Planning Your Halloween Menu

Every kid looks forward to Halloween for the treats, the dress-up, the parties, and of course, all the good food. For the parents, however, it\'s a bit less fun-you have to make the food, buy the costumes and plan for the big day. And more often than not, it\'s the menu planning that really takes up the most of your time. How do you come up with a menu that\'s unique and right for your budget? Well, the good news is hat it\'s a lot easier than it seems.

First, you have to know who your guests will be. Your Halloween menu should appeal to both young and grownup guests while sticking to a single theme. Do you want a five-course dinner or something more casual, such as a buffet? Kids may better enjoy finger foods and appetizers, while adults might prefer a more traditional soup or roast. Find ways to put these preferences together and create a well-balanced table. For a regular-sized party, about three to four courses is usually enough.

If you don\'t have time to cook every dish, try making some of them in the crock pot. Slow cooking is one of the best ways to save time in the kitchen-you just chuck your ingredients in and let it cook for the rest of the day. This gives you more time to make other dishes and attend to other party details. You can make a rich, creamy pumpkin soup and even serve it in a pumpkin shell. Or if you\'ve got a sweet tooth, make some baked apple cobbler-with the crock pot, the flavors will be much more intense and filling. It\'s also a nice new take on caramel apples, a popular Halloween classic.

Don\'t forget the table settings, of course. Halloween parties are all about mood, and there\'s no better way to set the mood than with a well-decorated table. Use a black-and-orange color theme to suit the occasion, and create a nice centerpiece to set off the décor. Jack-o-lanterns, autumn flowers, and colored candles all make excellent table decorations and are sure to impress your guests.