Halloween Supper on the Porch

Over the weekend, I had an impromtu Halloween Supper on the Porch...I used a chevron fabric for the tablecloth with some Halloween dinnerware that I've had for several years.

Only 10 days left until hundreds and hundreds of youngins hit us up for treats!

As this was last-minute, I brought out some of my decos from the inside to use for the centerpiece.  The petite orange tree is decorated with lime green, black, and purple ornaments and with streamers of lime green mesh ribbon.  It's topped off with a little witch's hat from Michael's and flanked with two lime green sequined pumpkins.

The place setting...The lime green chargers are from Michael's and the Halloween dinner plates are from HomeGoods several years ago.  The black iron flatware is from World Market.

Black linen napkins adorned with witch's hat napkin rings...

Menu
Pumpkin Sage Ravioli with
Tomato BasilSauce
Fresh Greens w/ Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette
French Bread
Pumpkin Cider

I prepared this easy Pumpkin Sage Ravioli with Tomato Basil Sauce from The Fresh Market...I'm so pumpkin-obsessed.  It was very good y'all!

My "Signature Beverage" for the night...Pumpkin Cider*.  I used handled mason jars and added little chalkboard signs for my placecards.

"Here's What I Wore"  A simple black tee and black leggings, along with pumpkin-motif earrings.  I chose this witchy apron from my "Prissy Apron Collection".

Dessert is served...chocolate cupcakes with striped cupcake umbrellas!

Closeup of cupcakes...

Witchy dessert napkins...

Cupcake plates...

*Recipe for Pumpkin Cider:
4 cups pumpkin puree
4 cups apple cider
2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp pumpkin spice

Mix over heat and serve.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and y'all have a blessed week!

Autumn Auction

Tuesday evening I participated in a Charity Auction at the Port Saint Lucie United Methodist Church.  I  featured some of my Taste of Gourmet products for tasting as well as an autumn tablescape.

"HERE'S WHAT I WORE"  The apron is by April Cornell, and I wore an ivory silk blouse, black slacks, and Cochni pearl ballet flats...with a pearl necklace, pearl studs, and a black grosgrain ponytail bow. 

"Stock your Entertaining Pantry" and "Stock your Gift Closet!"

I featured a Thanksgiving setting...

and a Halloween setting.

This tray held the Taste of Gourmet 'Jezebel Sauce', 'Cranberry Chutney', and 'Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves', with mini Grahams, bagels, and pretzel sticks.  I offered a beverage for sipping... 'African Autumn Tea' from Harney Tea.

Vidalia Vinaigrette dip for the carrot sticks and a Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball with mini Grahams.

Always a crowd favorite, the Sweet Potato Muffins were delish!!!

One of my baskets for the auction...Taste of Gourmet products 'Creamy Delta Bisque', 'Chipotle Sauce', 'Creole File' Gumbo', and 'Peach Pecan Pepper Preserves'.

Another one of my auction baskets...Taste of Gourmet  products 'Apple Cake', ' Southern Praline Pie', and 'Toffee Crunch Cheesecake Ball'.

My door prize basket contained samples of my favorite "Autumn Friendship Gifts"...y'all are surely familiar with these.  Hand sanitizers, with Halloweeen candy, on shred in a cello bag and ribbon bow.  "Happy Fall  Y'all" tumbler full of candy corn, wrapped in cello, with a ribbon bow.  My autumn "Friendship Gifts" of party mix in a cello bag, with my monogrammed gift tag and a ribbon bow.  The front row was "Miss Janice's Pumpkin Butter", "Miss Janice's Turkey Spice Rub", and "Miss Janice's Apple Butter."

I can't wait to participate in the next auction.  Thank you for visiting with me today.  Stop by my Taste of Gourmet site and pick up some goodies for your "Entertaining Pantry" and your "Gift Closet!"

Apple Cake and Coffee...From the Sideboard

Last night I set up the sideboard in the breakfast room for dessert. I served Apple Cake from my Taste of Gourmet line.

Husband absolutely loved this cake...the mix makes a large cake and it stays moist and flavorful for days! One box of the mix makes a large cake in a 9 x 13 pan. The cost of the mix is $7.95 and serves 12.

I added chopped apples to the mix...it was delish y'all!

A nice harvest pot to hold my coffee...
Y'all know I obsessed with the Autumn flavored coffees from The Cracker Barrel...The Caramel Cream flavor is another fabulous choice!

I haven't changed the kitchen setting up since the summertime...I will probably bring out the pumpkin-themed dinnerware next week. I just hate to put my roosters and rooster toile napkins away!

Thank you for stopping by today. If you would like to order the Apple Cake Mix visit my Taste of Gourmet site here. Take a box to your gracious host or just buy one for yourself and enjoy the flavors during the Autumn season!

Kick Off the Holiday Season - Part 1 of 4

Autumn is a wonderful time of the year to reconnect with family and friends and to begin planning all of your holiday events and decorations. Small events are my specialty. I love to entertain and create themed events--from potluck to formal dinners. Entertaining does not mean that you have to host a lavish formal dinner party. I'm sure that you have thought about entertaining friends, only to stress out that your house isn't decorated right, not clean enough, or you are not a Martha Stewart-type person. Well, you probably have more entertaining experience than you think--from birthday parties to casual cookouts--it's all about the social skills.

Whether your holiday entertaining plans include a soup and salad supper, a festive cookie exchange, or a formal dinner on Christmas Day, with a little savvy planning and incorporating your personal style, you will be able to host a memorable event.

Please join me...I will be talking about the steps you can take to avoid being stressed on the big day!

NIBBLES & BITS SOIREE

I've had some issues with Blogger today...UGH! Finally, I'm able to post these photos from my "Nibbles & Bits Soiree" on Tuesday evening.

First, "HERE'S WHAT I WORE" How cute is the candy corn apron? I love it and felt very Sandra Lee-ish while wearing it...'cuz it coordinated with my tablescape! I was stylin' my orange pumpkin earrings and my orange 'Revas' by Tory Burch.

"HERE'S WHAT MISS COCO WORE" She wore a darling candy corn-motif dress--she wanted to match her mama! Isn't she just too much y'all! {Husband said "she looks old in this photo!" She's only 5...}

I set up the kitchen table and sideboard with some candy, a few veges, dips & cheese, and Halloweened it all up with party printables I found on Etsy. Take a look...

The pumpkin chandelier shades gave the room a 'spooky glow'...

"Nibbles & Bits" on the sideboard...

The runner is made with burlap which is all the rage now. I love the look of burlap on a tabletop! A little orange ric-rac border on the ends makes it very Halloween-ish!

Dips, veges, and crackers...
The Creamy Garlic Herb Dip is a Taste of Gourmet product I sell. It makes a great cheese ball or dip. I combined the mix with 8 oz. of cream cheese and 8 oz. of mayo to make a cold dip...easy y'all! There are 2 mixes in the box and the cost is $7.95/box. You can order here.

The Simply Spinach Dip is also a Taste of Gourmet product I sell which makes a great cheese ball and either a hot or a cold dip. I combined this mix with 8 oz. sour cream and 8 oz. of mayo to make a cold dip, again, tres easy! There are 2 mixes in this box as well and the cost is $7.95/box. You can order here.

The Bremner Wafers, another Taste of Gourmet I sell, are popular crackers in The Crown Restaurant in Indianola, Mississippi, where the owners of Taste of Gourmet serve ALL the products I sell. The crackers are $3.95 a box and you can order them here."

I love the dips and the crackers are wonderful...y'all need to get some!

Chocolate covered apples, dipped in nuts...
The bits...

More bits...

Caramel corn...which I'm still eating today!!!

The kitchen table was covered with a frayed-end burlap square cloth. I used my birdcage to hold the grapes and cheese...

Spooky-faced cupcakes...

Plastic flatware, wrapped in paper napkins, and secured with cute labels...Yes y'all, I use plastic tableware and paper napkins!!!

"Nibbles & Bits" plates...
My "Signature Beverage" was a Halloween Punch. I wanted to keep it simple and this recipe is just that...Mix orange juice, unsweet pineapple juice, and ginger ale together and voila...a refreshing drink. {You can sneek in some vodka to make it a little more party-friendly if you must!}

Get your party favors y'all!
Party favors are a must... I placed Halloween treats in cello bags and added cute printedlabels with Halloween wording to the top...

Thank you for visiting with me today. I will be back on Sunday with a few Halloween night photos...we're expecting hundreds of trick-or-treaters here at "The Roost." Husband and I will be dispensing treats on the front porch to the children and serving chardonnay in sippy cups for the guardians!!!