Monthly Haiku Corner – November

las calaveras
marigolds honor the dead
dia de muertos

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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