From Publishers Weekly
Photo stylist Hellanders book of Halloween-themed entertainment ideas shares recipes, decorating tips and invitation ideas for six different spooky parties. The Tricks & Treats party is pretty run of the mill, with its jack-o-lantern goody bags, suggestions for pumpkin carving and recipes for Cupcakes with Candy Surprise Centers and Hot Red Wine with Cloves and Almonds. The rest of the partiesWitches Brew; Its a Mod, Mod World!; Hocus Pocus; Haunted House; and That Old Devil Moonbasically offer variations on the theme, with vaguely original ideas for party favors, place settings and snacks. Many of the suggestions seem flimsy (e.g., covering a rooms walls with wrapping paper to create a festive atmosphere) and dont specifically apply to Halloween (e.g., party favors like styrofoam balls wrapped in crepe paper with tiny charms and fortunes stored inside; or recipes such as Breadsticks with Prosciutto and Robiola). But first-time hosts who havent a clue where to begin might glean something from this enthusiastic book. 96 photos.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Description
A boring Halloween party? The horror! Millions of Americans live to be scared silly, and for them October 31 marks the beginning of the holiday season: a reason to dress and act outrageously. This hip, photograph-filled paperback, packed with recipes and crafts, makes entertaining on Allhallows' Eve terrifyingly easy. From a frightful dinner for four to a full-out, monster-mashing Haunted Mansion, Lori Hellander concocts six parties guaranteed to make guests scream in delight. The Hocus Pocus Potion Party highlights eerie elegance, while Tricks and Treats taps into Halloween nostalgia.
Like a skilled carver attacking a pumpkin, Hellander chops up each themed party into manageable chunks: invitations; shopping and scheduling; decor and costumes; food and drink; games for all ages. But aspiring fete-ishists need not have tons of time or an armory of glue guns to get the parties going: there are plenty of quick and simple-to-execute ideas, plus useful tips for impromptu entertaining. AUTHOR BIO: LORI HELLANDER lives in New York City, but her work as a photo stylist takes her to many places on the map. She is a regular contributor to
Country Living, Bon Appétit, and
Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, among other national publications, and has made several guest appearances on HGTV's
Country Style and the Discovery Channel's
Surprise by Design.
BILL MILNE is a photographer and image-maker who has contributed to
Gourmet, Wine Spectator, Time, People, and many other publications.
See all Editorial Reviews