Host a Harvest Party

Check out some great ideas on how to throw a great harvest party with decorating tips, recipes including a fun way to include your friends in a recipe.

It seems like there is always a reason to entertain in the fall. Why not throw a harvest party? The weather is beautiful, especially here in the eastern part of the U.S. with the changing leaves, and in my family, there are several birthdays to celebrate. This year my daughter came in for the weekend with her boyfriend, so we had a family get together to enjoy some good food, good drink, and great conversation.

I come from a large family, with five siblings who live nearby so it can be quite a crowd. This time we ended up with 20 people. I've decked out the house with some pretty fall decor and planned a menu for all to enjoy.

First I decorated the dining room for the season. I used a large piece of cream colored fabric as a tablecloth and added a runner from some leftover burlap. A few votive candles and a couple of candle wreaths made from some acorns from the yard that I hot glued to small grapevine wreaths. The fall centerpiece was created from plant material from the gardens. 

 For the menu, I wanted to use items from my garden and the farmers' market. On a recent trip to the strip district, I had a delicious salad with roasted pepitas. Pepitas are the inside nut of a pumpkin seed. They had a great flavor and texture so I knew I wanted to add them to our salad.

 I bought fresh apples and pears at a local farm to make an appetizer and dessert and let my husband make his famous Italian dinner which is a favorite and easily feeds a crowd.

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Harvest Party Menu

Crostini with fig & olive spread topped with Gorgonzola and sliced pear
Pasta with tomato sauce made with chicken, sausage and homemade meatballs
Mixed salad with herbal vinaigrette and roasted pepitas
Italian bread with herb butter
Apple crisp with vanilla ice cream

I also created an apple-themed cocktail as a signature drink for the evening. I used fresh apple cider, green apple vodka, and seltzer water. Then I add a couple of shots of Angostura bitters and a dash of ground cinnamon.

 For extra entertainment, I printed out the instructions and taped it to the bar and let my guests name the drink. As you can see they came up with several great ideas, however, my favorite was: Apple Bomb

A good time was had by all. I am certainly blessed to have them all in my life. 

Do you think you will host a harvest party this year?