Dream kitchens are all about cooking, dining and entertaining. This autumn, gather your family and friends for an unforgettable dinner party in your open concept kitchen. Whether it’s a formal holiday feast around the dining room table or a casual buffet spread on your kitchen island, you can rest assured your guest will leave will full bellies and fond memories.
Fancy fall appetizers help to get the party started.
Leading up to your dinner party, stock your kitchen pantry cabinets with unique and unexpected ingredients. You don’t have to be an experienced home chef to serve impressive appetizers. Instead of a basic cheese platter, craft a charcuterie board with fancy crackers, seasonal fruits and vegetables, salty nuts, dried meat, and a selection of soft and hard cheeses. In autumn, swap out the cold dips typically served in summer for hot varieties, such as this Asiago Cheese Dip recipe from Fresh Market. Serve hot dips with whole grain tortilla chips, pita crisps, or pieces of crusty sourdough and pumpernickel bread.
A memorable dinner party needs a memorable main course.
While fancy finger foods whet appetites, it’s the main course that truly makes an autumn dinner party memorable. If you prefer to serve a buffet spread on your kitchen island rather than a sit-down meal, plan for a variety of options that can be easily enjoyed at the table or from the comfort of your TV room sofa. Take advantage of the season’s bounty and prepare a menu that incorporates a cornucopia of delicious fall flavors, like this Autumn Pear Salad. Need more inspiration? Click here for 65 main-course recipes for a fall dinner party from Epicurious.
An unforgettable dinner party should have a signature cocktail.
It’s important to keep your bar cabinets stocked when entertaining any time of year, but a signature cocktail will help set the tone for your fall gathering. In cooler months, choose a cocktail that is spicy yet sweet and can be whipped up in large batches. Click here for 45 signature fall cocktails from Town and Country. As a host or hostess, you should also serve water infused with fresh fruit and have soda, tea, wine and cider on hand. When it’s time for dessert, be sure to brew a pot of decaffeinated coffee for your evening guests.
End your fall dinner party on a sweet note.
Dessert is the perfect ending to an unforgettable dinner party. Fall is ripe with seasonal fruits that are ideal for baking into pies and tarts. Try this Individual Rustic Apple Tarts recipe from Martha Stewart. Other fall options could include ginger cookies, spiced cake, or Paula Dean’s decadent Pumpkin Cheesecake.
Happy hosting!
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