I think everyone can agree that 2020 has been a doozy of a year in more ways than one, but the thing that I am missing most is having friends & family visit to celebrate the fall and holiday seasons. Hosting Happy Hour while the kiddos get to decorate cookies and pumpkins, watching football games (or in my case it's just another excuse to make delicious appetizers), and planning/decorating for small, intimate dinner parties are part of what makes this time of the year so great. But even though we may not be gathering as much as we have in the past, we can all still look forward to enjoying good seasonal food and drinks! Let's call this an introductory post for future entertaining tips, ideas and autumnal recipes.
**I will disclose that the holidays are my all time FAVORITE time of the year and I cannot wait to start planning for Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. Second only to my passion for food, is my passion for this special time of the year so consider yourself warned! Lots of turkey, cranberries, SOOO MANY pies, cookie decorating and full blown Merry & Bright coming your way.
Last year, right about this time I was 9 months pregnant and nesting like a crazy person. Stocking the freezer full of comforting fall meals, certain that I was going to go into labor early.(My due date was October 5th) Unfortunately, my stubborn little boys were well fed and perfectly content to stay in past both of their due dates. The bright side is I was lucky enough to have most of the family come visit us after Wilder was born and I was even luckier that I had a stock pile of ready made meals that we were all able to enjoy. Chicken Pot Pie, Turkey Chili, Beef Bourguignon, Roasted Chicken Soup, Homemade Stocks for sauces and gravy, Braised Pork & Fennel, and of course, Italian Sauce and Meatballs. We ate well and it made hosting easier, especially after having the (10lb!!!) baby. If you're anything like me, I am a planner. I like to make lists, organize, prioritize and know what lies ahead. I think this quality is a double edged sword because sometimes I can lose myself in the planning and not enjoy the process, BUT I will say it comes in handy when entertaining!
Pictured: Herby Chicken Pot Pie
So, instead of physically being able to entertain this year, I plan to virtually host you all upon sharing my favorite cool weather & holiday recipes. Stay tuned for a lot of the above named dishes & preparations. Also, don't be afraid of making a "dinner party" within your own household a celebration! Most weekends at our house, Timy and I plan new meals to make together (whatever we are craving!) and in a sense, "entertain" for ourselves. Making lists of ingredients, setting the table nice and most importantly, enjoying our time together. Jamason, my oldest who is 7 years old, loves getting his hands dirty in the kitchen with us too. It's a whole family vibe. Our weekdays are hectic per usual with work, kids, schedules etc. so we try to take the time to slow down and relax. Now that fall is here, even though we are not having a bunch of friends & family over, we can still be inspired and plan to look forward to our Fall Traditions and sharing them with all of you!
-Alexandra
P.S. Please comment with some of your favorite seasonal traditions too!!
Pictured: Prosciutto de Daniele, Spicy Soppressata, Herb Goat Cheese, Sharp Cheddar, Sour Cherry Jam & Whole Grain Mustard Charcuterie
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