Month: October 2018

Recipe Corner – October 2018

November 1st is Dia de los Muertos and what better way to celebrate with a little Pan de Muerto, Bread of the Dead.  A nice lady named Mely Martinez from the Mexico in my Kitchen has given us a simple  recipe for Pan de Muerto, a key ingredient to any Day of the Dead altar.

Pan de Muerto

Pan-de-muerto-Day-of-the-dead-recipe-3
Photo by Mexico in My Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 500 grams 4 cups All Purpose flour
  • 2 Tablespoons active-dry yeast
  • 100 grams sugar 1/2 cup
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 80 grams butter at room temperature + 30 grs. to brush the bread after baking.
  • 80 grams unsalted margarine room temperature plus more for bowl and pans.
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • Orange crest from 2 oranges
  • 60 ml. warm water about 110 degrees
  • 1 teaspoon orange blossom water or orange essence
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten to brush the bread
  • Sugar to decorate the bread at the end.

You can find the full recipe and baking instructions at the Mexico in my Kitchen blog:
https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/pan-de-muerto-mexican-bread-of-dead/

pan-de-muerto-day-of-the-dead-bread-recipe-1
Photo by Mexico in My Kitchen

 

Wicked Art Wednesdays

This is a special Halloween edition of Wicked Art Wednesdays, honoring the incredible mind-blowing classic monster art of three legendary world-renowned artists and creators. These gentlemen are the genius masters of art, who inspire all others to follow in their footsteps.

Artist: Basil Gogos
Company/Studio: Basil Gogos Estate
Where to Purchase Goods:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fantaco/the-monster-art-of-basil-gogos
Website:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_Gogos
Social Media:  https://twitter.com/basil_gogos

Artist: Rick Baker
Company/Studio: Rick Baker
Where to Purchase Goods: Online shop, special events, specialty stores, etc.
Website:  https://www.instagram.com/therickbaker/?hl=en
Social Media: https://twitter.com/therickbaker?lang=en

 

Artist: Daniel Horne
Company/Studio: Daniel Horne Studios
Where to Purchase Goods: Online shop, special events, specialty stores, etc.
Website:  https://www.danielhornestudios.com/
Social Media:  fourhorne@comcast.net

Saturday Horror Matinees

 

The full moon has risen and transformed the Wolfman.
Frankenstein’s monster is alive and looking for a Woman.
Dracula’s magnetic gaze will leave you entranced.
The Mummy has risen and wants his soulmate to dance.
The Invisible Man has lost his left shoe.
It was found by the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
King Kong terrorizes the Empire State Tower.
Godzilla rampages Tokyo with his atomic powers.
The Blob crashed landed from outer space.
The Living Dead will eat your face.
I grew up at the theater, watching double features.
That’s why I love all monsters, madmen, and creatures.

 

Universal Monsters Photo©Universal Studios

 

Poe Sundays

 

The Tell-Tale Heart
by Edgar Allan Poe

TRUE! — nervous — very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses — not destroyed — not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture –a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees — very gradually –I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Continue reading “Poe Sundays” →

Friday Fright Nightcaps – Pumpkin Pie Shots

Tis the season of pumpkin spice and everything nice, and scary!

A nice man named Dan over at Mantitlement perfected the ultimate recipe for Pumpkin Pie Shots, just in time to celebrate National Pumpkin Day!

pumpkin-pie-shooter-top sm
Photo by Mantitlement

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Caramel vodka
  • 2 ounces Pumpkin Spice liquor
  • 2 ounces RumChata
  • Sugar or sprinkles for rimming the glass (optional)
pumpkin-pie-shooters-sm
Photo by Mantitlement

To view the full recipe, please go here: https://www.mantitlement.com/recipes/pumpkin-pie-shots/

 

Scariest Movies for Halloween Night

This isn’t just another ‘best of scary movie’ list, this is ‘the best of scariest movies to specifically watch on Halloween night’ list.  You can watch those other films any day of the year.  There’s something really special about watching a spooky movie on Halloween night though. These movies are not recommended for children, but, I’ll leave the parenting up to you.

♦♦♦♦♦

The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

Not only is Director Guillermo Del Toro’s Spanish language film visually stunning, it’s hands down one of the scariest and most masterfully written ghost stories ever produced. Besides that, creepy ghost children are just never not going to be scary.

the-devils-backbone-santi

Get Out (2017)

Writer and Director Jordan Peele delivers a terrifying psychological thriller, which relies on the audiences’ own inner fears to fuel the suspense on what the true scare here is all about, Is it a ghost story? Is it a killer story? Is it all someone’s imagination?

get out still

Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

Director Michael Dougherty weaves together four separate terrifying Halloween night horror stories, each connected by a mysterious little creature, who reminds us Halloween can be deadly if you mess around and break the rules of Halloween. I consider this film quintessential Halloween viewing.

trick r treat sam

Ju-on: The Grudge (2002)

Dead kid. Check. Dead cat. Check. Dead ghost. Check. Writer and Director Takashi Shimizu doubled down on scares by telling this frightening story out of order, which added confusion for some. Make no mistake, scary is scary, whether you understand it or not. However, if subtitles or non-linear storytelling aren’t your thing, you can always rent The Grudge, the American remake, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, and the very same dead kid, dead cat and dead ghost. I affectionately refer to this film as the Neverending Ghost Story

Ju-on1

Continue reading “Scariest Movies for Halloween Night” →