WITCHES' BREW

*Halloween Collection*
(Mulled Apple Cider)

6 cups cider
1-1/2 tsps cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp powdered cloves
1/2 cup brown sugar
+Whole cinnamon sticks

Heat cider, spices and sugar over low heat about 10 minutes, stirring to dissolve sugar. Serve in hot mugs with cinnamon stick stirrers (or, add 1 TB grated lemon rind and chill before serving). YIELD: 6 servings.

HALLOWEEN NOTE: Ask assembled guests to assist in making brew for all to drink. Line up guests and blindfold them. Pass down the line a hot baked potato, peeled grapes, a handful of cooked long spaghetti, a dried chestnut burr, an old leather glove, wet and full of soft mush, and an ice cube. Have each one guess what's going into the witches' brew. After the blindfolds are removed, serve mugs of this hot cider from the pot into which they have assumedly dropped the items passed from hand to hand while blindfolded.

(Source: Dorothy Dean & kappboom wallpaper photo)

300 POSTS ON MY BLOG!!!

(Source: photo-kappboom wallpaper)

TRICK-OR-TREAT TIDBITS

*Among candy corn fans, 43% prefer eating the narrow white end first.

(Source: American Profile magazine & google+ photo)

Halloween Pizza Pie

*Halloween Collection*

1/2 cup minced onion
2 TB butter
1 cup rice
2 chicken bouillon cubes
3/4 tsp salt
2 cups water
2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 TB minced green pepper
1/4 pound thinly sliced salami
3/4 cup chopped ripe olives
1 6-ounce can pizza sauce
+Pitted ripe olives

Cook onion in butter until soft; add rice, bouillion cubes, salt and water. Bring to a boil; cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Stir in 1 cup cheese and egg. Turn into buttered 11-inch pizza pan. Top with green pepper, salami and chopped olives. Spoon on pizza sauce; sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake at 350 degrees 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted. Remove from oven; make jack-o-lantern face on pizza with whole olives. YIELD: 6 servings.

(Source: Dorothy Dean & kappboom wallpaper photo)

TRICK-OR-TREAT TIDBITS

*About 81% of parents acknowledge sneaking goodies from their kids' trick-or-treat bags.

(Source: American Profile magazine & kappboom wallpaper photo)

JACK-O'-LANTERN PASTIES

*Halloween Collection*

2 potatoes, pared
1 medium onion
1 pound ground beef
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp crushed basil
1/2 cup melted butter
+Pastry for two double crust pies

Cut potatoes and onion into 1/2-inch cubes. Combine with beef, seasonings and butter. Roll out pastry 1/8-inch thick; cut into 24 4-inch circles. Place half on ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Cut slits for jack-o'-lantern faces in remaining circles. Place about 4 TB meat mixture on each plain circle; brush edge with water. Place "face" circle over filling; seal edge with fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes until browned. Served hot or chilled. YIELD: 12 pasties.

(Source: Dorothy Dean & photo kappboom wallpaper)

TRICK-OR-TREAT TIDBITS

*72% of Americans prefer chocolate treats for Halloween.

(Source: American Profile magazine  & Kappboom wallpaper photo)