We are not sure how or where the idea of an Autumn Porch Supper came to be. It makes perfect sense though. Autumn is the ideal time of year to enjoy a meal outside. It has cooled down, the harvest is happening and the seasonal foods just seem to fit perfectly. Afterall, the very first Thanksgiving was an outdoor event. It JUST MAKES SENSE!
About 15 years ago we had our first Autumn Porch Supper after my mom saw an article about them in a magazine. Is it a trendy thing? Is it a thing at all? I’m really not sure if this is a THING outside of our family. All I know is that IT SHOULD BE A THING!
Recently Judy came into town for a short visit. Judy is Cindy’s sister and Corinne’s Aunt. It was the perfect time to do an Autumn Porch Supper! We dug through Corinne’s Autumn things and grabbed a few bits and pieces to make the table pretty. Just use what you have on hand! If you do need to buy stuff, we highly recommend going to a second hand shop for a tablecloth, plates, bowls, goblets, etc. You could also have fun looking at discount stores like HomeGoods, Marshalls and Ross. Or sometimes when you need (want) something the convenience of Amazon cannot be beat.
The TABLE – The plaid tablecloth is an old purchase from Ross. The white and black cloth is from The Arc thrift shop. The plates were all bought from The Arch or Goodwill. The Goblets are from Ikea. The silverware is from Amazon.
Centerpiece – The table runner is burlap with orange lace that Corinne made. The pinecones are from the roadside in northern California. The gold vase is from The Arc. The gold pitcher is from Corinne’s mother-in-law. The autumn garland is from a craft store and the little pumpkins, candles and acorn are from the Target Dollar Spot. The big pumpkin is something Corinne has had for years and thinks she got it at Ross.
Paige was able to join us. Paige is another of Cindy’s daughters and Corinne’s sister. So, we set a table for four. An Autumn Porch Supper can big or small. It can be a lot of work or it can be easy and chill. Do it how you want! Follow through below for ideas and get started by inviting a few friends over of dinner!
We highly recommend checking the forecast when you choose a date. When does the sun set? What will the high be when you sit down to eat, and throughout the meal?
As you plan the menu, consider what items you want to buy premade, what can be made ahead and roughly plan out how to execute the menu plan.
We think it would be a lovely idea to have a friend or a couple to come over a couple hours ahead and help to prepare the meal. Turn on some relaxing music and cook together. Or assign them each a recipe to make and bring it finished to the porch supper.
The MENU:
Let’s take this step by step and start with the main dish. We did Rosemary Pork Loin because it’s delicious, and really easy to prep and cook. Other great ideas would be –
- Neiman Marcus Chicken
- Roasted Chicken in a Pumpkin
- Beef Wellington
- Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
- Steak and Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
- Beef Pasties
For the sides we LOVE all things Squash and root vegetables! We tried out this new stuffed butternut squash recipe that still needs some work and will be posted soon.
We also had these delicious Maple & Balsamic Vinegar Brussel Sprouts and also little baked dishes of Baked Butternut Squash Mash. We also made Goat Cheese and Rosemary Mashed Potatoes paired PERFECTLY with the pork loin!
Other great sides dishes to choose from would be –
- Zucchini Corn Chowder
- Sausage And Apple Stuffed Squash
- Corn Pudding
- Autumn Squash Casserole
- Sweet Potato Soup
- Autumn Slaw
- Anadama Bread
And now for DESSERT! Our favorite part! and it’s too hard to choose just one to make! So we made two!
This Apple Pie with a Butter Pastry Top is a recipe we’ve been enjoying for years and we knew it would be good. We had so much fun making it in these little 4-inch tins. And then we wanted to try something new that we may add to our Thanksgiving menu this year. It is Indian Pudding and according to stories and lore it was served at the first Thanksgiving! You know what? We LOVED IT! It was fun to try!
Other Dessert recipes that would be so good for an Autumn Porch Supper –
- Maple Cream Pie with Sugared Almonds
- Pear Cardamom Crisp
- Apple Pandowdy
- Pumpkin Bread Pudding
- Classic Apple Crisp
- Pumpkin Custard Cake
- Indian Pudding
- Mini Apple Pie