1.26.2021
Ina Garten Potluck
9.21.2020
Autumn dinner party
In early August, some friends requested that I host a dinner party. It is one of my favorite requests to receive! I picked a weekend in September, which happened to be days before the Autumn Equinox. Right away, my heart was set on pastel pumpkins and buffalo plaid! Weather has been perfect here in NY, so there were no worries with mother nature.
One of the guests love pork, so the menu was planned around that; pork two ways. My husband made his awesome pork ribs, and I did Natasha's stuffed pork loin. After apps, we started with a caesar salad using freshly shaved parmesan and classic croutons, had the pork next with a veggie mix and a baked corn casserole. Dessert was Salted caramel brownie parfaits and Moon's award winning apple pie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.(see below on how I made the dessert jars)
Throughout the night, I often checked my list in the kitchen. Making sure certain things went into the oven at certain times, preparing the sternos and chafing dishes. We also confirmed that the fire pit and patio heater were filled with full propane tanks before guests arrived. Organization is key to a successful dinner party!
My best friend, Michelle, is a crafting genius. We handmade the place cards using fake flowers, moss and apples from Michaels. We hung simple handwritten name tags that were bright and easy to read.