Weeknight Dinner Guests

Recently we had some friends over for dinner on a week night, and it was a lot of fun. Yet, if I'm being honest, getting ready for people to come over while my husband is at work and I am aided by three more willing than able indentured servants can be stressful. Thank goodness that practice has helped things get smoother over the last few years. I was thinking about this fact last week as things went off (mostly) without a hitch.  I want to share with you a few of my learned lessons. And please, hit me in the combox with yours! I love learning others' helpful secrets!

My first suggestion is to change your expectations and remember that hospitality is not perfection. The point of hospitality, opening your home and table to others, is about to making them feel comfortable and loved. And while knowing that your fridge is finger print free might make you feel more comfortable, it's probably not a deciding factor for anyone else. That being said, here are seven practical tips to keep in mind.  

Set the table earlier in the day. Do this before crunch time occurs. Make sure that glasses are streak free, that you have the correct amount of cutlery, etc, etc.

Fill glasses beforehand with a lot of ice and a little water. 

Set a carafe of water on the table. This allows easy refills without you running to and fro through dinner.

Put the appropriate serving dishes and serving ware on the table when you set it. This way, you aren't scrambling to find that rarely used platter at the last minute, and you don't forget to serve a dish you prepared earlier (surprisingly yes, this can actually happen!).

Place trivets on the table for any dishes that will be served hot.

Keep the table setting simple. Save the elaborate schemes for the weekend, or better yet, when your sister is visiting! A tablecloth, a few flowers, a votive or two, and you have a look that is as elegant as it is simple and quick.

Make food beforehand, if possible. Don't create oven time/temperature conflicts by attempting a complicated cheesecake that finishes right at dinner time. Make cookies the day before. Use a slow cooker for the main dish so that there is plenty of down time between food prep and dinnertime. This allows you to do last minute tidying or comfort a clingy baby.

Ready for dinner.

Votives in jars and a few blooms make a simple centerpiece that is low enough to talk over.

The kids picked  sprig of sage for each place setting.

Oatmeal cookies are the perfect make ahead dessert. They taste even better the next day.

Pot roast is a great dish because you prepare it, throw it in the oven, and then have hours ...

A Few Words on Wine

This week it becomes official - the holidays are upon us. And holidays mean parties. Whether you are entertaining or being entertained, it's a good idea to have a few inexpensive yet delicious wines as go-to's. They come in handy as a host or hostess gift, or if you are having a get together and are short on time and expertise. I myself am no wine aficionado; I enjoy a good glass now and then, and I know a bad one when I taste it, but that is about the extent of my knowledge. So, for you and for myself, I sought some advice from the family's wine expert - my husband's uncle, John Simmons. I asked him to recommend three wines that are really enjoyable, yet less than $10. Here is what he suggested:

1

Vidal Fleury, Cotes du Rhone ($9.99) 

(France)

{source}

2

Running With Scissors, Cabernet Sauvignon ($8.99-$14.99)

(California)

{source}

3

Matua Valley, Sauvignon Blanc ($8.99-$11.99)

(New Zealand)

{source}

I also wanted to see if I could discover a wine for under $5 that would be truly tasty.  I came across some really promising reviews for this wine, and plan to give it a try soon: 

4

Rex Goliath, Cabernet Sauvignon ($4.99- $6.99)

(California)

{source}

Do you have any favorite wines that balance value and taste? I would love to hear your suggestions in the comment box below!

House Guest Hospitality 101

Cultures of the East and West, from time immemorial, have practiced hospitality as a divinely imposed duty. Yes, there is pretty much a worldwide consensus that it is that important. Furthermore, I think we all want to be hospitable. We all want our guests to feel welcome and comfortable in our homes. However, because of the nature of our present American culture - [for good and for ill] simultaneously a melting pot and a homogenization - we don't always have a clear, concrete idea regarding how to go about it.  Here are a few ideas that I have picked up from family and friends or discovered for myself along the way.

Ask your guest before they arrive if they have any allergies, food or otherwise, and do your best to avoid those substances. Also ask if there are any foods and drinks that they really enjoy or abhor.

Try this, if your guests arrive before or after the regular dinner hour.

Make food available between meals. Even if a host tells you to "help yourself", it can be a bit awkward to go rummaging in someone else's house! Some easy ways to make food available are... Fill a cake stand with cookies and place it on the table as a centerpiece. Load up a bowl with fresh fruit and place it on the counter. Fill glass canisters with easy to nosh foods such as pretzels, granola bars, and crackers and place them in a visible and accessible location.

Prepare the coffee pot and set out mugs and sugar before you go to bed. Make sure you let your guests know how to start the pot going, and encourage them to do so when they wake up. I love my coffee first thing, so I assume my guests do, too!

Most of us give the house a once over if we know guests are coming, but going that extra mile (if you go in the right direction) can really make a difference. Don't waste time dusting the tops of your window frames (you know that category of cleaning I'm talking about), but do make room on the shoe and coat rack for your guests. Pick up some scented candles for the kitchen and bathroom (hit up the Dollar Store if your budget is tight). Bring some greenery into the house: buy an inexpensive bouquet of flowers and parcel it throughout, or cut something fresh from outside.

Literally, those are shrubs from my non-exotic Western New York back yard.

Whether you have a proper guest room, or a futon in your four year old's room (you got me!), do your best to make it a comfortable space. In our particular situation, this means making up the futon as pleasingly (both visually and tactilely) as possible, and putting the unnecessary toys away. No matter your space or budget constraints, you can make sure that some comfort necessities are in place: a reading lamp, some bedside reading, either a bottle of water or a carafe and a glass, and a towel and washcloth for the shower. 

Carafe from Goodwill, $1. Glass from my kitchen, $0. Not having to get up to get a drink of water at night, priceless.

What are some things that you do to be hospitable when house guests come to visit? Please let me know in the comments below or email me at marytboctor@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

L'APÉRO

I want to introduce you good readers to a beautiful French custom known as l’apéritif, or l’apéro. L'apéro is an alcoholic drink taken in the late afternoon, with the intent of whetting the appetite and calming the spirit after the business of the day. It is accompanied by something to nibble, which may be more or less complicated. Some common drinks include champagne, whisky, port, or traditional aperitif "wines." These wines include vermouth, byrrh, and Dubonnet, and are made of wine or grape juice that is fortified by spirits (distilled alcohol), and flavored with various herbs.

{Source}

Many cultures have a similar custom called by another name. Chez moi, l’apéro exists in its truest form (i.e. as a preface to a larger meal), especially when we have guests. But we also enjoy slightly different versions modified to the culture of our home. For example, when it is very hot we might make the food a bit heartier and call it a meal. Or if we are expecting guests who insist they won't need to eat when they arrive, I still prepare an aperitif and a snack (in case they were just being polite). Its a delicious way to linger and chat, to catch up and unwind. Often after the kids are in bed, my husband and I will sit down to enjoy a drink and some light food as we catch up with each other. We even sometimes make it "dinner" and a movie.

L’apéro anyone?

Let me give you some easy and practical suggestions about how to incorporate this custom into your life. Start by picking a drink. Go with one of the suggestions listed above if you have it; if you are feeling adventurous try the vermouth. As Americans, we tend to view vermouth merely as a mixer, but that isn't its history or identity in much of the world. Chill a bottle of Noilly Prat or Martini & Rossi dry (white) vermouth - both are readily available and less than $10 a bottle. Pour 2-3 oz (about the size of a double shot) into a rocks glass, with or without ice. Some like to add a splash of soda water. Garnish with a lemon. Choose your food depending on the time and situation. Some foods that show up frequently at my house are nuts, olives, sausage, cured meats, cheese, and always a loaf of fresh crusty bread.  Slice the bread and arrange the food in bowls. With a little attention to detail even the humblest of fare can seem glamorous, so never forget - presentation, presentation, presentation. Set out little plates and voila - l’apéro.

Standard table service for l’apéro at my house. Simple and beautiful.