Dinner Diary: 21/52

Week 21 of Having People Over, and our guests this week were my parents and my aunt and her husband.

I know, I know. Is that cheating?

I’ve genuinely wrestled with this a little. The whole spirit of this resolution is to build community, get to know neighbors, deepen friendships, open our door to people we don’t always sit down with. So when the guest list is family, there’s a small voice in the back of my head asking if this “counts”. Here’s where I stand: the goal was to have people over every week. We had people over. I cooked. We gathered. And it also happened to fall smack between my mom’s birthday (May 18) and my dad’s birthday (May 27), with my aunt Kim and her husband Dave in town from out of state, on Memorial Day weekend, at the unofficial kickoff of summer. If there was ever a week where family made perfect sense, this was it. I’m allowing it.

There’s also something new about having my parents around more regularly now that they’ve put down roots here locally. We’re still figuring out what that looks like, honestly. When family lives far away, every visit feels like an occasion. When they’re closer, there’s this lovely adjustment period of realizing you don’t have to treat every dinner like a production. It’s a good problem to have, and I’m happily figuring it out.

This week’s menu was built entirely around the feeling of summer’s arrival. We fired up the grill, the sun was out, there was a slight breeze, and I’m telling you the smells coming off that grill were peak Memorial Day. Robby handled the chicken and veggies for the Sesame Chicken Subs, which are a Recipe Club staple for good reason. The trick is letting the chicken marinate long enough in the Kewpie sesame dressing before it hits the grill. Add grilled veggies, some avocado, pile it onto a toasted sub roll and you have the most delicious, unexpected BBQ sandwich that tastes completely like summer and is a welcome break from the typical burgers and dogs situation.

The Dill Pickle Dip made another appearance and was, as always, completely devoured. If you haven’t tried this yet because you’re not sure you’re a “pickle person,” I need you to trust me. This dip has converted people. It is shockingly good.

I tried a new Green Goddess Salad that I’ve been watching make the rounds on the viral recipe circuit: chopped cabbage, green onions, and a homemade dressing that is light, fresh and exactly right for the transition into summer. Another one going into regular rotation (and coming to Recipe Club soon!).

Here’s a watermelon public service announcement for this summer: Early season watermelon is a gamble. You know when you cut into one and it’s just… not there yet? Not sweet enough, a little disappointing? Don’t serve mediocre watermelon and apologize for it. Doctor it up instead. A generous squeeze of lime transforms a subpar melon completely, and if you want to go further, a little tajin and flaky sea salt takes it somewhere really fun. This is your summer watermelon strategy.

If you’re keeping score at home, this is the third funfetti cake in six weeks. I regret nothing. This time I swapped the rainbow sprinkles for red, white and blue in honor of Memorial Day, which tastes exactly the same, just slightly more patriotic. 🇺🇸

The kids were wonderful this week, honestly thrilled to have grandparents and aunt Kim and uncle Dave around. Penny, who as we’ve established can be a wildcard, was in her absolute element having a fresh audience for her stories and shenanigans. That’s one of the best things about family gatherings, isn’t it? Sharing your kids with the people who love them unconditionally, watching them light up in that particular way they do when they feel truly seen. Family is just the best.

One other detail that made this week feel real: Ollie had a game in a Memorial Day weekend baseball tournament, which meant dinner had a hard stop and Robby and Ollie had to be out the door and on the road before dessert plates were fully cleared. So we ate, sang happy birthday, cut the cake, and cheered them off. My parents, Kim and Dave were thrilled to follow along to the ballpark afterward to watch Ollie play. 

Birthdays, BBQ, baseball, family, birthday cake. Honestly, is there a more perfect Memorial Day weekend itinerary? Still always happy we hosted.

See you next Sunday at 5:00!

xo,