SiGN UP! join
the DigsNews mailing list + we'll keep you posted about updates and other DIGS-related news .
|
|
|
.. |
need
party help?
Jump
to the boards
and talk
about entertaining, cooking, etiquette and more.
|
copyright ©1999-2006
DigsMagazine.com.
|
fall forward how
to host a fall dinner party
by Yee-Fan Sun | 1 2 3
continued from page 1
on the
menu
As you’re planning your menu, think fall produce -- goodies like butternut
squash and sweet
potatoes, wild mushrooms and leeks, apples
and pears are all at their peak this time of year. If you’re at
a loss, make a trip to a farmer’s market or farm stand, and get inspired. The
zesty bright tastes of summer start to seem too light and insubstantial as the
weather cools down, too, so go with warmer, spicier accents for your dishes,
like tart dried cranberries and freshly grated nutmeg, earthy sage and thyme,
flavors that wrap you up in a fuzzy warm blanket of comfort. Fall’s also the
time to start using your oven again. Get your kitchen all cozy by roasting
up some ripe red peppers – delish sliced up and tossed
with garlic, oil salt and pepper as an appetizer, or tossed into
a pasta dish or risotto. For meat lovers, the grilled goods of summer
make way for slower-cooking roasts. Cook up a perfectly browned
juicy chicken (it’s way easier than you might imagine,
and relatively cheap to boot); bake up some succulent pork
tenderloin. And for dessert, of course, nothing beats
a homemade apple pie, still warm from the oven.
If you’re
looking for something that won’t tax your culinary skills quite
as much, fall’s the perfect time for a fondue
party. Just get your fondue pot and fondue base
ready, cut up some dippers, and let your guests get interactive
with their meal. If fondue seems too frou-frou, go casual with
a soup and salad party
-- great for hosting a crowd on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Change
the soup to a great big vat of chili,
add a smorgasbord of topping offerings, and you’re all set for
a fall football party, or a TV night in honor of the fall season
premiere of your favorite show. |
apple
o’ my eye | Baked
apples make for an easy and elegant
dessert. Prep and stuff the apples before dinner, then pop
them in the oven after folks have finished the main meal. To
pep up the baked apples, garnish with a cinnamon stick,
then serve with fresh whipped cream or a dollop of ice cream. |
keep on ambling...
--------------------------->
lounge . nourish
.
host . laze
. home .
|