How to Make Space for More Dinner Guests and Creamy Mushroom Risotto
What makes entertaining even more lovely and lively is when little kids come!
There are so many options as to where they can sit. I’m sharing a few ideas on how to make space for them, but we try to keep in mind, it’s more fun when the little people can sit with the BIG people at the BIG table (if room).
And remember, the tables don’t have to match or fit perfectly! I love this Watermelon and Corn on the Cob post, as a lovely reminder.
Ideas on how to make space for more dinner guests:
1. The bar
2. Make your own table and throw a tablecloth, sheet, or towel on top.
3. The piano bench
4. Set a card table.
5. Child-size table.
6. Extend your table with another table.
Use your imagination!
When our friends came for a delicious Rosemary Pork Tenderloin meal, we served a scrumptious risotto with the meal (sadly, no close up pictures). Steph brought the recipe. It was fantastic!
Love her hand-written note. We chose the “make your own table with a beach towel” method!
It’s true. This recipe was so good and EASY – it’s company-worthy for sure and a keeper for me!
What’s your quick way to include kids around the table?
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Recipe: Creamy Mushroom Risotto {ReluctantEntertainer.com}
Summary: Recipe courtesy of Dave Lieberman, Food Network
Ingredients
- 1-ounce dried mushrooms
- 1 cup boiling water
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 shallot, minced
- 1 cup Arborio rice
- 1 cup chicken stock, heated
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- Few pinches salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup grated pecorino romano
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Place mushrooms in a bowl and pour boiling water over them; cover and let sit 10 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté’ until they start to turn translucent in color, just a couple minutes.
- Add rice and stir around until all the grains are covered with oil. To the rice, add the stock and wine.
- Remove the mushrooms from their liquid, reserving the liquid, and chop them roughly. Add the mushrooms with their liquid to the pot. Add salt, raise heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer.
- Stir well, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring once more after 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in the butter, pecorino, and parsley. Serve with sliced tenderloin.
Preparation time: 10 minute(s)
Cooking time: 20 minute(s)
Number of servings (yield): 6
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Kids love to feel like a special place has been made for them…sometimes all it takes is a place card with their name on it, and they really don’t care where their seat is! ;)
I grew up eating at a kids table at our big family parties and it was always fun! My kids love when they get their own kids table with their cousins :) Love the beach towel method – perfect!!
Mushrooms and Risotto = happy happy happy
Ha-ha, ho-ho, hee-hee… grabbed that recipe. Thank you very much. Love the beach towel table cloth. So works for me. Cheers!
This recipe could easily be vegetarian with a vegetable broth – how yummy! I love your idea of turning tables together like that. We did something like that for easter this year – turned the dining room table and then lined up the two “kids” tables so it looked like one, big long table. It was fun to have us all sitting near each other. Thanks as always for your inspirational posts!
I’d sit anywhere if I had a big bowl of that mushroom risotto!
Got to try this risotto! I love making the kids feel just as special as the adults when we have a get together, great tips!
I have never made mushroom risotto so I think it’s about time I try… thanks for sharing!
Also depending on location, just some good colored blankets on a floor work well for extra seating. It’s homey and I find alot of people find it fun if we’re all together on the floor, either inside or outside.
Mushroom risotto is my #1 favorite dish to make. This sounds amazing!