When my kids were in elementary school, I was always stressed out on Halloween. Invariably I volunteered to do something time-consuming at the school Halloween party, we were up late the night before making their costume visions a reality, and it was a mad rush after work and school to get home, get homework done and get real food into the kids before trick-or-treating.
When I thought about what to make for dinner, I often came up with something warm and hearty like chili. Something that could cook all day in the crock pot or even be cooked the day before and reheated. Something that would fill them up enough to keep them warm and fueled for the trek through the neighborhood.
I’m sure I never gave much thought to the table setting for this dinner back in those days. But now that my kids are off in college, I can reflect on what I might have done that would make the dinner special. That’s the inspiration behind this Halloween tablescape.
This isn’t a scary table. I’m not a big fan of eating in the presence of gory decorations. This table is all about comfort, warmth and a slightly festive but calm atmosphere. Why wind the kids up any more than they already are on this day?
Whether you find yourself stressed and harried, facing an empty nest or trying to entertain kids who are being deprived of the usual Halloween delights, I hope this table shows that elaborate isn’t always necessary. Happy Halloween! 🎃🦇🧡
Wexford Lane 