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!

Charcuterie boards are always a big hit. This one I ordered locally from Cheese & Spice Market. It included beemster gouda, manchego, merlot, red leicestershire cheddar from England, and more!

These adorable dessert jars were so easy to assemble and so loved by all! I baked a batch of brownies, then layered the jars as follows (bottom to top): jello pudding pack, chunks of brownies, caramel drizzle, pinch of coarse seal salt, cool whip - repeat. Lastly I topped with chopped kitkats and a final drizzle of caramel before serving. They can be made ahead and refrigerated, which is a wonderful time saver! I linked the jars below from amazon - $24 for TWENTY of them! They come with the string, tags and lids.. highly recommend!

 << link to amazon

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.

The wooden "grateful," "thankful," "gather," and "blessed" signs were from this Etsy shop.

Kevin and I were floored when our friends gifted us this bottle below as a hosting gift. Absolute class! I am so thankful for the friends that I have and nights like this one. I cannot wait to do it again.

Amazon links below of some table scape items used: