Hosting Your Own Autumn Harvest Dinner: A Guide to Seasonal Celebrations

As the leaves turn golden and cool evenings set in, there's no better time to gather your closest friends for an intimate autumn celebration. Seasonal gatherings offer you a perfect opportunity to slow down, connect deeply with those you cherish, and enjoy the abundant harvest that autumn brings.

Creating Your Seasonal Table

Want to set a memorable scene for your guests? Take inspiration from nature's changing palette. Try adorning your table with scattered golden leaves, small pumpkins, and flickering candles to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that honors the season. These simple decorations immediately signal to your guests that they're in for a special evening.

Consider setting up outdoors if the weather permits—there's something magical about dining under the early autumn stars as the season transitions. The natural backdrop of changing leaves provides the perfect setting for meaningful conversations and connection.

Planning Your Harvest Menu

The beauty of autumn entertaining is that the season's bounty does most of the work for you. Consider a potluck approach, inviting each friend to bring a dish that celebrates fall flavors. Your menu might include:

- Freshly baked sourdough bread

- A rocket salad with parmesan and walnuts

- Roasted seasonal vegetables

- A signature autumn cocktail or mulled cider

For your main dish, why not showcase the quintessential autumn ingredient—pumpkin? The creamy pumpkin pasta recipe below has been tested at our recent gathering and was an absolute hit. It's comfort food at its finest and comes together in less than 30 minutes, letting you focus on your guests rather than spending hours in the kitchen.

The Perfect Autumn Main Dish: Creamy Pumpkin Pasta

This pasta transforms humble ingredients into something truly special—much like how gathering with friends transforms an ordinary evening into a cherished memory.

Ingredients:

* 8 ounces pasta

* 1/4 cup olive oil

* 2 teaspoons minced garlic

* 1 cup pumpkin purée (use fresh if you can—simply roast and blend)

* 2 Tablespoons milk

* 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar

* 3/4 cup vegetable broth

* Salt and pepper to taste

* 3-4 leaves fresh sage (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)

* 1/2 cup grated parmesan

* 2 cups spinach

* 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

1. Cook your pasta according to package directions.

2. Meanwhile, over medium heat, cook olive oil and garlic in a saucepan for 2-3 minutes.

3. Add pumpkin, milk, vinegar, broth, salt, and pepper.

4. Whisk and simmer for about 5 minutes.

5. Add sage and parmesan, then simmer for 2-3 minutes more.

6. Remove from heat and stir in spinach until it wilts.

7. Mix in the cooked pasta until well coated.

8. Top with walnuts, extra parmesan, and garnish with fresh sage leaves.

Embracing Autumn Connection

There's something about autumn that naturally draws us toward deeper connections. As you gather with your friends, you might notice conversations becoming more reflective and meaningful—matching the season's inward energy.

Female friendships in particular seem to flourish during this transitional time. When women gather around a harvest table, sharing food and stories, a special kind of nurturing magic happens. Give yourself permission to be fully present in these moments.

Your Invitation to Seasonal Gathering

Remember, the most memorable gatherings aren't about perfection—they're about creating a warm, welcoming space where connections can flourish. You don't need elaborate decorations or a complicated menu to create something special.

A few simple candles, some fallen leaves from your yard, and a pot of something delicious simmering on the stove are all you need. Add friends, and you have all the ingredients for an evening that will nourish both body and soul.

This autumn, why not send out those invitations you've been thinking about? Gather your favorite people, share a meal, and create memories that will warm your heart long after the season has passed.

*Recipe credit: Christine McMichael from Jar of Lemons*

*Images by the talented Nectar Photography*

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Autumn Traditions: A Cosy Conversation with Jodi from Auntie Jodi's Baking Co.

There's something wonderfully nostalgic about the scent of pumpkin and cinnamon wafting through your home on a cool autumn day. That unmistakable aroma instantly conjures images of fallen leaves, chunky sweaters, and steaming mugs held between chilled hands.

This month, we had the pleasure of chatting with Jodi, the creative force behind Auntie Jodi's Baking Co., who has brought the beloved North American pumpkin spice tradition to New Zealand shores. Her story is one of homesickness, creativity, and finding comfort in familiar flavours – halfway across the world.

From Homesickness to Hāngī: How Auntie Jodi's Was Born

As a fellow North American living in New Zealand, Jodi's business journey began with a deep longing for home during the isolation of the pandemic.

"I was feeling really homesick when I first moved to New Zealand," Jodi explains. "I moved here during the pandemic, which was already a strange time, and was just trying to find some feeling of familiarity and comfort here."

Like many of us during lockdown, Jodi turned to baking. She asked her family to send over cherished family recipes, hoping to create a sense of connection through food. Pumpkin spice represented a taste of home, but she quickly discovered it wasn't readily available in New Zealand the way it is in North America.

When borders finally reopened and her mother came to visit, they were invited to a hāngī. Wanting to share a piece of her Canadian heritage, Jodi decided to make her great-grandmother's pumpkin pie. What followed was an all-day kitchen adventure – roasting and pureeing a fresh pumpkin from scratch (a far cry from the convenient canned puree available back home).

"The pie was a big hit," Jodi recalls, "but there was no way I wanted to waste an entire day in the kitchen again for a single pie." Her partner suggested trying dehydrated pumpkin instead, an idea she initially rejected as sacrilege to her family recipe.

But fate (and a cyclone) intervened.

"After being stuck inside one wet summer weekend during a cyclone… we had nothing else to do but bake and experiment," she says with a laugh. "Guess what... It worked!"

Realising there were many homesick expats craving pumpkin spice everything, Jodi transformed these recipes into ready-to-go kits, and Auntie Jodi's Baking Co. was born.

The Nostalgia of Pumpkin Spice

For Jodi, pumpkin spice is more than just a seasonal trend – it's a sensory experience deeply connected to memories of home.

"It reminds me of summer wrapping up and the days quickly blending into autumn, you are trying to get your last summer fill before heading back to school, then it comes in the blink of an eye and you are embraced by crisp air and crunchy leaves."

She admits to burning pumpkin spice candles year-round and loading up on pumpkin spice everything when visiting home. "To me this blend means home, it feels like home, tastes of home. I have had customers describe our Pumpkin Spice Latte as 'a hug in a mug' and I think that's exactly it."

Autumn in the Antipodes

Adjusting to New Zealand's reversed seasons was initially disorienting for Jodi. "My mind literally just couldn't compute 'what do you mean it's December and we are in our bathing suits?'" she jokes. Living in Northland by the beach means she doesn't experience the dramatic seasonal changes of her childhood, with palm trees that remain unchanged throughout the year.

To capture that autumn feeling, Jodi loves taking day trips to Matakana or the Auckland countryside. "I also love the South Island this time of year, Christchurch, Queenstown and Arrowtown - you are all so beautiful!"

Bridging Culinary Cultures

One fascinating discovery for Jodi has been the cultural difference in how pumpkin is perceived. "In North America we see pumpkin as a sweet dessert flavouring, but here it's more of a savoury item you would have with a roast dinner."

She's enjoyed educating Kiwis about different ways to enjoy pumpkin spice, noting that "having a 'vegetable' in a dessert really isn't strange, just look at carrot cake!"

First-Time Recommendations

For pumpkin spice newcomers, Jodi has tailored suggestions:

"If you are someone who is hesitant about pumpkin, I would encourage you to try a pumpkin loaf or cake. I promise if you are a fan of carrot cake you would enjoy this as well."

For those curious about the famous PSL trend, she recommends starting with a pumpkin spice latte, "topped with whipped cream and cinnamon for that cafe experience right at home!"

Beyond the Latte

Auntie Jodi's offers more than just their signature PSL blend. Their pumpkin loaf kit makes for an easy introduction to the flavour, while the pumpkin pie kit holds special significance for Jodi.

"The pumpkin pie was our first product and is inspired by my great-grandma's recipe, so it's really special to me that it has gone from England to Canada and now across New Zealand and Australia."

Creating Cosy Moments

When asked how she creates cosy moments as the weather turns cooler, Jodi's answer comes quickly: "Candles! I love love love burning candles, but it feels extra special this time of year. It's just an instant mood changer and brightens up the room as the weather outside gets more moody."

Where to Find Auntie Jodi's

You can explore Auntie Jodi's products online at auntiejodisbaking.com and use the discount code **LBWC** for free shipping across New Zealand until May 1st.

If you prefer to see the products in person, Auntie Jodi's will be at the Auckland Food Show this July.

Follow @auntiejodisbaking on Instagram for seasonal recipes, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and upcoming trade show appearances.

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Keep an eye on your April Candle Club box—there might just be a special pumpkin-inspired surprise waiting inside! 🤫