Bushels of Fun

What good is picking your own apples if you don't celebrate the fruits of your labor? Here, Country Living Contributor Lela Rose invites us to her favorite fall ritual.

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.