Serious Halloweenies are gearing up for the festive season. And if this is the year you've decided to host the big neighborhood party for both young and old, you'll love these ghoulish recipes and decorating ideas.

With a bit of creativity and an ounce of work, your party won't fail. For the little monsters, start your spooky season right with Wicked-Witch pudding cups or cookie cutter cheese bites. After a long night of ghostly celebrations, mix up a spooky cocktail for the big ghouls.

It's almost frightening how easy these treats and decorating ideas can be.

GOURMET PRETZEL RODS

8 gourmet pretzel rods ($3 each at Mom's Originals; Momsoriginals.com or call 314-616-6667)

One oversized wine goblet ($5.99 at HomeGoods)

WICKED-WITCH PUDDING CUPS

Yield • 4 cups

1 package of black licorice twists

Black permanent marker

Scissors

4 vanilla flavored pudding snacks (at room temperature)

Red and yellow food coloring

Four 3-inch round chocolate cookies

20 pieces of candy corn

4 chocolate sugar cones

Chocolate decorating icing

1. Using a marker, draw the witch's eyes, nose and mouth on each pudding cup.

2. Remove the lids from the pudding snacks and mix four drops of red and four drops of yellow food coloring. Color will turn orange.

3. Cut four pieces of licorice lengthwise and then cut them into 3-inch strands (for witch's hair).

4. Place three, 3-inch licorice pieces around the edge of each cup to form the witch's hair. Place a cookie on top.

5. Squeeze a light coat of decorating icing on top of each cookie. Place five pieces of candy corn on top of icing.

6. Cut two pieces of licorice lengthwise and tie each into a bow around the top of the sugar cone. Turn cone upside down and place on top of candy corn.

Adapted from Parenting magazine, October 2010

DARK AND SPOOKY COCKTAIL

Yield • 1 drink

Decorating sugar for the rim of the glass ($3.99 for a 8.5-ounce jar at HomeGoods)

Juice of 1 lime, plus 1 lime wedge

Ice

1/4 cup dark rum

1/4 cup ginger ale

Small plastic spider ($1 a bag at most dollar stores)

1. Spread out the decorating sugar on a small plate. Rub the lime wedge around the rim of a martini glass; dip the glass in the sugar. Then fill with ice.

2. Combine the rum and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice and shake well. Carefully strain into the glass, minding the sugar on the rim.

3. Top the drink with ginger ale and add the plastic spider on the rim of the glass.

Adapted from Claire Robinson for Food Network Magazine

GHOULS GONE WILD

3 large paper wedding bells ($2.99 for two at Michaels)

2 small paper wedding bells ($1.49 for two at Michaels)

1 piece of black construction paper

2 yards of tulle ($1.54 at Hobby Lobby)

Glue Dots

Scissors

1. Cut out ovals for eyes and mouth from construction paper.

2. Using Glue Dots, attach construction paper to wedding bells.

3. Cut pieces of tulle to fit over ghosts, then drape them over each one.

Adapted from Country Living magazine

FLASHLIGHT FAVORS

Orange flashlights ($1 each at Deals)

Orange bucket with black ribbon ($14.99 at Hobby Lobby)

Black decorative gift filler ($2.99 at Hobby Lobby)

Orange cardstock (69 cents at Michaels)

Martha Stewart spider stickers ($2.79 at Michaels)

Martha Stewart glitter letters ($2.79 at Michaels)

Black ribbon (33 cents at Michaels)

1. To make tags, cut a square out of the cardstock, then snip the corners off. Then place one spider sticker on each tag. Next, use the letters to spell out "take one" or "for you." Use a hole punch to create a hole at the top. Thread ribbon through hole and tie to flashlight.

2. Empty gift filler into bucket. Place flashlights on top.

PUMPKIN ICE BUCKET

1 large pumpkin. We got this one from Eckert's ($40 and up), 951 South Green Mount Road, Belleville

1 large clear bowl

Sharp knife

1. Using a very sharp knife, cut top off pumpkin.

2. Scoop out all insides of pumpkin.

3. Place bowl inside. Fill bowl with ice. Then add your drinks.

HALLOWEEN CHEESE CUTOUTS

Sliced cheddar cheese

Sliced black olives, optional

Halloween cookie cutters ($6.99 for six shapes at HomeGoods)

Black plastic skeleton platter ($1 at Deals)

Crackers

1. Press cookie cutter into cheese. Lift and place cheese shape on a decorative platter. Serve with crackers.

Optional: Add eyes, nose and mouth to the cheese shapes with black olives.

MORE DECORATING TIPS

If you love decorating for Halloween but don't want to bust your wallet, try these easy solutions:

• Line your sidewalk or front porch with small- to medium-sized jack-o'-lanterns and place a black felt mask ($1 each, at most dollar stores) around the pumpkin.

• Make your own centerpiece with broken branches and spider webs ($1 a bag at most dollar stores and Walgreens stores).

• Replace your decorative candles with black candles.

• Put plastic skulls and spiders ($1 at most dollar stores) on tabletops and staircases.

• Hang spiderwebs from your lighting fixtures.

• Use plastic ring spiders for napkin rings.