage you to think about when having others over:
- Be confident in your hosting skills, whether it be paper plates and pizza or filet mignon and China. OWN IT!
- Let people come into your messes and don’t apologize for it.
- Never compare when you walk into a house that may seem “put together,” it takes away the joy for you AND the one who has labored to give you a special treat. Enjoy the beauty and take it has a gift for you.
P.S. Most those who have pretty houses on the inside (decorated etc…) have 100 junk drawers. Find solace in this!
Funny side story:
I have friend who is starting an organizing business. She wanted to practice on me. Which is music to my ears. She couldn’t believe that my drawers and cabinets were so messy. She assumed that since the outside was pretty and put together the insides would also be put together and wouldn’t need her help. I laughed. I thought to myself what a great lesson. Sometimes people have no idea the messes we hide. Stop hiding it! She couldn’t believe I was comfortable with her seeing my mess. A couple of years earlier I would have been. But now I have come to terms that though I may be good at some things, I am not good at others. And need those people who are, to come in my life (messy and all) and help me sort my shiz out. I need those peeps in every area of my life (Side story over).
Remember we are all creative souls in our own way. Embrace your creativity; your small, big, messy, clean, decorated, 100-junk drawer home, …embrace your hosting skills. Don’t apologize for your dinner, your messes, your hostess mishaps, your paper plates, or your burnt meal!
Remember everyone just wants a kind place to sit, a place to be themselves, and an opportunity to do life with others. Provide that place you own imperfectly perfect way.
And share some of your dinner menus (or come cook mine and I’ll do your table). I am all about the swaps!