Healthy Halloween

• Try a healthy main dish recipe with an Autumn/Halloween theme. Pumpkin-based dishes are appropriate and nutritious for a Halloween potluck. Pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread or pasta with a pumpkin sauce or garnish can make a great addition to a holiday-themed potluck that is heavy on sweets.

Simple and Surprising

• Kids can help create simple yet surprisingly scary treats. "Apple bites" that resemble monster mouths can be prepared together with your children (depending on age) using simple apple slices and almonds. "Banana ghosts" and "Jello monsters" are also kid friendly recipes that promise loads of fun even before the party starts (see Resources for recipes).

Build on the Basics

• Basic potluck treats can be modified with little effort to make them Halloween ready. Cupcakes can be decorated with spiderweb designs or monster faces. Cookies and cakes can be dyed black and orange, or blood red, for a scary effect (see Resources for more ideas).

Halloween shock and awe!

• The most shocking treats can be created out of the simplest elements. "Creepy eyeballs" can be made with as hard boiled eggs and food coloring. For an even scarier treat, try covering doughnut holes in icing to resemble eyeballs and then stick them on forks for serving - the effect couldn't be creepier! Always keep in mind the ages of the children attending the potluck party and try not to get too scary for the little ones.