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A Halloween Party

© Dar Cheek

We're getting ready for cooler weather, all our pumpkins are ripening nicely, and Halloween is just around the corner. Halloween also happens to be my wedding anniversary, so we love a good Halloween party!

What you need for a Halloween party depends on the type of food you want to serve, if you're going to have a dinner or just snacks, and how many people you're going to have, but a Halloween party should be fun and casual. We usually have about 6-8 folks, all adult. Hey, Halloween doesn't have to be just for the kids!

Below is a menu for what I'm doing this year. I want to have a snack or two for when people arrive and are just chatting. This pumpkin dip is excellent! You'll see I've got a theme going, from the dip to the clove and cinnamon drinks that I'll be serving to blend with the other pumpkin pie spices. Of course with this, I'll have some mixed nuts, and probably a bowl of candy corn (my favorite).

Pumpkin Dip

2 cups pureed pumpkin
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 package cream cheese, softened

Mix pumpkin puree and cream cheese into a large bowl, then add all other ingredients, mixing til smooth and creamy.

Refrigerate four hours. I serve this with crackers or celery and carrots.

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I'll also have an area with cookies, pumpkin squares, and muffins. Perhaps I'll set this up on a serving tray lined with some colorful Halloween napkins.

Cranberry Pumpkin Muffins

2 c self-rising flour
1 c wheat flour
1 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c butter or margarine
2 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
2 eggs
2 cups cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the flours, sugar, cinnamon, salt and allspice. Mix well. Add the butter, pumpkin, and eggs, stirring til moist. Fold in the cranberries. Spoon the batter into 24 greased muffin cups, 2/3 full. Bake for 40 min. or until nice and brown.

Pumpkin Cookies

2 cups butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 Eggs
2 cups pureed pumpkin
2 tsp vanilla
5 cups self-rising flour
4 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp cloves
2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups raisins
2 cups chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs. Add the pumpkin and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Add to the creamed mixture, stirring well. Fold in the raisins and pecans. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets and bake in a preheated 375 degrees F. for 10 to 15 minutes.