Fall always inspires me to entertain…
As the fall days begin to cool, with a hint of winter weather on the edges, I begin to think of warm dinners shared with friends and family. The markets are filled with autumn bounty in preparation for Thanksgiving feasts and holiday parties. You don’t have to host the holiday dinner, or stage an elaborate feast, to create an enjoyable evening.
Light some candles, make a fire, and invite some friends over for dinner. Decorate the table with fall flowers and foliage, scent the house with hot apple cider, open the red wine, and make a warm supper to share as the evenings get longer.
An elegant, multi-course dinner party is a lot of fun, but it’s not the current reality for us, since we have young children. Our dinner parties are family affairs with multiple ages, palates, food needs, and attention spans to consider. Here are three menus that we use as a template when planning our fall dinner parties:
Cozy Fall Dinner Party
- Antipasto platter: sliced salami, olives, sautéed peppers, cauliflower florets, cubed cheese, almonds, bread sticks
- Sausage lasagna
- Vegetable lasagna
- Caesar salad with croutons
- Chocolate mousse with whipped cream
Fall Harvest Dinner Party
- Butternut squash soup
- Caprese salad: tomato, basil, mozzarella
- Herb marinated pork loin
- Homemade macaroni and cheese
- Apple crumble
Elegant Fall Dinner Party
- Cheese plate: assorted cheeses, grapes, crackers, dried fruits, nuts
- Grilled salmon with lemon and dill
- Roasted fall vegetables (carrots, zucchini, summer squash)
- Rice pilaf
- Warm gingerbread with whipped cream and lemon sauce
Happy Entertaining!
