The weekend before Thanksgiving my mother (who you will hear me talk about time and again because she is fabulous and shares my vision) and I hosted our cousins from Maryland for a short visit. We love entertaining and it was a joy to have them. Of course, it meant we had to throw together a little shindig. We tried to keep it simple. Tried. Our family always likes to tease us for not really ever being able to do that. Here is our version of a simple, easy family get together.
Inspired by the weather around us the table scape was green + brown. A linen tablecloth was the backdrop for a mix of our jadeite and beautiful green, fleur-de-lis glasses. The plates were white to keep everything looking fresh and clean with simple olive patterned napkins placed on top. Across the table were three centerpieces made up of jadeite glasses filled with mums and leftover eryngiums that I had gotten my mom for her birthday and in the middle of the table were two adorable green, felt squash.
Detail of the centerpiece. I can't get over how sweet these felt squash are. Too perfect!
For food, we started off with this antipasto platter inspired by the supremely talented team at Sorella Collective. It took me about 45 minutes to put it together and I think 10 minutes for my family to demolish it. Oh well! That's what happens when the Italian side of my family gets together. Honestly, I'm thankful I even had time to snap a picture before they got to it!
For the main course, my mother prepared the quintessential autumn all in one dish: stuffed squash. We had originally wanted to use Delicata squash but couldn't find any at our local grocer so we went for Acorn squash. Personally, I think these are even better. Halved they are perfect single portions and have such a pretty floral shape.
They tasted delicious stuffed with mushroom, sausage, and walnuts and topped with gruyére. By the end of the meal all that was left were meager bits of squash skin so I think everyone else agreed! They were served with a side salad made up of kale, apples, cranberries, and a mustard vinaigrette (not pictured.)
Dessert was a variety of ice cream we had picked out at the store. Our baking energy had to be saved for Thanksgiving! Overall, the get together was a success full of good food and great family.
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