A Friendly Lunch

I wake up every day and go to bed every night saying a small prayer of gratitude for my full wonderful life. I thank my lucky stars for what fate has allowed me to experience: marriage, motherhood and a job I love. But, just like every other working mom, I miss the ME time…reading a good book, going on walks, taking showers!!!! All of the above I have made peace with and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

However, if a fairy godmother were to grant me one wish, it would be more time with friends. It would be moments to share with old ones and time to cultivate new ones. Since I have yet to experience a fairy godmother’s visit, I decided to grant myself my wish. I put all things on hold for a 12:30 lunch at my house with a newfound friend.

When noon rolled around, I found myself still typing away at my desk. Panic and regret set in. What had I done? I am not a lady who lunches. And I invited her to my house?? Did I even have the proper food in my fridge?

So, I took an deep breath and strolled through my ice box. This is what I found:
Three half-full bags of greens– spinach, arugula and baby romaine, one half-eaten cucumber, some tomatoes that had passed their prime, a few shavings of Parmesan, and some crumblings of feta.

Next, the freezer:
A bag of corn, peas and luckily a box of pre-made potato pancakes (That’s right, this domestic goddess sometimes buys things pre-made).

So I combined the greens and sauteed the tomatoes with lemon, olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper to give them a boost of flavor. I sliced my cucumbers, steamed my frozen veggies, tossed it all with a touch of honey, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and sprinkled it with my two cheeses.

Next, I tossed the pancakes in the oven and began to set a fabulous table. At that VERY moment the power went out. I know, I know, you are saying, “Not true,” but alas it was true. No potatoes for us. No worries! I saw a few cubes of pineapple in the fridge, so I placed them in a fabulous wooden bowl with a few tiny festive forks and continued on in the dark. “I can do this,” I said to myself.

My friend Sarah Easley, from the fabulous boutique Kirna Zabete, and I took a tour though my home in the dark (yes, in the dark) and then we dined by candlelight. About midway through lunch, the lights and the music blazed on! We had a great second course of potato pancakes with a dollop of sour cream. We giggled and talked like college girls, and we left each other nourished by friendship and food.

Lesson learned by this fairy godmother: fun is better then fussy; joy is as important as a job; and friends should be fit in forever!!! Make that call, set the table, and cook up whatever you may have in your cupboard so that your soul will be filled with fellowship.

As always, please let me know what you’d like to see more of by posting on Facebook, tweeting, or writing an email to info@katiebrown.com. We love hearing from you and read every comment.



0 replies
    • Emily
      Emily says:

      Whoops, I hit “reply” too early! I meant, “more personal” ones like this. It’s nice to hear a little “behind the scenes” information now and then, whether it’s in regard to the show, or your life. I also really enjoyed reading about your home. Thanks as always for the inspiration.

      Reply
  1. Heather
    Heather says:

    Good for you! Great post – and a timely reminder! I’ve been missing the blessing of face to face friendship lately. We try to keep in touch with phone calls, but there is nothing like spending time together. My husband and I have talked often about how busy everyone is and have decided that we need to exercise hospitality more intentionally, but life just seems to get in the way. I am a stay at home homeschooling mama and like you I love what I do and feel so blessed to be able to do it. Making time to nurture friendships, express creativity and make our home a warm, inviting place enriches my life in ways that spill over and bless our family.

    Reply
  2. Melissa
    Melissa says:

    @Carol Brown, I thought the same thing! I don’t know where Katie Brown lives, but maybe Alaska? It would probably be dark there by early afternoon this time of year…

    Reply

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