Most times we wait until a holiday or special occasion to bring out the nice dishes and decorate. I have begun to try to celebrate life at least a couple of times a week by dressing up simple meals or dressing up the yard for a shared glass of tea or wine on a cool summer evening. Most of us have all the ingredients to make this happen so the cost in approaching a daily celebration involves mostly our time. With just 30 extra minutes, most of this can be accomplished.
Setting the Table
I use white pottery dinner plates all the time. This enables me to change my salad or accent plate to make a big impact. I have collected many red accent pieces as the color adapts well for many holidays and other occasions, such as Christmas, Valentines, Fourth of July, Memorial Day and even Election Day.
The table I set this time is with white dinner plates, red salad plates, red cotton napkins and my vintage red stem wear. The cotton napkins are machine wash and come out of the dryer ready to fold and use. These particular napkins were my mothers and she used them much like I do. The bowls are colorful pieces picked up one at a time at a discount store. One is actually a large coffee cup that I have used here as a salad bowl. All of these pieces can be used for various occasions to dress up a table.
Adding That Special Touch
For the centerpiece, it is a potted plant that I have sitting in a window all the time. I try to keep this type of plant from the nursery because I do not always have fresh flowers handy. Plants work just as well as stunning centerpieces.
The place mats are some I have had for some time and prevent me from having to use a tablecloth (more laundry). These special touches are great accents to make your table even more beautiful.
What's On the Menu?
The meal on this particular night was composed of a chicken Florentine bagged meal that took 10 minutes to heat on the stove. I had a half of watermelon left in the fridge and put together this delish salad with other items I had on hand. I always keep a loaf of deli french bread to serve with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A glass of Sauvignon blanc complimented the meal.
WATERMELON SALAD
4 cups of seeded and chopped watermelon
1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped
2 limes, fresh juice
1/4 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 cup grated parmesan or crumbled feta cheese
Combine all but cheese and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Add cheese as you serve.
I have found that my spouse and I linger a little longer and visit at the table more if it is set for an everyday celebration. I almost always set a third place hoping someone will drop in and join us in our everyday celebration. On this occasion, it was our lovely neighbor. Clean up was pretty easy. Just load the dishwasher and put the leftovers (if there are any) away.
Try having an everyday celebration and without a great amount of trouble you may find your family and friends lingering a little longer. The extra 30 or so minutes is well worth the result.
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