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The Idea —
Every month I host a themed dinner party for my girls, and September's theme was Cider House. Rowdy, cozy, and so delicious.
Full disclosure, this one was supposed to be outside. But the sun sets too early now, so the whole thing moved into the dining room! The tree came with it. More on that in a second. lol
Our best parties always have a touch of childhood nostalgia, so this one was built on two things: a very dramatic centerpiece and old-school party games.
How I Prepped —
I attempted to make my own apple tree. Which means I climbed a ladder in the front yard and cut a branch off a real one. Then I hung it over the dining table and tied red apples to it with gingham and red ribbon so they dangled over everyone's heads. Is it a lot? Yes. It's also the thing people commented on most, and it cost me nothing except a slightly balder tree!
Under it: a red gingham tablecloth, tapers in brass candlesticks, chunky pillar candles, and a river of real apples running down the middle of the table. I cored a few apples and dropped tealights in them, a two-minute trick that looks like you tried way harder than you did. I spelled out CIDER HOUSE with letters on a bread board using this silicone tray, set out red scalloped paper plates, and used paper bowls (I wrote "you're the apple of my eye" on them for a fun touch).
The last piece was a trophy. A gold apple on a wood base with a ring of maple leaves around the stem, sitting on the table all through dinner so everyone knew what they were playing for once the games started!
The table reads sophisticated, but the party doesn’t stay that way for long! lol
The Food —
I always host pitch-in style, and this month everyone brought an apple-inspired dish. There's no shame in not being able to do it all! I set the table and made the drinks, my girls handled the food, and the spread was incredible:
Apple butter meatballs, straight out of the slow cooker
A warm, cheesy dip
A big panera inspired salad topped with apple chips
Apple pastry, sliced on the board
An apple snack mix in the cutest little baskets with red bows
A whipped apple dip with toffee bits and sliced apples for scooping
A dessert table: pink apple macarons, caramel apples rolled in nuts, and a stack of donuts
We sipped on a big batch of apple cider sangria that I prepped before everyone arrived! Every glass got a little paper red apple tag that I made with each girl's name on it.
The Games —
After dinner everyone picked an apple from the tree, and that apple dictated which team they'd be on. Then we took a group jello shot to start, and yes, the games were also apple themed.
Cider pour. Two teams with one partner blindfolded, two jugs of cider, and a race to fill the glass to a specific line.
Musical apples. Musical chairs, except the chairs are apples on the rug and grown women will dive for them!
Flavored applesauce tasting. Put the applesauce in little cups and give everyone a spoon. I used flavored Go-Go squeezes!
Whipped cream face-plant. Fill pie tins with an apple slice and whipped cream. Find the apple slice without using your hands!
Apple relay. Teams make two lines. Pass the apple from person to person without dropping it or using your hands.
The dog was in the middle of most of it. LOL
As adults I don't think we get to play enough, so this was just the best!
