Casual Fall dinner party ideas
Restrictions: budget and 'fussiness'.
I'm having about 8-12 people over for poker and general cavorting this coming weekend. I live in South Western Ontario, so the weather will be brisk (7 degrees C or 45 degrees Farenheit or so) and clear. This means while bbq is a possibility, it won't exactly be comfortable.
I'm serving dinner, but would not like to be overly stuck in the kitchen. I was thinking of roasting a bird, but we had Cdn Thanksgiving yesterday-so that might be a bit much. Chili was the next bet, but it seems...boring somehow. I was hoping for another idea that is not overly expensive. Good down home yumminess is fine, I've known these kids for 15-20 years (I'm only 30), so I don't need to impress with something extremely complicated.
The only other sticking point is a single vegetarian, but I can whip up something special for her.
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32 Comments:
How about a nice roast prime rib? You can do all the trimmings for that which are snuggly warm, wintery food. Do a squash soup just because you used "Fall" in the topic heading.
Too early for pumpkin pie?
therealchiffonade at 4:06PM on 10/13/09
Hi chiff--I suspect prime rib for 10-12 is outside of my budget, but it would be fantastic.
As for pumpkin pie, we just had Thanksgiving, so most will be pie-d out. I may do cinnamon buns from scratch....or hell, even a chocolate cake. My cravings might as well be met too!
BananaMonkey at 4:14PM on 10/13/09
homemade bread and butternut squash soup are pretty cheap to make.
lasagna? mac & cheese? apples & cheeses as appetizers?
hmw0029 at 4:41PM on 10/13/09
First thought: cheesy vegetable soup in bread bowls. Or maybe cream of cauliflower with warm grilled cheese panini?
gbania at 5:33PM on 10/13/09
Cheese fondue followed by Nigella's lamb tagine with couscous. You can do a little vegetable ragout as an option to serve with the couscous for the vegetarian. Tagine or other braised meat is great b/c you can make it ahead and reheat it, for minimal kitchen time once guests arrive.
If you want the whole thing to be veg-acceptable, a butternut squash lasagna can feed a crowd, and it's a good twist on the done. In which case a big green salad is the only other thing you need.
Cupcakes for dessert b/c they don't require utensils.
jm chen at 5:44PM on 10/13/09
With keeping a budget in mind & satisfying all including a vegetarian--I'm thinking a vegetable lasagna--that is homey, easy and budget friendly & will satisfy the vegetarian or a lentil stew with veggies or baked ziti (with or without meat) You won't be running in and out as you would if you B-b-q'd and you can do buffet style and they take what they want... & the usual accoutrements --salad, bread etc...
@BananaMonkey-I love your idea of chocolate cake and cinnamon buns:o)
Italiancupcake at 5:53PM on 10/13/09
How about a brisket? Easy and delicious for a crowd. Smother it in sauteed onions and smashed garlic and pour in a good amount of beef stock. Add a bottle of good beer if you feel like it. Five hours at 325. Hit the pan liquid with your stick blender and there's gravy. You can do all this the day before. Mashed rutabaga and garlic green beans and dinner's ready. Now I'm itching to throw a party. Have a great time with your friends.
ride&cook at 5:53PM on 10/13/09
@bananamonkey - I see from your comments on another thread that you have experience with short ribs - I have never cooked them, but have a bunch in my freezer because of a recipe for Braised Hoisin Beer Short Ribs that I saw in SE (Dave Lieberman) - it looked so yummy and the comments were so favourable that I am determined to try them, and I thought it might be just the ticket for your party. The recipe also recommends sides.
bareneed at 5:54PM on 10/13/09
also forgot the butternut squash mac and cheese...soooo good! I have to make that soon
Italiancupcake at 5:55PM on 10/13/09
Coq au vin? I don't know how complicated you consider that to be, but it's a nice dinner party dish.
alosha7777 at 5:55PM on 10/13/09
Oh wait, I love italiancupcake's suggestion - I do lasagna often for small crowds - easy, inexpensive and always delicious. I've done baked ziti too, one pan with meat, one with spinach. Perfect!
alosha7777 at 6:05PM on 10/13/09
some ideas:
fondue (so that the vegetarian can enjoy too)
pizza (have out some toppings, ready baked crusts, and let each guest customize his/her own)
baked potatos (same ideas as the pizza)
AnnieNT at 6:13PM on 10/13/09
How about whole wheat pasta with garlic tomato sauce and acorn squash cubes coated with brown sugar, olive oil, cinnamon and pepper. this dish is a great mix of sweet and sour. its an explosion of tastes. try it!
angelacakes at 7:06PM on 10/13/09
Do you have a large slow cooker? Slow cooking is so convenient. You could slow cook a pork shoulder in ginger beer and serve it with baked beans, roasted squash and cole slaw. Or you could slow cook a chuck roast with potatoes and carrots or make it a beef stew and do what @gbania suggested and serve it in a bread bowl. Mmmm.
If you don't have one, definitely look into getting a slow cooker if you host casual events.
Susquehanna at 7:33PM on 10/13/09
How about two different kinds of chowder? I made a New England style clam chowder with bacon, and a red Manhattan style minus bacon to suit a vegetarian who does eat clams (and all shellfish and fish) in two pots at the same time. This worked out really well. If your vegetarian doesn't eat fish, you could go with a vegetable chowder, corn maybe? You could make or buy crackers and other tidbits to serve along with the chowders.
souvenir at 8:02PM on 10/13/09
One of the best casual gathering meals I've ever experienced was a smoky split pea soup (two versions: one with ham, one without); a basket of hearty bread (a rustic sourdough, cornbread squares); a platter of roasted fall veggies (different-colored beets, carrots, and onions). Served on a brisk fall day, in fact, with lots of local beer. Everyone helped themselves and it was utterly perfect.
For dessert, maybe one last round of ice cream sandwiches (purchased or homemade)? Just to remember summer!
lobsterfest at 8:09PM on 10/13/09
Almost all of these can be made days or day before...
Starter:
- soup like lemongrass lentil or a salad like fattoush
- stuffed grape leaves w/o meat
Side:
- big bowl of chunky roasted vegetables like zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms, red bell peppers, brussels sprouts, and basil -- dress how ever you enjoy it.
Entree:
- spaghetti squash mixed with pesto, pine nuts, cheese or with something saucier on top like crushed tomatoes, capers, chopped mushrooms, shallots, and basil
- chicken tenderloins dusted with garlic herb Old Bay then grilled (cooked however) on the side, sliced, for ppl to add
Dessert:
- praline/whatever bread pudding
Cassaendra at 8:30PM on 10/13/09
I think pasta's always a good bet; it's inexpensive, you can make it ahead, it feeds a large crowd, and it could be vegetarian, but so good meat eaters won't even notice. Also because you're looking for something that falls in line with the season, I think butternut squash lasagna would be awesome. I'm making one this weekend with lots of squash, lots of sage, and lots of beschamel.
PumpkinBear at 12:25AM on 10/14/09
The baked ziti with heavy cream that was recently in recipes was incredibly delicious (just ask my huge hips!!) I added hot italian sausage.
PoorOldMama at 9:39AM on 10/14/09
ooooh...baked ziti sounds delicious. Lasagna too. I don't have a slow cooker, but I was also thinking maybe pulled pork of some sort, in the oven...anyone have a recipe they'd recommend?
@bareneed--Those Lieberman ribs are FANTASTIC. I've made them three times in the last two and a half months. Each time, I've added Chinese five spice powder, garlic powder and cinnamon to the outside of the ribs before browning and the result is unbelievable. Perhaps a bit more smoke when you're browning, but the depth of flavour is so worth it. I don't know if I actually have enough cookware to make ribs for that many folk...and I personally am a bit ribbed out, but OH MY--delicious.
Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions! Keep 'em coming, this party just got to be a little more exciting. The b/f proposed last night! We're engaged and waiting until Saturday to spring the news on our long time friends!!!!
BananaMonkey at 11:55AM on 10/14/09
roast pork loin, stuffed with an apple rasin stuffing, served with roasted root veg. make a pan sauce and call it dinner. Cheap and very comforting plus it goes great with fall spiced beer or a comforting red. Good luck
nhfoodie at 12:11PM on 10/14/09
Congratulations BananaMonkey!!
hmw0029 at 2:11PM on 10/14/09
@hmw0029--thanks! So excited!
@lobsterfest--ice cream sandwiches sound awesome--also thinking a sundae bar would be great! why not celebrate!
BananaMonkey at 2:45PM on 10/14/09
Congratulations!!
alosha7777 at 4:42PM on 10/14/09
Congratulations BananaMonkey-so exiciting--let us know how it goes!!
Italiancupcake at 4:49PM on 10/14/09
Congrats to you!
Susquehanna at 5:47PM on 10/14/09
i love the pasta idea... you can embellish the pasta and make it a bit fancier with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts or even truffle butter and mushrooms. All these will most surely impress your friends, accomodate your vegetarian friend and nobody will miss the meat.
Some interesting sides are baked plantains in their skins... if you can find them in Ontario. I like the sweet contrast to a cheesy salty pasta. They're easy to make and no added fat. Salad and breadsticks make the meal...IMHO.
Good luck.
MadelynRodriguez at 7:52PM on 10/14/09
First of all, if you make a good one - chili is not boring! Especially in the cold, it's comforting if you serve it with shredded cheese and some kind of chip to dip in it (I like pita chips) but if you're still opposed to the idea....maybe check out this fall dinner party meal planner.
Chew on That at 1:40PM on 10/15/09
Congratulations! Have a wonderful weekend - from a fellow Canuck in South Eastern Ontario.....
Maureen at 4:17PM on 10/16/09
Congratulations on your engagement BananaMonkey!!
CJ McD at 11:07AM on 10/17/09
Congratulations!
CanadianFoodieGirl at 5:19PM on 10/17/09
Thanks all for the good wishes! We went with chili after all, it being the f-f-f-fiance's specialty and me being swamped with work. I did make a pan of Martha's Mac and cheese (oh my word that's decadent!) and a giant caesar salad as accoutrement. Those, with chips and bread, rounded out the meal.
As to the surprise...we handed out glasses, popped some champagne and asked them to toast to us. Hugs and cheers and A LOT more champagne followed.
BananaMonkey at 8:54AM on 10/21/09