It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, Halloween is by far (there’s not even a close second) my favorite holiday. I love costume parties! I really enjoy taking my kids out trick-or-treating. I am a huge fan of candy; Reese’s peanut butter cups and Reese’s Pieces are my all-time faves. I like the colors, the smells, pumpkin everything, and the crisp clean feel to the autumn air. However, I realize a sad truth that not everyone fancies Halloween as much as I do.

Are you one of those Halloween curmudgeons? You know, the person who refuses to dress up, turns off the lights to your porch on Halloween night and generally just has a bad attitude towards the holiday? Do you find the whole holiday silly or annoying or perhaps even a bit too dark for your tastes? Well if you do then I say “Boo!” to you dear madam or sir. It’s time for us to scare up a little love for All Hallows Eve.

Here are 7 ways to take the “Humbug” out of your Halloween.

#1 – Dress up. Even if it’s simple. No need to go buy a costume or get extravagant. Blacken out some teeth, put on a witch’s hat, put on a mullet wig, or even wear a lame t-shirt with the statement “This IS My Costume.” I promise you will enjoy Halloween so much more if you do. Release that inner child! I dress up every single year. I sometimes have several different costumes for each Halloween season, none of them too pricey or complicated. The best one I have done was my Wolverine costume from 4 years ago. Not because I pulled it off too great, (note lack of rippling muscles) but because dressing up like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine paid HUGE dividends as far as my wife was concerned. Check out Storm’s smile there. Best part? Wolverine got to take her home that night 😉

#2 – Enter that annual Halloween Chili Cook Off. You want a simple and proven winner of a recipe? Well here you go. I know several people who have entered this Chili submission into their annual cook-off and have won. Myself included. Yes, I can cook… and yes I took home a prize with this delicious white bean chili. Become a Halloween Hero with this sure-fire judge favorite.

Dan’s (nearly) Guaranteed Winner Creamy White Chili

1lb Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut in 1/2″ cubes

1 medium onion, chopped

1 and 1/2 tsp garlic powder (or use fresh garlic)

1 Tbs Vegetable Oil

2 cans- 15.5 oz- (I use more) great northern beans, rinsed and drained

1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth (or bullion)

1 or 2 cans (4oz) chopped green chili

1 tsp salt

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp pepper

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 Cup sour cream

1/2 cup whipping cream

*Heat oil in large saucepan. Saute chicken, onion, and garlic in oil until chicken in no longer pink. Add beans, broth, chile, and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in sour cream and whipping cream. Serve asap. I also recommend substituting Tony Chachere’s Cajun seasoning in place of salt. I have a budding addiction for that spice…

Don't be a Halloween Humbug (he: Dan)

Ingredients

1 T vegetable oil
1 lb boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts cut in 1/2" cubes
1 medium onion chopped
1 and 1/2 tsp garlic powder or use fresh garlic
2 cans 15.5 oz great northern beans, rinsed and drained
1 can 14.5 oz chicken broth (or bullion)
1 or 2 cans 4oz chopped green chile
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 C sour cream
1/2 C whipping cream

Instructions

Heat oil in large saucepan.
Saute chicken, onion, and garlic in oil until chicken is no longer pink.
Add beans, broth, chile, and seasonings.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in sour cream and whipping cream.
Serve asap.

Recipe Notes

I also recommend substituting Tony Chachere's Cajun seasoning in place of salt.

Oh and and Halloween chili is best served with Witch Fingers (bread-sticks). See the ones my wife made.

#3 – If you don’t have a neighborhood conducive to Trick or Treating, then have your church or neighborhood or extended family put together a Trunk or Treat. Simply put, have kiddies go from car to car in a parking lot and have them trick or treat to each vehicle. We have had this several years running at our church parking lot and it is a very popular event for the entire neighborhood. People really go to great lengths to decorate their cars, play spooky music and just enjoy the children costume parade. I like it because the kids get a haul of candy, have just as much fun as trick or treating, and are in no danger of wandering the darkened streets going from house to house. Pure holiday fun.

#4 – Find a place that will put on a murder mystery / costume party at your home. My wife and I recently attended one of these kind of events and had a blast! Here is the Facebook page for the one that was done for us. It was loads of fun and very well put on. This one was a Disney themed murder mystery and we were assigned the characters of Alice (wonderland) and Mad Hatter.

#5 – Find a pumpkin patch, haunted house, or a corn-maze. We have a couple of awesome places around here for those kind of events. Zoos and museums often also host Halloween themed attractions. Also, many cities sponsor pumpkin-walks to display local Jack-o-lantern carvings. Check your local city or county for information. Some of the entries are unbelievable! Here was an attempt I made a few years back:

#6 – You don’t have to watch a soul scaring movie to get spooked. Try one of these classics and get the hee-bee-gee-bies without fear of wetting yourself.

IT (you’re on you own with this one – I recommend wearing Depends if you hate clowns) –

What Lies Beneath

Harry Potter (duh)

Curious George Boo Fest

Young Frankenstein

Ghostbusters

House of Wax (Vincent Price)

Nightmare before Christmas (I actually really can’t stand this movie but many people will hate me for saying so)

#7 – Have your kids trick-or-treat at your local nursing home. Most of them host these kind of events. We have done it with our kids and really enjoyed it.

Halloween is a holiday that can be a really great way to have a load of fun. So to any of you Halloween Scrooges out there I say let the Ghosts of Halloween Present show you a round of good times and happy potential memories. You won’t be disappointed by giving into the fun this holiday has to offer. I guarantee it!