Here’s how I hosted an adorable backyard Harvest Festival!
The Food
I wanted a super causal menu that would be easy to eat without any utensils.
Harvest Festival Menu
Apple Butter & Pumpkin Butter Sandwiches
Vermont Cheddar Popcorn
Grapes, Apples, Nuts
Maple Rice Krispy Treats
Apple Butter & Pumpkin Butter Sandwiches
This is hands-down the easiest, most causal “dish” I’ve ever served in an episode of The Rose Table. I made two types of cut-out sandwiches on two different types of sandwich bread: pumpkin butter and cheddar on one and apple butter and havarti cheese on the other. I cut them all out with a pumpkin cookie cutter because why the hell not? Get the “recipe” here.
Vermont Cheddar Popcorn
My dad taste tested this recipe for me and I got so many, “Oh wow’s,” I knew this was a winning recipe! Butter, Vermont cheddar cheese powder, mustard powder, paprika, and truffle salt turn regular popcorn into a real carnival treat. Get the recipe here.
Maple Rice Krispy Treats
What’s better than an ooey-gooey rice krispy treat? One with maple extract and a chocolate drizzle! I cut these treats into huge, carnival-sized rectangles for the occasion. The keep well – if you have any leftovers that is! Get the recipe here.
The Drink
I served homemade apple cider for my Harvest Festival. Honestly, what says fall quite like a warm glass of apple cider? This recipe makes your house smells amazing, better than any autumn candle you can imagine. It’s delicious served both warm and cold! Get the recipe here.
I served the cider on my bar cart, which my dad built for me last year, with pumpkins and a mum and “Harvest Festival” written on the chalkboard.
The Table
I set out all of the food on my 6′ outdoor table styled with an old fall tablecloth. I’m dead serious when I say that this tablecloth was present at every Halloween party that my mom threw little me in elementary school. I always think of it as a Halloween tablecloth but styled with white lanterns, red and yellow carnations, and a variety of pumpkins, it took on a great fall festival look.
Pumpkin Tic-Tac-Toe
I set up carnival tic-tac-toe using a card table, a tablecloth, electrical tape laid out in a grid, and two kinds of pumpkins. This was exciting for me because I’ve wanted to do this since I was a little girl! Have baskets next to the table for the pumpkins and then play tic-tac-toe as you normally would. So fun!
Easy Photo “Booth”
I love a good photo op! I see such epic photo ops on Instagram and I always think, man that seems like a lot of work! I used my same ol’ white frame with some orange puffs and fall leaves attached for some photo fun with practically no effort and all. Just grab it and go!
Watch the Harvest Festival episode of The Rose Table:
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