According to the calendar, October marks the beginning of autumn, which means the cooler weather is right around the corner…really I promise. Even though we love summer…ah the boating, swimming, pool parties and beachy weather, but what is not to love about the fall…the underappreciated season. The weather is cooler but yet not cold…it’s wonderful to sit outside and enjoy a morning sipping coffee watching the sun come up an the air has the right bit of nip in it…you sip you coffee and smile, then you realize summer is over and the Holiday season is right around the corner.
And the first holiday to kick off the season…Halloween. As a child I loved Halloween. My mother made the best costumes. One year she drew the Queen of hearts on cardboard and I went as the Queen of hearts, another she made the best angle costume (I know, so not like me) the kids kept stepping on the costume so by the end of the night I ended up as the mad scientist (more my style!). I forgot this one, but my mother told me about one year she dressed me as a bunny, by using my pink jammies, making a tail by gluing cotton balls together and on the backside of my jimmies, using coat hangers covered in pink felt to make the ears and drew whiskers on my cheeks. Well, I guess that is enough of me humiliating myself...you may stop laughing.
You know if there is one thing that signifies Halloween, its Candy and Carmel Apples and I do miss is making candied apples with my mom. I still have a scar on my foot from making candied apples one year. I got all excited because the candy was ready to dip the apples and in all my excitement I ran smack into the backside of my mother …yep, you guessed it, hot candy down our legs. Now, I would much rather throw a chilling dinner party. Start the evening with Bloody Mary Martinis, paired with roasted garlic pate, served with a peppery crostini and drizzled with a great olive oil, continue a big bowl of Bermuda (Witches) Seafood Stew, and some killer popcorn that is topped with parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt and a t ourch of hot crush red peppers…yeah, that sounds good and that is what I will be serving Halloween night; with a classic movie like “Carrie”…really what could be better…. Now that is more my Halloween.
Keep the vampires away Roasted Garlic Crostini's
Take 8 bulbs of garlic and cut a bit off of the top to expose the top of the garlic bulbs
sprinkle with saltand pepper then drizzle olive oil all over, now wrap losely in foil and bake for 30-35 minutes at 350. Check for tenderness by inserting a knife, if it inserts easly, then it is done, be carefull not to overcook or th garlic will turn bitter. Once done remoce and allow to cool, once cooled squeeze the falic out and mash a bit in a bowl with a tsp more olive oil, spread on top of homemade or store bought crostinis.
Bloody Mary Martini
2 oz vodka
4 oz tomato juice (or clamato)
1 tsp horseradish
Cracked black pepper
Whatsthisheresauce sauce
Celery salt – around the rim of the glass...
Fill the shaker with crushed ice, pour the vodka and tomato juice, horseradish, pepper, w-sauce and shake, shake, shake…like you just don’t care Take martini glass the rub a lemon on the rim, now dip into celery salt and shake off excess, pour Bloody Mary mix in a really big martini glass, garnish with a celery stick or gourmet it up and garnish with a nice plump poached shrimp that has been marinating in one of Bermuda Pepper Jams famous pepper
Warm Spiced Wine
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
spiral peel of lemon
18 whole cloves
2 750 ml red dinner wine
2 cinnamon sticks
Dissolve sugar in water in large saucepan. Add slices of lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon. Boil (toil and trouble) 15 minutes; then strain out peel and spices. Add wine and heat gently. Do not boil. Serve in stemmed mug. (Makes 20 servings).
Something to dine on...
Bermuda (Witches) Seafood Stew
1 large onion, rough chopped
3 stalks of celery, rough chopped
1 24 oz can of whole tomatoes (drained, but save juice from can)
1 package of turkey kielbasa sausage (reserve half or later use)
3 cloves of garlic, peeled
2 tbsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Place the above items in a food processor and pulse until somewhat smooth, you do not want big chunks. Place mixture in a deep large skillet or Dutch oven, cook mixture over med high heat and cook for about 10 – 12 minutes, and now add the reserved tomato juice
1 Cup White Wine
1 ½ C Fish Stock
2 lbs of calico clams (frozen works you can get at Miles)
1 lb of mussels (frozen works …yep at Miles)
1 lb of cleaned shrimp
1 lb firm white fish (we used a local Bermuda trigger fish)
Rockfish or halibut will do
Dice the reserved Sausage
Add the wine and fish stock, cook for another 12 minutes over med to high heat, now add the clams and mussels, after about 7 minutes check to see of they are open, if so, now add the fish, just place in and place lid on for another 5 minutes, add Shrimp and sausage, place lid back on for an estimated 7/8 minutes, if shrimp are done you are good to go. Serve with a big crusty hunk of Garlic Bread. What even better is making the day before and re-heating the flavors intensify over night!
DID YOU KNOW?
Halloween is the oldest celebrations of the world dating back over 2000 years. The Celts celebrated their New Year on November 1; this day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the start of the “season of darkness and cold” this time of year was often associated with human death.
It was believed that the night before the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead were at the weakest point and the spirits were most likely to be seen on earth. On October 31, Samhain was celebrated, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Bonfires were built on this day to frighten the spirits away; costumes where donned as the feasted and danced around the fires.
Some Freighting Facts
Halloween is one the oldest celebrations in the world
Halloween is correctly spelt Hallwe’en
In Mexico they celebrate El Dia de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead
Pumpkin comes from the same family of the cucumber
The colors of orange and black are associated by the orange is the color of the harvest and black is the color of the dead
99% of the pumpkins sold are used as Jack O Lanterns at Halloween
The biggest pumpkin in the WORLD weighed in at a whopping 1,446 lbs.
Ringing a bell scares away spirits away
If you see a spider on Halloween, it could be the spirit of a dead loved one who is watching over you…makes you want to look at spiders differently now, doesn’t it.
To meet a witch, put your clothes on inside out and walk backwards on Halloween night
Trick or Treat Safety Tips
Wear Bright and reflective clothes
Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping
Masks can block or limit eye sight, try using face make up - of course make sure it is safe to put on the face
Carry a flash light
If a costume comes with a cane or sword, make sure it is not to sharp; it could cause your child to hurt themselves or someone else
If trick or treating in an unfamiliar neighborhood, check the candy before letting your child have any to munch on
Never enter a stranger’s house or car for that matter
Do not forget your cell phone; you never know when you may need to make an emergency call
Only go to homes where the porch light is on
Really cool, fun and easy costume ideas….
My personal favorite: Dress in normal clothes and carry a sign that says “Nudist on Strike” …I hear you laughing!
Grandma got ran over by a reindeer – Dress up as on old lady, grey wig and all, paint hoof prints on your back
Jack and Jill Fell down the Hill – On two shirts write JACK the other Jill…Jack can wear a broken crown and blood dripping from his head. Jill needs lots of bruises, broken limb or two, bloody lip...both carry pails of water
Tickled Pink – Dress all in PINK and carry a feather
Melted Snowman – Dress normal, drench yourself in water and carry two sticks, carrot and top hat (optional)
Iron Chef – Dress as a chef and carry a steam iron
Highway to hell – Dress in all black, yellow strips up your legs, body and arms. Hang a highway sign around your neck and devil horns on your head
Goldfinger – Paint one finger gold…Dressing as James Bond is entirely up to you!
Great Classic Halloween Movies
Any “Halloween” Michael Myers Movie
Silence of the Lambs
Carrie
Devils Rejects or anything by Rob Zombie
People under the stairs
The Blob
The Birds
Night of the Living Dead…1968
Bram Stokers Dracula...Any Vampire movie for that matter
Dawn of the dead
Hill has Eyes
Texas Chainsaw massacre
And how could I not forget any Friday the 13th movie
And my all time favorite horror movie and legend …FREDDY!
Freddy Krueger's – Nightmare of Elm street series, yes I do have every single film
And the Cult Classic …Rock Horror Picture Show
Have a fun and safe Halloween!
But again, do it with class, style, the gourmet way!
