Kraken Rising Pie
Sometimes I look back at my Halloween recipes with an immeasurable sense of pride . This Kraken Pie is one of them. It was so effectively creepy and delicious that I almost wanted to make this often, out of Halloween season too.
Click here for Kraken Pie recipe
Bug Coleslaw
If you're looking for a healthy Halloween salad then this Bug Coleslaw is just what you need. It's slightly ironic that I made this bug coleslaw as I'm inveterately scared of bugs. The only kinds that I don't mind are those tiny spiders that are known as money or luck spiders and ladybugs. This isn't quite as scary, the black sesame seeds perhaps resemble more ants than actual bugs but I wanted a salad or healthy option to serve (and if you have kids, ghoulifying anything might make it instantly more appealing).
Click here for Bug Coleslaw recipe
Body Part Dumplings
I saw this Halloween recipe idea all over Pinterest and I thought that it was brilliant because a) they look grotesque and b) it was a great savoury food option and c) everyone loves dumplings. There's always plenty of sweets at Halloween but often not enough savoury ideas. I actually used my mum's wonton recipe for these but I've given simple instructions for using bought dumplings too as you can certainly use those to great effect. If people complain that they're not home made, you can just say that these were the body parts of the last guests that complained ;)
Click here for body parts dumplings recipe
Bloody Mary Ribs
Halloween food can be as delicious as it is scary. These Halloween Bloody Mary ribs are a case in point. They're made with a delicious mixture of tomato, garlic, vodka, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco just like the cocktail!
Click here for Bloody Mary Ribs recipe
Slime Dip With Pus AKA Frijokes Negros
This Halloween dip recipe actually has its roots with Cuban and Mexican Frijoles Negros or black beans. The recipe for Frijoles Negros or black turtle bean dip comes from an e-book called Food For The Dead by Sean Callinan (a colleague of Mr NQN's). It didn't specify whether the beans were dried or tinned but the cooking time indicated that they were dried.
Click here for Frijoles Negros recipe
Sadistic Dentist Sangria
I love how easy it is to make things look Halloweeny. Anything dark and mysterious lends itself to the holiday and this Halloween sangria is no exception. The next time I'm going to visit my dentist I'll think of this Sadistic Dentist Sangria. Oh hang on, that will probably make it worse. This sangria looks a little like blood especially when you have teeth floating in it. I was originally going to use those fabulous tooth lollies from childhood. It turns out that they're not easy to buy anymore but you can find them in a mix pack of "retro lollies." And that just makes me feel old. Then the teeth lollies sunk to the bottom so I went with plan B, carving them out of apples using a small paring knife. This is a really easy three ingredient sangria that is full of flavour.
Click here for Sadistic Dentist Sangria recipe
Spider Cookies
Halloween is a great time to start confronting your phobias because a lot of Halloween motifs are probably people's natural phobias (snakes, spiders, cats). Isn't it funny how everyone has their phobias. For me, I can't even look at a snake while for others it's rats or spiders. So you don't see many snake items here on the blog but I'm quite okay with spiders unless they're large and hairy. And that's why I made these Spider Cookies for Halloween.
Click here for Spider Cookie recipe
Witch's Hat Ice Cream Cones
Transform plain ice cream cones into the most delicious chocolate dipped witch's hats this Halloween! I fill them with a delicious red velvet (aka bloody looking) ice cream and I promise that these will cast a spell over all of your guests.
Click here for Witch's Hat Ice Cream Cones recipe
How To Construct A Halloween "SURPRISE!" Table:
I know that I seem over the top but even I would hesitate to cut through my actual table. So if you have one of those extendable tables, you can make it a "surprise" table by unscrewing the hinges leaving the centre section open. Then get some sturdy ply board and tape securely to the table and each other making sure to leave the space for your head. The other part of this is the cloche and you'll need one big enough for your head and of course someone to "assist" you with enacting the whole scenario. It's worth it for the reaction I promise (although as I mentioned not worth cutting a square into your table ;)).
One by one, the guests filed in. Some made a dramatic entrance such as Mr NQN's sister Amaya who knocked on the door as the wolf from Red Riding Hood. Amaya who is actually pregnant reclined on the lounge dramatically declaring herself full from eating.
Shortly after came Tuulikki as Little Red Riding Hood. I was under the table at this point and dying to know what was happening because everyone was giggling.
Then came thunderous banging as Laporello beat on the door so hard that I could feel it from my hideout under the table. I had no idea that it was him and I actually thought that it was a neighbour annoyed by our party noise.
Dramatically Laporello ran in wielding an axe. He was the axe man saving Little Red Riding Hood from the wolf. Little did I know this and all I heard was lots of laughter and rounds of applause which made staying under the table difficult. I'm a meerkat and I definitely like to poke my head about and see what's going on.
Of course guests had to have their photo taken and there was nowhere better than in the kissing booth! Alas our kisser has seen better days but it didn't stop anyone from smooching with Fred the Dead! Here was our first guest Tania as a vampire complete with bloody fangs.
The Girl Next Door came as a belly dancer-don't worry she is fully qualified to do this having done years of lessons.
Teena and Annabel arrived as a hungry vampire and a pumpkin. Annabel it must be noted didn't flinch whatsoever when I jumped out from under the table. I think I'm known as the crazy auntie who goes nuts once a year.
Here's Louise as a witch - we didn't get her legs in the photo but she had red and white striped stockings and shoes just like in the Wizard of Oz.
Viggo was an elaborately dressed vampire who managed to be intelligible even with fangs.
Carl and Charlie came as Elvis and Kitty Cat. They seemed to take a real liking to Fred the Dead.
And of course Amaya, Laporello and Tuulikki as the trio that stole the show with their act. It did occur to me while planning "the surprise" that if I scared Amaya too much, she might go into labour. She didn't! Phew...
I know it makes me sound a little intense but I have been known to utter the phrase "Commit to the costume!" several times. I always appreciate a good costume and Miss America and Queen Viv always put a lot of thought into their Halloween outfits.
Queen Viv is an excellent seamstress whipping up her Voodoo Priestess dress freehand but my favourite part were the chicken bones. Yes they were real dried and painted chicken bones! In fact Miss America's jacket is "four roast's worth!" according to two of my favourite co-conspirators who ate a lot of chicken in the pursuit of these bones.
Julie arrived as a heart eating zombie. Hopefully she enjoyed the heart cupcakes!
While Elly arrived as the Queen of Hearts and found herself a new boyfriend.
People mingled and ate and of course I did forget something-I forgot to put out plates. Oops!Thankfully Voodoo Priestess Queen Viv conjured some up.
Carl gave us his wonderful Elvis and Frank Sinatra version of "My Way" giving us some of the evening's musical entertainment.
And then it was game time! One game that we like to play is the winking murder game. One person draws a slip of paper that says that they are the murderer. Over the course of the evening, they then have to wink at people and the winkee has two minutes to find a place in which to dramatically die.
Prizes would be awarded for the most dramatic death, the last person standing and the murderer if they managed to escape capture. Which gave rise to some very dramatic deaths like Laporello's electrocution death and Charlie's fit. And you would not believe who was the murderer...
Mr NQN's mum Tuulikki! Alas Tuulikki decided that she would kill everyone in about twenty minutes. She would not so subtly walk around to people, catch their eye and then wink at them. No matter how much we tried to explain that the murderer has to remain anonymous she followed people like Viggo doggedly pursuing them trying to stare into their eyes.
She was unaware that we were all watching her and oblivious to all of the good natured laughter. I didn't want to meet her eyes but she cunningly took a photo of her winking and put it on her phone and said that she wanted to show me something...The last one standing was Tania who covered her face with her bat winged sleeves. The winking game was followed by a game of scary themed charades (where even the tax office rated a mention) and the last of the visitors flew off on their broomsticks at 1:30am...
As a loquacious ventriloquist dummy, I'd like to thank you for being such delightful guests and coming with me on my tour of the gothic mansion!
Love and creepy chills,
Lorraine,
xxx
So tell me Dear Reader, will you be celebrating Halloween this year? Have you ever trick or treated? And what time is your witching hour (or the time that you usually stay at parties until).