.Dried Scabs.

.Ingredients.
pkg dried cranberries or cherries (your choice of quantity)


.Instructions.
1. Open package and place the cranberries or cherries in a bowl.

2. Label accordingly. Voilà! You've got gross Halloween food.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Truck Stop Toilet.

.Ingredients.
One brand new, UNUSED training potty/toilet
1 box prepared brownies (for large gathering, do 2 boxes)
1 tub prepared chocolate frosting

.Peanut Butter Blood.
1/2 C. creamy peanut butter (chunky won't work!)
Light corn syrup, as needed
Red food coloring, as needed
Chocolate syrup, as needed (optional)


.Instructions.
1. Thoroughly clean the new training potty with soap and water.

2. Prepare peanut butter "dried blood" by slowly adding corn syrup to peanut butter until you get your desired texture. Add red food coloring until you get a dark blood red. If mixture isn't dark enough, stir in a little chocolate syrup. Set aside.

3. Place brownies in the bowl of the toilet.

4. With lid opened, "decorate" your toilet with prepared "dried blood" and gobs of chocolate frosting. Dangle a length of toilet paper from one of the gobs of chocolate frosting, if desired.

5. Watch your guests get really disgusted by this gross Halloween recipe.


.Adult Version.
While this is generally for older party goers anyway, here's an idea for making it even more disgusting... but strictly for adults only. To do this, drape the toilet with a couple of condoms (I don't have to tell you they should be unused!) and drip melted white chocolate on the toilet and condoms in, um... strategic locations. Ick. But funny.


.Tips.
* In the photo, strawberry syrup blood was used. But it looks way more realistic with the peanut butter blood recipe included here. Plus, the peanut butter blood goes great with chocolate! Don't want to make your own blood? Just buy a bottle of cheap strawberry syrup.
* As far as your brownies go, lots of walnuts combined with longer, rectangular slicing (as opposed to squares) will give them a more, well, realistic look.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Parts-from-the-Morgue Soup.

AKA: Black Bean Soup, serves 12-15.


.Ingredients.
Various plastic novelty body parts, washed and dried
8 cans of black beans, drained
3/4 lbs. bacon, chopped
1 head of garlic, peeled and minced
1 C. chopped celery
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
1 1/2 C. diced yellow onion
2 jalapeños, seeded and minced (use gloves!)
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 tbsp. ground cumin
2 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
1-2 tsp. cayenne
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 C. dark beer
5-8 C. beef broth (or chicken)
Kosher salt, to taste


.Instructions.
1. In a large soup pot, cook bacon until browned and crisp.

2. To bacon and drippings, add your garlic, celery, carrots, onions, jalapeño, and bay leaf.

3. Cook over medium heat until veggies are tender, about 10 minutes.

4. Stir in cumin, chili powder, oregano, cayenne, and pepper. Cook about 1 minute.

5. Add beans, beer, and the minimum amount of broth. Add salt to taste.

6. Cook uncovered 1 1/2 to 2 hours, adding more broth as needed to reach your desired consistency. Taste and adjust spices halfway through cook-time, if needed.

7. Serve this creepy Halloween recipe in its cooking pot, adding novelty plastic teeth, etc., after soup has cooled slightly.


.Tips.
* Don't use plastic parts that will easily melt, i.e. very thin and small items! Used in the photo are novelty teeth for a Halloween costumes which are fairy thick and sturdy and as they're meant to be worn in your mouth you know they're food-safe.
* The finger pictured is a witch's finger cookie. In the breads and cookies sections you can find recipes for witch fingers, monster toes and all sorts of parts that are edible and can be added to the soup or served on the side.
* Serve with tortilla chips (labeled "Deep Fried Skin Slivers") or cornbread and some sour cream (labeled "Goblin Pus").


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Creepy Mini Mummy Pizzas.

.Ingredients.
1 pkg. (6 count) English muffins (12 halves)
3/4 C. prepared pizza sauce
12 slices mozzarella cheese
24 black olive slices
Green bell pepper, chopped into 1/4" pieces


.Instructions.
1. Preheat your oven's broiler.

2. Split each English muffin and broil (tops only) until crisp and golden.

3. Remove muffins from oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

4. Cut your mozzarella cheese slices into muffin-sized mummy bandages.

5. Spread about a tablespoon of pizza sauce on each muffin half.

6. Top with cheese "bandages."

7. Place two black olive slices on each pizza for eyes. Give each eye a piece of green pepper for a pupil.

8. Bake about 10 minutes, until muffin is crisp and cheese is melted.


.Tips.
* This is so easy it is one of the best Halloween treat recipes to make with the kids. Let each kid assemble and devour his or her own mummy. Alternatively you can assemble them ahead of time for a Halloween party and cook right before serving.
* You can also do this with homemade or store-bought pizza dough. Simply cut into small rounds with a drinking glass or a biscuit cutter, and prepare as directed here (no toasting, of course). Raw dough may need an extra couple of minutes in the oven.
* In the instructions it says you need to toast the top of the muffins before adding toppings to keep them from getting soggy. Don't feel like doing the extra step? They'll turn out great even if you don't toast the tops.
* These little pizzas are also great with sliced pepperoni. Just add the pepperoni before the cheese so you don't cover up your mummy's bandages.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Worm Sandwiches.

This is a great Halloween recipe for the kids, they are SO simple to make and look so gross when you are done! This recipe serves 8.

.Ingredients.
8 hot dogs
8 hot dog buns
1/4 C. ketchup


.Instructions.
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.

2. Slice each hot dog into long, worm-like strips.

3. Dump hot dog strips into boiling water and cook until they begin to curl a bit.

4. Drain.

5. Return cooked hot dog worms to pan and toss with ketchup until thoroughly mixed.

6. Serve in hot dog buns.


.Tips.
* Want to save time? Slice the hot dogs up ahead of time, and boil when you're ready to eat.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Eerie Mummy Dogs.

.Ingredients.
1 (11 oz) can refrigerated breadstick dough
2 slices cheddar cheese, quartered (optional)
8 hot dogs
black mustard seeds


.Instructions.
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. If desired, place one cheddar cheese slice on your hot dog. Then wrap each dog to look like a mummy, leaving a open area for the eyes.

3. Cut two tiny slits in the exposed hot dog and insert two black mustard seeds for eyes. If you'd like to give your mummies entire faces, you can cut a little slit for a mouth, which will gape open a bit during cooking.

4. Place mummy dogs on an un-greased baking sheet and bake around 15 minutes, until golden.

5. Serve with plenty of ketchup and mustard.



(Source: Divine Dinner Party, Photo:
Erika Bartlett)


Enjoy!

Costumed Celebrity of the Day 8.31

Al & Tipper Gore



Our former Vice President Al Gore and his wife Tipper dress as a Werewolf couple for Halloween - too cute!

Until Next Time...

.Sticky Black BAT Wings.

With black food coloring added, these "bat" wings look really gross, but taste absolutely wonderful. Based on a recipe for 5-spice chicken wings, they're moist, crisp, and full of flavor. They're also baked instead of fried, which makes them healthier than you'd think.


.Ingredients.
4 lbs. chicken wings

.Marinade/Sauce.
4 tbsp. soy sauce
4 tbsp. black bean sauce
2/3 C. ketchup
4 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. hot sauce, or to taste
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. white wine vinegar
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/2 tsp. Chinese five-spice powder
2 tbsp.sesame oil

.Coloring.
Black, blue, and green paste food coloring, as needed


.Instructions.
1. Combine marinade ingredients in a small mixing bowl.

2. Add black, blue, and green paste food coloring as needed to make a dark black sauce.

3. Place cleaned wings in a large ziplock bag. Pour marinade over.

4. Marinate wings 3-24 hours. Longer is tastier, of course.

5. Remove wings from fridge, line a large baking sheet with heavy-duty foil, and preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

6. Remove "bat wings" from marinade and bake one hour, till cooked through. Baste occasionally with marinade. Finish under broiler for extra crispness, if desired.


.Tips.
* If you make these as snacks for a Halloween party, be sure to make plenty-- they go fast. This recipe serves 10 as a Halloween party food, or 4-5 as a main meal.
* Also, be sure to use food coloring paste instead of liquid to avoid a bitter aftertaste.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Screaming Cheese Man.

This recipe makes a medium-sized Screamin' Cheese Man, enough to feed about 15 people.


.Ingredients.
3 (8 oz.) packages soft goat cheese or cream cheese; or
1 recipe Three Cheese Cheeseball; plus
1/3 C. chopped parsley or chives
1/3 C. finely chopped nuts
2 tbsp. poppy seeds (optional)
2 small button mushrooms
3-4 broccoli florets
1 slice from a narrow red bell pepper


.Instructions.
1. On your serving platter, form your cheese into a man shape, like that pictured. If the legs and arms are at odd angles, it's gives the impression that he's writhing in pain.

2. Gently press chopped parsley or chives into cheese from the "waist" down to make pants. Make poppy seed "shoes" if desired.

3. Press the finely chopped nuts from the waist to neckline, to make a nut shirt. Leave "hands" bare.

4. Chill until firm, 2-3 hours at least.

5. Decorate the head with button mushrooms for eyes, broccoli hair, and a screaming red pepper mouth.

6. Allow to soften slightly before serving. Surround with your preferred combination of cheese, meats, veggies, and crackers.


.Tips.
* You can put him together out of whatever ingredients you like. Soft goat cheese, plain cream cheese, or the Three Cheese Cheeseball recipe below.
* This is one of the most easily adjustable easy Halloween recipes you can make. Want to make a smaller Screamin' Man for a small dinner party? Use less cheese. Want a larger one? Simply buy more cheese. Since the rest is just decorating, it's easy to adjust your ingredients.



.Three Cheese CheeseBall.

.Ingredients.
2 C. finely shredded swiss cheese, room temperature
2 C. finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese, room temperature
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. sour cream
1/4 C. dry white wine (optional)
1/2 C. minced sweet onion
1/4 C. roasted red pepper, finely chopped
10 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/4 C. chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/2 C. finely chopped pecans or walnuts
salt and pepper, to taste


.Instructions.
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, and wine until fluffy.

2. Add the swiss and cheddar cheeses, onion, roasted pepper, half the bacon, half of the nuts, salt, pepper, bacon, nuts and chopped parsley. Beat between each addition.

3. Wrap tightly and chill until firm and flavors have mixed, at least four hours. Overnight is better.

4. Let soften slightly before serving.



(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Man-Eating Demon Dip.

.Ingredients.
1 prepared loaf dip
1 oblong loaf of bread
2 pimento-stuffed green olives
2 toothpicks


.Instructions.
1. Take your favorite loaf filler dip, pictured is a spinach dip, serve it in an oblong loaf of the bread of your choice thats been cut length wise. It should look like a monster with a gaping mouth.

2. Take your olives and pin them in place as eyes for your monster.

3. Take the bread you removed from the load and tear it into bite-sized pieces and arrange them around the loaf on a platter.

4. Tell guests to watch their fingers when they go to dip, or they might just be bitten off!


.Tips.
* If you want to go the extra mile and really make this guy look scary, cut large jagged "fangs" into the top and the bottom of the opening of the loaf.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Cute Cheese o' Lantern.

Makes 1 large pumpkin cheeseball to serve about 25


.Ingredients.
3 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated cheddar jack cheese
1/4 cup dehydrated onion flakes
2 tablespoons granular beef bouillon
1/4 cup bacon, crumbled
orange paste food coloring
green bell pepper
yellow bell pepper


.Instructions.
1. Whip the cream cheese and cheddar jack cheese until fluffy.

2. Add the onion flakes, beef bouillon, and bacon and whip until the bouillon is dissolved and the ingredients are well-mixed.

3. Add enough orange food coloring to make the mixture pumpkin colored.

4. Line a 1-quart bowl with plastic wrap.

5. Scoop the cheese mixture into the bowl and fold the plastic wrap over.

6. Refrigerate until firm.

7. Remove the cheeseball from the plastic wrap and transfer it to a serving tray.

8. Using the plastic wrap, reshape the ball, then using a skewer, make small indentations starting at the tip to the bottom to resemble a pumpkin.

9. Cut the green bell pepper into a stem and leaves for the top of the pumpkin; cut three triangles from the yellow pepper and a jack-o-lantern mouth.

10. Push the pepper pieces onto the pumpkin.

11. Cover and refrigerate until serving time.



.Tips.
* Use whatever colored bell pepper you prefer, any color looks great yellow, orange, red or green!
* You can even use the pepper's stem for the pumpkin stem.
* Serve on a tray with crackers of your choice.




.Variation.



Makes 16 to 18 servings


.Ingredients.
1/2 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup solid-pack pumpkin
1/4 cup pineapple preserves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 pretzel rod, broken in half
Dark rye bread, red bell pepper, black olive slices and fresh parsley
Assorted crackers


.Instructions.
1. Beat cheeses, pumpkin, preserves and spices in medium bowl until smooth. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or until cheese is firm enough to shape.

2. Shape mixture into round pumpkin; place on serving plate. Using knife, score vertical lines down pumpkin. Place pretzel rod in top for stem.

3. Cut bread into triangles for eyes. Decorate pumpkin, using bread, pepper, olives and parsley.

4. Cover loosely; refrigerate until serving time. Serve with crackers.


(Source: Bella Online & Divine Dinner Party & How Stuff Works)


Enjoy!

.Cream Cheese Draculas.

Makes about 15-25 little draculas - the exact number will depend on how big you make them.


.Ingredients.
1 (8 oz) pkg. cream cheese, chilled
10 (or more) pitted black olives
1 jar pimentos or roasted red peppers


.Instructions.
1. Trim pieces of pimento or roasted red pepper into tiny bloody fangs (as pictured).

2. Cut each black olive in half lenghtwise. Chop another 2-3 black olives into small pieces for use as eyes (green olives also work well for the eyes).

3. Roll a small amount of cream cheese between your palms to make a small oblong ball.

4. Decorate each cheese ball with black olive hair-- the placement of the olive should create a deep widow's peak hairline.

5. Add two small pieces of black olives for eyes. Add your pimento or red pepper "fangs".


.Tips.
* If your cheese is very firm, you may have to let it soften a bit before olives and pimentos will stick.
* You can make these to decorate a cheese tray, or on a platter with a bowl of smooth picante or hot sauce with chips, or they can be set out on their own for your Halloween party guests to snack on.
* You can also make these with soft goat cheese or any herbed or flavored cheese of your choice. The cheese simply needs to be soft enough to mold, but firm enough to hold its shape.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Stuffed Roaches.

This recipe makes 20-30 bite sized appetizers.


.Ingredients.
1/3 C. cream cheese, softened
1/4 C. walnuts, chopped semi-fine
20-30 dates, pitted


.Instructions.
1. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and nuts til well mixed.

2. Gently fill each date with cream cheese/nut mixture (you may have to split the dates slightly).

3. Serve room temperature.


.Tips.
* You can decorate your serving tray with some rubber roaches for extra effect.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Slithering Snake Pizza.

This recipe is one that adults and kids both enjoy and very easy to personalize to your own tastes. It will serve about 10-12 people as an appetizer.


.Ingredients.
2 (8 oz.) cans crescent rolls
flour, for dusting
1/2 C. prepared pizza sauce
10 oz. thinly sliced pepperoni
10 oz. thinly sliced ham, chopped
10 oz. Italian sausage, cooked, crumbled, and drained
12 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 C. fine, freshly grated Parmesan cheese

(.Decorating.)
Liquid food coloring, your choice of colors
4 egg yolks, divided
2 peppercorns
2 pimento-stuffed green olives
1 roasted red pepper


.Instructions.
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

2. On a lightly floured surface, spread out your two batches of crescent dough end-to-end lenghtwise. Be careful not to let the sections separate.

3. Pinch all the seams together until you get one block of dough.

4. With a flour-brushed rolling pin, roll your crescent dough into a large, long rectangle. Don't roll it too thin, or it will split.

5. Spoon pizza sauce on top of dough, leaving an inch of bare dough on all four edges.

6. Sprinkle meats on top of sauce, followed by any other optional toppings.

7. Sprinkle with cheeses.

8. Fold one side of the dough lenghtwise over the topping, up to the half-point of the rectangle.

9. Fold the other side over to meet it. Pinch and press the dough together on all sides to seal.

10. With a pastry brush, brush the beaten yolk of one egg onto the top of the dough.

11. Fold your filled dough in half lengthwise. The egg yolk should help it stick. A seam should be created lengthwise along the dough. Pinch this seam together to fully seal and make a sort of cylinder. Be sure all seams are well closed. Any open seams will open further during baking.

12. Gently manipulate ends into a snake shape-- one end should be tapered for a tail, and the other shaped for the head. Don't curve it into a snake yet. You'll do that right before baking.


.Decorating Instructions.
1. Beat each of your remaining three egg yolks in a separate bowl.

2. Add the food coloring of your choice to each bowl to make three separate "paints."

3. With a pastry brush or a food-safe paintbrush, decorate your snake as desired.

4. Transfer painted snake to a foiled-lined, greased baking sheet.

5. Gently shape as desired, into an "S" or other snakey shape.

6. Stick two peppercorns into the front of the snout for nostrils.

7. Slice your roasted red pepper into a forked tongue. Insert into front of head.

8. Bake your snake about 20 minutes, until golden and cooked through.

9. Remove from oven. Attach olive "eyes" to the top of the head using toothpicks. Pimento centers should face forward.


.Tips.
* It is probably a good idea to buy an extra can of crescent rolls if this is your first time making this recipe. Just in case you need to patch your dough in places, any openings in the snake will split and leak during cooking.
* Use whatever toppings you usually like on your pizza, no need to stick exactly to the recipe!
* You can also make an adult version with mushrooms and peppers and a kiddie version with simple things like just pepperoni and cheese.
* Be sure to drain your ingredients well so that you don't come out with a soggy snake! =)


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Severed Fingers.

Who would have thought cocktail weenies could look this gross? This recipe is a single serving, just multiply as needed.


.Ingredients.
3 cocktail sausages
3 triangles of yellow bell pepper
Ketchup or BBQ sauce, as needed


.Instructions.
1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.

2. To make each serving of three fingers, create 3 shallow horizontal slices about halfway up each cocktail sausage for "knuckles."

3. Boil sausages until cooked, about 2-3 minutes. Let cool slightly.

4. With a sharp knife, cut a small flat space at the tip of the sausage for a "nail." Using a bit of ketchup, mayonnaise, or BBQ sauce, press a nail into each finger.

5. Fill a cup (in the photo it's a plastic muffin cup, but you can use a ramekin, a little clear glass, or whatever) with a couple tablespoons of ketchup, BBQ sauce (these recipes are great!), or any other red-colored sauce. Place assembled fingers in the cup, burying the ends slightly in the sauce. Serve hot.


.Tips.
* Heating the sauce helps keep this disgusting Halloween food from cooling down too fast.
* You can substitute the bell pepper with onion if you prefer but the yellow bell pepper gives it that thick gross fingernail appeal.
* You could also use canned Vienna sausage to make this a real quickie to throw together. No need to heat, just serve room temperature!


(Source: Myself, Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Baked Flesh Rolls.

This recipe makes 2-3 dozen as an appetizer.


.Ingredients.
1/2 small red pepper, minced
4 oz. pepperoni, minced
1/3 C. mozzarella cheese, grated
1/4 C. freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/4 C. pizza sauce
2 sheets frozen puff pastry, thawed


.Instructions.
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (or 200 C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, or grease them.

2. In a small bowl, stir together the red pepper, pepperoni, mozzarella, and parmesan. This helps with even distribution.

3. Unfold your two sheets of puff pastry and smooth seams if needed.

4. With a small spoon or a brush, coat the surface of each sheet of puff pastry lightly with pizza sauce. At one edge of each pastry sheet, leave about an inch bare. This will help keep it together when you roll it up.

5. Sprinkle cheese mixture evenly over each pastry sheet.

6. Starting from the side without the plain (pizza-sauce-free) edge, roll your pastry up firmly but not too tightly.

7. When you get to the plain edge, apply a little water to the plain section and seal firmly against the roll.

8. Cut each roll into 1/2" slices with a very sharp or serrated knife. It can help to refrigerate the rolls a little while before slicing if the dough gets too soft.

9. Bake about 20 minutes, or until golden-brown.


.Tips.
* Don't roll the centers too tight, or they center may not cook all the way. Firm but not tight is the rule!
* These pizza snacks are all about the label they are given you can use other names like "Fresh Sliced Arms" or "Sliced Baby's Leg".
* You can have extra pizza sauce and/or green-tinged ranch dressing on hand for dipping, if you so choose.
* Use whatever pizza ingredients you prefer, ham and pineapple, black olive and bacon or sausage and mushroom are all yummy alternatives.


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Cherry Filled Eyeballs.

.Ingredients.
Maraschino Cherries (Quantity optional)
Rum or brandy (optional)
Melted white chocolate
Powdered food coloring
Melted Cocoa butter


.Instructions.
1. As an optional adult version, before dipping the maraschino cherries, soak them in rum or brandy for several days.

2. Dip them in the melted white chocolate and let them dry on wax paper.

3. Paint them with different colors using powdered food coloring dissolved in melted cocoa butter. Don't forget the red veins!

4. Place them in mini cupcake holders, if you can find them red looks the best.


Source: By Barbara Jo at They're Coming to get you Barbara

She is also the creator of the three AMAZING but very involved cakes below. Click on the photos to be taken to the directions if you are brave enough to try them out!




Enjoy!

Costumed Celebrity of the Day 8.30

Gwyneth Paltrow



Out for some trick-or-treating on Halloween in 2006, Gwyneth dressed as the White Rabbit to match her daughter Apple's Alice in Wonderland costume. A perfect parent/child costume combo! Love it!


Until next time...

Halloween Playlist Pick

.Purple People Eater.



This is a MUST for any and all Halloween party playlists, adult and kiddie alike! A very classic tune for the occasion!

.Info.
Purple People Eater is a novelty song, written and performed by Sheb Wooley that reached #1 in the Billboard pop charts in 1958. This song is about a strange monster that descends to earth to join a rock'n'roll band. Wooley got the idea of the song from a joke told by the child of one of his friends; he completed its composition within one hour. Also of note, there is a strong misconception that the monster is purple which isn't necessarily true. The monster states in the song that it is purple people he consumes.


.Lyrics.

Purple People Eater
By Sheb Wooley

Well I saw the thing coming out of the sky,
it had one long horn and one big eye.
I commenced to shakin' and I said oo-wee,
It looks like a purple people eater to me.
It was a one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater,
and it sure looks good to me.

Well, he came down to earth and he lit in a tree,
I said Mr. Purple People Eater don't eat me.
I heard him say in a voice so gruff,
I wouldn't eat you cuz you're too tough.
It was a one-eyed one-horned flying purple people eater,
It sure looks strange to me.

I said mr Purple People Eater what's your line
He said eating purple people and it sure is fine
But that's not the reason that I came to land
I wanna get a job in a rock 'n roll band
Well, bless my soul rock 'n roll flying' purple people eater
Pigeon-toed under-growed flyin' purple people eater
one-eyed one-horned it was a people eater
What a sight to see

Well, he swung from the tree and he lit on the ground
he started to rock really rockin' around
It was a crazy ditty with a swinging tune
Wop bop a lula wop bam boom
one-eyes one-horned flying people eater
Ooh, it sure looks strange to me

Well he went on his way and then what do you know
I saw him last night on a TV show
He was a blowin' it out and really knockin' them dead
Playing rock 'n roll music through the horn in is head.


.Alternate Version's.

One of my daughter's favorite show's is Jack's Big Music Show and on one episode they have a teenage rock bank cover this song and I actually think its quite rocking. So much so, I am sharing it with you! Below is the video clip of the band Comic Book Heroes and their cover version of Purple People Eater.




Enjoy!

More Hallowed History...

.Pumpkins.


The jack o' lantern has a long history that originates all the way back to around 800 B.C. when Celtic society would bring home an ember from the communal bonfire at the end of their Samhain celebration. They carried these embers in hollowed-out turnips which created a lantern that resembles the modern day jack o' lantern. However, the turnips that they used are not the turnips we know today, rather than being white and purple skinned- its yellow and purple, they are between half a foot and a foot in diameter big and known in English as a 'swede'.

Such Celtic traditions remained a significant part of the national culture in 18th century Ireland and the direct predecessor of jack 0' lanterns comes from a very popular character from Irish folklore. The tale is about a man named Jack, who was notorious for being a drunkard and trickster. He was said to have tricked Satan into climbing up a tree for some apples and then he carved crosses all around the trunk so he could not climb down. Jack then made a deal with the devil that if he would never tempt him again-he'd let him down the tree. When Jack eventually died, he was turned away from Heaven due to his life of sin and, in keeping with their agreement, the Devil wouldn't take him either. He was cursed to travel forever as a spirit in limbo with an ember placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to light his way through the darkness.

Using a turnip became a very popular Halloween decoration in Ireland and Scotland a few hundred years ago, using them to ward off Jack and other spirits. Jack o' lantern's finally made their way to the states in the 19th century when Irish families began to immigrate over bringing their traditions with them. They discovered pumpkins here and began to use them instead since they were much easier to carve.

References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for "large melon" which is "pepon." "Pepon" was nasalized by the French into "pompon." The English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion." American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin."


.Pumpkin Facts.

* Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.
* Pumpkins range in size from less than a pound to over 1,000 pounds.
* The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.
* Pumpkins are 90 percent water.
* Pumpkin flowers are edible.
* Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm" squash.
* Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which include squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.
* Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.
* Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.


.Jack-O-Lantern Tips.

* After carving pumpkin, coat inside and all cut holes with petroleum jelly (slows shriveling/drying out process).
* Freeze your candles before you put them in the pumpkin, they will last longer.
* Or use battery light or glow stick instead of candles to increase life (candles are much hotter).
* Sprinkle cinnamon or nutmeg on underside of lid when using candles (smells like pumpkin pie).


Until next time...

.Flayed Face.

This is a super simple and you can vary it to fix you or your guests easily.


.Ingredients.
1 art shop mask or simple Halloween mask
1 lb. lunch meat, your choice
2 hard boiled egg yolks
2 slices pimento-stuffed green olive
1 recipe prepared "Triple Cheese CheeseBall" (below), unshaped


.Instructions.
1. In the bottom of either a face mold from an art store or a plain plastic face mask from a Halloween costume, place a layer of plastic wrap. This creates a protective layer between the meat and what may not be a food-safe product.

2. Into the plastic-covered interior of the mold, layer your lunch-meat. Be sure to use quite small pieces, as your guests will need to get through the meat layer in order to get to the cheese underneath.

3. Press your prepared, unshaped cheese ball mix into the mold. Press firmly to maintain a "face" shape.

4. Cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 6 hours.

5. Un-mold onto a serving platter. Depending on the size/shape of your face (and its eye sockets), you may be able to add egg yolk eyes with olive irises, half-egg yolks, or any other combination of ingredients. Play with it until you get a look that you like.

6. Surround face on place with veggies and/or crackers.


.Tips.
* Feel free to use whatever cheese ball recipe you prefer. This is so flexible, any one would work!
* Be sure to have your mask first and make enough cheeseball mixture accordingly.
* Buy meat as thinly sliced as possible and you can use whatever lunch meat you like-- turkey, ham, corned beef, chicken, prosciutto, salami - the possibilities are endless! Its a basic recipe that you can suit to your needs effortlessly.



.Three Cheese CheeseBall.

This recipe makes two baseball-sized balls, enough to feed 15-20 people.


.Ingredients.
2 C. finely shredded swiss cheese, room temperature
2 C. finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese, room temperature
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/2 C. sour cream
1/4 C. dry white wine (optional)
1/2 C. minced sweet onion
1/4 C. roasted red pepper, finely chopped
10 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/4 C. chopped fresh Italian parsley
1/2 C. finely chopped pecans or walnuts
salt and pepper, to taste

.Instructions.
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, and wine until fluffy.

2. Add the swiss and cheddar cheeses, onion, roasted pepper, half the bacon, half of the nuts, and salt and pepper to taste. Beat between each addition.

3. Refrigerate until firm.

4. Shape into two balls (or whatever shape you've chosen for your recipe).

5. In a small mixing bowl, mix the rest of the bacon and nuts, along with the chopped parsley.

6. Roll balls in nut mixture.

7. Wrap tightly and chill until firm and flavors have mixed, at least four hours. Overnight is better.

8. Let soften slightly before serving.


.Tips.
* For the "flayed face" recipe above, you'll want to mix all of the nuts, bacon, and parsley in with the cheese, leaving nothing to roll the cheese ball in.


(Source: Myself, Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Deviled Eyeballs.

If you like deviled eggs then you'll totally get a kick out of this creepy twist on them!


.Ingredients.
12 hard boiled eggs
1/2 C. mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
2 green onions, finely minced
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. dry ground mustard
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
blue food coloring, as needed
red paste food coloring, as needed
24 slices of black olives
pimentos or fresh red peppers


.Instructions.
1. Peel the hard boiled eggs and slice in half lengthwise. Scoop the yolks out into a medium bowl and reserve the whites until needed.

2. With the back of a fork, mash the yolks until smooth.

3. Add mayo, onions, parsley, mustard, salt, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well.

4. Add a few drops of blue food coloring to turn the yellow mixture a soft green.

5. Spoon green yolk mixture into the cavity in each white half, dividing evenly.

5. On top of each yolk filling, place one black olive slice. Add a small piece of pimento or red pepper for the pupil.

6. With a toothpick dipped in red food coloring paste, draw red veins on egg white's surface.

7. Cover and chill until ready to serve.


.Tips.
* Most people already have their own way of making deviled eggs, the key here is the Halloweenie extra touches. Its pretty flexible, play around and use what you like!


(Source: Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!

.Meathead Tray.

This is a super simple recipe that has many variations, you and your guests are sure to love this treat!


.Ingredients.
1 full-sized plastic human skull
1.5 lbs. thin sliced deli meat, your choice
Cream cheese, BBQ sauce, or cranberry sauce (see below)
2 hard boiled egg yolks, round mini-mozzarella pieces, or cocktail onions
2 slices of pimento-stuffed green olive
Your Choice of Crackers


.Instructions.
1. Buy a plastic skull. Wash the skull with soap and water and allow to dry.

2. Spread a "base" over the skull. BBQ sauce and jellied cranberry sauce give the skull a bloody, gory look as your guests lift away the lunch meat. Cream cheese is not as fun, but probably tastes better with most meats. This is entirely your choice.

3. Evenly distribute your lunch meat over the prepared skull, leaving openings at the eyes and mouth. Smallish pieces of meat work better than larger ones, as they're easier to manipulate and form. You may need to use toothpicks to get some of the meat to stay in place.

4. For eyes, place one hard boiled egg yolk or small mozzarella cheese ball in each eye socket. Top with a slice of pimento-stuffed green olive.

6. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat.

7. Searve with crackers and toothpicks so guests can remove the layers of meat.


.Tips.
* If you would like your masterpiece to last a big longer, use a large tray and arrange extra meats and sauce around the crackers, that way those will get eaten first and everyone will get a chance to see your Meathead.
* Buy meat as thinly sliced as possible and you can use whatever lunch meat you like-- turkey, ham, corned beef, chicked, prosciutto, salami - the possiblities are endless! Its a basic recipe that you can suit to your needs effortlessly.

(Source: Myself, Divine Dinner Party)


Enjoy!