Robby and I are not the people who have company over for dinner often. We are the people who do things to help out our friends with farming chores, gardening, giving them veggies from our garden etc. But when we are invited to a neighbor's house for dinner, eventually we realize we have to return the favor and have them over to our house for dinner also. Now don't get me wrong, I love cooking. But I love cooking for my family and close friends that I have known for a long time and feel very comfortable around. But alas, it was time for me to pay my dues to our new neighbors Cheryl and Tom.
Cheryl and Tom have had us to their house for New Year's Eve dinner and for the 4th of July. Robby has helped Tom with several things around the property, and we have taken them veggies from the garden, but I knew I had to muster up the courage and invite them for dinner. They both are amazing cooks and are quite the wine connoisseurs so I was a little nervous to say the least. Not to mention that when we went out to lunch with them earlier in the week, we had to take Tom to the emergency room because he was unable to swallow. My stomach was in knots over this whole event.
I finally decided on a menu which I could mostly make ahead. I would start out with an antipasto platter for an appetizer which would consist of Italian deli meats, marinated and stuffed olives, cheeses, Mediterranean style marinated vegetables and homemade crusty bread. That would be followed by Caesar Salad with homemade Caesar dressing, sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts and th
e main dish was Roasted Vegetables and Baked Penne with three cheeses. For dessert I had fresh peaches we had picked with which I made a Peach Tart with homemade whipped cream. I had chosen wines that I thought would be good with some help from other friends and bought a bottle of Scotch which I fretted over for days also. 
e main dish was Roasted Vegetables and Baked Penne with three cheeses. For dessert I had fresh peaches we had picked with which I made a Peach Tart with homemade whipped cream. I had chosen wines that I thought would be good with some help from other friends and bought a bottle of Scotch which I fretted over for days also. 
We had agreed on 5:30 for them to arrive and I planned on dinner being ready by 7:30. Our guests arrived and Robby gave them a tour of the house since they had 
never been here before. Tom and Robby went outside to see the gardens while Cheryl and I stayed inside and got better acquainted, discussed raising our children and my fears of entertaining. We opened some wine and had our appetizers and then had our dinner. We ended the evening outside sitting on the deck because the night had cooled down so nicely. Finally around 11:30 our company went home, I cleaned the kitchen up and Robby and I went to bed. 
never been here before. Tom and Robby went outside to see the gardens while Cheryl and I stayed inside and got better acquainted, discussed raising our children and my fears of entertaining. We opened some wine and had our appetizers and then had our dinner. We ended the evening outside sitting on the deck because the night had cooled down so nicely. Finally around 11:30 our company went home, I cleaned the kitchen up and Robby and I went to bed. 
All in all the evening was a huge success. I think our guests really did enjoy themselves and it didn't turn out as bad as I had feared. I don't know why I get myself into such a frenzy when it comes to having guests over. I need to learn that I don't have to feel like I have to impress people. If they have invited me to their house before, than clearly they know what I am like and are not expecting anything different. I love cooking for people and making them feel at home in my house. I look forward to having friends over and not stressing out every time about it. Being comfortable in my own skin is a constant learning process for me, but everyday I get a little bit better at it. Next time maybe it will be dinner for 6 :)
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