I always wanted to open two restaurants: “La Citrouille” serving good, hearty, country food made with organic ingredients, and “Strawberries and Asparagus” serving slightly more haute cuisine dishes. I can see the décor of each restaurant as vividly as if I were standing right there. I can smell the aromas from the kitchens, hear the laughter and conversations of the guests. It’s a beautiful dream.

Then it dawned on me… I DO have a little restaurant. And I can serve those dishes, and I CAN create that environment – right in my own home. My children, husband, and extended family (that includes our friends) are my guests. That has made me view my role in a whole new light.

It is absolutely right that I should have pretty linens on the table, lovely dishes, glassware, flatware and serving pieces. I should have candles and floral arrangements on the table. I should be creating lasting memories of good food, good company, and love; love that is shown by the care I take in creating a beautiful environment; love that is shown by preparing nutritious and beautifully presented meals.

And I realized that God has been training me for this my entire life. By ‘this’ I mean of course, caring for my family. NOT opening a world-famous restaurant. I think that is something for another day and for our son Jack. I have all I need in order to make dining a true blessing for those I love so much.

I learned to cook from my grandmother. She was a stellar country cook. My Nana made simple Sunday lunch feel special because feeding people was her passion. Guests left her home full, both physically and spiritually. She ignited a passion in me for cookery and hospitality at a very early age. I became a student of what most people would call entertaining. I prefer ‘hospitality’. Being hospitable means that this graciousness is a lifestyle, not just something one puts on occasionally to impress.

I continued beyond basic fare to more intricate dishes, learned to use herbs, sought out new flavor combinations. As I became a married woman, I noted how truly excellent hosts and hostesses welcomed their guests. I have had the good fortune of receiving hospitality from many such families over 16 years of marriage; from different cultures, sometimes in that culture’s country of origin. Customs may vary from culture to culture, but hospitality remains the same – it is making people feel important, loved, cared for. With the training I received from my Nana, my own personal study, and my many wonderful life experiences, I now have what I need to create a culinary field trip any time I choose.

I am a trained floral designer, learning under the tutelage of the very wonderful Margaret Heal (who remains a dear friend to this day). She taught me not only to create beautiful arrangements, but also to grow as much of my material as possible. There is so much meaning in seasonal blooms, imbuing the meal with rich symbolism. That is especially important for Catholics because our Liturgy provides a beautiful rhythm to our lives.

I am an experienced event planner. If I can pull together a multi-million dollar wedding event in just six weeks, I can pull together a beautiful dinner every evening (or afternoon). I don’t have to chase down obscure bottles of Madeira, arrange for a barge full of fireworks, fly flowers from Holland to the Caribbean, or manage 60 guests on private planes or catamarans. All I have to do is plan a meal, set the table, and gather the family.

I am an accomplished seamstress, crocheter, and chandler. I can whip up pretty tablecloths from any fabric that takes my fancy – I can make beautiful lace runners, mats, or entire cloths from humble balls of cotton thread. The candles we make should not be saved for special, they should be enjoyed everyday, sitting in the pretty holders I’ve collected, or been given over the years.

This is the essence of “Simple Gifts”. It is the unity of our God-given gifts, the gifts we receive from others, and the gifts we give away. True simplicity is recognizing our own gifts, available resources, and how to use them to bless the people we are given to love and care for. Simplicity is not the absence of abundance. Quite the opposite. Simplicity is the discovery of richness in what we have right before us.

The French have a particular gift for this. It is what gives them that élan. They take time to truly appreciate – never rush. They treasure what they have and combine the humble and the lavish with “je ne sais qua”. It comes easily with practice. Not everyone has such a collection of skills, but these can be learned. That is what I hope to do through my little weblog. To teach and inspire.

I’ve been seeing several of my weblog friends posting their menus recently, which is what inspired this post. I wanted to share what I plan to prepare. But as usually happens, with me – the exercise sparked deeper thoughts. What’s on the menu?

Hospitality.

Love.

Memories.

They cost nothing, and their value is truly priceless.

Posted: 03|15|07 at 11:58 am. Filed under: from our hearth and home, from the kitchen, from my desk, from my heart.
Comment | Trackback