May Lunch Bunchers

 The Lunch Bunch come once a month

Unfortunately, friend JoAnn moved to the city

We've not replaced her preferring instead to have a "guest" Lunch Buncher

each month.

So it's the three of us . . . and one guest!

I love when the living room is all expectant -- waiting on company!

It was dark and rainy and lit lamps were a must!

And I always love this view of the dining room table when we're expecting guests!

And this one . .  my view for this is my place!

Garden roses are the centerpiece

A salad of fresh from the garden lettuce, blue cheese, pickled beets and a dressing

made from half homemade poppyseed and half homemade herby vinaigrette

Our main course:

Tomato basil chicken

My first basil harvest of the year

(I always pinch them back when I plant . . . and the trimmings were perfect in this dish!)

Dessert was from one of my beloved cozy mystery books:

Strawberry truffle tart

An amazingly simple dessert that gives a Big Bang for little effort!

It was really good!

This will definitely be one of my go to chocolate company desserts

All too soon, after we discussed the latest movies we've seen, the last book we've read

and things about town, it was after 2 and they headed home!

As is my choice

(no one helps after a party -- they are guests)

I washed the dishes and put the dining room back to it's everyday order!