How to Select Food for an Autumn Tea Party

As summer fades into fall and the days grow shorter, celebrate the changing of the seasons with an autumn tea party. A tea party is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the bounty of the autumn harvest. Along with fragrant teas, serve guests a variety of seasonal comfort foods, hearty soups and decadent fruit desserts.

Instructions

Autumn Beverages and Appetizers

1. Offer guests warm mulled wine and apple cider to take the chill out of the autumn air.

2. Serve a non-alcoholic punch of apple, pear and pomegranate juices mixed with ginger ale.

3. Prepare a rich chai tea with milk and honey.

4. Provide a selection of gourmet cheeses including blue, brie and sharp cheddar, along with fresh apple wedges.

5. Share venison-sausage-stuffed mushrooms caps with guests.

Autumn Main Dishes

1. Hollow out medium-sized pumpkins, and fill each one with hot curried-pumpkin stew. Top with a tablespoon of heavy cream and chopped chives.

2. Serve a salad topped with dried cranberries, walnuts and fresh goat's cheese. Finish with balsamic vinaigrette.

3. Prepare petite Cornish game hens with a wild mushroom and rice stuffing.

4. Mash turnips with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese for a new twist on a classic autumn vegetable.

5. Serve nutty wheat rolls with honey butter.

Autumn Desserts

1. Serve a selection of sweet breads, such as pumpkin, banana and cranberry nut.

2. Offer spicy gingerbread accompanied by a zesty lemon curd topping.

3. Serve dainty apple tartlets topped with homemade vanilla ice cream.

4. Offer a selection of teas flavored with cranberry, ginger, apple, and cinnamon.

Resources

• Etiquette Class offers all the do's and don't's of hosting a tea party.