Celebrations
An Autumn Feast in the Park
I love the outdoors! The caveat to that statement is, except when I have to fight blood-thirsty mosquitoes. And because I tend not to like to use chemical sprays to repel them, late summer will usually find me indoors. So you can imagine that with the cooler fall months, I cannot wait to spend what is left of the comfortable outdoor temperatures doing things outdoors.
One great way to celebrate the outdoors during the autumn is to throw an outdoor family bash in the park. The mosquitoes are pretty much gone, the temperatures are usually quite good and you can even get some great exercise through a number of great outdoor activities. And because this is a celebration, you want to make it more than just your regular picnic.
So pull out the good china and “run” an iron over your good linen and let’s celebrate autumn/fall! Here are some great tips for doing so.
- Think special! Make believe you are creating your affair for royalty, which by the way you and your family absolutely fall into that category.
- For table linens, choose bright, vibrant, rich colors of the season such as orange, red, purple and gold.
- Place pretty flowers as your centerpiece with selections such as mums in unusual colors, grasses or wheat. Use fruit such as grapes, apples and nuts and invite your family/friends to eat them from the table.
- Make your food healthy and amazing. For example, think outside of the ordinary; opting for dishes that are traditionally served indoors. Check out a movie of a Roman feast to get ideas. The only rule is foods have to be fresh and good for you. In other words, no heavy, greasy foods and limit the desserts.
- Pair foods with wines and/or sparkling cider for the youngsters among you.
- If dining during the early evening hours, accent your table with candles.
- Create a nice atmosphere with soft music. Make your selection of music based upon your family/friends taste or culture. Or if you choose a cultural theme for your gathering, compliment with music from that culture. One note, keep the music at a listening level that will not interfere with good conversation.
- To cut down on work for you, request or assign dishes to be prepared by others attending the celebration making sure to create a menu beforehand to use as a guide.
- And of course we all remember the dance “line” from the 70’s and 80’s — end your affair with a 20 minute dance line. A nice way to end the event and work off some of those calories.
- Enjoy!
