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February 28, 2009
Posted by: Penny at 9:33 am
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While we all love to meet with friends for a great restaurant meal and glass of wine, most of us are trying to cut back on expenses. Why not invite your friends over to your house for some good old comfort food? Having friends over for dinner doesn’t have to be expensive. Most comfort foods, like homemade Macaroni and Cheese, Tuscan Soup or Spaghetti and Meatballs are pretty inexpensive! Ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to help with the cost.
Even when serving something simple like Black Bean Chili (see step by step instructions and recipe here) corn bread and salad deserves an elegant table setting. We recently had friends over for Chili. I set my table using my favorite Blue Transferware dishes and some wonderful Lion Head Bowls. I served the Chili from the large matching Lions Head tureen, set in the center of the table.
White and red table runners and white napkins made the blue transferware pop. I used my best silverware, too. I loaded the table with white candles. Some were in crystal candle holders. Others sitting on top of blue transferware dishes. And finally, a big beautiful bouquet of white tulips were placed in a vintage white enamel pitcher. My friends brought the dessert and wine.
It was a lovely evening and you know what? We didn’t miss that restaurant at all!! Don’t forget to check out the Chili recipe. And remember, you can click on any picture to enlarge it for detail.
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1. Just beautiful as always Penny! Your lions head bowl is perfect.
by Stacey — 2/28/09 at 12:54 pm #
2. Oh my, I’m suffering from major tureen envy! Beautiful tablescape Penny! ♥ Diane
by Diane — 2/28/09 at 2:51 pm #
3. I just moved and my bedroom has a window seat and I need help decorating it. Any window seat ideas
by Marilyn — 2/28/09 at 3:30 pm #
4. Fabulous tips, as usual, Penny. I, too, love having friends over for dinner and using my best dishes, no matter what the meal might be…and now, I am hungry for CHILI !!
XO bj
by bj — 2/28/09 at 4:14 pm #
5. I think having your friends over to dinner is much more fun than going out and you never have to worry that all that giggling is offending someone at the next table. You know how much I adore having all the hen parties at my house and sometimes the topics are not ones you really want to giggle about in public, LOL.
by janet — 2/28/09 at 8:30 pm #
6. I like the idea of making the table special but serving a simple meal. Sometimes the menu and the pressure of what to serve can make me throw up my hands and put off having people over! Making the table pretty is easy and shows the same care as an elaborate meal without the big mess and time required from in the kitchen:>)
by Kathy — 3/1/09 at 4:00 pm #
7. Hi Penny,
Thank you for sharing your ideas for a fabulous meal on a budget and for your great recipes. I just bought the ingredients for the same meal and plan to serve it for a special Sunday night dinner.
I love your table decorating tips.
by Erin — 3/1/09 at 4:59 pm #
8. Great look and you are so right. A fun dinner with friends needn’t cost the earth!!
Alison
by Alison — 3/1/09 at 9:50 pm #
9. Your tablescape looks beautiful! Better than a restaurant for sure. Thanks for the black bean chili recipe link — it sounds good!
Pat in NY
by Pat — 3/2/09 at 12:56 am #
10. Hi Marilyn,
Congrats on moving into a new home. What a wonderful asset your window seat in your bedroom is! I would recommend having cushions and pillows made to fit on the window seat, with coordinating roman shades. Make it a comfy place to curl up and read a book or just watch the world go by. Here is a picture I found at House Beautiful Magazine’s website, to give you some ideas.
by Penny — 3/2/09 at 5:02 pm #
11. You have set a lovely table and I love the idea of getting friends together for some comfort food! Shelley
by Shelley — 3/2/09 at 9:49 pm #