Warning! This is a long post filled with many photos! 🙂 Last night our friends got together to celebrate fall, friendship and food! What a better way to do it than a progressive dinner where each course is served at a different house. The hosts were responsible for implementing a fall theme to their part of the menu, both in the food and the decor.
I was assigned to the main course, which can be pretty expensive when there are ten guests. Luckily, I was able to serve up something nicer without breaking the bank thanks to Foodbuzz. They chose to sponsor my portion of the menu through this month's 24 x 24 event. (Every month, Foodbuzz chooses to sponsor 24 parties thrown within 24 hours by 24 of their featured publishers.) Below are the highlights of the night!
We started at Nate and Kati's place for appetizers and drinks.
Everything was awesome, but my favorite of this course were the bacon-wrapped sausages.
Kati also made Spinach and Artichoke Dip...
...and Pumpkin Dip with Cinnamon Chips. She used fall themed cookie cutters to cut out the tortillas for the chips. Creative!
Although Kati made all of the delicious appetizers, Nicole was responsible for the drinks. First up? Her Pumpkin Pie Martini! Such a cute presentation!
Even the water was served up in style. Check out these lovely glasses Kati snatched up for cheap at an estate sale!
We were off to a great start!
Next up were soup and salad at Chris and Adrienne's. Adrienne served us a beautiful pear salad accompanied with a homemade pumpkin soup. Even the guests who claimed to normally not like pumpkin loved the soup! It was creamy and fantastic!
The guys and gals decided to separate at this home, with the men seated at the kitchen island...
...and the women seated at the dining table. Adrienne's candles set the right mood!
We then headed to our home for the main course. I took some photos of the table before everyone arrived because I knew I would forget once the party started. (And, yes, I completely forgot to take any photos of my food and ME!) I served this Island Pork Tenderloin because the cinnamon flavor reminds me of fall. Since I figured everyone would be pretty full from the appetizers, soup and salad, I kept the sides simple with Cauliflower Gratin and Buttermilk Biscuits.
The food was comfort food at it's best, but I was more into the fall decor than anything. I picked up some garland and candles to make a centerpiece, then copied an idea I saw on Pinterest to fill the candle holder with corn kernels!
Each guest was welcomed with a favor bag of caramel corn, situated at each place setting to double as a name card.
Nicole also served up drinks for the main course, giving everyone a flute of sparkling pumpkin-apple cider so we could share a toast.
In order to save time, the couple responsible for dessert decided to just serve it at our house instead of driving the 15-20 minutes to their place. To end on a sweet note, Mandy made us pumpkin cheesecake (that stole my heart)...
...and a Peanut Butter Cake (that stole Ben's heart). 🙂
Overall, the entire evening was a memorable time of both serious conversations...
...and laughter. Great time had by all!!
Angie @ Bigbearswife says
yum! Spinach and Artichoke Dip!! I love the decorations too!
Curry and Comfort says
Hi There! I'm a fellow 24x24 so I came to say hello and congrats on being picked. : )What a fun, fun, night!! I have never been to a progressive party... but it sounds like a blast (plus you get to share the work). 🙂 All the food looked delicious but I think I drooled a little when I saw the bacon wrapped sausage! Great job and pictures! Thanks for sharing your fun night. Buzzed you. ~ Ramona
Nikki says
Thanks for stopping by! I really think the bacon-wrapped sausage was my favorite. Whenever my friends makes them and brings them to a party, I joke with her that she needs to make a plate to pass and then a separate plate just for me! 🙂
'Chelle Welker says
Your dining room is gorgeous, Nikki! I bet your whole home is decorated adorably.
Nikki says
Thanks, Chelle!
Andrea says
Any way to get the recipes for the Peanut butter cake and the Pumpkin cheesecake? What the heck, how about the recipes to all the food?
Thanks!
Andrea
Nikki says
lol, Andrea! The only recipes on the blog so far are for the dishes I made (Island Pork Tenderloin and Buttermilk Biscuits). I didn't snatch the recipes from my friends' dishes, but if I do and I end up making them, I'll definitely post them on here.
I do have a peanut butter cake recipe here (it's not the one from the party, but it is a very good one). 🙂
SweetSugarBelle says
Can I come??! Love the estate sale glasses, and your pattern/texture mural, LOL! The decor ALMOST distracted me from the food. ALMOST! I love how she used cookie cutters to make the little leaf chips. Right up my alley!
Nikki says
Callye, you're most welcome anytime! 🙂
Jessica @Sunny Side Up says
I hosted a 24x24 yesterday, too!
I love, love, love this idea of a progressive meal. What an interactive and creative way for everyone to be a part of the meal. Your menu sounds really great! Like you, I felt like I forgot to take some key pictures yesterday, but with so much going who can blame you!
Fabulous idea and well executed. (And tell your friends that I love the wall colors in their homes!)
Rebekah says
Looks like a really fun event and your table setting is beautiful!
Allison says
How fun! Everything looks delicious!