The Haunted Kitchen

Cooking Up a Ghostly Good Halloween

2006-09-10T17:15:00Z

We have it on good authority that the best Halloween pantries are stocked with eye of newt, toe of frog, and other hard-to-find ingredients like fillet of fenny snake.

But have no worries ghosts and ghouls, even if you can't find lizard legs in your neck of the woods, you can still cook up a howling Halloween with a few easy tips and tricks.

Want to bake the most popular treats on the block? We'll share devilishly delicious recipes for cupcakes, cookies, caramel apples, and the like. For more enchanting Hallow's Eve fare, look to our posts for spirited cocktails, fiendish feasts, and our favorite pumpkin dishes of the season.

And since this holiday is as much of a feast for the eyes as the palate, we'll also serve up some fun party themes and decorating ideas to entertain both kids and adults.

Because who knows who'll come knocking this Halloween? It could be a darling Cinderella, a brawny Superman, a terrifying Freddy or even an aspiring "Emeril Lagasse."

So get in a wickedly good mood and start celebrating—eggs are better off in frittatas and soufflés than on your front door!

Not-So-Tricky Treats

2006-09-09T15:58:00Z

Whether baking for the family or the whole block, these creative recipes are sure to be the devil's delight.

So get the kids in the kitchen and play like crazy mad scientists or a cackle of trouble-brewing witches. These easy-to-make goodies are best prepared with a wicked imagination.

CEREAL KILLERS
Classic Rice Krispie treats get in the Halloween spirit with the addition of candy corns, chocolate chips, peanut butter and some colorful decorating. Best of all, they require no baking, so they're simple, quick and oh-so-sticky good.

Halloween Crisp Candy Corn Treats Witches Hats Treats

Squashed Frogs Lizards Eyes

Crispy Marshmallow Ghosts Monster Munch

COFFIN CAKES
Some of these cakes are made entirely from scratch, while others look great almost right out of the box. Creamy fillings, fluffy frostings and a bit of fall spice make them all decadently delicious. One word of warning—the Kitty Litter Cake is not for the faint of heart!

Halloween Pumpkin-Shaped Cake Spooktacular Chocolate Cupcakes

Monster Snake Cake Halloween Party Cupcakes

Frosted Chocolate Pumpkin Cake Kitty Litter Cake

CHILLING CONFECTIONS
No live tarantulas were harmed in the preparation of these homemade candies. They're made with sweet ingredients like butterscotch, chocolate and licorice, and they might be too good to share. Hope you've got a good hiding place.

Halloween Spiders Chocolate Spiders

Halloween Haystacks Marshmallow Ghosts

Cobweb Fudge with Chocolate Spiders

CREEPY COOKIES
Show off your baking skills with these extra-ordinary Halloween cookies. They make sweet surprises in lunch boxes and thoughtful gifts for neighbors and co-workers. Just wrap them up in cellophane and finish with orange and black ribbon.

Halloween Cookie Pizza

Zombie Finger Snacks

Skeleton Bones

Halloween Thumbprints

Glowing Jack-O-Lantern Cookies

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

SCARED STIFF GELATINS
A favorite for kids of all ages, these ghoulish deviations will have them giggling all night. And if you love to see them squirm, share a little ghost story about how gelatin is REALLY made.

Eyeball Potion Swamp Slime

Creepy Jigglers Flesh-Toned Brain

Feasting with Fiends

2006-09-08T16:20:00Z

We know Halloween is a time of year when all sorts of friends come out of the woodwork. But fear not—whether you're cocktailing with co-workers, treating the kids, or preparing a special dinner for your "soul" mate, these macabre menus will help you do it up right.

Some of these featured recipes call for fall's most heavenly ingredients, while others play with gruesome presentation and a bit of devilish spice. So go ahead and mix and match to your bloody heart's content. They're all fiercely delicious.

FINGER FOODS
Otherwise known as "horrors d'oeuvres."

Zombie Eyeballs
Jack O Lantern Cheese Ball
Skeleton Bread
Eyeballs on Ritz
Salami Snake
Peanut Butter from Hell
Famous Waer Wolf Dip
Vampire Bread

DEVIL'S REPAST
Be on your guard–some of these spicy dishes are hotter than Hades!

Gates of Hell Chili
Evil Cornbread
Pasta from Hell
Meatballs from Hell
Shrimp in Diablo Sauce
Spatchcocked Deviled Chicken
Southwest Pork Chops with Spicy Pumpkin Sauce

LITTLE DEMON'S DIN-DIN
Kids will delight in these freaky take-offs on their favorite meals.

Halloween Pizza
Peanut Butter and Jelly Filled Spiders
Grilled Ghost and Pumpkin Cheese Sandwiches
Halloween Meatloaf Mice
Gnarled Witches Fingers
Mashed Potato Ghosts
Mooneys Sticky Monster Bones
Green Monster Pudding

BOO-TIFUL BRUNCH
The perfect spread for Halloween weekend (or the dreaded morning after).

Crescents Eggs in Hell
Blackened Hash Brown Potatoes from Hell
Cider Baked Ham
Pumpkin Scones
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Apple-Cinnamon Waffles with Cider Syrup
Apple Cider "Doughnuts" with Maple Glaze

Taffy Apple Tips

2006-09-07T20:20:00Z

Turning out homemade caramel requires a precise candy thermometer and bushels of patience and practice. So in the spirit of Halloween fun, we're going to help you make great caramel apples without a lot of fuss.

First off, there's nothing wrong with using those individually wrapped caramel kits, especially when you're working with a gaggle of young goblins. But to give your apples a more gourmet touch (like the ones that sell for $18 a piece!) we recommend visiting your local baking or candy supply shop for an easy-to-melt caramel loaf.

Peter's (Creamy, Buttery Caramel from Peter's) makes a wonderful, high-quality caramel that even the candy pros swear by. It comes in 1- and 5-lb. loaves and you'll get perfectly smooth results every time.

Next, when it comes to the apples, we prefer crisp, tart, green Granny Smiths. They offer the perfect flavor contrast to the soft, sweet caramel topping. Firm, unbruised McIntosh and Red Delicious apples work well too.

And now for some dipping tips:

Wash and dry your apples thoroughly and completely. Caramel won't adhere to waxy or wet peels.

Prepare a large tray or baking sheet with a foil or wax paper lining. Grease the paper with butter to keep your dipped apples from sticking.

To coat apples with as much caramel as possible, dip each one at an angle and rotate.

Pull each apple vertically straight out of your pan/bowl and let the excess caramel fall. Then turn the apple right-side-up for a few seconds to let the caramel set fully around it. Place the dipped apple stick-side-up on your lined tray.

Let your dipped apples stand until partially set (15 to 30 minutes) and check. If the apples have pools of caramel around them or are covered unevenly, this is your chance to repair them. Lightly dampen your fingers with water and quickly work the caramel into shape over the thin spots.

When it comes to toppings, get devilishly decadent. Try coarsely chopped nuts (pecans, macadamias), Oreo cookies, chocolate bars, toffee and dried fruits like apricots and cranberries. Kids love colorful sprinkles, shredded coconut, mini M&Ms and mini marshmallows too. Check out this creative recipe for Caramel Apple Witches.

For an extra enchanting look, drizzle your dipped apples with melted dark, milk or white chocolate. You could even tint your white chocolate a festive Halloween orange with a mixture of yellow and red food coloring.

P.S. In case you prefer your apples "off the stick," try dipping slices in a delicious caramel dip, or indulge in a taffy apple-y incarnation like Moist Caramel Apple Cake or Praline Taffy Apple Pie.

The Great Pumpkin

2006-09-06T11:47:00Z

Did you know that this sometimes-ginormous gourd is actually a fruit, not a vegetable? It's true–the pumpkin is a member of the Cucurbitacae family that also includes squash, cucumbers and melons. The largest one ever grown is credited to Larry Checkon of North Cambria, Pennsylvania. His "great pumpkin" tipped the scales at 1,469 pounds during the 2005 Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Weighoff.

But beware my Halloween cooks, it's important to know that while giant pumpkins make fantastic jack-o'-lanterns, their stringy, tasteless insides don't make for great eating. So when buying pumpkins at the market, choose those specially grown for cooking and baking. Varieties named "sugar" or "pie" will do the trick.

For more information about buying, storing and preparing pumpkin, click here to see our article in the BigOven Food Dictionary. But if you're ready to dig into this fall harvest treat, we invite you to try a few of our favorite recipes:

Pumpkin Coconut Soup

Cous Cous Salad with Pumpkin, Chorizo and Walnuts

Penne with Pumpkin Sauce

Pumpkin Chili

Chicken Baked with Pumpkin and Peanuts

Herb and Pumpkin Seed Coated Chicken Drumsticks with Chunky Mango Sauce

Lynn's Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Seed Brittle

Libby's Great Pumpkin Cookie

Pumpkin Crunch

Sour Cream Pumpkin Pie

Harvest Moon Pumpkin Pie

Smashing Party Plans

2006-09-05T20:23:00Z

When it comes to throwing a Halloween party, the devil's in the details. But planning gets a lot less complicated (and a lot more fun) if you begin by picking a theme that truly captivates your interest and imagination. After you do that, choosing your invitations, decorations and menu becomes almost eerily easy.

So here are four ideas for party themes to get your beetle juices flowing. Each can be modified to entertain children and/or adults, and all promise to make you the "ghostest with the mostest."

BARNYARD BASH
This kid-friendly party takes the spook out of Halloween by focusing on the flavors and colors of the fall harvest.

Who's invited: Scarecrows, bunnies, bees, cows, ranch hands, farmers (and their daughters).

How to decorate: Turn your backyard into a working farm with bails of hay, stalks of corn, and piles of pumpkins, sunflowers and potted mums.

What to serve: Caramel Apple Witches, Flying Popcorn Balls, Pumpkin Seed Brittle, Halloween Party Pops, Peanut Butter Smores, Apple Orchard Punch.

PIRATE'S BOUNTY
Ahoy, Matey! This Halloween season, pirates are more popular than ever. Get on board with this festive mix of sea-sickening goodies and island fare.

Who's invited: Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann,
Will Turner, Blackbeard and Anne Bonny.

How to decorate: Deck out your party area with skull flags, hanging skeletons, worldly maps, parrot pinatas and sails (painting dropcloths work great). Fill a treasure chest with fake tattoos, eye patches, play jewelry and candy coins and make it your centerpiece.

What to serve: Seaside Snack Mix, Skeleton Crudite, Coconut Shrimp, Chicken, Plantain and Pineapple Skewers, Ruby Apple Salad, Treasure Chest, Ghoul-Ade.

DEAD CELEBRITY'S BALL
This Hollywood affair is all about decadence, extravagance, and a slew of mysterious deaths.

Who's invited: Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, George Reeves and Andy Warhol.

How to decorate: Set the scene with a red carpet entryway and rich, plush table coverings strewn with candelabras, black roses, faux pearls and a few splatters of blood. Find out who's coming, and make a gravestone placecard for each guest.

What to serve: Emeril's Crab Meat Deviled Eggs, Prosciutto di San Daniele with Apple Salad, Gourdian Angel Soup, Red Devil Quail, Light Pumpkin Cheesecakes, Toffee Chili Truffles, Apple Spritzers.

FOOD FEST
Foodies and cooks will delight in this all-night Halloween potluck that's sure to inspire creativity. Ask guests to come dressed as their favorite chefs or foods and bring a related recipe to share.

Who's invited: Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray and Iron Chef Chen Kenichi, plus lobsters, beer cans, Hershey's Kisses and a variety of condiments.

How to decorate: The focus here is truly on the food, so be sure to set a beautiful buffet. Adorn your table with linens, candles, gourds and flowers in fall's favorite colors and make use of serving stands to display your dishes at varying heights.

What to serve: The beauty of this party is that your guests help create the menu. Round out their offerings by having plenty of seasonal gourmet goodies on-hand, including cheese spreads, nut mixes, candied popcorn, apple cider and wine.

Spirited Cocktails

2006-09-05T03:05:00Z

It's easy to entertain the over-21 set with these killer Halloween concoctions. For an extra freakish touch, serve them up in Gothic skull goblets or barware decorated with creepy rubber spider clips. And remember, on this one night of the year, a floating finger is much more appropriate than a swizzle stick.

Of course, when serving the weak of heart (or the neighborhood gourmand) it's quite beguiling to garnish drinks with slices of fresh green apple, sticky sweet caramels or colorful crystalled sugar rimmers. They come in great fall flavors like chocolate, pomegranate, spiced apple and even graham cracker pie crust (perfect for cordials and dessert drinks).

Cheers! Or as they say at the graveyard: "Here's mud in your eye."

LUCIFER'S LIBATIONS

MONSTER MASHES

Screaming Green Lizard

VAMPIRE'S DESIRES

No-Booze Brews

2006-09-04T02:30:00Z

Looking to scare your guests stiff without the added alcohol? These bewitching beverages will please tykes, teetotalers and designated drivers alike. For true Blair flair, mix them up in a black cauldron punch bowl. And don't forget to add a frozen hand ice ring—it'll chill them to the bone.

To make one, fill a new rubber glove (the kind without the powdery coating inside) with water. Add a few drops of food coloring if you want to create a ghoulish hue, and then fasten the open end with a rubber band, twist tie or string. Freeze for four hours until firm.

When ready to serve, use scissors to cut the glove from the mold and place the "cold hand" in your punch bowl. If you happen to break off a finger or two, make no bones about it. It will only add to the grisly effect!

Bloody Eyeballs on the Rocks

Magic Potion with Creepy Crawler Ice Ring

Halloween Punch

Chocolate Witches Brew

Fun and Freakish Facts

2006-09-02T20:21:00Z

DID YOU KNOW...

• Pumpkins have been growing in North America for more than 5,000 years. Aboriginal peoples had been eating them for several centuries before the arrival of the Pilgrims.

• Pumpkins are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin B, potassium, protein, iron and fiber. (Eat up!)

• Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) were a celebrated food of the Native American Indians.

• Around the time of the first Thanksgiving (1621) it was traditional to serve baked pumpkin filled with milk, honey and spices.

• The yellow-orange flowers that bloom on pumpkin vines are edible.

• Pumpkin was once recommended as a cure for freckles and a remedy for snake bites.

• The largest pumpkin pie on record is a 2,020-pounder baked up in 2006 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers of Ohio. They used 900 pounds of pumpkin, 300 pounds of sugar, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs and two pounds of pumpkin pie spice.

• Jack-o'-lanterns originated in Ireland where children used to hollow out turnips and light them with coals or candles. The glowing turnips were placed outside of homes to ward off evil spirits, particularly "Jack," a legendary villain so evil, he was rejected by both God and Satan.

• The Irish Potato Famine (1845-1850) prompted over 700,000 Irish to immigrate to the United States. Since turnips were not as readily available in the U.S. as their homeland, they used pumpkins for their jack-o'-lanterns instead. Today the carved pumpkin is the most popular symbol of the Halloween holiday.

• Halloween pumpkins will keep longer if you coat them inside and out with antiseptic spray.

Hallowed History

2006-09-02T01:42:00Z

On the last night of October, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead becomes blurred. Ghosts return to roam the earth, bringing all sorts of trouble and a dark, long, cold winter....

This was the belief of the ancient Celts, a group of peoples who lived 2,000 years ago in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France. For them, the night of October 31 marked the end of the summer harvest, and the beginning of a time of year associated with low food supply and human death. They commemorated the day with an annual festival called Samhain, a celebration that has evolved into one of the world's oldest holidays: Halloween.

ANCIENT CUSTOMS

During the Samhain celebration, the Druids (Celtic priests) built huge bonfires and the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the deities. The people also wore costumes, usually animal heads and skins, and told each other's fortunes. It was believed that the presence of spirits made it easier to make predictions and prophecies.

Over time, the Celt's Samhain festival was combined with newer traditions brought by the conquering Romans and the influence of Christianity. It is believed a Roman holiday that honored Pomona (the orchard goddess symbolized by the apple) created the custom of bobbing for apples that is still practiced on Halloween today. And later, around 1000 A.D., the church made November 2 All Souls' Day to honor the dead. It was celebrated with bonfires, parades and people dressing up as saints, angels and devils.

This ancient Samhain tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween continued through the ages. Winter remained an uncertain and frightening time for Europeans, and to avoid being recognized by spirits, they often wore masks when leaving their homes after dark.

TRICK OR TREAT

The tradition of trick-or-treating likely evolved from early All Souls' Day celebrations in England when it was common for poor people to beg for food. During the festivities, families would give beggars square pieces of currant bread called "soul cakes" in return for their promises to pray for the families' dead relatives. At that time, it was believed that the dead remained in limbo after death, and that prayer, even by strangers, could expedite a soul's passage to heaven.

The practice, referred to as "going-a-souling," was eventually taken up by neighborhood children who went house to house seeking ale, food and money.

AN ALL-AMERICAN HOLIDAY

As Europeans came to America, the customs of many different ethnic groups meshed to create a distinctly American version of Halloween. In colonial times, neighbors would gather at "play parties" to sing, dance, tell each other's fortunes and share ghost stories.

Later, in the second half of the nineteenth century, a flood of European immigrants helped turn Halloween into a national celebration. Taking on traditions from the English and the Irish, Americans began dressing up in costumes and going from house to house to ask for food and money.

Eventually, parties became the most popular way to celebrate the day. Today, Halloween is America's second largest commercial holiday, with both kids and adults enjoying frightfully festive foods, decorations, costumes and games.