Weekend Entertaining: Halloween Bash

Happy Halloween! Celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year with a party menu that has something for everyone: a delicious, seasonal buffet of for the adults and just enough tricks and treats for the kids. Use place cards next to each dish to give them clever, festive names — think “Broomstix” for the vegetable skewers and “Vampire’s Brew” for the punch. Our recipes and tips will help you pull it off.

 

Pumpkin Soup with Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin dishes are a must for Halloween. This soup marries sweet maple syrup with a kick of cayenne for an unexpected flavor boost.

Rosemary-Parmesan Icebox Crackers Silky soup calls for crispy dippers. Use cookie cutters to make Halloween-themed shapes before baking these cheesy, buttery snacks.

Messy Grilled Cheese Sandwiches Don’t mess with the classics. It doesn’t get any simpler than these grilled cheese panini, made with aged cheddar cheese and crusty country bread.

Marinated Summer Vegetables Grilled on Rosemary Skewers Enjoy the last of summer’s eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes with these “Witches’ Broomstix.” The veggies are threaded onto rosemary skewers, with the herbs creating a broom-like shape at the end.

Blood-Red Punch Garnish these drinks with scary ice cubes! Place plastic spiders and bugs or gummi worms in ice cube trays, leaving a little of each item exposed. (Be sure each item is big enough not to be easily swallowed.) Fill the tray with water and freeze, then place a few cubes in each glass before filling with punch.

 

 

Be creative with presentation. Bowls shaped like cauldrons, themed plates and creepy crawly table linens create a fun, festive mood. No cauldrons? Any black bowls or coffee mugs can do the trick.

 

Create a sophisticated decor using a mix of Halloween-themed and classic items. Tie spiderweb napkins with a simple orange ribbon; arrange pewter or steel glasses next to informal party ones.

 

Don’t forget natural elements. A mossy branch placed on the buffet can become part of your display, accenting shades of black, brown and green. Miniature decorative pumpkins are a perfect addition, too.

 

Personalize party favors. Fill tote bags with candies and cake pops — they’re perfect for kicking off a night of trick-or-treating.