Halloween At Home

No one could have foreseen COVID hitting the U.S. in the way that it has or for as long. The holidays are coming and many of us are still not in a place where the usual parties or social activities are an option given the need for masks and social distancing. On the bright side, masks are already a big part of Halloween costumes!

So this year, we are staying home and opting for a more low-key but still very fun holiday. Here’s the plan:

Halloween Movie Marathon

We are pulling out all of the old favorites from when we were kids and watching them with Pillsbury ready-bake cookies. Those sugar cookies are a staple for the holidays in our family! Seeing them at the store puts us on notice of the good things to come for the holiday season. I shared our favorite Halloween movies here on the blog earlier this week as well so that you can grab your favorite snacks and binge the classics to get you in the spirit.

Virtual Costume Party

During our time at home, we have had so much fun connecting with friends. It has been different to say the least, but we have been able to spend more face time with friends that we might not have otherwise seen. With busy social schedules and activities for everyone, it can be tough to make time for multiple families or friends that are further apart. Now, with less travel and activities taking up time on the calendar, we have been able to do group face calls! Happy hours or coffee chats with friends on the other side of the country have been a fun new way to connect with one another and now with Halloween we can do the same. This year, throw together a little costume party for friends via Facebook Messenger calls and spend time talking and catching up like we would have in person for the holiday.

Pumpkin Carving and Seed Baking

Simple, classic Halloween magic. Carving a pumpkin has been one of my favorite Halloween traditions since I was a kid and I still love it to this day. It helps that the seeds also bake up nicely into a very yummy snack!

Here’s my recipe for the best baked pumpkin seeds:

1. Rinse pumpkin seeds in a strainer and then let them sit on a baking sheet overnight to allow them to dry.
2. After letting them dry overnight, when you are ready to bake your seeds preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
3. While your oven preheats, toss your seeds in a olive oil and your favorite seasonings. I like to use garlic and sea salt for mine.
4. Spray cooking sheet (best if it has a rim) and spread seeds evenly across it. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until browned. Make sure you give them a swirl around on the pan about halfway through!
5. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!