An Invitation to the Garden and Dining with Butterflies

I’m joining The Novel Bakers for Garden Week!

You’re invited to pull on your gardening gloves and dig in with some virtual gardening as we share books, tour gardens, set tables, and enjoy some garden-inspired recipes this week!

First on our list, An Invitation to the Garden: Seasonal Entertaining Outdoors by Michael Devine:

In this indispensable entertaining guide, Michael Devine, a well-known tastemaker, shows how the garden can be a perfect and easily transformable setting to stage enchanted events in every season. 

From the Foreward by Charlotte Moss:

“In his enthusiastic greeting at the door, the festive decoration of the table, and the delicious menu, Michael’s desire to delight his friends is on full display. Whether the settings are casual with color scheme reflected in paper lanterns and bright zinnias, or more formal with walls luxuriously draped in pagoda fabric and a mountain of lilacs on the table, one thing you can be sure of as Michael’s guest: The atmosphere is one of ‘We’re so glad you’re here.’ “

An Invitation to the Garden is a feast for the eyes! You’ll be inspired to have a Lilac Brunch, a Rose Pink Breakfast and an Alfresco Dinner with Hydrangeas!

I had some table inspiration from the Butterfly Luncheon,

set in summer to coincide with the arrival of the butterflies. . .

Since it’s a little early for dining with butterflies,

I brought some to the table. . .

They migrated on plates, napkins,

flatware and glasses. . .

And a butterfly box provides some shelter for

sleeping beauties and serves as a centerpiece.

Mini bouquets in butterfly goblets

provide a source of nectar. . .

Mini Arugula and Scallion Pizzas

from Michael Devine’s Butterfly Luncheon menu

provided some Dining with Butterfly inspiration . . .

Resulting in a metamorphosis of

Fig, Goat Cheese, Prosciutto & Arugula

topped mini pizzas!

Taking flight from butterfly

cookie cutters and puff pastry . . .

Ingredients

Box of Puff Pastry
Fig Preserves
Arugula
Goat Cheese
Prosciutto
Butterfly Cookie Cutters

Thaw puff pastry according to box directions.

Heat the oven to 375°F.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet lightly to remove the fold marks.

Using butterfly cookie cutters, cut shapes for mini pizzas and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Prick pastry shapes with a fork several times and place in oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven.

Microwave desired amount of fig preserves until spreadable and can be brushed or spread easily onto puff pastry shapes. Top with goat cheese. You can run the puff pastry back into the oven for 5 additional minutes if desired, or skip this step and proceed to top with prosciutto and arugula.

The combination of flavors makes a satisfying sweet, tangy, salty, peppery bite!

You can top smaller butterflies with just a wee bit of goat cheese and drizzle of fig balsamic glaze. . .

Or brush them with fig preserves before

 topping with goat cheese and arugula.

“I am sure these entertaining stories will inspire you to experiment, encourage you to explore your cupboards in search of treasures long ignored, and of course, have fun. Here, hospitality and exuberance meet daring and originality. RSVP to Michael’s invitation to the garden, turn the page, and discover and delight in all things Devine.”

~ Charlotte Moss

Dining with Butterfly Table Details:

Dishes/ Lenox Butterfly Meadow Dragonfly

Butterfly Goblets, Butterfly Box, Napkins/ HomeGoods

Butterfly Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn

Goblets/ Mikasa French Countryside

Flatware/ Portmeirion Botanic Garden

 Chargers/ Pier 1 & World Market

Quilt/ Kohl’s, used before here

Visit Jain and Michael Lee

for Garden Week:

 a quiet life

Rattlebridge Farm

Thank you for your visit, also sharing at:

Tablescape Thursday