by Kristin Healy | Oct 30, 2017 | blog
Now that the cooler weather is starting to creep in, it’s impossible not to start thinking of all things apples and pumpkins and spices. Each new season brings new feelings and new flavors… and of course, new cocktail menus! Here are some fun fall flavors incorporated into great party drinks.
Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule
The traditional Moscow Mule gets quite a makeover here, adding both cranberry and sparkling apple juice to the typical vodka and ginger beer, with a sprinkle of fresh cranberries for garnish.
Apple Hard Cider Sangria
Sliced apples, oranges, and peaches meet fresh raspberries, apple juice, orange juice, brandy, AND hard apple cider in this complex and delicious fall take on the popular summer wine cocktail.
Cranberry Margaritas
Simple and uncomplicated, this drink combines cranberry juice, lime juice, tequila, and orange liqueur for a delicious and fall-inspired margarita!
Pear Mimosas
As simple as it gets – and just as delicious! A great pick for brunch, pear nectar takes the places of orange juice, with fresh pear slices for garnish. If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, this is a good pick!
Maple Bourbon Old Fashioned
For those extra chilly nights, a maple bourbon old fashioned is just the thing. The usual sugar gets replaced with maple syrup, then follows the traditional recipe with water, bitters, orange peel, and bourbon. Add a maraschino cherry for garnish!
Pumpkin Keg
If you’re looking for a fun fall DIY, this is a great crowd pleaser, and a super fun way to serve your favorite beer, cider, or other party drinks.
What’s your favorite fall libation?
by Kristin Healy | Oct 23, 2017 | blog
If you ask us, fall tables can be some of the prettiest. The palette of earthy, saturated colors emotes so much feeling, and there are endless options for how to mix and match fall decor to find something just right. Here are a few of our favorite tables for fall inspiration this season!
This table is reminiscent of the harvest. The leaf theme continues throughout, and there is a lovely mixture of colors and textures, greenery and fall hues.
This setting is minimalist. The settings are bare bones, but in a pleasant, pretty way, allowing for any food set to take center stage.
The pinecones here, and varying shades of browns, make this setting feel earthy, but with a refined elegance.
This table just makes us want to cuddle up in a blanket and get cozy. Using the checkered throw as a table dressing is creative, and sets such a pleasant mood.
These colors here are saturated, and so emblematic of fall. Warm, rich tones make for such a lovely, cheerful table!
While soft and muted, this predominantly white setting is classy, and classic. The farmhouse table is a lovely backdrop, and leaves a lot of room for extra decorations and last minute inspiration.
Cheery and bright, this setting is a totally different take on fall, pulling in big, bold colors from the late summer months and carrying them into the cooler weather.
Rosemary, oh my! This setting is positively herbaceous. While using garlands of rosemary might be a bit untraditional, it creates a stunning effect, and we bet it smells pretty amazing, too!
What’s your favorite way to dress up a fall table?
by Kristin Healy | Sep 24, 2017 | blog
The change between seasons is always a time that elicits some reaction. When spring changes to summer here in New England, we always rejoice at the beauty around us, the long sunny days that seem to stretch on forever, and the glistening blue sky. But when summer changes to fall, the sentiment is somewhat different. Fall is so very beautiful in Massachusetts and surrounding states, but it’s also what ushers in winter: the time of year many New Englanders merely tolerate.
But not to get too ahead of ourselves — there are still a couple beautiful months ahead before we get there, and so very many delicious things to make for your next party! Fall certainly inspires a whole host of different ingredients and flavors from what summer has to offer, but in these in between weeks when it’s not yet so cold, but no longer the heat of summer, what do you serve? Here are a few of our sweetest ideas for transitional desserts perfect for this time of year.
Nutella S’mores Fudge
S’mores are so reminiscent of summertime and beaches and bonfires, but they’re also something that easily transitions into fall. There’s little better than gathering ‘round a cozy fire, roasting marshmallows while the cool air settles around you. Here the traditional s’mores takes a different turn, and gets made into simple and portable Nutella fudge.
Pots de Creme
Pots de Creme aren’t necessarily a dessert made for this time of year, but served like this in classic white mugs, they remind us of all the steaming beverages we drink as the temperatures drop. Cute, classy, and super yummy, this dessert is sure to be a hit.
Easy Apple Baklava Bites
Apple trees are just about to explode all over New England with their beautiful bounty, so it’s time to start thinking about how to use all those apples up! These individual tartlets are perfect for any party, simple, tasty, and not too tough to make.
Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes
Sweet potatoes aren’t decidedly a fall vegetable, but they do usher in the root veggies we all know and love and consume more often in the wintertime. Here, they’re sweetened up and added to cupcakes for something a little different and a lot delicious.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Snickerdoodles
If you’re ready to go full steam ahead with all things fall, then these cookies are for you. Pumpkin is readily available now, and these cookies make great use of it. They combine two wonderful desserts – snickerdoodle cookies and creamy cheesecake – for one outstanding dessert combination!
What’s your favorite dessert for entertaining this time of year?
