Sinister Saturday – No Bake Cherry Cheesecake (Semi-win!)

Sinister Saturdays in October is the horror part of my web blog, with my failed baking attempts that are simply terrifying!😄

Today I tried Jell-O brand’s No Bake Cherry Cheesecake. Perfect choice for me, not only is it 103 degrees in SoCal.🥵 No baking means less chance to screw up the recipe.

Ah, but I didn’t say zero!

First thing you need is a box of Jell-O brand’s No Bake Cherry Cheesecake. Super easy, only 3 other ingredients needed, milk, butter and sugar.

Next, you follow the instructions on box, mixing butter and sugar together to make the crust first; and then, add milk to create cheesecake mix.

Unfortunately, my attempt to make a crust with just two ingredients, just two, derailed my plan to successfully make a no bake cherry cheesecake.

The crust results were so awful and I got so frustrated, I forgot to take a picture before tossing. Basically it was too clumpy and wouldn’t lie flat in the pan. It was just a big mess. No idea what I did wrong. Too much butter?

But folks, this ain’t my first rodeo. You can look back previous years to see I’m no Rachel Ray (Haunted cake pan fail). I suspected I’d mess up and so I bought a back-up. Keebler elves to the rescue!

Poured the mix into my store bought ready made graham crust and popped it in the fridge for a few hours.

Finally, time to decorate by adding the cherry topping.

The cherry filling packet was actually a little sparse. I suggest buying a can of cherry pie filling to supplement. It’s probably how other people’s pictures of their cherry cheesecake looks so good. Mine, not so much.😄

Now, anyone about to chastise me about using store bought ingredients or lazy baking, let me tell you to fuck right off as plainly as I can. I have no time for that. I have no time for you. Go hit up the Food Network. The rest of us got a Halloween to celebrate! This is Sinister Saturday, bitches!🎃

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween 2026!

We celebrate all 31 days in October and before I share the Halloween schedule this year, I just wanted to say a few words.

There’s a lot of misery in the world right now, and a lot of bad people. You have choice. Full stop. YOUR choice holds more power than you think. If it didn’t, so many people wouldn’t be trying to control it or take it away from you. Always remember that.

This is not just to remind my American friends to vote this November, it’s a reminder to all that sharing our cultural traditions helps preserve them and embracing our communities makes us stronger and breaks down barriers between human beings. This is the time of year when people do the most for each other, and the Halloween season is all about community.

Spirit Halloween’s charitable org Spirit of the Children celebrates 20 years!

So, I want to encourage people to go out and get involved in community events. Go to an art show, holiday fair or school carnival, visit a haunted maze, go to the theater to watch a spooky play or movie, invite some neighbors over on Halloween night and pass out candy together. Start a new tradition.

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA just opened a new horror movie exhibition.

I’m also going to repeat something I said last year because I believe in it so much:

Don’t let anyone tell you how to do Halloween. Decorate or not. Wear a costume or not. We can be scary and sweet. We can be spooky and cute. Let the teenagers trick or treat. Kids collecting candy are too occupied to do anything else. I truly believe Halloween makes people happy. It’s about community. We need our communities more than ever. It’s the only thing that can save America now.

Be sure to check back every day this October for cool, fun, and inspirational Halloween, horror, and haiku.

HALLOWEEN SCHEDULE 2026

Monday Macabre

Every Monday, I’ll be posting a brand new Halloween Haiku.

Trick or Treat Tuesdays

Check in on Tuesdays for some trivia fun. I’ve got treats and I’ve got tricks!

Wicked Art Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, I’ll showcase the amazing and unique talents of Halloween artists from around the globe. Real art, not ai made.

Timeless Thursdays

Every Thursday, let’s travel back in time and revisit the spookiest toys and games.

Friday Fright Nightcaps

Bubble bubble, drink away trouble. It’s the return of Friday Fright Nightcaps!

Sinister Saturdays

Decadent desserts from the darkside. I’m not much of a cook, so this could get truly evil.

Spooky Sundays

Spooky Sundays are for reading, relaxing, and recharging our brooms.

Let’s eat, drink and be scary!

8th Annual Halloween Haiku Challenge
#Halloweenhaikuchallenge2026

The Halloween Haiku Challenge returns for one day only this October. The contest starts midnight on October 30th through Halloween day and a winner will be chosen on November 1st.

More details to come, but for now, sharpen those pencils or pull up a blank page; I can’t wait to see those Halloween haiku!

Don’t forget to follow Halloweenhorrorhaiku on Pinterest and Blue Sky.

Have a Happy Halloween season, everyone! Be safe out there!🎃

Halloween Candy Alternatives

Happy Fall! The Halloween season has officially begun and instead of posting a horror movie list this month, I thought I’d share a list of best Halloween candy alternatives.

Anyone who’s been to the grocery store lately has noticed prices are up. Between cocoa and sugar shortages, trump’s stupid tariffs, rising manufacturing and packaging costs, and corporate greed, Halloween candy prices are also up again for the sixth consecutive year.

Now, I’ve always tried to keep optimistic about the over-commercialism of Halloween. I love how Halloween brings out the creativity, and the entrepreneurial spirit of some people, but left’s face it, sometimes capitalism goes too far.

Turns out kids actually like getting little Halloween novelty toys and glow sticks in lieu of candy. So this list is for those looking to please trick or treators without breaking the bank this season.

Silicone or rubber slap bracelets, squishy toys and fidget toys are all the rage. Many of these items can be found at dollar stores or Oriental Trading Company (OTC), a popular seller of bulk novelty, party, and craft supplies store that offers dozens of options of Halloween alternative items.

Bulk Halloween Character Rubber Duck Assortment – 60 pc $24.99, OTC

Personally, I’m more into eco-friendly wooden Halloween pencils, Halloween notepads, and cute little Halloween stickers or temporary tattoos.

Cash and coins are still cool, but not good if your neighborhood hosts a lot of trick or treators. Naturally, quarters are preferred over dimes and pennies, but hey, if you’re about to spend $40 on miniature candies and have around 150 trick or treaters, financially it works out about the same anyway.

Halloween Rubber bracelets, 32-pc $49, Kohl’s

Keep this mind, glow sticks, rubber bracelets and tiny plastic toys may provide instant happiness and are great candy alternatives, but they’re also not biodegradable, and that’s bad for the environment and unsafe for wildlife.

Halloween pencils, 16-pc set $1.50, Dollar General

Ask yourself if you’re looking to be more budget conscious or be environmentally or sensory friendly this season. There are so many alternatives about there!

Sensory-friendly Pop Fidget Toys, $1.50 Dollar General

Before you forego your candy treats, first determine your budget and the number of expected trick-or-treators you anticipate this year.

Free Halloween Printables from iHeartCraftyThings.com

There are still plenty of reasons and ways to celebrate Halloween without spending gobs of money. Don’t forget, you could always mix and match.

Whatever you decide, I wish you a Happy Halloween!

Be safe out there!

Monthly Haiku Corner – August

Midsummer Scream never fails to get me excited for the Halloween season! More on my MSS experiences later but today I’m ready to kick off the unofficial start to Halloween 2026!

It’s two weeks til the ‘Ber months, our favorite time of the year. This is what we’ve been waiting 8 long months for! Four months of festive holidays, cooler temperatures and the smiles and laughter that can shape a community. Halloween is the one of the few holidays truly for everyone. It’s a season for the people, by the people. People’s creativity and passions are what fuel the love for Halloween and keeping hope alive and making people laugh is no small feat in these dark times.

Seeing as I likely have two more months of 90 degree weather giving me brain fog, I decided to lean in and accept my cheesy haiku, because we deserve all the humor we can find.🎃

summer full of dread
‘ber months are returning soon
just like your smile

Have a spook-tacular Halloween season! Be safe out there.

Prize Pool 2025

The Halloween Haiku Challenge has ended, but I’m sharing the scares this year, so check back in December for a new holiday haiku challenge!

The prize pool (see below) started with leftover or unclaimed gifts. I also have a lot more Halloween stickers but you can only get so many in one picture.😄

Before every contest, please see Contest Rules and Eligibility page for specific details. It is player responsibility to know the rules before playing any games here.

Wicked Art Wednesdays 2025 – Tiki Art by Doug Horne

Happy Wicked Art Wednesday! I was feeling a like need a little more tiki artin our lives so today’s artist is the world renowned tiki creator Doug Horne.

Artist: Doug Horne
Company/Studio:

Where to Purchase Goods: Several tiki sites sell Doug Horne’s tiki art and exclusive tiki mugs. https://www.etsy.com/shop/DougHorneArt

Why we love it: Phoenix born Doug Horne, who now resides in Long Beach, CA, has been creating tiki art and tiki mugs for generations. We love his pop culture monsters tiki mash ups. Doug also creates art for tiki bars around the globe. Chances are you may have seen his work up close while sipping on Mai Tais

https://mytiki.life/tiki-mugs/zombie-king-fifth-edition-green-yellow-by-doug-horne-for-strong-water-anaheim

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/doug_horne_art/?hl=en

Sinister Saturday – Halloween (Box)Cake (Nailed it?)

Sinister Saturdays are turning out to be a showcase for my failed baking attempts.

And, this Saturday is no different!😄

Yes, I used box cake. Middle finger to the haters. But the box cake wasn’t the reason why my Red Velvet Tombstone Cakes were a little well done, it’s just my inability to pull pan out of the oven when the box says!

They looked alright, but were dry as a bone and when I flipped them over, the cakes didn’t retain the pan designs.

I did however manage to bake another cake in my my lovely Wiltern pumpkin pan and it turned out kinda nice.

First thing you need for box cake is box mix and I prefer Duncan Hines Perfectly Moist Red Velvet cake mix. This is the easiest cake mix, only 3 other ingredients are needed to bake the cake, 1 cup of water, half cup of oil, and 3 eggs.

Follow the instructions and you’ll get a nice fluffy red velvet cake.

Next, you add 4-5 drops of orange food coloring into buttercream frosting to get that nice classy orange color. If you want it brighter, I suggest using 2-3 more drops of orange and 1 drop of red. Next, spread frosting all over your cake.

Lastly, you add Halloween style sprinkles and viola, Halloween Cake!

It was a bummer the Red Velvet Tombstone Cakes didn’t turn out, but I was happy with the pumpkin cake pan version.

Happy Halloween!

Wicked Art Wednesdays 2025 – Roman Dirge

Today’s Wicked Art Wednesday artist is goth legend Roman Dirge. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to pay a tribute to the amazing creator of comic book series Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl and his own unique creepy gothic cute style.

Artist: Roman Dirge

Where to Purchase Goods:

US- https://tinyurl.com/USA-orders

Lenore reboot The Time War, variant issue #1 from January 2025

Why we love it: Magician turned goth artist and comic book creator who never gave up on his dreams on being an artist… we all should admire anyone who pursues their passions and creates a lane for themselves.

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/taxidermied/?hl=en

Happy Halloween! Be safe out there!

Trick or Treat Tuesdays – Candy Corn Guessing Game

Another Trick or Treat Tuesday in October and today’s candy corn guessing game is a treat!

There are between 1 and 75 candy corn candies in this jar. Guess how many and win a prize!

RULES: First person to post the correct number or closest to the exact number of candies in the pictured 4 oz. jar, here on WordPress before 12am on Friday, 10/24, wins some Halloween stickers.

Hint: The jar is not exactly filled to the top. Right after I took this picture, the lid rolled off the counter and shattered into pieces, along with my plan for photos. Ah well, Halloween mischief!

Please see Contest Rules and Eligibility Page for more details. Sorry, contests only open to US residents this year.

Good luck!

Happy Halloween! Be safe out there!

*images made with Canva

Sinister Saturday – Frankenilla Cups

After last week’s baking failure, me and my bruised ego are playing it safe with a no bake dessert for this Sinister Saturday, Frankenilla Cups!

It’s a super simple recipe with 4 ingredients:

•vanilla pudding
•graham cracker ready crust cups
•whipped cream
•green food coloring

Decorations (opt):
Candies
Marshmallow Peeps
Sprinkles

Yes, I used Keebler Graham ready crust cups and Jello brand pudding. If you want to do it from scratch, knock yourself out. I got a B52s/Devo concert to get to. For all the rest of my lazy friends and all the working moms out there, here’s how it’s done…

Steps:

◇First mix 2 drops of green food coloring in the vanilla pudding and mix well.
◇Spoon green vanilla pudding into graham cracker ready crust cups.
◇Add 4-6 drops of green food coloring in the whipped cream and mix well.
◇Add green whipped cream on top of vanilla pudding.
◇Pop in fridge or freezer for 60 mins.
◇Decorate with sprinkles or candies or whatever you want.