This past weekend we had family over for a BYOP pumpkin carving party. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I love a theme so wherever possible I slipped pumpkins in- whether it be on a snack board, dessert, or even our dinner.

We had gorgeous weather so we were able to carve the pumpkins outside where we could be free to make a mess. To make clean up easy, I covered the table in craft paper so that afterwards we could throw the whole thing in the compost bin.

Warm cider and a snack board kept us happily fed during the carving session. The hit of the snack board was definitely the gooey, cheesy pumpkin in the center. It was brie atop apple butter and wrapped in puff pastry tied with string to resemble a pumpkin! A garnish of sage leaves and a stem (I used a stem from my butternut squash but a cheese stick or twisted pretzel would work just as well). Super easy, super tasty and super cute!

I was very proud of my first attempt at making a shape with sourdough. I would have loved it to be a little taller but why be picky? This was to go with the chili we had for dinner. I told you I love a theme!

Flower arrangements can be tough this time of year and so I try not to put too much thought into it and instead wander around my yard with a pair of clippers and an eye for some pretty foliage. The burgundy of Nine Bark and the green of raspberries went beautifully together along with rosehips and the only flower still going, the anemones!

For dessert, I made a pumpkin spice cake with maple buttercream. A cute pumpkin patch, made with fondant, sat atop the cake.

I hope you all had a wonderful, and safe, Halloween and celebrated the season in some small, or big, way!