©2006 review by Fiona Broome and the Hollow Hill Staff
If you can only buy one book about Halloween decorating and entertaining, consider
Halloween : The Best of Martha Stewart Living
.
For years, it was the only Halloween book that I used for decorating, and it includes so many
great projects, I still haven't made every decoration
or recipe that I'd like to.
Like another favorite, Country Living: Pumpkin Chic,
Martha Stewart's Halloween book features upscale decorating, costume and entertaining ideas, as well as
delicious and unusual recipes.
In most cases, the projects (and necessary supplies to make them) are presented in overview. For example,
if you want to carve some of Stewart's most ornate pumpkins, you'll probably want to read
Extreme Pumpkin Carving.
But, her many other Halloween projects offer illustrated step-by-step directions. And, I use this book to get ideas
that I'll modify and create with materials that I have on hand.
The masks & face painting chapter is well illustrated and features a wide range of designs, from a convincing
skeleton to Martha herself as the "black widow." Her fern and leaf masks are charming, and the feathered masks
are ideal for a period costume.
Her "haunting a house" chapter reveals some inexpensive, clever and easy ways to create memorable Halloween
decorations for your home.
One of the best chapters is about "crafty parties," which will especially dazzle children
around ages five through seven. If you follow the suggestions in this chapter, you're guaranteed success.
The Halloween recipe section is exactly what you'd expect from Martha Stewart. From classics like Caramel Apples to
holiday delights such as Devil's Salsa and Decomposed Salad, your family and guests will be
dazzled by these menus. And, recipes such as Maple Walnut Oatmeal Cookies and Cinnamon Clove Apple Butter can be
enjoyed at any time of year.
This remains one of my favorite books, and--if I could keep only one book from my
Halloween entertaining collection--this would be it.
