A simple dinner party can still feel like it has been planned for months with a few special touches. This particular gathering was an impromptu event. Unplanned events are difficult and rare with children, which makes them more special when they are able to occur. A dinner party is one of the easiest ways to entertain, and often the most relaxed.
In an attempt to elevate the table while being mindful of the children, we used our crystal highball glasses as water glasses. I appreciate the size and the sturdiness of the highball glasses as opposed to stemmed iced beverage glasses, especially for smaller hands.
Our simple dinner party became elevated again with some very special place cards and a centerpiece. My daughter appreciates the art of sitting arrangements and wanted to label where everyone was going to go. I folded some cardstock, and she made place cards for everyone. Next, she went outside and picked some blooms for a centerpiece. She was very proud of the rose she found.
Most importantly, we had to come up with a dinner party menu that would be appropriate and well-liked by four children as well as the adults. For appetizers, we had fresh fruit and a cheese board featuring a blue cheese, a soft cheese (goat), a hard cheese (gouda), and a sharp cheddar. It was a hot Tennessee weekend, so we smoked a beef brisket to keep some of the heat outside. You can find the recipe for the beef brisket here. To accompany the brisket, we had roasted potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and country green beans. Our guests brought chess pie for dessert. All in all, it was a simple menu. However, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and no one left hungry. Our simple dinner party brought us together for good food and conversation. With a few simple touches, we were able to elevate the table. Happy gathering!
