September Dinner Night

Entertaining adds spice to life.

It's a lot of work. There's planning of what to serve, ingredients to be bought, housecleaning to do, table setting to complete, cooking, and so on.

But what can be more wonderful than having loved ones gather around a table in a dining room on a September night? 

Recently, I invited people, three of them teachers, to celebrate getting through the first couple weeks of a new school year.

Cheeseburger soup was the first item on the menu. It's one of my favorites, thick and creamy and filled with the taste of sharp, white cheddar cheese and chunks of hamburger. It's also flecked with carrots and celery. Yum yum yum.

Then, salad was a simple mixture of lettuces with Ranch croutons. Nearby were chopped roasted beets and tangy feta cheese. Dressing was maple vinaigrette.

The bread basket held onion rolls, regular white rolls, cheese twists, and homemade carrot muffins as well as banana bread slices.

A sesame chicken main entree was okay but I wouldn't make it again. Being a perfectionist, I gave it only a  "C" rating.

For dessert, I served the most delicious (to me) key lime graham gelato by Ciao Bella and homemade sugar cookies with colored sprinkles all the way through them.

We had wine and coffee to drink as well as iced water with lemon slices.

An autumn color scheme brightened up the table as well as candles in crystal holders.

Best of all, I loved celebrating the teachers present because their jobs are so hard and so important. They literally have little lives in their hands.

The dinner night made my heart fill with gratitude for loved ones, plus good food and a nice atmosphere.  There is just so much to be thankful for.  

DO YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN?