The stuff of legend:

Pizza Beans and dinner party dinners and Lambrusco by the gallon

This past weekend we had a small gathering and I attempted something logic-defying, something mythical, legendary even…I attempted to be a host that spends time with her guests, actually in the dining room…not in the kitchen, not over the stove, not putting guests to work, not in the peripheral of the dinner party— actually in the dinner party! Once considered fantasy, now, lived reality, I’m here to say it is possible to experience both dinner and party portions of a dinner party(!!!) and that was due, in large part, to PIZZA BEANS. These beans had their moment in the spotlight a while back. But they are truly something to behold. Mostly because they are shockingly satisfying, fairly low maintenance, and can be made in advance. They are a centerpiece dish, a show stopper, if you will. Serve with a salad — shaved fennel, red leaf lettuces, and our (vegetable) lord and savior’s vinaigrette — or don’t because sometimes salad feels like the most impossible thing. Also, we drank our weigh…