I like to keep my party guests well fed; I have the Jewish mother gene, what can I say.  My Halloween party spread tends to be more casual and buffet-style than sit down, but I like to provide one hearty main course amid the finger foods to keep my guests satisfied.

Last year I made this fantastic turkey pumpkin chili from SeriousEats.  This is a meal I make regularly because it is so easy and so tasty.  The pumpkin in the recipe ties it nicely into the Halloween theme.  Also if you are looking for something a little healthier this is a great way to do it, comfort food without the guilt! I have some friends who are gluten and dairy free also, and this ensures that everyone can eat the main dish (sorry, vegetarians, there is only so much I can do!)

If you want to stick with the pumpkin theme for your main you cannot do much better than this gorgeous pumpkin soup, served inside a Cinderella pumpkin.  It is one of the featured recipes in Bon Appetit this month.  We’ve decided not to do soup for our main this year, but this would be a fantastic centerpiece to an autumnal dinner party.

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