Yes, I know the title of this page is "living simply" and a lot of you probably don't think there's anything simple about china and champagne, but I don't think "living simply" should mean not "living beautifully". For years I drove myself crazy when it came to holidays and entertaining. I would pull out cookbook after cookbook, trying new recipes, making recipes that used tons of ingredients, experimenting with complicated recipes that kept me in the kitchen for days. A couple years ago my philosophy changed dramatically and I now embrace simplicity where entertaining is concerned. This is a little insight on last night's dinner.
First, let me say, Dan and I don't exchange gifts. Period. No birthday presents, Christmas presents, Valentine's Day presents, or anniversary presents. People who know us look shocked when I tell them that. Neither of us came from families that went over the top with gifts and we honestly don't need anything. Needless to say, removing the gifts simplifies every holiday and special occasion tremendously not to mention, saves a lot of money. Second, I've never been a red rose girl so that takes that out of the equation. Third, I didn't lose a ton of weight to gain it all back by eating boxes of chocolates.
I usually opt for non-traditional type vases; vintage Ball canning jars, antique pitchers, and re-purposed jam jars. The three bunches of flowers I bought were enough to create three arrangements of various sizes. Look around your house and I guarantee you'll find adorable options for vases that have far more meaning than if you went our and bought something new for the holiday or occasion.
I was very fortunate when my Mom gave me the family set of Haviland-Limoges china. Prior to that, however, I used simple white plates that were incredibly versatile. Mom's china was safely kept in a cabinet for years until I was having a bridal shower for my stepdaughter, Kammy. What on Earth was I waiting for? It was a lovely occasion for me to christen the china. Since then, I've come to the conclusion life is short and there's no reason not to use the beautiful things we're lucky to have.
The menu was very simple. Salmon, roasted fingerling potatoes, and asparagus. I parboiled the potatoes until fork tender then tossed them with a little olive oil, coarse kosher salt, and pepper and roasted them in a baking dish in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven about 45 minutes. The salmon was seasoned with salt, pepper, and some rosemary from the window sill and roasted in the same oven, same temperature, for 20 minutes. Asparagus was cooked on the stove for 10 minutes until tender.
The poached pears were made the day before and refrigerated. I made the chocolate covered strawberries on Valentine's Day. There is absolutely no reason to buy chocolate covered strawberries. They are the easiest thing to make and always a stunning favorite. Simply melt semi-sweet chocolate in the microwave or double boiler. Dip the strawberries in the chocolate and allow to harden on a parchment or wax paper covered baking sheet. I don't own a double boiler and just put the semi-sweet chocolate bits in a glass bowl that I place over simmering water in a saucepan. Be extremely careful not to allow any water or steam to come in contact with the chocolate or it will seize and become grainy.
In the end, it's not what you have to eat or drink or where you are, but rather who you're with. Dan tells me every Valentine's Day that every day is like Valentine's Day being married to me....maybe that's a wee bit of an exaggeration.....especially on those days I'm trying to get him to move to a farm in Maine, but I never take his saying it for granted.
