LELA ROSE MAY SPEND a lot of time out West, but when it comes to apple-picking season, the designer (lelarose.com) insists there's nothing quite like the Northeast. For this picturesque party at a friend's orchard, she let the produce inspire the palette, with an assortment of yellows, greens, and reds that lend a golden deliciousness to the table. (The crisp color scheme also coordinates well with Lela's new tabletop collection of linens-including the hand-appliquéd table runner at far right-enamelware, and seat cushions, available at her soon-to-open Jackson Hole store, Lela Rose Ranch.)
Her menu fittingly features apple cider-infused everything alongside crowd-pleasing homemade caramel apples. "Food on a stick evokes that state fair spirit, which speaks to the Texan in me," says Lela. Here, her secrets to a fruitful fall gathering.
Core Curriculum
LELA'S PICKS FOR A HAPPY HARVEST
Grab a Picking Ladder.
It's a well-known fact: Apples taste better when you pick them yourself. (Lela's partial to the Honeycrisp variety: "They're the perfect blend of sweet and tart.") Plan an outing to a local orchard search by state at apple-pickingorchards.com-then gather for a festive dinner before heading home with your haul.
When in Doubt, Add Cider.
Lela's seasonal sipper-a Sparkling Cider and Bourbon Cocktail-infuses sweet and savory flavors. "The apple brings a crispness and the bourbon adds a nice smoky flavor," she says. Also on the menu: Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Warm Apple Cider Dressing (right) and spicy Apple Cider-Glazed Wings. (Psst: Don't forget the world's best Bundt cake; see pg. 46.)
Make a Little Hay.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Country Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Country Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
FARM and AWAY
When your country cabin is in a place called Summertown, you better believe there's plenty of fresh-air fun to be had
Homegrown Branching Out
A cross-country move to Washington's San Juan Islands prompted Audra Query Lawlor to begin preserving the region's heritage, one jam jar at a time
Picnics & Parties Just Add Saltwater
At her 1930s converted fish camp in Savannah, designer Elizabeth Demos keeps it casual for a come-as-you-are evening down by the dock
In With the Old Swing Your Partner
Sashay your way to a striking display with colorful Western square dance memorabilia
Across the Pond - All Hands on Deck
When a family of creative spirits sets out to restore a centuries-old English boathouse, the result is a jaunty seaside sanctuary
Country Comeback Quilty Pleasures
Equally timeless and trendy, pieced and patchwork quilts are comfort food in coverlet form
Currently Craving A Party-Ready Outdoor Kitchen
Mallorie and Jim Rasberry of HGTV's Home Town serve up ample Southern style at their family cabin outside of Laurel, Mississippi
Perfectly Imperfect Creaky Screen Doors
Nothing complements the come-and-go casualness of summer like this mesh mainstay
No Place Like Home
A worn and weathered set of skeleton keys represents a rich life under one roof.
Hide-and-Seek
Patience proves paramount when author Tove Danovich's feisty flock of backyard hens sends her on an unconventional egg hunt.
