Something about the leaves turning warm hues and a crisp chill floating through the air leaves VALLEY craving a cozy get-together filled with comforting dishes and autumnal décor. If you’re feeling the same way, then you’ve come to the right place.
A potluck is the perfect way to bring your friends together at this time of year. As everyone begins to spend more time inside, a wholesome gathering built on good food and good friendships is just what you need. The best part about a potluck is that everyone is responsible for bringing a dish, so you can see which of your friends can cook and who should stick to carving pumpkins at your future fall parties.
Seasonal Flavors
Arguably the most important part of an autumn potluck is the festive food. Thus, VALLEY has picked a few of our favorite easy recipes to inspire your menu:
- Pumpkin rolls: Grab a container of a premade dinner roll dough, fasten a few strands of cooking twine from the bottom of each roll to the top and bake to create a beautiful pumpkin shape.
- Ultimate Fall Cookies: All you need to create these masterpieces is a package of premade chocolate chip cookie dough and a package of Pillsbury picture sugar cookie dough. Bake them together to make an impressive treat.
- Upgraded apple cider: Pour some fresh apple cider (perhaps from the farmer’s market downtown) into a pot and add a few cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange slices and a bit of nutmeg. Not only does this taste delicious, but its rich, sweet aroma fills the room better than any candle could.
If cooking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of easier options out there that will still leave your friends with impressed smiles on their faces. Trader Joe’s premade fall products are a great option for the lazy chef. Try out their pumpkin cinnamon rolls or their fall leaf-shaped tortilla chips with harvest salsa.
Creating the Mood
We said food was the most important element of a potluck, but what is a party without a positive ambiance? To cultivate the ultimate cozy vibe, you’ll need some themed decorations! Here are some of VALLEY’s favorite easy (and cheap) decor ideas:
- Tissue ghosts: bundle up a few tissues into a ball and wrap an unwrinkled one around it. Tie a string around the base of the ball to create a ghost shape. Draw faces on them with a sharpie and then tape the end of the string to the ceiling. Get creative with it!
- Pumpkin candle holders: hollow out the insides of a few miniature pumpkins and glue taper candles inside. It’s an easy and fun way to add mood lighting to your event.
Dress to Impress
Lastly, it might be fun to establish a dress code for your friends! One option is to tell everyone to dress in reds, oranges and yellows for the leaves changing colors. You could also have your friends dress as their favorite Halloween movie characters. Cohesive attire makes for great group pictures!
VALLEY hopes you utilize some of these ideas if you plan on hosting or attending a potluck this season. Enjoy the beauty of autumn while it lasts!
Which of VALLEY’s fall party ideas is your favorite? Let us know @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
