Last night’s Halloween was one for the record books. Five hundred ninety-six trick-or-treaters came calling, descending upon our neighborhood in hordes of super heroes, princesses, and pirates. We had just enough candy to go around. After days of endless rain, the weather turned autumnally perfect — crisp and cool, stars speckling the damp night sky — and seven of us gathered in costume to enjoy dinner on the driveway as the parade of fantastical little beggars filed past. Dining outside on All Hallow’s Eve beats answering the doorbell 200 or more times.
While Last born doled out mini candy bars from her unlucky seat closest to the street, more than a few parents wrangling small children looked longingly at our fine repast: grilled filets mignon, baked potatoes, pork tenderloin, ciabatta rolls, and sautéed zucchini with tomatoes, peppers, and garlic. For dessert, First born and her fiancé made amazing Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook by Deb Perelman (a recipe also published on the author’s blog at http://www.SmittenKitchen.com). I murdered cupcakes.
We make this annual celebration fancy with starched napkins, wine glasses, and candles nestled in mounds of mealworms. To be creepy or not is never a question. On this night, creepy is required.
Cookbook Wall 
Love it! We had such a fun time at the end of the night with trick-or-treaters, we’re considering ditching our longtime tradition of the church event and just camping out in the yard as well next year. Several people on our street do it.
It’s so much fun, Christie. We started almost 10 years ago strictly in self-defense against a doorbell ringing nonstop, with about half the number of trick-or-treaters that we got this year. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, but on perfect nights like Saturday was, it’s magical. I highly recommend ditching the longtime tradition in favor of a costumed dinner in the front yard.
Everything looks great! The costumes, the food, and decorations…not too sure about those wormy things but it’s all in the Halloween Spirit! Tell the kids great minds think alike, I made the same recipe for those salted brown butter crispy treats and they were delicious – Let the holidays begin!
Thanks, S! Butch tried to tone down his scary look this year compared to last but still sent one child screaming in terror into the street. He may just have to be a Disney character next year. Loved those crispy treats.