Friday Dinner Party Menu > Need your ideas for make-ahead fall dishes

Our Test Kitchen Director weighed in with a fall-themed menu that would be easy to make ahead, and that is inspired from some of the suggestions already shared.

You have probably already hosted your party, Sonia (would also love to know what you served!), but for future dinner party inspo, she shared her suggestions on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@food52/video/7294036490886139179), which are:

A vegetarian chili with butternut squash served Frito Pie-style (here is one you can add the squash to: https://food52.com/recipes/84892-chetna-makan-vegetarian-chili-recipe), and our flourless chocolate walnut brownies for dessert: https://food52.com/recipes/86818-flourless-brownies-recipe.

Sonia - what menu did you choose to serve, and how did your guests like the dishes?

If there are food issues, you might consider a food bar. For example, a salad bar and that could easily be incorporated in to a taco bar. Another possibility could be an Asian hot pot so that people could choose their ingredients.

Sonia -

For fall/autumn and Halloween just around the corner, do something dramatic with pumpkins:

• either cream of pumpkin soup served in mini or small pumpkins for each person
• or pumpkin stuffed with everything in if. A French-American informal and hearty hybrid by renowned cook/baker Dorie Greenspan, which is to be served family style from (for 12) one or two large hollowed out pumpkins. This dish can be vegetarian or carnivore (or have one pumpkin of each filling).

If you go for the soup as a starter, serve a simpler main course like lamb chops, garlic potatoes and either a cooked green or a salad.

If you go for the hearty stuffed pumpkin as your main, serve a starter of smoked fish (salmon, trout, whitefish) or preserved sliced meats.

For dessert (not seasonal but always a favourite) end with a rich chocolate dessert - mousse or the like.

Everything but the lamb chops and green salad can be made ahead.

Good luck and enjoy your part!