Halloween Party

[SpeechMom]

Wasn't sure where to put this one. Our Halloween party is coming up, and I need to start making some more detailed plans. The theme is the Dark Side of Oz (the video from The Wizard of Oz syncs up perfectly with Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album). The movie will be playing on our Godzillatron - dh has music picked out for when the album ends. I've ordered stand-up cardboard cut outs of the wicked witch melting and the tin man, lion and scarecrow together. We have an autographed photo of Dorothy and some postcards of the other cast members. I really wanted to order some chocolate ruby slippers, but the only place I can find them is in canada, and the shipping makes them too expensive. We'll be serving wine and cheese. I guess I should have a tub of water and soft drinks, too. Or should I serve those with a cup and ice? Any other ideas for decorations and food? This is an adult party - so more elegant than cute.

[AnnW]

Since it's adults, I would just ice up the tub and put bottles of water and canned drinks in it. Maybe have some cups on the side with an ice bucket of ice just in case.
what time is the party? do you want there to be other appetizers or are you doing a cheese bar type thing?
decorations sound wonderful! what are you swearing?
if you haven't gotten anything, my dd got the cutest cape/gloves and hat from Walgreens! It's a dark purple kind of mesh material with spider webs through it. You could were that and some slinkly black number underneath.
kind of like this one, but not as expensive (and probably not as nice! LOL)
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/4299&mode=Searching&erec=10&D=cape&Ntt=cape&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=0&sd=FL+HOODED+SILVER+SPIDERWEB+CAPE

[SpeechMom]

Since it's adults, I would just ice up the tub and put bottles of water and canned drinks in it. Maybe have some cups on the side with an ice bucket of ice just in case.
what time is the party? do you want there to be other appetizers or are you doing a cheese bar type thing?
decorations sound wonderful! what are you swearing?
if you haven't gotten anything, my dd got the cutest cape/gloves and hat from Walgreens! It's a dark purple kind of mesh material with spider webs through it. You could were that and some slinkly black number underneath.
kind of like this one, but not as expensive (and probably not as nice! LOL)
http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=25/4299&mode=Searching&erec=10&D=cape&Ntt=cape&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&N=0&sd=FL+HOODED+SILVER+SPIDERWEB+CAPE


The party starts at 7pm. I'd like to do a cheese bar, with some type of place card next telling what type of cheese each one is, and suggestions for what type of wine goes with it. We have a lot of very nice wine. I'd also like to have some other hors d'oeuvres. Oh, but I just realized that 6 weeks after the Halloween party is our Christmas party, and that's a wine and cheese party. Maybe we should do beer at this one. There are some really nice ones like Chimay that we could serve. That might be better, but I know dh is going to want to serve some of the wine.

We're not dressing up. I have this coming in black:
http://www.jjill.com/shopJJillDetail.asp?AreaID=OL&ColorToUse=820&SizeID=1&txtProductID=623333&offerid=4J&seldept=7&EAquest=shirt
I initially ordered the white one, but you can see through the cami. So I now have the black cami (J Jill has camisoles with underwire bras built in - others don't work for me) and am waiting for the black shirt. I'm thinking jeans and black heels.

I need ideas for table decorations. I'd like to find some cheap red heels, cover them in glitter and do something with them, but I don't know what.

[AnnW]

hmm..i wouldn't do two identical food parties so close together. is the Christmas one going to be a little more 'formal'? that would be a really good setting for a wine and cheese tasting.
maybe do more of a casual party with casual type food and drinks for this one. love the top btw! i would wear that with jeans and black heels too! LOL
the ruby slippers sound great! maybe buy one of those cheap plastic black cauldrons and somehow mount them on that, sort of like they were sinking into it. We bought really inexpensive black and white gingham checked plastic table clothes for our party, that could look really good with the red slippers without being over the top halloween. Or a white damask table cloth and then get ribbon in the colors you want and run them like runners on the table. lots of white voltives everywhere would be pretty too.
ooh...could you get some dry ice? put that into the cauldron and then the ruby slippers on top!

[SpeechMom]

hmm..i wouldn't do two identical food parties so close together. is the Christmas one going to be a little more 'formal'? that would be a really good setting for a wine and cheese tasting.
maybe do more of a casual party with casual type food and drinks for this one. love the top btw! i would wear that with jeans and black heels too! LOL
the ruby slippers sound great! maybe buy one of those cheap plastic black cauldrons and somehow mount them on that, sort of like they were sinking into it. We bought really inexpensive black and white gingham checked plastic table clothes for our party, that could look really good with the red slippers without being over the top halloween. Or a white damask table cloth and then get ribbon in the colors you want and run them like runners on the table. lots of white voltives everywhere would be pretty too.
ooh...could you get some dry ice? put that into the cauldron and then the ruby slippers on top!

I ran out to Bombay last night at 5:00 - they have all their Halloween stuff 40% off. Its still expensive, though. I got a silver spider web table runner and some pumpkin placecard holders.

Talked with dh and we'll do beer and hors d'oeuvres with soft drinks and one or two bottles of wine for those who don't like beer.

I have a cauldron, but I'll probably use it to hold drinks. Dry ice is fun - forgot about that!

I'm going to make some ruby slippers this weekend.

[AnnW]

sounds cool!!!! i bet that runner is gorgeous!
if you need any appetizers let me know. the salsa bar thing was pretty easy and went over really well last weekend. it was a mixture of totally homemade, totally store bought and then some the two blended together! LOL i did 95% of it the day before in less than 2 hours, then all i had to do was plate the stuff before the party started.

[vea29]

Sounds fun....ann you good at this lastminute planning stuff....huh?

[RCT]

No ideas but wanted to say WOW it sounds like fun.

[SpeechMom]

sounds cool!!!! i bet that runner is gorgeous!
if you need any appetizers let me know. the salsa bar thing was pretty easy and went over really well last weekend. it was a mixture of totally homemade, totally store bought and then some the two blended together! LOL i did 95% of it the day before in less than 2 hours, then all i had to do was plate the stuff before the party started.

yes, please. Stuff that'll go with beer. The salsa bar would go with Corona! Chimay is Belgian. I'll gave to look at Central Market and World Market for more ideas. Chimay and Corona are really all we drink.

[RCT]

yes, please. Stuff that'll go with beer. The salsa bar would go with Corona! Chimay is Belgian. I'll gave to look at Central Market and World Market for more ideas. Chimay and Corona are really all we drink.


We love Corona too. I have never herad of Chimay?
Chips and salsa, bean dip? Quacamole? (sp) Quesadillas

[AnnW]

yes, please. Stuff that'll go with beer. The salsa bar would go with Corona! Chimay is Belgian. I'll gave to look at Central Market and World Market for more ideas. Chimay and Corona are really all we drink.


Belgian? waffles..chocolate? oohh..you could do all sorts of chocolates for desserts, maybe even a chocolate fondue with various veggies and pound cakes..and then mex stuff for appetizers!!!

Here's what I did for the party
Salsa bar
black bean and corn pico (made)
pineapple mango pico (bought)
raspberry chipolte dip (bought the raspberry chipolte sauce, mixed it with cream cheese)
quacamole (bought and mixed in fresh pico, that i bought too)
roasted red pepper chipolte dip (got the chipolte cheese dip at Costco, added in fresh roasted red peppers, chopped up)
made two other salsa/dips (White Salsa, Confetti Salsa...can give you the recipes if you want)

Tortilla rollups
Spinach tortillas with spinach artichoke dip inside
Jalepeno tortillas with a black olive, jalepeno, cream cheese filling
Sundried Tomato tortillas with the roasted red pepper dip from above inside
Plain tortillas with the raspberry chipolte dip from above inside
I served these with 4 different options for dipping..regular salsa, quacamole, raspberry chipolte sauce (without the cream cheese) and the white salsa from above.

Veggie tray
usual mixed veggies 4 options of dip, jalepeno ranch, white salsa, spinach artichoke and something else, but i am drawing a blank! LOL

it was pretty filling and gave lots of options. you could maybe do a spicy meatball along with it if you wanted.

[SpeechMom]

Belgian? waffles..chocolate? oohh..you could do all sorts of chocolates for desserts, maybe even a chocolate fondue with various veggies and pound cakes..and then mex stuff for appetizers!!!

Here's what I did for the party
Salsa bar
black bean and corn pico (made)
pineapple mango pico (bought)
raspberry chipolte dip (bought the raspberry chipolte sauce, mixed it with cream cheese)
quacamole (bought and mixed in fresh pico, that i bought too)
roasted red pepper chipolte dip (got the chipolte cheese dip at Costco, added in fresh roasted red peppers, chopped up)
made two other salsa/dips (White Salsa, Confetti Salsa...can give you the recipes if you want)

Tortilla rollups
Spinach tortillas with spinach artichoke dip inside
Jalepeno tortillas with a black olive, jalepeno, cream cheese filling
Sundried Tomato tortillas with the roasted red pepper dip from above inside
Plain tortillas with the raspberry chipolte dip from above inside
I served these with 4 different options for dipping..regular salsa, quacamole, raspberry chipolte sauce (without the cream cheese) and the white salsa from above.

Veggie tray
usual mixed veggies 4 options of dip, jalepeno ranch, white salsa, spinach artichoke and something else, but i am drawing a blank! LOL

it was pretty filling and gave lots of options. you could maybe do a spicy meatball along with it if you wanted.

Wow! give me some time to think about this, then I'm sure I'll need some more of the recipes. Fondue is a great idea! Let me run it past dh. Not with veggies, though. ;)

Do you think your Dad's wife would let me borrow her dishes?

[SpeechMom]

OK, the party is Saturday and I have to make some decisions on this. Decided not to do the fondue - too messy.

Can I have the white salsa and confetti salsa recipes? Did you serve tortilla chips?

When you made the rollups, did you cut the tortillas, or leave them whole?

We might have some shrimp ****tail.

[AnnW]

I served both with chips. I used the white salsa on the veggie tray too.
Yes, cut the tortillas into bite sized pinwheels. Think I got 6 per tortilla.

Confetti Dip Carnaval

Courtesy of Ann Hazard

Recipe Ingredients:

2 Large tomatoes, chopped
1 (3 1/2 oz) can Sliced black olives
1/2 cup Green chiles, diced and rinsed
1/4 to 1/2 cup Sliced jalapeños
6 Green onions, chopped with tops
1/2 cup Grated cheddar cheese
2 tbsp Red wine vinegar
3 tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp Garlic salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 bag Tortilla chips


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recipe Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in medium sized bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour. This can be made ahead and chilled for up to eight hours. Place in serving bowl on large round platter surrounded by tortilla chips. Then sit back and wait. The compliments will astound you.

http://www.mexgrocer.com/469-confetti-dip-carnaval.html

White Salsa Dip
Recipe from: The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri


1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
juice of 3 limes
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 ½ cups fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 6 ounce Can pitted black olives, drain and coarsely cup
1 ½ cups scallions, finely chopped
5 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
salt and white pepper, to taste


In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise and sour cream. Add lime juice, garlic, cilantro, black olives, scallions, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired. Chill until serving. Serve with blue corn tortilla chips.


http://www.panix.com/~clay/cookbook/bin/show_recipe.cgi?salsa+recipe130

[Diane]

Wow... sounds great. I'm sure your party is going to be a great success. I think I've gained 15 pounds just taking in all those wonderful sounding recipes. :)

Ann... I still think you should get into catering or some kind of party planning. Seems like your thing to do... LOL You'd be great!!!

[AnnW]

Ann... I still think you should get into catering or some kind of party planning. Seems like your thing to do... LOL You'd be great!!!

i would love to, can't find a company that will hire me that pays benefits.

[Diane]

i would love to, can't find a company that will hire me that pays benefits.

That's too bad......... :(

[RCT]

Have a great Party :jack:

[SpeechMom]

Have a great Party :jack:

Thanks! I'm going to finish my coffee, jog, then run to the store to get the few remaining groceries I need for the party. This is a huge amount of work. My cleaning lady was being flaky, so we told her we no longer needed her services, which mean I'm also cleaning the house. She just came last week though, so its not too bad.

[vea29]

i would love to, can't find a company that will hire me that pays benefits.
Do you do alot of parties for friends and family....Probably make some nice spending money.

Your really good at this!

[littlesista06]

Thanks! I'm going to finish my coffee, jog, then run to the store to get the few remaining groceries I need for the party. This is a huge amount of work. My cleaning lady was being flaky, so we told her we no longer needed her services, which mean I'm also cleaning the house. She just came last week though, so its not too bad.

Have a great time!!!!! :)

[SpeechMom]

Thanks guys! We had a great time. Only had about 15 people, but its our first party - we'll invite more to the Christmas party. Ann - thanks for the recipes. Made the Confetti salsa and some roll ups with a cream cheese filling and orange and green bell peppers in it. Very festive. I intended to make the white salsa and the goat cheese/sun dried tomato roll ups, but wimped out. Also had shrimp ****tail, guacamole dip, some hot appetizers and just a few desserts. We have a massive amount of beer left over! Found some really interesting ones - I especially like the wheat ones. I do not like Guinness! Yikes! Everyone loved the decorations. Dh saw a "pumpkin tree" on someone's desk a few weeks ago and thought it was the coolest thing. We saw some as we were checking out at Central Market on Friday. They're really just little tomatoes, but it does look like pumpkins. I had a vase of those as the centerpiece on my table. Found some ruby slippers at Target and arranged them on the hearth with a picture of Dorothy. Had the cardboard cut outs of the Witch, and The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. It was hysterical, though. One guy has had a phobia of the wicked witch from Wizard of Oz since childhood and would turn his head every time she came on the screen. How he got food, I don't know - we had the cut out of her right next to the table with a cauldron of beer. I had candles burning everywhere. I advised everyone "If you see a fellow guest or my house aflame, please put it out." Sure enough, a plastic tea light holder in the kitchen started to burn and smoke. I apparently was in the middle of a very animated conversation at the time, so a guest put it out. Anyway - ended up being a fun evening and dh was happy. Thanks again for the ideas and well wishes.

[AnnW]

sounds like a great success!
you wimped on making the rollups?? LOL

[RCT]

oh Donna sounds like it was a great success...

[PamE]

Sounds like an awesome party! :)

[SpeechMom]

sounds like a great success!
you wimped on making the rollups?? LOL

Just on the 2nd batch. The tortillas I had were too small, and with the chunks of veggies in there it was hard to spread the filling and roll em up. I'm also not the greatest cook.

[littlesista06]

Sounds like it was a great pary!! Now I'm ready to entertain - I just love parties! :)

When do we start getting ready for your Christmas one? :tinysmile

[angie r]

I'm glad it was a success!

[Melody]

Sounds like the party was a great time. Glad it was a success!

[Diane]

It sounds like it was a great success. :) Glad everyone had a good time. :)