For a lot of folks, the thought of throwing a dinner party might make their eyes roll back into their head. “That sounds like a lot of work!” many of my friends say when I mention hosting a dinner, or “How stressful!”

But having friends over for dinner doesn’t have to be stressful. And it doesn’t have to be about impressing people. Instead, it’s an opportunity to spend time with those you care about, without the distraction of a crowd, or the worries that you’re breaking your budget.

Recently I was invited – or perhaps more accurately, invited myself – to two friends’ home for dinner. Lois Anne and her husband Kim, professors of mine in college who became close friends – almost surrogate parents! – have had me over for dinner on many occasions. In every case, the meal has been absolutely wonderful. This latest visit was no exception, although it was less extravagant than some we had shared before (such as the traditional mousaka Lois Anne once enchanted us with).

This time, rather than entertaining for a group of eight – or in one case almost 30! – Lois Anne kept it to just the three of us. And instead of preparing multiple courses and dishes, as she sometimes does, she opted for simpler fare. In fact, Lois Anne apologized profusely when I arrived that our meal would be so simple and casual. On the contrary, it was absolutely perfect.

On one platter were arranged freshly cut fruits – pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, and strawberries – none of which had been pre-cut by supermarket staff and left to dry out for a day or two. On another were broccoli, cauliflower, and black olives, alongside freshly-prepared chicken salad. (Again, all of these items were prepared by hand, which knowing Lois Anne was done two reasons: they would taste better and they would cost less.) Finally, Lois Anne baked loaves of frozen store-bought artisan bread and sliced them – a great short-cut for a last-minute get-together. My simple contribution, a jar of honey I bought on a recent trip to Serbia, was the perfect complement to the bread, and a great conversation piece. After more than an hour of delicious food and great conversation, we topped it all off with a dessert of old-fashioned ice cream sundaes.

Most people may be reluctant to  serve such a simple meal to guests. But after a truly fantastic dinner party, I wondered, “Why not?” Why is it that we only invite friends and family over when we have an entire day to slave in the kitchen preparing intricate and sometimes expensive dishes? Why not enjoy simple pleasures together? I think we should all feel free to turn simple fare like fruits, vegetables, and chicken salad into a memorable dinner party. In fact, a dinner party like this one – less stress, less expense, and less clean-up – might actually inspire you to invite friends and family over more often!

So what are you waiting for? Why not host a Simple Pleasures Dinner Party yourself this month? If you do, I’d love to hear about it!