AUTUMN RECEPTION

It's been a few weeks since I've participated in Tablescape Thursday. Susan, at BetweenNapsOnThePorch, is the hostess and she has THE most awesome blog. Y'all simply must go over to visit with her. Today, I'm featuring an Autumn Reception I hosted in my Mississippi home last year...take a peek.

To kick off the entertaining season, have a few friends over and serve a signature beverage and some tidbits.

Autumn Reception, very simple...served from the sideboard...
Signature beverage, Apple Punch*... Butternut squash salsa, served with whole grain chips...

Pumpkin dip, served with graham sticks...
Majolica appetizer plates and stemware from Stein Mart...
*Y'all know I always like to serve a signature beverage at my parties. A signature beverage should complement the menu, theme, and season. Here's the recipe for my signature beverage:

Recipe for my signature drink, Apple Punch

1 - 1/2 quart of apple juice
2 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
1 - 1/3 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 pints orange juice
28 oz. ginger ale

Simmer the apple juice in a kettle with all the spices. Strain the spiced apple juice and mix with the remaining fruit juices. Add the ginger ale and ice. Served chilled and enjoy the taste of the season!

Hope you are getting your holiday started with a little entertaining...Southern style! Thanks again to Miss Susan for hosting Tablescape Thursday...y'all stop in for a visit with her.

Tea and Inspiration with Miss Janice...and a Tablescape

Today, while I'm making holiday decorating and entertaining plans, I'll be browsing through all of my magazine collections, catalogs, and books and sipping some Apple Cinnamon tea which is available at Harney and Sons. What a perfect tea to sip in front of a warm fire, while going over inspirational ideas in pretty magazines and books!

One of my go-to entertaining books is The Art and Craft of Entertaining, by Kimberly Kennedy. Kimberly is an Atlanta girl and was the winner of the CBS reality show Wickedly Perfect in 2005. Her book gives some excellent guidelines on how to plan the perfect party and ideas for invitations, place cards, and party favors. Ms. Kennedy is currently writing another book on entertaining and travels the country giving talks and demonstrations on entertaining and the art of hospitality. She also teaches cooking classes at culinary schools in the Atlanta area (lucky for the Atlanta ladies out there) and does some lifestyle segments on television from time to time. You can visit Kimberly online here.

To kick off the entertaining season, I recently had a few friends over for an Autumn Reception and served a "signature drink" and some tidbits. Kimberly Kennedy suggest that you always have a signature drink at your party... "A signature drink should complement the menu, theme, and season." Here's some photos of my tablescape:

Autumn Reception Menu

Apple Punch*

Pumpkin Dip and Graham Sticks

Butternut Squash Salsa and Whole Grain Chips

Autumn Reception served from the sideboardApple Punch

Pumpkin Dip with Graham Sticks
Butternut Squash Salsa and Whole Grain Chips

Majolica appetizer plates

*Recipe for my Signature Drink--Apple Punch

1 1/2 quart of apple juice

2 cinnamon sticks

8 whole cloves

1 1/3 cup pineapple juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

2 pints orange juice

28 oz. ginger ale

Simmer the apple juice in a kettle with all the spices. Strain the spiced apple juice and mix with the remaining fruit juices. Add the ginger ale and ice.

"Actually, entertaining is perhaps about creating as well as enjoying a good time, about making special memories for you and your friends and guests."

Kimberly Kennedy

Thank you for stopping by today and now I'm off to relax, sip some warm tea, and enjoy those books and magazines!