By Jenny Harper news@theheraldnewspapers.com It’s true — the kitchen is the heart of the home. Ever notice how people always gather there? Whether baking treats, fixing dinner or spending time with family and friends, the kitchen is my favorite place to be.

Since my day job is Senior Culinary Specialist for the Nestlé Test Kitchens, you can bet I love to stir things up. This space lets me pass along to you some of my best recipes, tips and baking secrets. With a chill in the air, it’s the time of year when hobgoblins haunt the neighborhood, begging for treats! This year, make it a ghostly gathering by hosting a Halloween party and calling all witches, warlocks and skeletons together for some spooky fun.

Have a hoot with your crowd by including kids of all ages to share in the fun — costumes strongly encouraged! Ask the kids to scare up some spooky music or soundtracks to set a ghostly mood. To make sure your goblins will be gobblin’ (sorry, I couldn’t resist!), conjure up fixings for the best party ever. Plan a menu of devilishly fun foods — your best pot of chili, plenty of snacks and some great autumn goodies from your kitchen. Bring a cheerful jack-o’-lantern indoors by baking up this Big Pumpkin Cookie ahead of time. Cookie dough is appropriately shaped into a visitor from the pumpkin patch.

Have some of the neighborhood teens help you bake this monster-sized cookie, or perhaps kids can each make their own to prepare for your party. Divide your ghostly guests into teams and have them decorate the cookies into jack-o’-lanterns.

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