An August Dinner Party

We've not had company for dinner in a long time

A very long time

It feel good having dinner guests share our table!

My two favorite parts of having company are:

The anticipatory look of the dining room just before the guests arrive --

where everything is ready -- just waiting to light the candles and the guests sit down!

And the table after everyone has gone.

Where it shows burned down candles and empty plates and the fact that everyone had a good time!

A family table -- my grandmother's china, Jim's grandmother's cutlery, wine glasses that the guest gave us one Christmas, damask napkins in silver rings all on top of a vintage Quaker Lace cloth!

We start with drinks on the porch or parlor

But you need a nibble -- always pick ups rather than dunks

(Husband Jim's rule)

Fresh from the oven stuffed mushrooms

An appetizer I adore and one that I don't make often enough

Dinner doesn't have to be gourmet with sauces and French food

Smoked meatloaf, loaded mashed potatoes

 and fresh green beans (cooked with bacon like Mother did)

Not fancy food but good food!

Dessert needs to be a star!

People will always remember dessert!

A lemon cheesecake

EVERYONE likes cheesecake

This one is lemon.    Full of lemon zest and some lemon juice

Creamy and delicious.

A new recipe

(I can't have a dinner party and not serve something new)

But it is a keeper and I will definitely make again.

Soon the bottles of wine were empty, the coffee gone, the dessert plates

"almost" licked clean

Our company said their goodbyes and Husband Jim and and I and the pups

sat on the porch commenting on what a nice evening it was.

An evening with friends and food is always a good evening!