Between Late Summer and Early Fall

We are starting to enter that ethereal time of year between late summer and early fall. This time of year brings a turning point that we can physically feel in the air, and the way that we entertain during this time is affected by the way that we feel about this season. Those of us that thrive during the dark half of the year are coming alive with the first whisperings of cool nights, and falling leaves. At the same time, those of us that thrive in the light half, are clinging desperately to the sunshine-soaked mornings, and warm gentle evening breezes. No matter which camp you fall into this post will help you find some unique and delicious ways to add something to the events that you are hosting during this transitional period. I have organized this post by light and dark half lovers to make it easier to find the section that will be the most applicable to you. Let me know what you think, add your own tips and tricks, or tell me what did or didn’t work well for you in the comments. So, to get some great drink, snack, and entre ideas and recipes, décor ideas, and furniture options to fit your end-of-summer or start-of-fall parties, please read on.

Light Half Entertaining

Food

Summer Pizza – Let’s be honest , just about all of us love pizza is some way shape or form, and there have been a LOT of forms created because of this. For this particular form, forget everything that you know about pizza, aside from the fact that it tastes amazing. This summer pizza recipe puts a light, fresh spin on the way that you think about pizza this summer.

You Will Need:

1 Sheet Puff Pastry (17.3oz)
1 Large Egg (Beaten)
1 Cup Ricotta
Kosher Salt
Pepper
1 Lemon
2 Scallions (Finely Chopped)
½ Cup Chopped Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley
1 lb. Heirloom Tomatoes (Sliced or Halved) (Varying sizes and colors)
2 Tbsps. Olive Oil
¼ Cup Small Fresh Mint Leaves
Flakey Sea Salt (For Sprinkling)

Heat oven to 425 °F and place the oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Unfold the pastry onto a piece of parchment paper and stretch ½ inch bigger on all sides. Slide parchment and pastry onto a baking sheet.
Use a paring knife to score a ½ inch border all of the way around the pastry. Lightly brush the border with egg. Use a fork to poke the middle of the pastry all over, then bake until golden brown. (About 20-25 minutes).
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta and ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Finely grate the zest of the lemon into the bowl and squeeze in the juice. Mix to combine. Fold in the scallions and parsley, and spread onto the middle of the pastry.
Arrange the tomatoes on the tart, then drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with mint, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste.

Bacon Cream Stuffed Tomato Tulips – There is nothing like celebrating the summer with flowers, but what about flowers you can eat? Add bacon cream to that, and how could you possibly go wrong? This recipe makes a great appetizer for all of my bacon lovers out there, and is incredibly simple to assemble.

You Will Need:

8 oz. Cream Cheese
1 Package Cherry Tomatoes
1 Bundle Green Onions
½ Cup Mayonnaise
½ Cup Bacon Bits
1 Tbsp. Ranch Dressing Mix
Toothpicks
Pipping Bag

Start by mixing the cream cheese, mayonnaise, ranch mix, and bacon bits in a large mixing bowl and blend until smooth.
Place in pipping bag and set aside.
Slice the cherry tomatoes two ways, making an X at the top and slicing halfway down.
Place a toothpick in the opposite end of the tomato from the X slice.
Take one stalk of green onion and slice the end off, leaving just the greet stem.
Run the toothpick through the center of the stem to secure it to your tomato.
Use your pipping bag to fill each tomato with your cream cheese mixture.
Keep refrigerated until it is time to serve, and enjoy!

Drinks

Spiked Lemonade Bar – What is a more classic summer beverage than lemonade? Nothing. How can you make it better? Add a tone of amazing and unique flavors to the mix, and make it completely customizable. How do you take it a step further? Spike it. The best part about this idea is that even if you are entertaining guests who do not drink, or are underage, they can still participate in the fun flavor combinations that this idea entails, just without the booze. Let me know in the comments if you added anything that was not suggested below, and how it worked out for you!

You Will Need:

Rum, Vodka (And or, other liquor you or your guests prefer.)
Classic Lemonade
Mango, Pink, Peach, and Blue Raspberry Lemonade (and any other flavors you would like)
Blackberries, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries (and any other berries you would like)
Mint, Thyme, Lavender (and any other herbs you would like)
Ice
Cups, Glasses, or Mason Jars
Shot Glasses (for measuring)
Paper Straws

Décor Ideas

Indoor or Outdoor – Create a fun and unique picnic-with-a-twist feel to indoor or outdoor spaces alike by covering the ground with picnic blankets, rugs, and pillows, using low-to-the-ground tables for serving, and having guests kick off their shoes and take a seat. Play up the summer vibes after the sun goes down with fairy lights strung around the room or outdoor space. Add in the perfect playlist (not technically décor, but still important to any party), and enjoy the time with friends.

Outdoor – Have a classic end of summer cookout, but throw in a few tweaks to spice it up! Try using tiny bouquets of wildflowers or tiny potted plants as place cards, or painting a large plank of wood with chalk board paint to make a memorable menu board for your gathering. Another great idea is to make little comfort kits for your guests that include items such as sunblock, bug spray, fans, misting bottles, etcetera to make sure that all of your guests are having the best time possible.

Furniture

Check out the pieces we have available on our site that can help you to entertain this season and beyond by clicking the piece-specific links below, or feel free to explore all of the currently available options at Fifthroom.com today!

Refreshment Stands, Tray Carts, Bars

Grills

Games

Indoor & Outdoor Rugs

Dark Half Entertaining

Food

Popcorn Bar – What better way to embrace the coming cool weather in a totally customizable way that is fun for all ages, than by creating a unique popcorn bar? Rent a popcorn machine for an added layer of fun aesthetic, pop it bag by bag, or do it the old-fashioned way. Whichever way you choose to pop your popcorn, the end result will no doubt, be a great time. You can also take creative liberty with the décor, serving containers, and more. Let me know how this worked for you in the comments!

Topping Suggestions:

Butter
Salt
Chocolate (Chips, Chunks, Bars, Etc)
Cinnamon Sugar
Caramel
Sprinkles
Melted Chocolate
Mini Marshmallows
Pretzels
Cheesy Seasonings
Crushed Candy
Parmesan
Taco Seasoning
Hot Chocolate Powder
Ranch Seasoning
Crushed Cookies
Season Salt

Caramel Apple “Nachos” – In the same way that the popcorn bar idea can bring people of all ages together, a Caramel apple “Nachos” Bar can do the same thing. What a sweet and nostalgic way to welcome the fall season.

Wash and core your apples (try using several different kinds), then soak the slices in cold water with lemon juice for a few minutes to keep them from browning as quickly. Pat dry, and place them in a bowl or bowls to serve. Below are just a few suggestions for toppings. Let me know in the comments what your favorite toppings for caramel apples are, and if you used any of the ones I suggested!

Topping Suggestions:

Chopped Nuts
Crushed Cookies
Chopped Candy Bars
Small Candies
Pretzels
Shredded Coconut
Sprinkles
Mini Marshmallows
Dried Fruits
Cheesecake Filling
Frosting
Flakey Sea Salt
Caramel Sauce
Chocolate Sauces (Milk, White, Dark)
Marshmallow Sauce of Fluff
Toffee Bits
Chocolate Chips
Cereal Bits
Gummy Candy
Whipped Cream

Chili Bar – Nothing Warms the soul like a warm bowl of home made chili on a cool day as the seasons begin to change. If you aren’t a chili fan you can always replace the ingredients with a different soup, toppings, and sides that align more with you and your guests tastes. You can even turn this into pot-luck style event by having everyone bring their home-made chili (or other soup) and a favorite side or topping. Let me know in the comments if there are any that I should have included, or if you switched it out let me know what worked better for you!

Topping Suggestions:

Sour Cream
Shredded Cheese
Queso
Scallions
Salsa
Guacamole
Rice
Peppers (Sweet or Hot)
Shredded Lettuce
Slices Olives
Chopped Tomatoes
Hot Sauce

Side Suggestions:

Rice
Tortilla Chips
Tater Tots
Cornbread

Drinks

Spiced Cider Margaritas – You may see margaritas as more of a summer drink, but this one is absolutely perfect for that line between summer and fall. This drink perfectly blends the classic fall flavors that you are craving, and the cool, thirst-quenching taste that you crave the most in the summer heat.

You Will Need:

5 oz. Spiced Cider
1 ½ oz. Mescal (or other tequila of your choice)
½ oz. Grand Marnier or Cointreau
½ Teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice

Garnishes:

2 Tablespoons Raw Sugar
1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Cinnamon Sticks
Apple Slices
Lemon Slices (For rimming glasses)

Combine the raw sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Moisten the rims with a lemon slice, and dip in mixture to rim the glasses.
Pour all of the ingredients into a shaker with ice. If you do not have a shaker, you can also stir the ingredients together. Shake or stir well.
Pour over ice in your rimmed glass.
If you would like to garnish you can do so now with an apple slice sprinkled with cinnamon, a cinnamon stick, or a combination of the two.

Décor Ideas

Indoor or Outdoor – Whether you plan to entertain indoors or outdoors this season, you can ramp up the fall feelings by adding painted pumpkins and tealights placed inside carved out apples, and string lights to your décor. Using apples, pears, pinecones, or tiny pumpkins as place cards is also an adorable way to get in the fall mood. You could even use wood slices as serving pieces or table décor. If you plan to be outdoors, stock up on fuzzy blankets to snuggle up by the fire with, and add some lanterns and mason jars filled with fairy lights to add to the cozy feeling of the space.

Furniture

Firepits

Grills

Deep Seating

I hop you took something away from this post. As always, remember that for all of your indoor and outdoor entertaining needs this season, fifthroom.com has just about everything you need to make it special. Remember to comment to let me know how these tips worked out for you, or leave your own ideas and or experiences!

Sources :

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/tips/g3620/summer-party/?slide=1

https://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/g2387/summer-party-ideas/

https://www.diybunker.com/11-genius-fall-party-ideas-everyone-will-go-nuts/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/a22750354/herbed-ricotta-and-fresh-tomato-tart-recipe/

https://4sonrus.com/bacon-cream-stuffed-tomato-tulips/

https://www.flavourandsavour.com/fresh-veggie-zucchini-roll-ups/

https://vinepair.com/cocktail-recipe/the-diy-spiked-lemonade-bar-recipe/

https://www.shutterfly.com/ideas/popcorn-bar/

http://www.joyfulscribblings.com/2013/09/caramel-apples/

https://wholeandheavenlyoven.com/2014/10/12/how-to-make-a-chili-bar-2/

https://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/apple-cider-jello-shots/b1e3dea8-6606-429d-9b66-fd65d6ab9087