Winter is a wonderful time to spend quality moments with family! Long, cozy evenings are perfect for lingering at the dinner table…but as kids grow & get involved in endless activities those occurrences seem far and few–so when you get the chance to have a family meal you’d better grab it! Such an opportunity came my way and it made me think a moment–when entertaining we all tend to add special touches to our meals to show appreciation for our guests…why not do these things once in a while just for us? A good friend of mine would regularly use her table linens for evening meals…and while I was always in awe, I also thought she was a bit crazy for putting all that extra work into her schedule! But now I’ve come to realize that, in her own way, she was so wonderfully creating a special atmosphere for her family to gather together and share a meal! I know getting out all the linens and china isn’t for everyone…but once every so often adding your own special touches can make an ordinary family meal feel extra special! So have a peek at some easy ways to highlight a dinner that simply celebrates togetherness!
family dinner night inspiration…
make an “everyday” meal feel extraordinary…
instead of a table linen i chose paper place mats that i found at Home Goods! cute and whimsical but also disposable…fabulous!
gold paper circles scattered about add to the whimsy of the dotty mats…and candles always add lovely ambiance!
use things you already own…you’ll probably be surprised at what you’ve got tucked in your cupboards! here a tarnished stand makes a fun pedestal for the main dish to rest on!
a few sprigs of ivy & herbs from my kitchen are nestled around the platter…easy!
and since Valentine’s Day is approaching…butter pats in the shape of hearts!
easy to do with a silicone mold…just melt the butter & pour it in! cool in the fridge–then pop out for an adorable touch at any meal!
another easy addition…individual bread loaves!
many grocery store bakeries offer these mini baguettes so it’s a simple way to add some elegance! placed on the napkin & tied with a sprig of herbs…
your family might think they’re in a fine restaurant!
now for the easy meal…
Skillet Roasted Cauliflower & Sausage Rigatoni from the pages of Country Living Magazine! an easy to follow recipe that’s as healthy as it is delicious. check it out!
i didn’t have rigatoni on hand–but rotini pasta made a great substitute! i also included some broccoli in our dish…sometimes you’ve just gotta tweek a recipe to make it work for you!
this one’s a winner so we had to share…i wish you could smell it!
simple things with spectacular results…
gathered around the table together…
priceless!