Dinner for Four

Welcome dear friends!!! I’m so glad you stopped by to see what I’ve been up to in the kitchen! This week I took time to set the table all pretty and prepared a nice, sit down meal for our family. The irony is it was SO easy and fast, I don’t know why I don’t do it more often. So let’s start with the table setting, shall we? Very informal tonight.

I used my “everyday dishes”, placing them on straw woven placemats. I really wish I had some red placemats to put under those plates though. These dishes have served many a family dinner, as evidenced by a few nicks on the bottom of the plates. It was the first set of dishes I bought 12 place settings of as our family had grown large enough to need that many.

The centerpiece is also quite simple, a dark brown basket filled with sunflowers. Glassware is el cheapo $1 glasses from Old Word Pottery…family friendly while still looking pretty, don’t you think?

What is that I smell coming from the kitchen? Mmmmm, apple smoked pork loin. The pork loin was on sale at the grocery and the apple smoke rub is something I picked up at the Farmer’s Market. So easy to make and so delicious to eat. Placed the loin in a baking pan, sprinkled and pressed in the “rub” all over it, baked at 350 for one hour. That’s it! And we ate every last piece of it.

Hmmm, what can I fix to go with the loin. Hash browns O’Brien sounds good and would use up some vegetables that need to be cooked before spoiling. 5 medium red potatoes, 1 stalk celery, 1 red bell pepper, 1 onion, 1 bunch of green onions and 1 clove garlic … stir fried in a skillet with olive oil and it’s ready to serve. Doesn’t it look and smell so yummy?

But wait, I have blueberries in the refrigerator that desperately need to be used. I need something quick and easy. Bisquick to the rescue. Semi-homemade blueberry muffins, and enough for breakfast the next morning too!

What a wonderful meal we had. The boys noticed right away how pretty the table was set and Christina ooohd and aughhhd over the delicious pork loin. If only all of you could have joined us for dinner too! But of course that would have meant no leftover muffins for me I’m so glad you stopped by to share in our family dinner! Please stop by again soon.

Oh, I almost forgot. Here is the recipe I used for the muffins. I love Bisquick! Just click on the recipe card for a full sized recipe card.Be sure to check out other fabulous tablescapes posted at Between Naps on the Porch, hosted by the lovely Susan.