Last Halloween I was in Spain which was a truly magical experience. Dia de las brujas; day of the witches, is about honouring the dead, and far from being a commercial holiday it is a spiritual festival of which church and religion play a large part.
That said, it is also huge fun. Children and adults gather at the town hall at 8pm, everyone is dressed in spine chilling costumes and when the band strikes up the procession around the village begins. Houses are adorned with lanterns, crosses and pumpkins which is an invitation for children to knock for treats, everyone participates so not much 'tricking' takes place.
After the procession the village bars hold Halloween parties with cakes and treats for the children while mum and dad enjoy a drink.
The following day is all saints day where families gather at the graves of their deceased relatives bearing gifts of holy water, flowers and a picnic. This is in order to rejoice with lost loved ones, a joyous occasion, not a morbid one. Families beautify the graves with wreaths and lanterns and then all eat and drink together.
I could be scathing and bemoan the fact that here in the UK Halloween has become yet another hugely commercialised affair, but hey, I love it!
My friend Clarrie has designed some fabulous pumpkins with her children, and let's face it I'm all for creating things with children, anything to drag them away from their damned computers!
My friend Carron also sent me photos of her designs and some ghoulish recipes.
Ghoulish meatballs and snake pasta
Recipe
500g good quality minced beef
40g fresh breadcrumbs
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 free range egg
For the sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 x 400g tins of tomatoes
2 teaspoons caster sugar
300g tagliatelle
For the dressing
1 bag of mini mozzarella balls
Small handful of pitted black olives, sliced thinly
Blitz meatball ingredients in a food processor
Shape into balls and gently fry in olive oil until lightly browned
Combine sauce ingredients and pour over meatballs, simmer gently for 25 minutes
Cook pasta according to packet instructions, drain
Divide pasta into bowls, spoon sauce and meatballs on top
Sit mozzarella balls on top of meatballs, add sliced olives to create eyeballs
Jack skellington on a stick
Recipe
300g cake, maderia, ginger cake, whatever your children's preference
2 tablespoons raspberry jam
300g white chocolate, broken into pieces
1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
Writing icing and silver cake balls to decorate
Break cake up into fine crumbs
Add jam and mix together
Divide into 12 portions and roll into balls, chill for 30 minutes or freeze for 10 minutes
Melt chocolate, stir in vegetable oil to loosen, cool slightly
Dip pop stick in chocolate then into cake ball to create a seal
Place pop cakes in a weighted bowl to stand upright
Now dip pop cakes into cooled melted chocolate and twirl until completely covered
Return cakes to weighted bowl to stand upright, allow to set for 20 minutes
Decorate cakes with writing icing and silver cake balls
And after all your hard work, sit back and relax with a scary cocktail
Recipe
2-3 tablespoons clear honey
500ml apple and mango juice
250ml orange juice
Juice 2 large limes
A large dash of tequila
A large dash cointreau
Coloured sugar to decorate glasses
2 tablespoons Grenadine syrup
Jelly snakes
20 ice cubes
Put juices in a blender with ice cubes and blend into a thick slush
Half fill sugar rimmed glasses, add alcohol and lightly swirl with a cocktail stick
Top with remaining crush
Pour some grenadine over the top of each drink and garnish with jelly snakes
'When witches go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers 'tis near Halloween'
Happy Halloween
Love Donna xxxxxxx
No comments:
Post a Comment