Help me with my Halloween party menu!

xigumdrops04

I'm planning a Halloween party for about 20 adults and I'm back and forth with my menu.  The party doesn't start until 8pm but the invite states we are serving food.  I'm thinking 3 cold dishes, 3 hot dishes & 2 desserts.  Obviously I have too much food listed below - what should I cut?  Should I add anything? 

Drinks:

Blood orange margaritas

Beer/wine

Hot:

Meatballs

White chicken chili

Filo cups with savoring filling

Cheddar and hard cider Fondue (dippers include cooked sausage, apples, fingerlings, bread)

Cold:

Marinated tomato mozzarella skewers

Shrimp Ceviche with avocado

7-layer Spider web dip

Grape leaf wrapped camambert with pesto

Dessert:

Candy apples

Witches hats

Orange frosting brownies

Pumpkin pudding

 

lsgarver

I'd cut the chili and the pudding--you need separate dishes for people to eat them which kills their popularity during a buffet.  I'd also nix the tomato and mozzarella skewers.  I know they are great because they are easy but they are very summery and I've found them to be generally less popular than other heartier options.

dmfrazier

I would not do the chili because you already have the Filo cups and plus it does not go with the rest of your menu. I would also cut the pumpkin pudding, they can take the brownies home.  Grape leaf only if you have time. Hope this was helpful, have a good time

kimnelson09

I would cut the fondue and either the meatballs or the chili.  A lot of people aren't big into dishes like fondue because of the risk of someone double dipping. 

I'd also cut the skewers and the pumpkin pudding for the reasons mentioned by pp. 

Ally

I would also get rid of the chili - extra dish needed to eat it.  I like fondue and find it popular at parties so I would leave that - if your dippers are bite size there will be little issue with double dipping.

I don't really eat any of your cold choices - though I know 7-layer dips are quite popular.  What about a veggie tray with a simpler dip (I would just eat veggies, but they would be a nice healthy option) or hummus with pita?

Brownies are a great dessert - always!  And the first two definetly fit your theme and would be tasty.

chanteltbarrett

I'd cut the chili from the hot dishes, the shrimp from the cold dishes, and the brownies and the pudding from the desserts.  It was a hard choice though, they all sound yummy!

katarczyna

I disagre with the person who said to nix the tomato mozarella skewers. We had our party last night, same # people, same time. That was the ONLY thing people finished. And it went after an hour. The other things were all eaten, but not polished off.

And I live in Chicago, so it's not like it's warm here or anything.

 

I also like to have only dishes that are finger foods, and require not silverware. Easier for guests (and me). We had a taffy apple bar - caramel and chocolate dips, apple wedges, and a number of toppings for people to dip. DH said his friends loved it and were having "contests" while I was in the other room. I liked it, too, because I could pick w/o having to commit to an entire apple. JMO

sharingIScaring

Gumdrops, have you thought about serving pizza or pizza bites at your party? They?re simple and easy to make! Tombstone has these downloadable Halloween Stencils http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/entertaining/holidaysevents/halloween/halloweenhelper/Tombstonehalloween.aspx

To make a spooky pizza for your Halloween party.