This year's Halloween dinner theme was "Gala in the Graveyard," an idea that Cole suggested. We celebrated early because Cameron and Ali are not able to join us on Halloween due to quarantine restrictions in Canada. We still had a nice time and that means TWO Halloween dinners this year!
Invites went out last month, but unfortunatley my bestie was unable to join us. I still wanted her to to receive the invite and how cute is that polka dot box? The invites were glued inside of painted black wooden coffins. Little bags of candy bones added a sweet touch, while the gummy bugs added a creepy element.
Time for the gala to begin! The lit haunted lady welcomed living diners. The centerpiece was a scaled graveyard complete with headstones, skeletons, and two lighted crypts with apparitions.
I found the perfect flatware set for a graveyard theme. These stainless steel shovels and pitchforks made digging into dinner easy. Thank you to Shayne and Claudia for this great birthday gift! The napkin rings were made from painted black mini grapevine wreaths with printed "Rest in Peace" banners.
The placecards were an idea found on Pinterest. The picket fence paper punch is a Martha Stewart product and the gravestone names were printed on gray cardstock. The Halloween M & M's were a festive pop of color.
The graveyard greens with moldy cheese were served in the skeleton bowls that were a birthday gift from Cameron & Ali. The skeleton eggs were formed by using an egg mold.
Three little mashed potato ghosts pop out of gravedigger's pie. The Parker's beef stew recipe was from Ina Garten and it was delicious!
Cameron was tasked with creating a signature drink for the evening since he has bartending experience. He did not disappoint. Let me introduce you to "Liquid Death." This deadly connoction contains Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, blood oranges with lemon, and spiced honey made with cardamom and cinnamon. He used edible charcoal to get the black color.
Homemade sour dough bones by Cameron and Ali. They've been experimenting with sour dough starters and I think they did a great job. I'd gnaw on these bones everyday.
I was going to redo this chocolate coffin cake dessert because the lighting was off, but it was still yummy and I've lost my skeleton bone mold :(
A spooky fun time was had by all and we finished the dinner by playing a Victorian parlor game of Kim's Tray. The group had fun testing their observation and memory skills and Cameron was the winner of the evening, followed by a one point difference from dear old Dad.
Big hugs and kisses to my boys and Ali for all helping to make this dinner materialize. It makes me so happy that you get excited about our themed dinners and taking such an active role in making them so memorable.
Love,
Mom xoxo
Bone appetit!
