Skeleton Dance Dinner

I’ve been careful with my seasonal purchases these last few years as I tend to go overboard but I keep seeing these lifesize skeletons and I couldn’t resist any longer. I purchased a pair and they’ve been so fun already. My kiddo has been moving them into different positions around the house for me to find and now they have inspired me to host a skeleton dinner party!

I started with this collection of gorgeous linens from my friends at Solino Home in black & white stripes and a solid black table throw. I have gotten years of use out of these black ceramic plates from World Market and Skeleton glassware from Pottery Barn. The brass skull napkin rings are by Rachel Zoe.

Skele-prese Salad

A mix of colorful cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil, salt, pepper, and balsamic glaze makes for a classic caprese salad. To spook-ify this house favorite, I used a silicon skull mold to shape the mozzarella heads. I learned quickly that the best way to do this was to microwave fresh mozzarella in short bursts of 15-20 seconds until you have a workable dough-like texture. Pinch off a small amount and press into the mold. Repeat for each skull and refrigerate for 5-10 minutes before easily removing.

Skully Stew

I feel like a witch concocting a potion when I bring out my pumpkin pot for the season especially when I make a vegetable soup like this where I throw in whatever I have on hand. I always keep chicken broth on hand for an easy soup night where I can add my favorite vegetables or what I have leftover so it won’t go to waste! And how cute are these skulls. I used 7-8 whole white mushrooms, sliced in half (so they float properly, that’s the trick). Then I used an extra large bubble tea straw to make the eyes. For the nose, I used the blunt end of a toothpick. I also made teeth on the stems with a sharp knife.

Pumpkin Bread Heads

This is the first treat I bake for my family every year. The whole house smells amazing and I can mold it into anything from a traditional loaf to muffins or cupcakes. You can find the recipe here topped with a cream cheese frosting. I added a sugar glaze for these skulls with a simple mixture of 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 Tbl half and half, and a little vanilla extract for flavor.

Bone Appetit!