Hostess Jo

Most Fabulous Halloween Dinner

Run!  Hurry!  Go now!  You must see Kara's Chic Halloween Dinner!  Here is a little sneak peek:

Dessert Table

Loving the black chandelier on the wall!

Place Setting 

Friday's Fall Cocktail

Try a Falling Leaf Fiz at this fall's gatherings.  It's so pretty and sounds so tasty!  Sure to impress your guests.

Falling Leaf Fiz

 

Ingredients per cocktail:

1 part Grey Goose La Poire (pear-
flavored vodka)

1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin
butter

Pinch of pumpkin pie spice

Dash of simple syrup

4 parts of sparkling wine

Garnish: dried apple chip

Prep

Place vodka, pumpkin butter, spice and syrup in the bottom of a Champagne glass. Stir well.
1. Top with sparkling wine and garnish

Halloween Sale

Head on over to Hostess Jo and save 40% on all of our Halloween goodies! 

Pumpkin Cupcakes

I just love these sugared pumpkin cupcakes!  The minis are my favorite. The recipe sounds delicious too.  If you aren't a baker (I am not), you could make cupcakes from the box and just decorate the tops like this.  Perfect for parties, treats for neighbors, kids at school etc.

To decorate:  Divide the frosting into two bowls and tint to different shades of orange with food coloring. Mound the frosting on top of cupcakes and make rounded. Roll the entire cupcake in the sugar to coat or roll just edges in sugar, alternating between fine and coarse sugars as desired. To make indentations, press a wooden skewer on top of the sugared cupcake. Add pretzel sticks or rods as stems.

Get the full recipe here.
 

Fang-tastic Cocktail

Just finished up the first season of True Blood  on dvd and I am addicted!  Also, super excited about New Moon next month.  With both of these and Halloween right around the corner, I've got fangs on the brain.  This cocktail is perfect for Halloween, True Blood or New Moon parties.

I love Effen Vodka.  If you like black cherry flavor without the sweetness you will love it too.

Dracula's Kiss

• 1 oz black cherry vodka (Effen Vodka)
• 1/2 oz grenadine
• cola
• maraschino cherries for garnish

Preparation:

1. Coat the bottom of a highball glass with grenadine.
2. Add ice and vodka.
3. Fill with cola. Garnish with cherries. 
    

(photo)

Barrow of Bones

Here is a fun and easy way to decorate your yard for Halloween! 

Barrow of Bones

Grab your wheelbarrow and fill with soil.  "Plant" plastic bones and a trowel or shovel in the dirt.  I bet this will scare up some laughs!

(image)
 

Creepy Cooler

How cool is this pumpkin spider cooler?!!?  What a fun and functional way to display your cold beverages at your Halloween parties!

Just empty out a large pumpkin and cut in half.  Insert copper tubing and bend for legs.  You could also use pipe cleaners.  Watch a how to video here.
 

Halloween Snack Mix

Serve this festive snack mix at your Halloween party this year!  I love that the blue corn chips look black against the orange Cheetos.

 

Ingredients

• 2-1/2  cups coarsely crushed blue corn chips
• 1  cup corn nuts
• 1  cup raisins
• 1  cup pretzel sticks
• 1  cup canned shoestring potatoes
• 1  cup cheese sticks
• 1/2  cup shelled pistachio nuts or peanuts

Directions

1. Put the crushed corn chips, corn nuts, raisins, pretzel sticks, shoestring potatoes, cheese sticks, and pistachio nuts or peanuts in a serving bowl. Stir to mix with a wooden spoon.

2. To store, place mix in a plastic bag or container; seal or cover tightly. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks. Makes sixteen 1/2-cup servings.

(photo from bhg.com)

Easy Treat

I think candy corn is my favorite Halloween treat and decoration.  We've seen Candy Corn Parfait, now take a look at these EASY Candy Corn Cookies!  Instead of candy, wrap these in cellophane and ribbon and give to your trick or treaters or as party favors. 

Candy Corn Cookies

All you have to do is knead a little extra flour and orange food coloring into your store bought refrigerated dough!  Cut with a triangle cookie cutter and dip the bottom in dark chocolate and the top in white chocolate.  Voila!

For another candy corn treat check out Tom Kat Studio's Candy Corn Cupcakes!

(photo from countryliving.com)

 

Candy Globes

Here is a modern variation on the Candy Trees I posted previously.  They are just as creative and simple to make.  For a centerpiece you could try a grouping in different sizes and heights.  These aren't just for Halloween either.  A gum drop or peppermint one would be great for Christmas!

Candy Globes

YOU'LL NEED:

• Styrofoam balls
• Black spray paint
• Low-temperature glue gun
• Assorted candy such as Reese's Pieces, candy corn, black gumdrops, jelly rings and Skittles

ASSEMBLE GLOBES

1. Spray balls with black paint. Let dry.

2. Glue candy to balls in a uniform pattern, working in concentric circles around the entire ball. Let dry completely before displaying on cake stands, vases or glasses.

(photo and how to from allyou.com)