Welcome to the column to go to when you’re a broke, tired college student in a dorm. Today, I wanted to share fantastical food tips that will make whatever Halloween party you’re throwing all the more fun.  

Dry Ice

Dry ice makes your average fruit punch bowl or themed mocktail or cocktail look like it’s a steaming cauldron. It gives whatever you happen to be drinking an aura of magical mystery. For use, keep in mind the following: Do not touch it or swallow. That is what we at ETSU and the East Tennessean like to call a bad idea. While it is nontoxic, and you can put it in drinks, it is for looks only. Actually eating it will cause frostbite. Use tongs when handling and wait until the dry ice dissolves for maximum safety, although sips off the top of your drink can be taken once the ice drops to the bottom.  

Artistic Toppings 

Decoration can take your regular food and make it fit a theme. Simplicity and ease can be often overlooked in this aspect, with many thinking you must make it complex to be good. This is not the case. For example, you can cut puff pastry or canned crescent rolls into strips and wrap hot dogs like mummies. You can add bacon as an inner layer as well. You can make brain cupcakes by simply taking pink frosting and squiggling the brain hemispheres of icing into a round mold before cooling and popping onto the top of a cupcake. The possibilities are endless with food coloring, frosting and cookies as well. This also applies to containers. Make orange or green pudding cups, put them in a clear plastic cup, top with crumbled Oreos and draw a face. Now you have little monsters or jack-o-lanterns for the party.  

Elevate the Fancy Lunchables 

Lunchables that can be utilized as a charcuterie board (Contributed/Medium).

Yes, I’m aware that actual adults call it a charcuterie board. Do I care? No, because that is what it is, and I’m not ashamed to say it. Using meats, cheeses, veggies, dips, etc., you can easily make themed Lunchables for any amount of people. You can theme them by colors, like the seasonal black, white, green, orange and purple. You can make the food look like a zombie hand is coming out of the board. Blood and guts presentation? Yes, please. Skeleton shaped? Definitely an option. Presentation does a lot, and a fancy one of these is sure to get the attention of whoever is over.  

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