I’ve long believed that Halloween is more than just an excuse to dress up and ask strangers for candy. It’s actually the new official start of what we like to call “The Holidays.”

So, I thought now might be a good time to offer some suggestions for Halloween-themed parties that are spooky, even if you’re not celebrating with others.

The former is an old favorite, one that will feed a crowd and help cool off these nicely cooler evening temperatures. It’s a scaled-down version of my award-winning chili that has served me well over the years.