Writing and Other Adventures
I think ehzoterik is about to get her wish ... if I'm lucky and this flow continues, there will be a new story rolling under Forest of the Unicorn in the next few days. Woot!
The Creepiest Salad Bar
Prep Time: 15 min ; Start to Finish: 15 min
Makes: 8 servings
Turn a simple salad bar into a haunting Halloween meal when you label the ingredients with spooky names and toss the salad with a blood-red dressing.
Monster Slime Dressing
1 cup Italian dressing
1/4 cup ketchup
Creepiest Salad Stuff
8 cups spring mix lettuce blend (weeds and grass)
1 cup green bell pepper strips (goblin fingers)
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds (witch's teeth)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (vampire eyeballs)
1 cup sliced mushrooms (sliced toadstools)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (mummy's bandages)
1 cup broccoli florets (ogre curls)
1 . In small serving bowl, mix dressing ingredients until well blended.
2 . Place salad ingredients in individual bowls to create salad bar. (Make labels so your goblins know what is in the bowls.) Serve dressing with salad ingredients.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):No change.
Tip
For extra-speedy prep, purchase presliced mushrooms, washed lettuce in bags, cut-up broccoli florets and shredded cheese.Monster Burgers
Prep Time: 35 min ; Start to Finish: 35 min
Makes: 8 sandwiches
Monstrously tasty burgers are great for kid parties. Get kids into the kitchen to help build the silly sandwiches.
8 ground beef patties (4 oz each)
8 burger buns, split
8 slices (3/4 oz each) American cheese
8 thin slices cooked ham
16 slices dill pickle
Ketchup
1 . Set oven control to broil. Place ground beef patties on broiler pan. Broil with tops 3 to 4 inches from heat 10 to 12 minutes or until thoroughly cooked, turning once.
2 . Place bottom halves of buns on serving platter. For each monster burger, place 1 cooked patty on bottom half of bun. Cut cheese slice in half in zigzag pattern to look like teeth. Place half of cheese slice on burger, with "teeth" hanging off 1 side of patty.
3 . Loosely fold ham into tongue shape; place on top of "teeth." Place remaining cheese "teeth" on top of "tongue." Top with top half of bun. Place 2 pickle slices on top for eyes. Dot "eyes" with ketchup for pupils.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):No change.
Tip
If you purchase frozen ground beef patties, thaw them before cooking.Mud Sodas
Prep Time: 10 min ; Start to Finish: 10 min
Makes: 8 servings (1 cup each)
Kids love mud! Make it edible with a silly party drink that's a snap to prepare, even for a large group.
4 cups chocolate milk, chilled
4 cups root beer, chilled
1 pint (2 cups) chocolate ice cream
1 . In each of 8 tall glasses, place 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup root beer; stir to mix.
2 . Top each serving with 1/4 cup ice cream.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):No change.
Tip
Just for fun, add swirly straws to the sodas.Cornucopia of Snacks
Prep Time: 5 min ; Start to Finish: 5 min
Makes: 12 servings
Put together a clever snack, easy for little hands to hold. Vary the contents with the season!
3 cups popped popcorn
1/2 cup assorted small Halloween candies (such as candy corn)
1/2 cup salted peanuts
12 waffle cones
1 . In medium bowl, mix popcorn, candies and peanuts.
2 . Scoop about 1/3 cup mixture into each waffle cone.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):No change.
Tip
Vary the mix to suit your taste--try cashews, almonds, candy-coated chocolate candies or dried fruit. Crescent Mummy Dogs
Prep Time: 30 min ; Start to Finish: 50 min
Makes: 10 sandwiches
Hot dogs are all wrapped up in a classic recipe for Halloween...or anytime a chuckle is in order.
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls (8 count)
2 1/2 slices (2.5 oz) American cheese slices, quartered
10 large hot dogs
Cooking spray
Mustard or ketchup, if desired
1 . Heat oven to 375°F. Unroll dough; separate at perforations creating 4 rectangles; press perforations to seal. With knife or kitchen scissors, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough. Slice cheese slices into quarters (1/2 slice cheese, cut in half).
2 . Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hot dog and 1/4 slice of cheese to look like "bandages," stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog. About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate "bandages" so hot dog shows through for "face." On ungreased large cookie sheet, place wrapped hot dogs (cheese side down); spray dough lightly with cooking spray.
3 . Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until dough is light golden brown and hot dogs are hot. With mustard, draw features on "face."
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft):Bake 15 to 19 minutes.
Try a mini version with cocktail sausages.