A make-ahead Fall dinner party makes you feel more relaxed and ready to enjoy your guests. Here’s what we did on Friday night for 16 of our favorite people.
Every last weekend in October, the University of Florida and the University of Georgia meet on neutral ground at the professional football stadium here in Jacksonville.
Howard and our son both went to UF and we have been coming to the Florida/Georgia game for years (even when we lived in California). Refer to this 13 year old post: “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”.
In fact, that’s what made us fall in love with Atlantic Beach (a beach area of Jacksonville) and want to move here. Mercedes and Mark hosted us for the weekend many years. So when we moved here, it was our turn to take on at least one of the weekend nights.
Hence this easy fall dinner post “Make-ahead Fall Dinner Party For 16 Guests.” It’s time for our favorite things with Annie and Cindy, including my new fave Pjs and what to read.
Make Ahead Fall Season Dinner Party Menu And Fall Recipes
Fall Dinner Party Menu Appetizers
- Pre-shelled Shrimp from grocery store and cocktail sauce
- Cindy’s Whipped Feta Dip With Vegetables (make in the morning)
- Classic Ruffles Potato Chips With Onion Dip (so easy and everyone loves these)
Dinner For A Fall Weeknight
- Two Beef Chili with Toppings (make the day before) Stew recipe below.
- Cornbread from a box with grated cheddar cheese added and Irish butter
- Autumn Salad With Roasted Delicata Squash (roast the squash in the morning)
Fall Salad ingredients: for 16 people
- clean, halve and slice (1/4″ thick) two delicata squash. Toss with olive and salt and pepper. Roast in the oven on sheet pans for 15 to 20 minutes at 425 degrees until browned on one side and cool
- one bag baby spinach and two bags baby kale
- one cup pomegranate seeds
- handful of toasted pine nuts or walnuts
- two chopped apples
- one large goat cheese log crumbled
Just before serving, mix ingredients in a large bowl (or two medium bowls) with this vinaigrette.
Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice Sometimes I add a 1/2 tsp. of grated lemon zest
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 shallot minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil Extra virgin
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a jar and shake well.
- Let flavors blend for 30 minutes before serving. Store for up to a week in the refrigerator.
Dessert
Double Chocolate Cake From from the amazing Wright’s Gourmet House In Tampa (thanks Joy) and Ice Cream. With this many people, a gourmet store-bought dessert makes it easier.
Two Beef Chili With Spices (Howard doubled the recipe for 16)
Two-Beef Chili
Ingredients
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 3 lbs chuck, cut into 1 inch pieces
- Kosher Salt and ground black pepper
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbs chili powder
- 2 tbs ground cumin
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
- chopped scallions, grated cheddar, sour cream, diced avocado for serving
Instructions
- 1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Season chuck with salt and pepper. Cook, in batches, until brown on all sides, 6 to 8 minutes; transfer to a plate.
- 2. Add onion to pot and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add ground beef and cook, stirring occasionally, just until beef is no longer pink, 10 to 12 minutes. Add garlic, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add broth, tomatoes, and browned chuck. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until chuck is very tender, 2 to 2½ hours.
- Served with desired toppings along side
Casual Autumn Table Settings
Set the table the day before so you can take your time. For 16 people, I had enough stoneware mugs for the chili but you could use mix and match mugs along with salad plates so that guests can take the dishes to the buffet (ours was on the kitchen island) to get their dinner.
I set two tables of eight, one inside with a Traditional Fall theme of pumpkins and pomegranates.
Shop Autumn Table
And one outside with a Florida Citrus Fall theme (using lemons from our tree).
Shop Florida Table
The party was a success with guests asking for recipes to which I replied “read the blog on Sunday :)”
Festive Well-made Pajamas For You Or As A Gift
It’s fun and relaxing to have pajamas that you wear with houseguests around. This is the second set of Print Fresh pjs that my sister, Teresa gave me for my birthday. A splurge, but she knows I love them and you can also get them in petite and tall. The links take you to the LTK app (I’m not sure why), but here is a direct link (non-affiliate) if you would rather have that.
Shop Luxe Cotton PJs:
What to Read: The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch
I think Annie might have recommended this. It’s for francophiles and I enjoyed the author’s observations of the French. “The inspiring and delicious memoir of an American woman who had the gall to open a cooking school in Paris—a true story of triumphing over French naysayers and falling in love with a city along the way.”
More Fall dinner recipes: how to Host A Small Autumn Dinner Party and Special Fall Dinner Menu Your Guests Will Love.
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Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:
Cindy Hattersley Design
Most Lovely Things
Mary Ann what a great blog. I love the ideas for hosting 18 and both tables! Great idea using the bugs for chili. All the food looks delicious too.
I love those PJs! I keep getting the catalog and you look adorable in them. So nice for a cold winter. xo
This sounds and looks absolutely amazing! You are the Martha Stewart of Atlantic Beach. Every recipe sounds delicious especially that salad!
A wonderful fall post today, Mary Ann. Your home, your tables, your menu and recipe are just what we need to inspire us as this beautiful season is upon us. I don’t always comment on your posts but your blog is still #1 in my book. Thank you for all your time and love you put into each post, you do a great job!
Wow, MA … what a fun gameday-eve dinner party. Love the menu and your pretty table settings. I bet you did it all without breaking sweat. I would have been breaking down. Can we talk about that chocolate cake. Yum! xo
Your. dinner and table settings were wonderful! You make lovely and simple go together. I also loved you cool poplin pajamas. They have flannel as well. It is in the 20-30 degree weather at night here in Colorado now so I’m in my Landsend flannels at half the cost. They are very soft and hold up well. In case any of your followers like me can’t afford $168 for pajamas.
Hi Mary Ann,
You both are so talented, you make an extraordinary team. You put so much love into everything you do. Bravo to you both. You make everything look magical. I’m sure your friends are in awe.
Thank you so much. We had fun!
Love your table and banquette! Where did you purchase?
Thanks, Erin…check here under dining room: https://classiccasualhome.com/shopourhome/
Mary Ann- both of your tables look beautiful! The pomegranates and baby pumpkins with the art in your dining room looks perfect! The menu sounds delicious!
I loved listening to The French Ingredient by Jane Bertch.
Xx
I thought you were the one who told me about the book!