A Little Practical Magic for My Granddaughter’s Halloween

My four year old granddaughter is going to be a witch for Halloween, and I’m going to try to show up for her as a witch. I have a long navy slip dress and a cardigan, with a witch’s hat on order. Hopefully the hat arrives in time. I’m thinking a little Practical Magic.

We’ll go trick or treating with her and her parents and other grandparents, then come home so she can hand out candy at the door. We decorated the front porch with her plans in mind.

After years of doing very little Halloween decorating, I’ve wanted to bring some of it back, both for her and for myself. A few pumpkins, bats and ravens are enough to make it feel festive.

We’ll have about fifteen people at the house, and I’m keeping the entertaining simple with Persian food from Bahar’s in Orange County. My life partner is making the drive to pick it up. It’s an hour each way, but he loves going because he’ll shop at the market below and get some of his favorites that remind him of where he comes from. We’ll serve it family style, with chicken fesenjan, kebabs, rice, salad, mast o musir and sabzi paneer. I’m making our favorite caramelized onion dip to serve with chips and preparing a fresh vegetable platter to start.

There will be Little Witch’s Orchard Punch, apple cider with pear, orange and cinnamon, in the pumpkin drink dispenser for my granddaughter, along with pear vodka spritzes and sparkling mocktails for the grownups.

I’m really enjoying mocktails these days. I don’t like things super sweet, so for me it’s more sparkling water than nectar, reductions or syrups. I love the art of crafting them.

Dessert was decided by what I thought my granddaughter would enjoy: a fruit dipping station with homemade salted caramel and chocolate fondue, apples, pears, strawberries, pretzels and toppings. I’m also trying a carajillo with orange infused whipped cream, a little test batch for Thanksgiving entertaining.

There is plenty to do, and having dinner catered will help. Halloween is serious business. It’s about the trick or treating. The food, the conversations and the time together are all secondary when you’re living the holiday through a four year old. I intend to be ready when our little witch is ready to go.