This year’s spread was a mix of creepy, clever and downright delicious. My Monster Feet Meatloaf stomped its way to the top of the table. Tender, savory and covered in just enough “bloody” sauce to make guests grin and squirm. The Mummy Dogs came next, wrapped in golden layers of crescent dough with those wide candy eyes peeking through, looking both adorable and slightly worried about their fate.

Then came the sweets. My favorite kind of chaos. Monster Donuts, glazed and wild with neon icing, stared back with candy eyes and open mouths. Jack-O’-Lantern Oranges and Boo-Nanas brought some healthy fun to the mix, each one hand-drawn with goofy, ghostly faces. And because every spooky party needs a little elegance, the Caprese Eye Salads made an appearance — mozzarella “eyeballs” resting on basil and tomato, staring straight into your soul (and your appetite).

Somewhere between sweet and savory sits the Pumpkin Cheese Ball, a creamy blend of bacon, cheddar, and cream cheese sculpted into the perfect pumpkin shape. No actual pumpkin needed. And for dessert, the Pudding Graveyard finished the night off right, with cookie headstones, gummy worms and just enough chocolate crumble to make it look deliciously haunted.

Cooking for Halloween reminds me why I love food, because it doesn’t have to be serious to mean something. These aren’t gourmet masterpieces. They’re edible joy. They get people talking, laughing and remembering that food has a way of connecting us, even when it’s covered in fake ketchup blood and candy eyeballs.

Because a meal that makes people laugh is already a recipe for connection.