Easy Back to School Ladies Lunch

The kids are back in school which allows for the perfect opportunity to host girlfriends for lunch!  I love this easy ladies lunch because it can all be prepared ahead of time, allowing you to be present for and enjoy your guests!

Setting a pretty table and hosting new friends in our home brings me so much joy! However, if you don’t plan ahead, instead of being a calm and engaging hostess, you’ll be frazzled and overwhelmed. 

Here’s my go-to easy lunch and a bright tablescape to make your gathering low stress and fun. 

Tablescape

Here’s what I used for the bright and happy table!

Blue Buffalo Check Tablecloth. This tablecloth is so pretty and versatile!!  I love checked tablecloths because they add a pop of color and are a perfect backdrop to more colorful plates and flowers.

Linen monogrammed napkins. A monogram takes a plain napkin and makes it beautiful!!  These white linen napkins with royal blue monogram are my some of my favorites. 

Spode Blue Italian plates. These can be purchased so many places these days!!  You can often find them at HomeGoods but can always find them on Amazon or Replacements. They are what we use every day and they’re the best!!

Salad plates. These are from my favorite antique mall in McKinney, Texas. They just look happy to me!!

Mix and Match Glasses

One of the best places to find inexpensive glassware is thrift stores. Some of these were wedding gifts and some I’ve picked up through the years. You can find my blue glasses here at an amazing price!!

Flowers

Flowers are a must for me when setting a pretty table. This arrangement was so fun to put together and took very little time. Here’s a link to some easy flower arrangements. 

It’s so fun sending your guests home with a special gift. These pretty little bud vases come in a set of 22 and make the sweetest gifts. I tied each vase with a hot pink check ribbon and then put a simple flower in each vase.

Easy Ladies Lunch Menu

Here’s my go-to menu for the prettiest and easiest lunch that can all be made ahead.

Fruit Salad

Incorporating color into your menu is so important. That’s why I love serving a fruit salad. It’s important to be sensitive to food allergies, so always ask your guests ahead of time for their preferences and allergies. 

Because I’m allergic to melon, I typically do a salad with grapes, strawberries and blueberries. The fruit can be washed and cut ahead of time so all you have to do is pull it out of the refrigerator a few minutes before your guests arrive. 

Green Salad Bar

Who doesn’t love a yummy salad!?  I almost always order a salad when I go out for lunch. 

Instead of mixing the salad ahead of time I like to create a salad bar with lots of options for the guests to choose. I normally use spring mix for my salad base and then have these toppings in the salad bar:

Chopped rotisserie chicken 

Ham

Feta 

Cheddar 

Carrots

Avocado

Tomatoes 

Yellow Pepper

Cucumber 

Chickpeas 

Toasted pecans/nuts

1 Creamy Dressing 

1 Vinaigrette Dressing 

I found the cutest little bowls on Amazon that are perfect for a salad bar. 

Chicken Salad

Chicken Salad is so easy to make ahead. My favorite recipe is adapted from Southern Living. I use slightly less mayo because I prefer a drier chicken salad.  A Kitchen Aid mixer is your best friend when shredding chicken! I just put the pulled rotisserie chicken and other salad ingredients in the bowl, attach the whisk, and turn it on. Easy peasy!

Greek Pasta Salad

If you don’t serve chicken salad, my Easy Greek Pasta salad is a great choice. It comes together quickly, is colorful on the table and is just so yummy!

Crackers. I served Milton’s Gluten Free and Wheat Thins.

Dessert 

I usually do a few desserts to give the guests options. These make ahead one bowl brownies are so easy and delicious!  I sometimes make a mocha frosting to make them extra yummy. 

Lemon Gooey Butter Cake is a Paula Deen classic! They are super easy to make and everyone loves them.

Ladies Lunch Preparation 

1-2 weeks ahead. 

Plan your table and make a grocery list of everything you’ll need. 

Make brownies and butter cake and freeze 

3-4 days ahead 

If you have more than one dining table, set the table when it’s convenient for you. I’ve found I feel so much more relaxed when the table is set a few days ahead of my gathering! 

2 Days Ahead

Buy your food and flowers.  I usually put together my flower arrangement the day before so the blooms can open a bit. 

Day Before 

Make your chicken salad. I like a drier chicken salad. If you prefer more dressing, you might need to add some mayo the day of your lunch. 

Wash and cut your veggies for your salad. Put in separate containers so they are ready to pull out shortly before your guests arrive. 

Wash and cut fruit. 

Day of your lunch

30 minutes before- Pour water in glasses and set a water pitcher aside.

Set out drinks. I usually serve iced tea or lemonade, water and mimosas. 

Put out all of your salad bar options and other food. I think it looks nice to do different levels when serving. It just makes for a pretty presentation. 

Extra Easy Ladies Lunch Plan

Let’s say you want to have friends over for lunch, but you don’t love setting tables, ironing napkins and using china. That’s OK!! Here are some ways to make it extra easy and carefree:

-Buy pre-made chicken salad. Costco and Sam’s both have great options!

-Buy pre-cut fruit and veggies. You can find them at all grocery stores!

-Use paper napkins and plates. There are so many fun options if you want something fun and pretty. Lucy Grymes and Caspari have some of my favorites!

I wrote about hospitality in an earlier blog post. The most important thing when hosting is that your guests feel welcomed into your home and loved, seen and cared for while they are there. If china, flowers and linens are not your thing- make it easy using the ideas above. People just want to gather and be in community!!

It’s so fun and special to have people in your home. Let me know if you host lunch and how it turns out!

Grateful for you,

Julie 

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