Vegetarian Fall Feast

When hosting a dinner party, it's fun to introduce guests to interesting ingredients and exotic flavors. Keep the majority of the menu familiar, then throw in one unexpected element in the form of a specialty cocktail that highlights kumquats. My friends and family have little experience with the miniature citrus fruit, but they'll love to sample it in a vodka pomegranate punch. Part of the punch can be made the day before, then at the dinner, all you have to do is stir in the juice. Don't skip the pomegranate seed garnish; they provide a festive jewel-like quality to the drink.

To get the cocktail recipe, read on.

This weekend I'm inviting friends over for a Fall-themed vegetarian dinner. I'm serving a decadent meat-free meal that starts with a cheese plate and moves onto vegetarian potpies topped with homemade sweet potato biscuits. Naturally a menu like this calls for a stellar finish — preferably a dessert that can made mostly in advance. That's why I plan on trying this recipe for pumpkin rice pudding. It's seasonal and creamy, but not too heavy or rich. Also, rice pudding isn't something that I make often, thus it will feel more like a special occasion treat. To check out the simple recipe, keep reading.

This Sunday, I'm having friends over for a delicious dinner to celebrate the Fall season. Although my guests are carnivores, I'm trying to embrace a more meat-free lifestyle and want to encourage my friends and family to do the same. Thus, I'm serving a vegetarian menu; it will be so full of rich autumnal flavors that no one will miss the beef! For starters, I'll assemble a wonderful spread with sliced apples, a huge chunk of Point Reyes blue cheese, honeycomb, and homemade spiced walnuts. When we sit down to the table, each person will get their own individual vegetable potpie with sweet potato biscuits. A mixed green salad with dijon vinaigrette rounds out the savory and scrumptious meal.

Although the vegetable pot pies are somewhat laborious, they can be made in advance. Check out the recipes I plan on using here.