ONeil - The Outdoor Table Recipes for Living and Eating Well

P raise for

The Out door Table

Alfresco eating at its freshest and most colourful. I would love a seat at Alannas outdoor table.

Paola Bacchia, author of Istria

Alanna ONeils The Outdoor Table is more than a cookbook; it is an immersive masterclass on outdoor entertaining, with practical tips on everything from lighting to food safety. The simple, fresh recipes, designed to be prepared in advance, are a delight for the eye as well as the palate. I will undoubtably use this book as inspiration for all my outdoor meals in the years to come!

Laurel Evans, author of Liguria

With recipes and pairings that are as gorgeous as they are delicious, The Outdoor Table will completely change your next alfresco meal. Full of bright and vibrant photography, Alanna inspires you to step outside for your next meal, bring together friends and family, and enjoy some of the most beautiful plates. She takes you beyond the food with so many helpful tips and inspirational ideas for taking your next outdoor dining experience to another level. The Outdoor Table is an

absolute must-have addition to your cookbook collection.

Lisa Dawn Bolton, author of On Boards

Copyright 2021 by Alanna ONeil.
Published by Yellow Pear Press, a division of Mango Media Inc.

Cover Design: Elina Diaz
Cover Photo/illustration: Alanna ONeil
Layout & Design: Elina Diaz

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The Outdoor Table: Recipes for Living and Eating Well

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2022933218
ISBN: (hardcover) 978-1-64250-856-7, (ebook) 978-1-64250-857-4
BISAC category code: CKB082000, COOKING / Tablesetting

Printed in the United States of America

The Outdoor Table

Recipes for Living and Eating Well

Coral Gables

Contents

Cooking and eating food outdoors makes it taste infinitely better than the same meal prepared and consumed indoors.

Fen nel Hudson

Ive always felt that cooking and baking are some of the warmest gestures of love, kindness, and hospitality. Whether it is slicing up an oven-fresh, steaming loaf for an impromptu visit from a friend, making a dish for an intimate weekend dinner party, or sharing a good home-cooked meal, cooking and baking are gifts to those you love most. I am just a home cook, merely equipped with years of trial and error and a deep love for cooking and baking. Often, I find myself up to my knees in a rather challenging or complicated recipe simply because I enjoy the process and presence it requires, even if Im left alone with two dozen flaky croissants. Whatever I make, even if its a little higgledy-piggledy or a touch brown, I love to share it as much as I love to make it. There is nothing quite like sitting down to a plate created with thought, love, and care. The pleasure of inviting friends and family over to share a beautiful meal isnt meant to be perfect or rigid. I simply dont live or entertain that way. Apart from the winter months, our ceramic table on the terrace is surrounded with friends, family, and anyone else we can squeeze in for a sunset dinner under the twinkling lights. Good food is meant to be shared, and its as simpl e as that.

Sharing a meal outside makes the occasion even more unforgettable and special. Growing up, we always had a rotation of friends and family coming around for outdoor dinner parties, whether sitting on the front porch for a midsummer barbecue or a bowl of fresh blueberry cobbler with a front seat to a summer lightning storm. When I dine at a restaurant, I usually choose to sit outside without a second thought, unless it is intolerably cold or hot. There is something inexplicable about dining outside. I cant quite put my finger on it, but Ive concluded its a stimulating medley of sensory feelings of sights, sounds, tastes, and touch. The sun seems all the brighter, the breeze gentler, life feels slower and carefreeand the food is more colorful and enticing! It even seems to taste better; perhaps the fresh air or sunlight adds some magic to the dish. Maybe its the little bird that cocks its head curiously at you on the chair across, waiting for a crumb of your bread. Everyone seems to linger over the table a little bit longer, engage deeper in conversation, and savor t he moment.

Ive always been an outdoor enthusiast and spend as much time as I can adventuring in nature. Its my place of solace and comfort. I truly believe that living well with a happy mind and heart is deeply intertwined with our connection to the natural world. Im the sort that will happily plop down in a sunny spot on the porch steps in mid-winter with my breakfast. It breaks up the daily routine adding a little bit of joy to what might be an otherwise dull day. Sharing a meal outside enriches our relationships and enhances our quality of life. Life just feels more alive! Sharing a meal to the hum of the bees, chirps of the birds, or rhythm of the waves, makes life seem simpler and joyousas it should be. How important these little things are to our well-being and contentment. We remember the gatherings that remind us to live in and cherish the moment. And what a privilege that is! It is filling in more ways than one. Living and eating well, I believe, begins with embracing our roots in nature and our connection to each other. With thoughtfulness and a little planning, the outdoor table is a great place to start.

How to Use This Book

The word entertaining feels a bit too pretentious or showy for the outdoor table. In my mind, the outdoor table is a true, generous display of warmth, hospitality, with a little merriment in the mix. It should be gratifying not only for your company, but also for you. An outdoor gathering tends to be more casual since being exposed to the elements leads to the possibility that anything could happen. When it does, we must put up our hands, relinquish control, and go with the flow. The wind may blow away your napkins or the mosquitos may decide to snack on you, but I hope this book addresses these little details with good taste and simplicity. And more importantly, to provide you with tempting, easy-to-make-ahead dishes and menus so you always have something up your sleeve at the ready. This is not a lavish book with three- or four-course meals, fancy china, and handwritten place cards. Rather, this book is meant to inspire you to invite friends over for a relaxing and lighthearted occasion full of conversation, laughter, sunshine, stories, and of course, good food.