Dinner & a Movie: Strawberry Shortcake

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned.

We had every intention of creating a full dinner for our weekly Dinner and a Movie tradition—complete with a fruit-filled menu and cozy Strawberry Shortcake vibes. Funny enough, I never actually added Strawberry Shortcake to my menu as I leaned into brunch foods. The table was set, the recipes were picked out… but then life happened. I flew in that morning, errands ran long, kids needed rides, and time slipped away.

So, we pivoted.
And what began as a “missed” plan turned into one of our sweetest afternoon—just me and my girls, gathered around a simple teatime. Honestly? It felt like a gift.

The Original Menu (The Dream Plan)

  • 🍓 Strawberry Chia Seed Pudding

  • 🍓 Iced Strawberry Matcha

  • 🍋 Lemon Blueberry Muffins

  • 🍓 Strawberry French Toast Bake

  • 🍇 Fruit Salad

  • ☕ Strawberry Tea

It was going to be a full meal, full of cozy brunch vibes and berry goodness. But even though we didn’t make it all happen, we held onto the heart behind it: connection.

The Pivot Menu (What We Actually Served)

  • 🍋 Homemade Lemon Blueberry Muffins (recipe below)

  • 🍓 Fruit Salad with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cherries, plums, and citrus

  • ☕️ Harney & Sons Strawberry Vanilla Tea

  • 🥤 Whole Foods Blood Orange Soda

It wasn’t what we planned—but it was perfect.

The Tablescape

Strawberries were the main character, but all their fruit friends made an appearance:
lemons, oranges, plums, blueberries, cherries, grapes and raspberries filled the table with color and joy.

We added:

  • 🌷 Tulips and bright yellow blooms

  • 🕯️ Strawberry-shaped candles for a whimsical touch

Simple. Sweet. Just right.

The Movie

We skipped the mediocre Strawberry Shortcake: Berry in the Big City and stuck with the show.A cozy, nostalgic pick that was perfect for a girls’ afternoon.


Lemon Blueberry Muffins Recipe 🍋🫐

These muffins are our favorite. They’re light, fresh, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup, Perfect for teatime or a slow morning with your people.

Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • Zest of 1 lemon

  • ½ cup butter, softened

  • 1 egg

  • ½ cup maple syrup

  • ½ cup milk

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 cup blueberries

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with paper liners.

  2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest.

  3. In a mixer, cream the butter until smooth.

  4. Add the egg, maple syrup, milk, and vanilla. Mix until well combined.

  5. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.

  6. Gently fold in the blueberries.

  7. Scoop batter into liners using a muffin scoop or large spoon.

  8. Bake for 18–20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.


What movie are you watching this weekend?

Don’t overcomplicate it—just choose something cozy, gather your people, and create a small space to connect. Whether it’s a full dinner, a table full of fruit and muffins, or just popcorn and a blanket—it all counts.

Because it doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful. ✨

ERIN CLARKComment