Thursday, October 30, 2008

TREATS only.....

Show off your ghoulish side this Halloween with devilish treats and ultra-cool dinner and dessert ideas – both spooky AND fun!

Halloween is one of the most entertaining holidays to decorate for. Some people keep it simple, while others go all out and make their homes a spooktastic creation.
Pottery Barn carries an array of bone, skull and spider accessories that can set the tone – or for a classier look, their baroque salad plates do the trick. For devilish treats check out William Sonoma and Horchow both of which will tempt you.

But nothing beats Martha Stewart – every Halloween she seems to steal the show. Her selection of Halloween treats is unbelievable! This year her website includes a recipe of what I think is one of the most spectacular cakes…. bootiful… with delicately whipped ghost atop a dreamy white frosting! I can’t wait to indulge! Her cupcake and cake stencils are fun and the boonilla shakes are great for kids. Looking for something a little more adult? Martha’s goulish petit fours mashed potatoes are a special addition to the ordinary meals! Happy trick or in this case.....treating!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Stylish halloween decor


One of my favorite stores, Horchow has some great Halloween decorating items....sure to spook-up your devilish table setting.
The spider punch bowl, skull candlesticks and spider web trees are just what you need to set the mood this Halloween eve.
And don't forget to add a little Halloween touch to the front door, it will be a busy spot that night. I love this image from Pottery Barn - a warm welcome indeed and check out these witchy pumpkins from Pumpkin Hollow on etsy.com - they are truly one-of-a-kind!
The count down is on - are you ready for the trick or treaters?
Stay tuned - I have some great treat ideas on the way!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Creepy concoctions

Signature drinks are a fun part of any special get-together, but Halloween is the rare occasion where you also get to add an element of creepy to your creative concoctions!

While Halloween is typically thought of as primarily orange and black holiday, there are a few other colors that also work well for spooky signature drinks, including dark purple, "hazardous material" neon green, and – of course – blood red.


Here are a few fun recipes for delicious blood-red cocktails that are sure to please your favorite (friends dressed up as) vampires… and other “unusual” guests!

Black Cat Cosmo

1½ oz Blavod black vodka½ oz CointreauJuice of ¼ fresh lime2 oz cranberry juice
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add 1 ½ oz Blavod black vodka, ½ oz Cointreau, the juice of ¼ fresh lime and 2 oz cranberry juice.
Stir well and strain into a Martini glass.


Ghost
1.25 oz. Smirnoff Vanilla Vodka.25 oz. Godiva Chocolate Liqueur.25 oz. half-and-half.25 oz. simple syrup.25 oz. shavings of white chocolate
1. Add all ingredients to a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake to combine, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass rimmed with white chocolate.
3. Garnish with white chocolate shavings

Or how about some theme drinks...

Blood Red Cocktails
1. EVIL SPIRITS{via Rachael Ray}
Yield: 12 cocktails
Ingredients:2 1/4 cups vodkaJuice of 6 lemons1 cup grenadineClub soda, chilled

Directions:
Fill a pitcher with ice cubes. Pour in the vodka, lemon juice and grenadine and stir until chilled. Strain the mixture into martini glasses and top with club soda.

2. CREEPY CRAWLY{via cocktailtimes.com}
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients:1 oz Brandy1 oz Blood Orange Puree*2 oz GranGala Triple Orange Liqueur1/2 oz Simple SyrupGlass Garnish:1-12 oz Bag of Dark Chocolate Chips**1 Orange Truffle or Chocolate-Dipped Orange Slice1 Plastic Spider (optional)

Directions:
Using 8 to 10 chocolate chips for one drink, heat in the microwave for 20 seconds until almost melted. Take chips out of the microwave and stir with a spoon until completely melted (this method creates best chocolate consistency for making the web). Place the melted chocolate in a squeeze bottle and 'draw' a spider web on the inside of the martini glass (glass can be prepared in advance**).

In a Boston shaker, add the rest of the ingredients and shake well. Pour into the decorated martini glass. Garnish with an orange truffle or chocolate dipped orange slice. Plastic spider is optional as an alternative garnish or decoration.

3. VAMPIRE KISS
Yield: 1 Cocktail
Ingredients:1.5 oz. Finlandia Vodka, chilled1.5 oz Korbel Champagne.75 oz Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur

Directions:
Pour vodka and half of the Chambord in a martini glass, top with Champagne and pour the remaining Chambord over the back of a spoon to make it float.

Orange and Black Cocktails
1. BLACK MARTINI{via about.com}
Ingredients:3.5 oz black vodka.5 oz blackberry brandy or Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueuredible gold flake and/or black olive for garnish

Directions:
Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass or serve on the rocks in an old-fashioned glass. Garnish with edible gold flake or a black olive.

2. SCREWED-UP SCREWDRIVER(two-tone cocktail pictured in image #2, via Martha Stewart)
Yield: 1 cocktail
Ingredients:1/4 cup ice1/2 cup freshly squeezed tangerine juice1 1/2 ounces black vodka1 black licorice twist, for serving

Directions:
Place ice in a tall glass. Pour juice into glass. Pour vodka over the back of a cocktail spoon into glass so it sits on top of juice and creates a layer of black. Slice 1/4 inch off each end of licorice, and use as a straw. Serve immediately.{Click here for the recipes of the two other Halloween cocktails pictured in image #2: Berry Scary Martini and Ghost in the Graveyard}

3. BLACK HALLOWEEN PUNCH (Mocktail){via All Recipes}
Ingredients:1 (.13 ounce) envelope unsweetened grape soft drink mix1 (.13 ounce) envelope unsweetened orange soft drink mix2 cups white sugar3 quarts cold water1 liter ginger ale

Directions:
Stir together grape soft drink mix, orange soft drink mix, sugar and water until solids are dissolved. Combine with chilled ginger ale just before serving. Dip the frozen hand briefly in warm water, then peel off the glove. Float the prepared hand in the punch bowl for a ghastly effect.To make a frozen hand, wash a disposable glove, fill with water, seal with a rubber band and freeze until hard.

4. THE WIDOW'S TOUCH{via Epicurious}
Ingredients:1 cup ice cubes5 tablespoons Laird's Applejack3 tablespoons St-Germain (elderflower liqueur)1 tablespoon Bénédictine liqueur2 dashes of angostura bitters

Directions:
Place ice cubes in cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and stir 20 to 30 seconds. Strain into 2 chilled small coupe glasses and serve.

And please remember....

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

What a treat…..

I have to say that Pottery Barn Kids has the best selection of Halloween costumes out there! Every year they have a new lineup and every year it gets better. This year kids will enjoy going door-to-door as a hamburger, hot dog or my daughter’s favorite, french fries!
And an outfit is just not complete without a matching bag, their puffy treat bags are just the finishing touch your looking for.
Martha Stewart has some great kid bags as well in her craft line. The candy corn pom poms, window clings and finger puppets are great treats for around the house or in a loot bag!

Also check out babystyle.com for some sweet infant costumes – the peacock one is exceptional! Wrapables.com is another great place to find unique Halloween items like these cute place card holders. While in Asia last fall I came across some beautiful felt carriers and bags I thought were worthy of reference – the intricate designs are really special.
Who knew felt could be so pretty!

Spooky spa time

I have never seen a bath and body care retailer as creative as Bath and Body Works. No matter what the season there is always something special – really I should say simply irresistible!!!

This Halloween check out your local store (now in Canada too!) and pick up a little something for a spooktacular spa experience!The collection of goulish mesh poufs and bath mitts making taking the plunge Halloween night that much more fun….and your kids will definitely love them too! Some other items I love from their Halloween Collection are the Halloween Globe, Ghost Wallflower plug in, beautifully scented candles and of course ….the Purr-fect cat compact!