entertaining

september 2003

We love Fall. The nights start to really cool off while the days can remain warm. Indian summer can bring us back-can make us believe that winter will never come. Fall is also the time to renew friendships with entertaining. The casual patio meals of summer come inside and we begin to think about guests we will invite for Thanksgiving and the holidays. Days become hectic again, so we have prepared a menu for you that is very easy to make and very good to eat.

Decorating a table in the Fall is easy. We tend to use potted flowers that can be planted outside when our guests leave. We change to fall colors for table linens so our china changes personality. Think out of the box for centerpieces. Make an apple topiary by attaching fresh apples and leaves to a mold from the hobby store, or buy a cornucopia and have fresh vegetables and fruit cascading out. This is one of those menus that does not call for place cards, best china and silver, but rather for a leisurely meal with friends going over memories, planning for the future, or just plain enjoying each other. We love this menu because you'll have vegetables left over to take for lunch the next day. It uses the last of summer with the beginning of fall and never fails to please. We use salmon for the entrée. If possible, purchase fresh wild salmon. There is controversy about farm raised salmon because it is fed a color additive to make the flesh the usual pink color. Without that additive the flesh would be gray. There is also some evidence that farm raised salmon may have higher levels of PCBs than wild. For this reason, most large markets are labeling their salmon "farm raised." Wild salmon is available, even here in the middle of the country; it's wonderful in texture and taste. Both types of salmon are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, which are known to have health benefits, and eating fish is plain just good for you. An Easy Fall Dinner for Friends   Belgian Endive and Watercress Salad Salmon with Breadcrumbs, Lemon and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Oven-Roasted Ratatouille Sautéed Strawberries with Cream (for the recipes, click on The Recipes or click on the individual recipe above) FTG and BSP