After a classic Thanksgiving meal, offer guests two delicious dessert options. The best thing about dessert dishes is that they can usually be made in advance. Instead of serving a pie, make a pumpkin spice roll cake with cream cheese filling. Get help from the store and use a box cake mix; no one will know the difference. Make a black bottom chocolate pie for those guests who want a more decadent dessert. To save time, purchase a chocolate cookie crumb crust when making this pie. To look at the recipes for these delicious desserts, read more

Last week I asked you to help me put together a package of fabulous Halloween goodies to send a friend in Spain. I was so busy planning and hosting my Halloween bash, that I had no time to go to the store. Luckily you searched the web for caramel apples, cupcakes, candy, and any other special, spooky extras. You saved your treats in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag Halloween Treats. From edible tarantulas to mints in coffins to cherry filled gumball eyes, you discovered an amazing array of tasty yet spooky Halloween treats.

Javi, my friend in Spain, is a huge fan of sweet and savory junk food, and that's why I'll be sending him these Halloween pretzel rods. Mellie_608 submitted the salty pretzels that are dipped in caramel and rolled in chocolate candies. They sound so scrumptious, I may have to order some for myself! For more treats — or tricks — browse the selection below.

To learn more about bookmarking, please refer to geeksugar's easy how to.

I was searching for a final cookie recipe to round out National Cookie Month when I stumbled across one that looked like caramel apples. They were so cute and seemed like the perfect Halloween treat, so I headed to the store and grabbed a bag of caramels. The cookies themselves are pretty simple to make; they're basically a dyed sugar cookie dipped in caramel and put on a stick! To get the recipe and start bobbing for your own "apples," read more

Like my costume? It is by Monster by Mail!

I hope you're having a blast today. Be sure to devour your favorite candy and be sure to check out all of our Halloween coverage, including this fun quiz about Halloween!

Source

• Candyfreak Steve Almond has come up with a list of Halloween candy personality types. What's yours? — Washington Post
• Soup season is coming up and here are some tips for making flavor-packed stocks. — San Francisco Chronicle
• Even fancy chefs love Halloween candy. Today they've set aside the fancy and tell you what they love about Halloween. — New York Times
• A recent survey has discovered that 46 percent of families only eat home-cooked dinners two or three times a week. Are you one of them? — Chicago Tribune
• They tested it so you don't have to: Four wine experts taste 50 bottles that cost $12 or less. — Boston Globe
• Don't let molds spook you away, sometimes moldy food is downright tasty. — Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune
• A program in Houston is offering kids top chefs in classrooms, vegetable gardens on campus and food awareness. — Houston Chronicle
• The big feast is coming up, here's a few tips on how to choose the best wines for Thanksgiving. — Dallas Morning News
• Looking for a new roasting technique? Try your hand at salt-roasting. — Los Angeles Times

Last week I told you step-by-step how I was planning my Halloween party. I showed you the invitations, the menu, the drinks and the decor. The party took place this past Saturday and although it was a fabulous success and the majority of my guests had a glorious time, there are a few things to make note of for the next time.

Here are my after party reflections:

• Leave the frozen berries out of the Dangerously Delicious Punch. Unless you want to spend the next day rubbing berry stains out of your carpet, it's best to not garnish punch at a large party.



• I would have liked a picture of everyone who came in their costume. Next time I will set up a Halloween costume photo shoot area and ask guests to snap themselves with an old Polaroid when they arrive.
• Don't offer Halloween candy that comes in wrappers. The house was littered with Kit Kat and Skittle wrappers by the end of the night.
• Put a large towel under the keg. We put a small one underneath it, but the condensation was so bad that the floor ended up getting slippery and wet.

If you're still looking for a fun wine to serve for tonight's Halloween bash, then be sure to check out this list of Halloween appropriate wines. From Armida Poizin to Hungary's Bull's Blood, there's something for every mood. If those two are too sinister for you, then check out Hocus Pocus or the Seven Deadly Zins. No matter what you select, you're bound to get a few comments when you serve one of these wines. To check out our full selection, scroll through below.

Why buy boring old paper plates when you can get sexy witch in martini glass ones? These are fabulously fun, so while you're at it, pick up the matching set of plastic Boo cups. — Hostess with the Mostess