On this Sunday morning last year, I was precariously moving through town to see my parents and grandmother before evacuating Asheville due to Hurricane Helene.

I hadn’t seen or heard from anyone in my family — some dear friends had come to my door on Friday after the storm broke. I grabbed my little bag, which I had packed, and my computer, and took them to their house, where they had a generator and some water.

The two evenings we spent in Asheville without power, running water, and internet were quite eerie. The world around was silent, and as we cooked everything we could find from the melting freezer, I snapped this little picture. A roaring fire. A glass of wine. Dear friends who feel like family.

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I sat there wondering, “Are my parents alive?” “Do they know I’m alive?”

Not to get too dramatic, I did see them. Hugging their necks as I left my beloved town in shambles.

One of the things I missed the most was gathering my people around my table. And now, when I’m curating the table for a party, I think about how quickly life can change at any time.

So! Here are five dinner ideas that will have you gathered around the table with your people in no time.

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Five Simple Supper Ideas:

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​Roasted Dinner Party — This is a simple dinner party. Everything roasts in the oven, all at the same temperature!

​Host a Chili Dinner Party — using my mom’s 5-Ingredient Chili recipe, you can have a simple dinner party in a couple of hours on the table. This is a Tuesday evening at it’s finest! A few friends humbly gathered around the dinner table together.

​Roasted Cranberry Chicken — an old school recipe that still is the epitome of comfort food! I like to serve this with another “vintage” recipe, Stick of Butter Rice and some steamed broccoli.

​Southern Baked Spaghetti — Use the Italian American Bolognese Sauce I sent recently, and mix it into this baked spaghetti. Add a tossed salad and some garlic bread for a full meal that will have your people running to the table!

​Sloppy Joe Sandwiches — I cannot tell you how many people tell me they make this weekly for their family! (I really didn’t intend for all these recipes to be so old school… But! They’re kind of the best, right?!) It’s another recipe that you should double when you make it so you can freeze portions for later. Freeze a batch now, and enjoy one meal crossed off your list for the week of Thanksgiving!
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So, this week, hug your people tight.
🥗 Make the delicious food and gather around the table.
🥰 Look your people in the eye and tell them how much you love them.
🎁 Every day is a gift, and every day matters.

Every day is a chance to say “yes” to connection. Yes to the messy, real-life moments. Yes to laughter echoing around the table. Yes to love shared over something warm and simple. Don’t wait for the perfect moment — make it now.

Here’s to gathering,
Ashley