Hoedown

If you're lucky enough to have access to a barn, host the hoedown inside. Open the doors and place a long table covered with a red bandanna-print tablecloth in the middle of the space. Set the table with blue bandanna-print napkins and divided plastic plates. Serve the food buffet-style on another table. Plate the brisket on a large white serving platter and spoon the beans into a matching white bowl. Outside of the barn, light a fire in a fire pit. Create a circular seating area around the pit with bales of hay. Place the keg and punch nearby under a tree. Stack etch-it cups next to the keg and have guests label the cups with their name. A bouquet with Fall's beautiful colors adds a touch of elegance to this rustic soirée.

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A lot of manly men will be attending my hoedown so I've decided to get a keg of beer. When selecting a keg, choose a versatile, easy-to-drink beer that's neither high- or lowbrow. I've ordered a keg of Lagunitas, an IPA native to my hometown.

For the ladies, offer a spicy rum punch. Made with a spiced sugar syrup, rum, and fresh lemon and orange juices, this punch is refreshing and potent.

Of course, water, soda, and wine are always good to have on hand at any event, so stock up on those as well. Get the punch recipe when you read more

After a heavy meal of hearty cowboy fare, treat guests at a hoedown to something sweet, seasonal, and bite sized. Pumpkin whoopie pies are the perfect no-mess, nostalgic dessert. These soft, chewy pies are filled with a thick layer of smooth cream cheese frosting. They can be made in advance and require no serving utensils making them ideal for a large party. Pumpkin whoopie pies are also delicious at a bake sale or as a Fall-themed snack. Learn how to make them and read more

At a barn shindig, serve a hearty meal with plenty of napkins to mop up the finger-licking good eats.

Start the meal off with a spicy appetizer in the form of shrimp with barbecue seasonings. Slow-cooked beef brisket is a savory, smoky, and scrumptious entree. It's also the perfect cut of meat to affordably feed a crowd.

Classic cowboy sides — barbecue "baked beans" and crisp apple coleslaw — round out the mouthwatering menu. To look at these recipes, read more

Recently one of my girlfriends moved out of the city to the countryside. Her new home has (drum roll please) a barn! I've been waiting all my life to host a Western-style hoedown in an authentic barn and she's agreed to let me plan one instead of hosting a housewarming party.

Think cowboy boots, bluegrass, and barbecued ribs. The invites take their inspiration from the classic, all-American bandanna. To learn how I made them, read more