Innehållsförteckning för Halloween The Ultimate Party Guide 2011 från Southern Lady

Well, it is Halloween again. Last year at this time, our office decided to hold a costume competition. had forgotten about it until the morning of and was frantically trying to come up with something different. I consulted with my firefighter husband. His idea didn’t win me the prize, but when I showed up in his gear, it “sparked” some interesting conversations. I turned many heads coming into the office as some people thought we had a problem. But when they they knew I was dressed for costume day at Hoffman Media. (Neal’s gear weighs a ton, so by the end of the day, I felt like I had run a mile.) W o I w saw my purse, I loved Halloween as a child. I remember the homemade costumes…

Anormal tablecloth becomes spooky with the addition of torn cheesecloth, which makes the table appear covered in cobwebs. Use one you already own so all you have to purchase is the cheesecloth, which is available at fabric and craft stores. Candlelight always adds to the ambience of a dinner. Our tall, skinny tapers provide a mysterious air to the tablescape and sit perfectly in tiny black pumpkin candleholders. Gather old mystery books, and stack them on your table for an easy centerpiece (no flowers needed!). We had lots from the Nancy Drew series, as well as a variety of other classic mystery titles. Top the books with a small pumpkin, like these creepy yet whimsical jack-o’-lanterns, and your centerpiece is complete. Our menu card is a playful spin on mystery…

Candy-Corn Mousse Makes 12 to 16 servings 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk 2 cups heavy whipping cream 1 (11-ounce) bag candy corn, finely chopped Garnish: chocolate wafer cookies, chopped candy corn In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese and condensed milk. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add cream; beat at medium-high speed until stiffpeaks form. Beat in candy corn. Cover, and chill for up to 3 days. Garnish with half of a chocolate wafer cookie and chopped candy corn, if desired. For most parents, Halloween night is about escorting little witches and pint-size superheroes door-to-door in search of candy. After all that walking, moms and dads may need some refreshment, and though the kids will have bags of…

Spider Cheese Balls Makes about 2 dozen cheese balls 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 1 (8-ounce) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded 1 (8-ounce) block Monterey Jack cheese, shredded ½ cup finely chopped green onion 1 (4.25-ounce) can chopped black olives ½ teaspoon seasoned salt Black sesame seeds 2 large red bell peppers Wheat crackers* In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, shredded cheeses, green onion, black olives, and seasoned salt. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Shape cheese mixture into 1½ -inch balls. Roll cheese balls in black sesame seeds. Cut 1½ red bell peppers into ½-inch strips. Place bell pepper strips, skin side down, on a clean flat surface. Using a small paring knife, cut to, but…

From California and Texas to Missouri and Pennsylvania, we’ve found some of the spookiest places in the country. The best part? You can visit them all. We’re not exactly sure why, but this time of year, when All Hallow’s Eve is on our minds, we love being spooked. It can be frightening movies, spine-tingling tales, or, heck, even episodes of Casper— as long as it goes bump in the night, we’re onboard. If you find that visiting a fake haunted house—the kind with teens dressed as mummies with chain saws—isn’t enough, we’ve got a solution. Here’s a list of authentic haunted places you can actually visit, tour, or even stay the night. Muster up your courage, and check them out. We dare you. Alcatraz Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly,…

Two Terrific Tables Pages 14-15–Funkins, Fun-Kins Ltd.; candy, Hammond’s Candies; vases, Davis Wholesale Florist; tulle, Michaels; wall covering, Pierce Tabor; black tablecloth, Party City Page 17–skulls, Z Gallerie; eyeballs, Michaels; charger, Juliska Master Pumpkin Carver Pages 18-22–carved Funkins, Masterpiece Pumpkins Mystery Book Club Dinner Page 36–gray square dinner and dessert plates, World Market; round Halloween appetizer plates, pumpkin taper holders, and tapers, Williams- Sonoma; glasses, Bed Bath & Beyond; flatware, Viva Terra; tablecloth and napkins, Bodrum; cheesecloth, Hobby Lobby; pumpkins and crow bookends, Four Seasons Page 40–cocktail glass, BB’s China and Glassware Seasonal Delights Page 53–small plates, World Market Dying for Desserts and Spooktails Pages 64-65–black cake stands, Rosanna; ribbon, Hobby Lobby; feather wreaths, Michaels; orange dessert plates, orange platter, and spoons, T.J.Maxx; black platter, World Market; wood/slate stand, Coldwater…

Large Ghosts To create these lively guests, cut out the bottoms of artificial pumpkins, and place on top of coat racks of various heights. Drape with white sheets, and using double-sided tape, attach eyes cut out of black felt. Ghost Lantern This spirited centerpiece is made by first cutting out pieces of orange card stock to fit in the sides of a lantern. Next, cut out a ghost shape from white card stock, and using a hole punch, punch out two “eyes” from black card stock, and attach to the ghost’s “face.” Use double-sided tape to attach the ghost to the orange card stock. Repeat steps for remaining sides, if desired. Ghost Pitcher Serve drinks from a white curvy pitcher dotted with these ghostly eyes for wonderful way to say,…

While some adults may proclaim Halloween their favorite holiday, it’s even more fun for the youngsters—after all, they’re the ones who scoop up buckets of candy! Whether kids put the costumes together themselves or need a bit of help from Mom and Dad, it’s a treat for them to show offtheir garb. At Trinity Methodist Church in Homewood, Alabama, they get to participate in a Halloween costume parade. Take a look at these outfits—the pretty-in-pink princess, the playful monkey, and the darling whiskered cat—all inspiration for your kid’s costume this year. At the conclusion of the parade, the little ones ventured inside for a fun craft hour to get them in touch with their artistic side. To try this activity at home, gather black construction paper, kid-safe glue, and a…

If your nearest and dearest has an October birthday and you want to celebrate, let the Halloween season inspire your party theme and decorations. When we were planning this 60th birthday bash, we thought about old bones—not that 60 is old—and that made us think about skeletons. So you will find both motifs throughout—on the invitation, the menu, the napkins, and even the entrée. Make no bones about it, this party will be a hit with honoree and guests alike. “The back bone’s connected to the neck bone, The neck bone’s connected to the head bone...” —Dem Bones The Bare Bones • A smart top hat adorns our friendly skeleton on the menu and invitation. • Stylized bones decorate each place card and assign guests to their seats in an…

Candy-Coated Pretzel Sticks Makes 2 dozen pretzel sticks 1 (14-ounce) bag orange candy melts 24 pretzel rods Assorted sprinkles, colored decorator sugars, toffee bits, mini semisweet chocolate morsels In a medium bowl, microwave candy melts on High in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth (about 1½ minutes total). Spoon candy coating over three-fourths of pretzel rods, allowing excess to drain. Decorate with sprinkles, decorator sugars, toffee bits, or chocolate morsels. Place on parchment paper until candy coating is dry (about 1 hour).…