Halloween for Grown Ups

Hard to believe, but in a month it'll be Halloween- and what better and excuse to have a little soiree? I'm not talking about a full on costume extravaganza, but rather a fun but chic themed dinner party for all your favorite friends who still want to enjoy a little merriment on the spookiest night of the year- without feeling juvenile.

To start, the invites. All you need are some 5x7" dark colored cards from a place like Paper Source and a light colored paint pen (wjite, silver, gold will do). Cut each card so it curves at the top like a gravestone. Personalize each one for each guest, (i.e. Here lies Jane Smith, who passed from not attending Erin's Spooky Supper party on October 31st"- or whatever wording you like. Ask everyone to wear a favorite, fun wig instead of full on costume!

 

For decorations, pumpkins are a cost effective and nostalgic way to go. Get several in various sizes and colors (I love the white ones) and invite a friend or two over to carve the morning of the party). They don't all have to be faces, some would look great with just a slew of small holes carved in it like the night sky. Arrange then down the center of the dining table when lit. Put out bottles of your favorite wine with new labels on them that you create that say "Poison" with a skull and crossbones, or Witch's Brew. Also, pick up some bottles of Spellbound Petite Syrah- the label and name fall right into the theme!!  Use all black and silver table linens and, of course, the more candlelight the better!! In fact, try not to have to use any lighting other than candles! Use small cut our gravestones again as placecards with names written in your paint pen!

Find a great halloween cd or iMix (with "Thriller" on it, of course) and play as backround.  Or put some scary movies on a loop on your TV! Buy those old school plastic pumkin buckets that everyone used to use trick or treating and fill them with single serving candy and place around the house for people to munch on. Or pack up individual bags or baskets with candy and put at each plce setting for people to take home. 

You can have great fun with your food as well! Pumpkin or squash soup is a perfect way to start, followed by a great  beef stew. Martha Stewart had a great idea to make masked potatoes (Rusett and Sweet) and pipe them onto the plates next to the bowls of stew like ghosts and pumpkins. The gosts eyes are black sesame seeds, and the pumpkins have stems of 1/2 pecans and leaves of basil or oregano!

BOO!

Comments

[Denise Baker]

Thanks for sharing Halloween ideas. Halloween is a personal favorite and I think adults should enjoy it as much as the kiddos. I have thrown a grown-up Halloween party every year (with a few missed years)since about 2000. I am anxious for this years event - I love a good celebration