A Devilishly Good Halloween Party!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Casillero del Diablo Wines. All opinions are 100% mine.

This one is for all of the grown-ups out there who enjoy a little Halloween fun as much as the kids do. I'm partnering with Casillero del Diablo Wines, the single most distributed wine brand in the world (and sold in over 146 countries), to bring you ideas for throwing A Devilishly Good Halloween Party. Once the front porch lights are extinguished and the trick-or-treaters have dumped out and sorted all of their goodies, it's your turn.

This party starts with a century-old legend. The Legend of Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, the founder of the Concha y Toro winery in Chile, built a wine cellar (or "casillero") for storing his very best wines. One day he noticed that his wines were disappearing from his cellar. He suspected a thief, and in order to protect his wines, he started a rumor in the community that his casillero was haunted by the devil himself! The rumor spread through the town, and his cellar became known as the casillero del diablo—or the devil's cellar! His plan worked, and his wines were never stolen again.

Fruity Popsicles in Moscato

Aaaaah, the lazy days of summer. What are those!? I vaguely recall, but can't remember the last time I had any. Sadly, I think it's a bygone term in the rushed, plugged-in world of today. Since lazy days are rare, I try to recognize and embrace the lazy moments instead; celebrate down-time!

I don't live extremely far from my mom, brother, and two sisters, but I do live far enough that we don't see each other often enough. One or two of the "big" holidays each year, and then once or twice beyond those, if we're lucky. Needless to say, when we do finally get together, we try to make the most of it. We don't meet up at theme parks or campgrounds, we chill out at home, sit around and talk, and maybe hit up the market so we can make and enjoy some food together. If the mood strikes, we may hang out at a nearby beach or park. We're a fairly laid-back bunch when it comes down to it.

Champagne Punch

Over the  years, we've picked up a few different traditions for New Year's.  I don't usually go out on New Year's eve... mainly because I don't like to brave "the crazies".  That probably  means that I'm getting old.  But really, I just love being home surrounded by my family, waiting to watch New Year's Rockin' Eve.

A couple of years ago, we started "the grape tradition".  Have you heard of it?  Each person gets 12 grapes.  When the clock starts to strike 12, you have to start gobbling your grapes.  You need to (at least partially) chew each grape and be done with all of them by the time the final stroke rings out.  It's not as easy as it sounds.  A mixture of giggling and gagging never ceases to ensue.  Especially from my daughter of the extreme-gag-reflex.  But of course, she may be the biggest fan of the tradition!  Each grape signifies a month (in order)... so, if your grapes are particularly sweet or sour, you should watch for particularly good or rocky months (the month corresponds with the number of the grape, as in the first grape you eat = January, etc...).

And then there is New Year's day.  I almost always cook some variation on Hoppin' John.  Since the black-eyed peas and the greens represent good fortune in the new year (coins and dollars), I wouldn't want to invite disaster by not making it... making them.  This year I'm going for a casserole-style variation.  Watch for it in the new year!