Some of our favorite dinners happen at home.
As summer winds down and we enter Libra season, we’re taking every opportunity to savor the things that make time at home feel especially wonderful.
There’s a certain magic in the days between seasons. Summer isn’t quite ready to leave (& we aren’t ready to say goodbye), fall is starting to make its presence known, and suddenly we are at the end of September (how?).
So, in the spirit of good food, good company, and a little bit of beauty in the everyday, we’re spending some time with our two favorite Libras: Shelly & Candice.
What’s Cooking
The menu is simple, seasonal, and made with love - it is a birthday celebration after all. Fresh ingredients, dishes meant to be shared, and a table that encourages never-ending conversation.
For Shelly & Candice, dinner at home doesn’t have to be about making everything elaborate. It’s about leaning into what’s in season and letting the food do the work.
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The best place to start is at the farmer’s market. This meal’s main ingredient: tomato. An Italian-inspired pasta, tomato & corn puff pastry, and some Aperol spritzes make for the perfect end-of-summer send-off.
Candice’s “Birthday Pasta” is the star of the show, naturally. A tradition that started during the pandemic, she makes this meal for everyone’s birthday - including her own! A simple pomodoro, made special by a homemade basil garlic chili oil.
Setting the Table
Of course, no birthday dinner is complete without a beautiful tablescape. And because tomatoes were the main ingredient for the meal, they took center stage on the table, too.
A little beauty, a little indulgence, and an unreasonable amount of attention paid to the table. Sounds like Libra season to us.
On a backdrop of stripes, they decorated the table with reds and greens. Find the pieces that brought this table together in our full edit.
Shelly & Candice mixed small floral arrangements, candlesticks, and a stacked tomato “runner” down the center of the table. A mix of colorful heirlooms, large beefsteaks, bright red romas, and a sprinkle of cherry tomatoes brought the whole thing together. (And the best part: you can send your guests home with a handful of tomatoes as a party favor!)
If florals are the most intimidating part of setting up a table for you, don’t worry, we have you covered. Keep an eye out for our upcoming guide on all things gardening.
Appreciate the Everyday Moments
The year goes by so fast. We blinked, and it’s practically October! Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we’re taking a moment to appreciate what’s right in front of us.
You don’t need a special occasion to make a nice meal for yourself. You don’t need guests coming over to set the table. And you don’t need a birthday as an excuse to make an ordinary evening feel a little more special.
Although here we are celebrating Shelly & Candice’s birthdays. And if anyone knows how to make dinner at home feel like an occasion, it’s these two.
Enjoying Libra Season,
From the Corner Chaise