A Little Lunch…A Little Supper

Welcome, friends! It’s always such a pleasure to have you join me. Today, I’m excited to share a recipe for a quick and delicious main course, perfect for dinner, along with some simple yet charming table settings for lunch or dinner at the counter bar. So, grab your aprons and let’s get started with this super easy pasta dish made entirely from ingredients I had on hand in the kitchen.

First things first, start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil. Once it’s bubbling away, add your pasta and cook according to the package directions. This way, your pasta will be perfectly al dente by the time we’re ready to bring everything together.

The dish starts with a few simple ingredients that you likely have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Half of a white onion, sliced into half-moon shapes
• A handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• About 6 mushrooms, thinly sliced
• The zest and juice of one lemon
• Two handfuls of baby spinach

Now, let’s get cooking! Add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a skillet and warm it over medium-low heat. Once the oil is ready, toss in the sliced onions and sauté them until they’re softened and slightly translucent. This should take just a few minutes.

Next, add the cherry tomatoes to the skillet and give everything a good stir. Cook until the tomatoes begin to weep and release their juices, creating a lovely, fragrant base for your pasta dish.

Add the sliced mushrooms to the skillet and cook them until they’re softened and have absorbed some of that wonderful tomato and onion flavor. This should take about 3-4 minutes.

Next, toss in the two handfuls of baby spinach. Allow it to cook down for about 2 minutes, using tongs to gently mix the spinach in with the other ingredients. The spinach will wilt quickly, melding beautifully with the mushrooms, tomatoes, and onions.

Once the spinach is nicely wilted, add the lemon zest and juice to the skillet. This will brighten up the flavors and give the dish a fresh, tangy note. Let everything simmer together on low heat for a few minutes, allowing the flavors to meld into a harmonious and delicious sauce.

When your pasta is perfectly “al dente,” use tongs to transfer it directly from the pot into the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Toss everything together gently, ensuring the pasta is well-coated with the lemony, tomato-infused sauce.

To help thicken the sauce and bring everything together, add about 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to the skillet. The starchy water will help bind the sauce to the pasta, creating a silky, cohesive dish. Allow the water to reduce slightly as you continue to toss everything together.

Once the sauce has thickened and everything is well combined, your pasta is ready to serve!

Serve with some parmesan cheese and you have a delicious meal in about 30 minutes.

For the table setting, I used simple woven mats in grey and white, which provided a subtle yet elegant backdrop for the meal. The pasta was served in bowls placed on dinner plates edged in green, tying everything together beautifully. To highlight the green in the plates and the freshness of the dish, I added green napkins, which complemented the overall presentation perfectly.

A hearty red wine was served alongside the meal, bringing a rich and satisfying note that paired wonderfully with the bright and fresh flavors of the pasta. It was a delightful and delicious dining experience.

For the simple luncheon setting, I chose to serve a fruit on a salad plate using Mikasa’s “Belle Terre” pattern, which features a beautiful autumn display of fruits and vegetables in soft, inviting colors. This plate added a touch of seasonal charm to our lunch.

The meal was straightforward but satisfying: a turkey and cheese ciabatta, complemented by the fresh fruit. To tie everything together, I used simple yellow woven placemats as the base, which brought warmth and brightness to the table. A floral napkin, echoing the colors in the china, added a cohesive and charming touch.

The centerpiece was kept simple yet elegant, featuring an arrangement of dried hydrangeas in a beautiful pottery bowl. This added a rustic and natural element to the table, enhancing the overall autumnal feel. It was a delicious and visually pleasing lunch, perfect for a relaxed afternoon.

For another simple yet delightful supper, I chose to use some of my favorite blue and white plates from the “Gay Day” pattern by Wood and Sons from England. These plates feature a charming floral design with scalloped edges on a crisp white background, adding a touch of elegance to the meal.

The flatware was a simple pattern that I use frequently, though the exact name escapes me. To complement the plates, I selected a blue and white woven napkin, circled by a pewter napkin ring from Pottery Barn—a recent thrift store find that added a touch of vintage charm. The glasses were by Mikasa, and the placemats, keeping with the theme, also featured a blue and white floral pattern. For the centerpiece, a mini rose bush added a fresh and natural element to the table.

The meal itself was as comforting as it was quick to prepare. Yukon Gold mashed potatoes with blue cheese provided a creamy and flavorful starch. Alongside, I served green beans and pan-roasted pork chops cooked with onions and a rich sherry sauce. This is a dinner that comes together quickly—just about the time it takes to cook the potatoes.

Three easy meals, each taking just about 30-40 minutes to prepare, were all served at the breakfast bar in the kitchen. The settings were simple, colorful, and brought a touch of elegance to our everyday dining. We truly enjoyed each of these meals, not just for their delicious flavors but also for the cozy and inviting atmosphere they created.

Thanks for joining me for a little “bar” inspiration. I hope these ideas inspire you to create your own beautiful and effortless settings at home. Until next time, happy cooking and decorating!