Because I recently saw this recipe in the NYT I am dying to make it and think it would make a great and filling lunch: risotto with pancetta and swiss chard. A cheese and fruit plate for dessert. And maybe, but not necessarily, sliced tomatoes and steamed asparagus drizzled with lemon vinaigrette. I ❤️ risotto, and most people do but hardly anybody makes it for guests 🤔

Kswl that sounds wonderful! And of course I can't see it because I no longer subscribe. grrrr

Risotto recipe sounds great, but it's labor intensive at the last minute dish. I don't think it holds well and I certainly wouldn't want to reheat it. Here is the recipe for you in case you want to consider it: NY Times Risotto with Pancetta and Swiss Chard

• 4 ounces pancetta or unsmoked bacon, diced
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup chopped shallots or red onion
• 1 (8-ounce) bunch Swiss chard, preferably red Swiss chard, stems thinly sliced and leaves coarsely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced
• 1 ½ cups Carnaroli, Vialone Nano or arborio rice
• 1 teaspoon fine sea or table salt, plus more to taste
• ¾ cup dry white wine
• 1 quart chicken or vegetable broth, at room temperature (cold broth slows down the cooking)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (save lemon, cut into wedges, for serving)
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving

Combine pancetta and oil in a large skillet and turn the heat to medium. Cook until fat has rendered and the pancetta is golden brown and crisp, stirring occasionally, 5 to 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel-lined plate.

Add butter to the skillet and let melt over medium heat. Stir in shallot and cook until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chard stems and garlic, and cook until fragrant and golden, 2 minutes.

Stir in rice and 1 teaspoon salt, and cook until rice is opaque and smells slightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes.Stir in wine and cook until it’s absorbed, about 3 minutes. Add stock, about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring occasionally, until the rice is cooked through but still has a slight bite, 20 to 27 minutes.

Add lemon zest and stir until well distributed. Stir in chard leaves and cook until softened, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes longer. If the risotto is too thick, stir in a little water or some more broth (do this until the level of creaminess pleases you; perfect risotto texture is subjective). Stir in Parmesan, then taste and add more salt, if needed.

Spoon immediately into individual bowls. Sprinkle pancetta on top and finish with more Parmesan and black pepper, if you’d like. Serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.

Risotto holds fine— you can’t reheat it in a lump in the microwave, you put it ina skillet or pan and pour a bit of warm stock or broth or wine or cream and loosen it up as it heats. Of course, this assumes you have any left over, which in our house is unlikely.

I've also made frittata for lunch and that need not be done at last minute as it too can be served at room temp. Side salad. Crusty bread. Maybe soup before hand. Since it's so hot, maybe a gazpacho or a chilled cucumber soup with dill. Or I've enjoyed fruit soups too. And being cold, they can be made ahead too.

Sorry, kswl, but for me, cheese is not dessert. I know it is for some, but if I'm eating out, I want something sweeter and more decadent.

A nice assortment of fresh roasted turkey, ham, cheeses, artisanal breads, interesting spreads, green salad, and a selection of desserts (fresh fruit, something vanilla and something chocolate)

That and I probably would have my panni maker ready and I would keep it all very casual and add some roast beef and have at least one great prepared salad. Roasted corn, basil, mozzarella, tomato etc or the ever popular broccoli with lots of bacon.

I do like hot food so possibly some hot potato dish or soup too.

Bumblebeez, when we went to Cape Cod and rented a place, we had DH's cousins over for lunch and I did something similar...made an easy tortellini soup and then had a tray of cold cuts, rolls, mustard/mayo, pickles, chips, slaw, etc. and choc chip cookie tray for dessert. It was very easy, satisfying for all. Seeing as we were on vacation, the last thing I wanted to do was fuss.

The caprese skewers looks so perfect. Fixating on that now.

I don't know if anyone else does this, but I keep a file box with all the menus of what I served to whom and when.

I came across another luncheon I did that seemed to keep everyone happy: Chilled cuke soup, ina garten's chicken salad on romaine hearts, whole wheat dinner rolls with butter, and for dessert, pound cake cubes in margarita glasses with strawberry/blueberry compote on top.

I would keep it simple.

Chicken salad with croissants

Orzo salad ( orzo, red and orange bell peppers, red onion, mixture of olives, grape tomatoes, artichoke hearts--all chopped. Add Paul Newman Balsamic Vinegar dressing and throw in a lot of chopped Feta.) Best if made one day ahead.

I would add this recipe, because it looks delish:chilled asparagus with lemon

Dessert would be Marion Burrros' famous plum tart (but I would use whatever fruit looks good.) I've made this a zillion times and it is fabulous and so simple. Serve with several varieties of the best ice cream you can find. Best summer dessert

Some bakery cookies to go along side. Or, make your own. I would suggest something thin and crispy. Tates Cookies would work.

When I think Tate's Cookies, I'm reminded of my former secy whose niece started the business...she's done very well for herself. They are delish, though crispy...I prefer a softer chew.

These are delish! To add to my above post, I added some homemade frajita sauce today. I just wish I would have made some sort of corn salad, oh well. Husband is off today so we will graze.

oooh Jojo has some good choices! Chicken salad/croissants - yes! For some reason, I think think and crispy cookies in hot weather.

Terrilynn! I haven't made corn salad in a while - it's going on the menu next week! It would be delish with some of the main dishes suggested here.

Thank you Oly - I won't make it for the lunch (93 hot and humid is not my idea of risotto weather!) but I WILL be making that. YUM! Jojo that sounds wonderful for a lunch start to finish and you have me rethinking! Or I'll plan a different lunch soon.

Things come to me while I sleep :-) I've(probably) settled on) 2 quiches, Bacon, Shallot, Gruyere which is a tried and true for me and Cherry tomato, ribbon zucchini, Monterey Jack, the top dotted with marinated mozzarella balls. I saw a recipe for that and will change it up a just bit. Little fruit skewers, green salad (pre-dressed with what?), lemon buttermilk pound cake - it's simple but eats like a splurge and I can make it ahead. Chilled rosé, passion fruit iced tea and I always have an assortment of flavored carbonated waters. The forecast keeps getting worse for the day - now a 40% chance of storms which is going to make a stroll to the creek and bridge (the one thing they requested) iffy.

My dining room is not formal by any stretch, china is long gone so beaded edge for lunch and ruffle edge for dessert and here's the rest of what I'm working with. Truly, this is a casual gathering, I want it to feel homey. The yellow is a runner, striped placemats with not shown charcoal linen napkins, tea could go in larger pitcher, I have daisies to pick and will find greenery to cut for the little green vases.

Big picture of the room - it's as close to being outdoors as we will get if the weather stinks and everything outside is green now.

This is going to be a great lunch and setting!

I think it sounds lovely-- i would be honored and appreciative of the menu.

My one caution and only you will know if it applies.. in my circles 9/10 men do not consider quiche a meal. Only SO eats and enjoys it. The other men in my family expect something more. Your experience may be different.

I am not sure why i started this-- but i used to make sausage and peppers (phila style) when I made quiche. I have also made shrimp to accompany the quiche.

Again *I* would be very satisfied with the menu.. so maybe my family of men are just closed-minded carnivores! (not really-- but I will throw them under the bus nonetheless)

@DLM2000-GW I love your dining room! Those chairs are gorgeous!

Your home is lovely. If you think men need meat, swap out one quiche for cold cuts. I don’t think its necessary tho, esp for lunch.

I will make the one quiche heavy on the bacon to appease the men - one of which is my picky-eater, carnivore DH and he loves that quiche so my gut tells me the other man will be just fine. I don't think anyone has ever left my house hungry in all the years I've entertained!

Your room is lovely and the

menu sounds perfect for the day. I am of the mind that anyone can survive one lunch (of delicious food) without meat.

I think your menu sounds good, although I have meat eaters in my crowd so I might amp it up. However, I made a quiche recently with meat and cheeses, basically bacon and ham, and it was a thick heavy quiche, and I also had fresh fruit, a garden salad, blueberry muffins and everybody loved it.

I hope I didn't offend by bringing up my experiences with the guys in my circles.. but I think the menu is perfect for the season and the anticipated temps. As Oly said, no adult should suffer too much with a lunch that doesn't meat their normal style of eating -- but i brought it up only because you said it was a celebration. As hosts, of course we want to make all our visitors happy ... within limits.

Your home is lovely.. the dining room is inviting .. and the menu sounds delicious! Have a great visit!

The dining room is lovely! A great place to enjoy a meal!

Funny I was thinking the same thing about quiche in that when DH's cousins came for lunch, I always ask if there are any dietary issues I should know about, and she said that the husband prefers a real meal, not quiche or such. I thought it was odd, but accommodated him.

Annie.. your DHs cousins would dine well with my brother, BIL's, nephews and my late father. Mom always loves quiche so when my father was still living, it's what I made her for mother's day and her birthday... with sausage and peppers for dad & co. (sausage and peppers is actually delicious with quiche.. you don't need it but it seemed less of an afterthought)

Oh Funky no you did not offend at all - I totally understand about men and meat. I'm married to a cave man after all ;-)

Thank you all for walking through this thought process with me and the thumbs up on the dining room and table attire for the day. I think it will all come together but I'll let you know!

That's a perfect room for any occasion, DLM. I love your table and that rug. Enjoy!

JT, I agree. I may have to make some soon, haven't had them in years either.

DLM, every time I get a glimpse of your chairs, I swoon. I think you need to give us a photo tour of the whole house…after lunch.

I think your latest menu sounds great.

DLM, I am not only drooling over your food choices but your gorgeous home! So beautiful. So much thought went into your space. You all are going to have such a lovely time! Maybe next time I can on the invite list. ;)

You ladies are so sweet! Thank you.

@amykath if you ever find yourself in the mountains of NC let me know!

@Sueb20 I'll gladly do a tour - right after you help me get things as finished as your house - I'm struggling with lots of details.

@Feathers11 that rug is a piece of carpet I had bound for an oddly shaped family room in uh, 1995ish. It's actually commercial carpet because I had young boys at that point and it's worn like iron - looks like the day it was new. Have I ever mentioned that I tend to keep things f-o-r-e-v-e-r?? Seriously, that's why I am still struggling with my living room because I will be looking at it for a looooong time. Meanwhile every day I am looking at/using a room that sparks no joy.

A beautiful room and beyond! Yiur menu sounds perfect. Have fun and report back .

Love the sun room as always! And the table setting!

My husband pulls that "quiche is not a meal" stuff with me. Pft! That book ruined a delicious meal! Quiche is just about my favorite dish, so many ways to make it delicious. What's not to like?? I wish I could eat it more often, due to dieting, it's a big treat for me! As I would think it would be for most people. Your menu would be PERFECT for me. Hubs also doesn't like lemon, so a lemon cake would make me swoon. Between dieting and not having anyone to share it with, a lemon desert is a rarity in my life.

Quick update because this seems to have happened in another space and time already. Lunch was Thurs, loads of fun meeting these wimminfolk who I've known forever. My DH last minute could not be there but the other DH was such a good sport listening to our stories and laughs. We ate and talked and drank wine till 4:30 till when couple had to get back on the road. I got distracted and did not get a pic of the table with the food spread but everything was just right - quiche, fruit skewers, green salad, lemon pound cake, wine and what was supposed to be passion fruit iced tea but I could not find it. Used mango passion fruit water infusers and let them steep - delicious and I will enjoy using the rest. Thanks for all the help nailing this down. Pics or it didn't happen.

Quiches before I got them on the table.

Sounds perfect. So happy you were able to enjoy their visit.

Looks wonderful.

It looks lovely!

Nicely done, and the food looks and sounds delicious.

Everything looked perfect. Your dining room is so lovely.

It sounds like a lovely luncheon. Those quiches look delish.

Sounds delicious and the runner is perfect!

I'm so glad you and your guests had a good time! Your quiches look delicious!

So glad it all went so well!

Well done! I love your placemats!

So nice! You have a beautiful home and the lunch setting is perfection. I especially like your wood handled pie server and feel I need this in my life.

@rubyclaire that pie server handle is Bakelite not wood but the detail does look like wood carving. It was my grandmother's. Name on it is Landers Frary & Clark Aetna Works which I'd never paid attention to before but the company had a long interesting history.

DLM, it all looks so wonderful! Your quiches look like they could be in a food magazine. :)

Thanks @DLM2000-GW - Bakelite - I may love it even more!

Thanks for sharing. I love updates! Table setting very nice! Food looks and sounded delicious also. Glad you had fun with good friends!

Your table was just perfect! The quiches looked amazing… the entire get together sounds like so much fun!