Friday Fright Nightcaps: Samhain Apple-Spiced Sangria (S.A.S.S.)

Add a little S.A.S.S. to your Halloween with this delicious autumn sangria.

INGREDIENTS:

1 bottle red wine
1 bottle sparkling apple cider (Martinelli’s)
1 cup spiced rum
2 cinnamon sticks
1/2 pear
1/2 apple
1/2 orange
1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries

Directions:

Place the sliced fruit (pear, orange, apple slices, etc.) in the bottom of a pitcher.

Add the red wine, apple cider, spiced rum, and cinnamon sticks. Stir well. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2-3 hours.

This recipe is highly modifiable. I find Red Blends and Cabs are best, but any wine will work. Switch out the rum with brandy for less spice. Choose different fruit if you’d like.

Happy Halloween!

Sinister Saturday – Halloween Pasta/Monster Pasta

Every year, I see recipes for Halloween pasta using black squid ink pasta. It always looks so fun for this time of year. Pasta is typically a fast and easy meal to make, so, after years of thinking about it, I finally found a place that sells black squid ink pasta (Cost Plus) and decided to make my own version of Halloween Spaghetti Monster. The results were delicious, even if my pictures were complete fails. (Please don’t tell me it looks like a dog.)

Black Squid Ink Pasta is made from durum semolina wheat, water, and 1% squid ink. I was always nervous that it would taste fishy, but that’s not the case. Instead, it tastes just like bland wheat pasta. The creepiest thing about black squid ink pasta is the boiling water turns a deep charcoal color and look like slimy worms once drained.

Ingredients:

1 pkg Plain Spaghetti
1 pkg Black Squid Ink Pasta
1 jar Traditional Marinara or Pasta Sauce
Black Olives (1/2 cut for monster nose and mouth)
Green Olives (for monster eyes)
Dash of Parmesan Cheese

Sauce Instructions:

For best results, follow instructions on jar
Add sauce to crock pot along with 1 tablespoon of olive oil
Cook for 3 hours on high/1 hour on low

Pasta Instructions:

For best results, follow instructions on pasta packages
Cook both pastas in separate big pots full of lightly salted water
1. Spaghetti for 12-14 min
2. Black squid ink pasta for 7-9 min (takes slightly less than regular pasta)
Drain water and return to the pots
Serve in bowl and add pasta sauce
Use olives to make monster face

All reheats nicely with a little tab of butter. Happy Halloween!

Friday Fright Nightcaps: The Sweetest Black Cat

Happy October! All month along will be a celebration to Halloween Icons and I’m kicking off the official Halloween season with a tribute to the sassiest Halloween icon of them all, the black cat.

Say hello to my variation of a purple Martini, The Sweetest Black Cat, aptly named because of its sweet ingredients. If sweetness isn’t your thing, well, topping off with just a tad bit more vodka or ginger ale, to balance the flavors, oughta do the trick.

INGREDIENTS:

3 oz vodka
1 1/2 oz cranberry juice
1/2 oz blue curacao
1/2 oz sweet and sour mix
1/2 oz pomegranate grenadine
1/2 oz ginger ale (or 7-up/Sprite)

Please drink responsibily, don’t drink and drive, and have a safe and happy Halloween season!

Happy Halloween 2021!

Halloween is a celebration of life! By….warding…off…the dead….anyhoo, whether you like the old vintage style, cute and spooky, spine-tingling chills and thrills, or super gory to the max, Halloweentime is a magical season filled with creativity, community spirit, fun, and wonder. Every year, Halloween Haiku celebrates all month long, and while it’s gonna be challenging, this year we’re doing it again!

Our theme in October is Halloween Icons…ya know, bats, black cats, ghosts, pumpkins, etc., all those things that are known to represent Halloween. Now, I’ve come up with a bunch, but I can’t wait to hear what icons you think Halloween just wouldn’t be the same without.

This Halloween season, I’m changing up the traditional 31 days format and I plan to use social media a bit more, so please, join in the fun, and follow me @Halloweenhaiku9 on Instagram and Twitter

Here’s what’s in store for October:

3^rd Annual Halloween Haiku Contest Sharpen those pencils! I want to see your most original Halloween Icons themed haiku. I’m giving away a Grand Prize Pack worth over $50!
I might even have some small prizes for runner-ups.

More details about the haiku contest will be announced on October 1^st.

Halloween Icons Photo Countdown (Instagram only)
October photo countdown to Halloween. No contest, just something to do for fun Oct. 1-31st. Let’s see those pictures! Use #halloweeniconsphotochallenge

31 Days of Halloween Schedule:

Monday Macabre (website and social media)

Mondays are always dedicated to Haiku, but every Monday in October we’ll celebrate Halloween icons.

Tiny Terror Tuesdays (social media)

Sometimes little things pack a big punch. Every Tuesday, I’ll be sharing scenes from my haunted dioramas and miniatures.

Wicked Art Wednesdays (social media)

Every Wednesday, I’ll share some spooktacular Halloween art. I might even post some my own original Halloween pencil stencil art.

Throwback Thursdays (website)

Every Thursday, let’s travel back to the golden age of Vintage Halloween advertising. Some ads were amusing, and some, were downright cringeworthy. Let’s debate!

Friday Fright Nightcaps (website and social media)

Witches aren’t the only ones who drink brews! Check-in every Friday evening to see what wild Halloween season-inspired cocktail I pull outta the cauldron.

Sinister Saturdays (website and social media)

Every Saturday, I’ll rotate between sharing one savory and one sweet recipe, all guaranteed to have you screaming for more! I may even try to make some of these myself. Now, that’s scary!

Poe Sundays (website and social media)

Just like we do every year, we’ll celebrate the gothic genius of Edgar Allan Poe, master of macabre.

Have a safe and happy Halloween season, everyone!

Friday Fright Nightcaps: Devilish Mango Margarita

Now, I’m not much into religion, but I’m convinced somebody opened a portal to hell and let all the demons out this year. I’ve had a helluva week and I’m sure you have too. Let’s have magaritas!

Since it’s Halloween season, I wanted an orange margarita, so I put together my own version of the Spicy Mango Margarita. How much bite to add to it depends on you. Do you like it hot and spicy? Or are you more of an angelic type?

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 Ripe Mango (Skin removed, pitted, cut into cubes)
3 ounces Pineapple Juice
1 ounce Lime Juice
3 ounces Triple Sec
3 ounces Tequila
1 tablespoon Grenadine

Rim:
3/4 teaspoon Chili Powder (or Cayenne)
1 1/2 teaspoon Course Salt or Sea Salt

Garnish:
Lime Wedge

I tried a little harder to make the presentation more professional. How did I do? 🙂 Hit me up in the comments section below or find me @HalloweenHaiku9 on Instagram or Twitter

Sinister Saturday: Krampus Approved Christmas Coal Recipe

Earlier this week, I went out Halloween shopping, looking for a few items needed to complete my decorations. Unfortunately, Halloween has already been replaced in the stores by Christmas! What crap is this. Wait your turn, Christmas!

Now, I’m no hater. I’m just pissy and sad the Halloween season is half over. I suppose it’s only fair, I mean, Christmas-loving folks are just trying to get happy like us Halloween fans were trying to do back in July. So, in the spirit of community, I’m willing to compromise, with the help, and permission, from the The Necro-Nom-Nom-Nomicon, I’m by sharing a fangtastic recipe that brings both Christmas and Halloween together with Krampus Approved Christmas Coal. Krampus might not be the sweetest creature stirring but this black-as-night dessert is sinfully spookilicious!

For ingredients list and recipe, please visit www.eatthedead.com

If Christmas insists on encroaching on Halloween’s turf during October, well, then, we’re just gonna have to make the holidays all dreary and fright. How do you feel about it? Let me know in the comments or tag me on social media @HalloweenHaiku9

Have yourself a scary little Christmas and a Happy Halloween!

Friday Fright Nightcaps: Poison Apple Halloween Cocktail

October is National Apple Month! There are over 7,500 varities of apples in the world, only 100 of them commercially grown in the USA. My favorite is Granny Smith, cuz I love me some tart, which is also great for baking, but, it’s Friday, and today is all about finding the ultimate apple cocktail to celebrate the orchard during Halloween time! The Seaside Baker has the perfect Poison Apple Halloween Cocktail. It’s crisp, tart and totally green!

PoisonAppleHalloweenCocktail ©TheSeasideBaker

Ingredients

1.5 ounces Vodka
3/4 ounce Sour Apple Schnapp Liqueur
3/4 ounce Sour Apple Mixer
Ice for shaking

For mixing instructions and garnish tips, please visit here:
https://theseasidebaker.com/poison-apple-halloween-cocktail/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_tribes&utm_content=tribes

I made my own version of the Poison Apple. Mine lacked in fancy dry ice but boy did I put a pucker on my face!

Poison Apple Halloween Cocktail by HalloweenKristy

Friday Fright Cocktails: Cursed People Eater

After pissing off an insecure food blogger, I decided to make my own drink recipe to kick off the return of Friday Fright Cocktails.

This year has been wacky. Since 2020 and Covid-19 teamed up to pick on the human race, we’ve had to learn to adapt to fluid situations. Make changes on the fly. Step outside our comfort zones. We’ve also sadly learned that sometimes people absolutely suck, but we need community and Halloween has always been about community. That’s the only reason I share recipes I find around the web in the first place. Our community treats each other right. We know to give credit where credit is due. We know we’re gonna copy each other and nothing will ever be same because we put our own love into it. True Halloween lovers know how to share.

I don’t mind if you share the Cursed People Eater recipe, but it would be great if you link back here. I’m only sorry that I’m not a fancy schmancy food photographer that can offer you better photos. If you drink enough of these, you won’t be able to see straight anyway! 😛

Photo by Halloween Kristy
http://www.halloween-haiku.com

INGREDIENTS:

2 oz. Vodka
1 1/2 oz. ginger ale
1/2 oz. cranberry juice (optional)
1/2 oz. blue curacao
1/2 oz. St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
1/2 teaspoon lime juice
a drop of Tabasco (or two)
a dab of Grenadine
1-2 maraschino cherries
crushed ice as needed

Cranberry makes the drink a bit too sweet. I made a version without it and liked it much better. The Tabasco is obviously the wild card here. It’s called a curse, but if you add the right amount, it’s actually a blessing.

Happy Halloween 2020!

Halloween 2020 Schedule

October is exactly one week away and Halloween Haiku celebrates all 31 days of the month!

This year, it’s all about Halloween at home. Don’t get down about Coronavirus trying to ruin Halloween, get creative!

Be sure to check in every day for cool, fun and inspirational Halloween artwork, poems, stories, and prizes. Prizes? That’s right, in additon to our annual Halloween Haiku Challenge, we’re going to be giving away some treats this October. Stay tuned for details!

31 Days of Halloween Schedule

Monday Macabre

Mondays are always dedicated to Haiku, but every Monday in October we go dark. Grab your crucifix, kids, cuz it’s about to get scary up in here, like super scary, satanic scary, Teletubbies scary.

Trick-or-Treat Tuesdays

Will you be tricked or treated every Tuesday in October? Only you can decide.

Wicked Art Wednesdays

Every Wednesday, I’ll showcase original Halloween art from the most talented artists from around the world, including works from two widely-known professional artists and two amateur or inspiring artists.

Throwback Thursdays

Every Thursday, let’s travel back to the golden age of 80s cinema horror and explore the totally tubular world of neon spandex and blood-splatter.

Friday Fright Nightcaps

Why do ghost haunt bars? Because they love free boos! Don’t worry if you can’t paint the town dead this October because every Friday night, I’ll share some freaky Halloween cocktails that will set your cauldron on fire!

Sinister Saturdays

Every Saturday, I’ll share some mouth-watering recipes to die for, and just like last year, I’ll be rotating between savory and sweet, all guaranteed to have you screaming for more!

Poe Sundays

This year, I’ll be sharing artwork from talented artists from around the globe, all in tribute to the master of macabre, Edgar Allan Poe.

Halloween Haiku Challenge 2020
#Halloweenhaikuchallenge

Share your most original or scariest Halloween Haiku during October for a chance to win a copy of Pumpkins and Party Themes: 50 DIY Designs to Bring Your Halloween Extravaganza to Life by Roxanne Rhoads of A Bewitching Guide to Halloween. Winner will receive the book via Amazon, standard shipping rates apply. Sorry, US residents only.

Contest starts October 1^st and ends at midnight, the witching hour, on October 31^st
Winners will be announced on November 1^st,here and on social media.

Don’t forget to follow @Halloweenhaiku9 on Instagram and Twitter.

Happy Halloween season, everyone!

Recipe of the Month – September 2020: Deviled Raven Eggs

As summer winds down, September ushers in the return of Autumn, bringing with it. fall foliage, crisp apples, plump pumpkins, and gothic spookiness. No author better represents gothic spookiness better than Edgar Allan Poe. Perhaps, that’s why Alison over at Alison’s Wonderland Recipes created this delicious recipe Deviled Raven Eggs in honor of the master of macabre. Healthier than regular deviled egg options, this unique, gothic-style appetizer is perfect for the Halloween season.