Simple Fall Dinner Party

Ashley is back on the blog and this time she is bringing you a fun topic!  Enjoy! 

“Interesting people, good friends, good food, and a pleasant setting are the ingredients. What brings them together to make a great dinner party? Not champagne and caviar, not fine china and silver—though these are certainly gracious embellishments. The indispensable elements are the hosts and the spirit they bring to the occasion” by Peggy Post (Emily Post’s Etiquette book)

There is only one thing I love more than baking & cooking and that is HOSTING! I learned everything I know from Emily Post’s Etiquette Book. It is still one of my very favorite gifts from my husband. Every etiquette or hosting question is answered in this book. I have even taught classes from this book. It is wonderful and I highly recommend it to every woman!

On to the dinner party. Whether you are wanting to have your friends over for a beautiful autumn dinner or planning ahead for hosting Thanksgiving. I hope this post will give you some fun ideas.

The Details

Date: Saturday evening in September

Guests/Invitation: Although informal and not always appropriate, I used a Facebook Event to invite my guests. It’s fast, easy, free, gives you an accurate head count, allows you to change your event, and gives your guests a reminder. This particular dinner was for all woman. Ages 8-68!

Food: I was planning on 25 people, so I needed something easy, affordable, and simple. Our menu: Soups (Chicken Pot Pie & Cheddar Broccoli/Cauliflower), Bread Bowls, 2 salads, wheat & white rolls, ice water, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (recipe below).  I read in my etiquette book that when Soup is going to be your main course, you need to double the amount per person. Helpful tip! I used several carafes for ice water so that no one had to get up from their seat once they had their food. 

Set Up:  I (well my wonderful, supportive husband) moved the furniture out of my living room so that we could all be seated together. I used two banquet style/church tables. I set up the food buffet in my kitchen. I set the table first thing in the morning so I can rearrange and have plenty of time before I need to prepare the food.

Music Playlist: Although Country is my favorite kind of music, it didn’t quite fit with my elegant Fall theme. I wanted something classy & timeless. I created a Pandora station that consisted of: Frank Sinatra, Norah Jones, Nat King Cole, Michael Buble, and Louis Armstrong. It was just what I wanted!

Decorations: The best part!! I bought red Pioneer Woman tablecloths & large pumpkins for the centerpieces of the tables from Walmart. The rest of my decorations came from the dollar store! I bought leaf garland to go down the middle of the tables along with some little pumpkins, napkins, place mats, the orange bowls, Fall hand towels and the goblets. I used my white plates and real silverware.

Party Favors: I bought treat bags from the dollar store. I filled them with assorted Halloween chocolates and tied them with jute.

 I ended up having 20 people come and it was wonderful evening!

Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (my new favorite pumpkin cookie recipe)

1 cup butter

¾ cup sugar

1 cup pumpkin

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 cup oatmeal

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp salt

1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 cup of chocolate chips

Dough is wet! Bake at 350 for 11 minutes.