Italian Dinner with Lifelong Friends

Yesterday I had my girlfriend and her husband over for dinner.  The three of us have known each other since grade school.  They are in Michigan on vacation and I'm glad they could come over for dinner before heading back to Florida.

I decided to go with an Italian themed dinner.  I ordered an Italian table runner [red, white and green stripped] but it didn't arrive in time for the dinner.  It came this morning!  Even though the dinner was over, I reset the table to see how it looked.  It's amazing how something so simple makes the table look so much nicer.  It's all about layering.

~ Without the runner ~

~ With the runner ~

  

I wanted a simple centerpiece that could be easily removed for food, so I made one with a vase and pasta that I had on hand. I inserted a sunflower to match the napkin rings reminiscent of sunflowers in Tuscany. They're called Girasoli in Italian which literally translates 'Turn to the Sun.'  The red, white and green ribbon and red and white checked napkins came from Amazon.

The main entree was lasagna roll-ups instead of layered lasagna noodles.  [The roll-ups are much easier to serve.]   With all the cases of Cyclosporiasis from lettuce and other produce, I decided to skip the salad and make a Pastina soup instead served with bread sticks and buttered baguette slices.  The vegetable was corn pudding, even though it's not a popular Tuscan vegetable.  If I would have been adventuresome, I would have tried making baked polenta, but the corn pudding kinda looks like baked polenta.

I'm working on a Shutterfly cookbook for my granddaughter for Christmas [hopefully], and corn pudding will definitely be in the book because my family loves it for all family get-togethers. [The picture is for the cookbook but I decided to include it in this post.]

Dessert was Peanut Butter Pie with an Oreo cookie crust.  After I purchased all the ingredients, I thought I should have made Tiramisu instead, but the pie was a hit in spite of not being Italian.  I sprinkled chopped mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on top.

I took this picture of Dan, Elaine and my hubby just before our dessert.  Iced tea was our beverage.

 

After dinner we visited in the family room for a couple of hours before they left.  It was such an enjoyable evening and I feel so blessed that we've stayed connected all these years.  

Elaine took the picture of my hubby and me and sent it to me.

We had prayer before they left asking for God's protection as they travel back to Florida on Friday and throughout the days and months ahead.  Dan said they'll be back next year and we'll plan dinner together again.