Apple Harvest Gathering

Up to One Month Before

• Purchase or assemble items for centerpiece.
• Purchase plastic silverware and napkins, if desired.
• Purchase raffia or twine.
• Purchase scented candles, if desired.

The Day Before

• Wrap silverware in napkins with raffia or twine.
• Prepare Chowder and Beefy Bean Soup; cover and refrigerate.
• Prepare Milk Chocolate-Malt Brownies.
• Prepare filling for Chicken Almond Baguette.
• Assemble TV or other trays, if desired.
• Arrange centerpiece.
• Prepare the dressing for Tossed Greens with Sesame and Oranges.
• Prepare squash bowls. 
• Cool; cover and refrigerate or prepare bread bowls; return to bag; close tightly.

30 Minutes Before Guests Arrive

• Prepare Peachy Spiced Cider.
• Light fire in fireplace and/or light candles.

As Guests Arrive

• Serve cups of Peachy Spiced Cider.

30 Minutes Before Meal

• Prepare step 1 of Tossed Greens with Sesame and Oranges.
• Unwrap squash bowls and place on cookie sheet.  Cover loosely with Aluminum foil and reheat in 300º oven until hot.
• Reheat soups over low heat, stirring occasionally, until hot.
• Assemble Chicken-Almond Baguette

Just Before Serving

• Complete Tossed Greens with Sesame and Oranges.
• Arrange squash bowls or bread bowls on plates.

Make It Special!

• Invite your guests in from cold with a cup of hot Peachy Spiced Cider and a fire in the fireplace or burning candles scented with pine, berries or spices.
• Serve the soups in squash bowls.   To make them, cut round winter squash, such as acorn or buttercup, lengthwise in half; remove the seeds and fibers.  Cook squash as desired (and scoop out some of the squash if the cavity is small) before filling. Or cut off tops of small, round bread loaves, and scoop out the bread from the loaves,  leaving a 1-inch thick wall.   Ladle soup into loaves just before serving; replace tops.
• To accompany the casual food, consider having guests serve themselves buffet-style, placing their dishes, silverware, etc. on TV trays or other trays.  They can then easily balance their meals on their laps while watching the football game or sitting by the fire.
• Make it easy for each guest to grab silverware and a napkin, by wrapping each place setting in a napkin like a package, with a piece of raffia or twine.
• Make a centerpiece that “centers” around the purpose of the party.  Pompons, team banners and mums can be arranged in the center of the table for a football party.  Arrange paint brushes, rollers, scrapers, etc. in a paint bucket for a painting party or apples with bandanas in a wicker basket for an apple-picking party.
• Centerpiece Tip:  To avoid tipping, it may be necessary to tape a block of craft foam (available at craft stores) in the bottom of the container to help hold the items being arranged or fill the container with
  marbles or small stones before arranging.