Halloween fans and veggie-phobic tots will love these spooky sides

Halloween planning doesn’t have to mean another wave of candy. A home cook argues that, after years of Halloween treats and a few kitchen missteps, spooky sides can replace some of the sugar overload. The piece highlights a “Skull Caprese Salad” as essentially foolproof, using only cheese, tomatoes, balsamic, olive oil, salt, pepper and basil, plus silicone skull molds. For something more challenging, it points to “Roasted Golden Beets with Balsamic Glaze” by Mary-Catherine Mellon, aka “Monster Stewart,” noting beets were harder to execute than pumpkin carving. Context: lowering sweets intake while keeping the holiday look can help party menus feel fresher.