Halloween 2014 - DIY Mug Shot Backdrop

F ALL THE HOLIDAYS, Halloween is without a doubt my favorite.  It wasn't even September and I already started decorating the house.  I didn't get to take pictures of all the goodies I made (and there were lots) but you can trust it was an intoxicating-ly good time.  I did manage to take a few photos early in the night of guests posing in front of an easy-to-make photo backdrop.

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

• Large poster paper (I used photo backdrop paper because I work with a photographer who uses this) -- you'll want to put together or cut a 5 ' x 5' piece, if not larger.
• Black duct tape
• Print outs of the numbers 3-7 (download font here)
• Red acrylic paint for "blood" splatter (I used this)

Instructions:

1. Measure 1' from bottom of the paper and place a 1' piece of duct tape from the right edge of the poster paper.  Paste the 3' cut out onto the sheet and place another long strip of duct tape from the number to the left edge.
2. Repeat step 1 for numbers 4 - 7.
3. Using a medium sized brush, splatter red paint across the paper.
4. Optional: find chalk and a mini chalkboard from your local craft store to use as a mugshot placard.

From top left to bottom right: B. Spears, Alex from Clockwork Orange with Cactus man, Raoul Duke from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas with Suzy Bishop from Moonrise Kingdom, and Whoopee Cushion

Tasty Lady Finger Cookies

ART OF WHY Halloween is my favorite holiday is that it's the one occasion where dress-up and disguise are socially acceptable, and if I can sound totally scary for a minute, the one day "evil" is allowed to prevail over "good".  In preparation for Halloween parties galore, my friend Zhanna and I spent our Friday night sipping dark chocolate martinis and moonlighting as a finger-making factory.

Check these fancy phalanges out:

Care to feast on some finger foods, ghouls and boys?

LADY FINGER COOKIES

Yields 30 cookies

INGREDIENTS

• 30 almond slices
• Red food coloring
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 stick unsalted butter, slightly softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

DIRECTIONS

1. Dispense 10 drops of red food coloring into a shallow bowl. Color your almonds by letting them submerge in the food coloring. Set aside and let dry.
2. Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter, powdered sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Add one egg and the yolk of another egg, and beat until smooth. Add flour to the mixture and combine on low until dough forms. Wrap this in plastic and chill in the refrigerator until firm (roughly 35 minutes).
3. Take the dough out of the fridge and preheat your oven to 350°.
4. Line your cookie sheet with parchment paper and then form 30 balls with dough. Make each ball into a finger shape, press down on two places to form the knuckles, then score each knuckle with a knife.
5. Brush egg white onto the fingers and position the almonds on the fingers.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

This moon phases cocktail plate is wicked cool.

Have a great Halloween, everyone!  Until we eat again...

A Trick of a Treat

OU MIGHT think the composition of a cookie is not complete unless eggs are present, but let me and everyone who has tried these attest to the deliciousness of eggless cookie dough. I repeat--EGGLESS. For all salmonella-fearing mothers and raw cookie dough lovers, this is a godsend. The recipe is uber easy and child proof:

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 3/4 stick softened butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/2-3/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine the flour and salt in one bowl and set it aside. In a larger bowl, beat the butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract, and gradually beat in the mixture from the first bowl. After it becomes smooth, fold in chocolate chips. These should make about 20 balls of cookie dough. Place a lolly pop stick in the center and chill until firm (15 minutes or so). Note: Make sure to squeeze the dough onto the stick so that it stays attached to the lolly pop stick; it comes loose very easily otherwise.

I made "Witch on a Stick" and "Pumpkin Pops" for Halloween this year. Unfortunately, mine came out less than perfect, but that's OK, because ugly pops taste just as good. I've included pictures from the ingenious Bakerella, who loves to do these pops with deliciously moist cake.

Which witch should I eat?...

Plump pumpkin pops!

 

xo,

Margaret

Orange O' Lantern

VER CONSIDER how much oranges look like miniature pumpkins? This Halloween, serve up some mango sorbet or pumpkin ice cream in hollowed out orange bowls. Carve silly faces, add a curly cloth stem (available from your local craft store) to resemble a vine, and get ready to see a whole lot of smiles. :)

 

Stay tuned for more Halloween tasties which will feature my new favorite thing, edible ink pens!

xo, Margaret

Mini Mouse

AYBE IT'S too early to be thinking about it, but I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do or be for Halloween this year. The super Halloween extravaganza my boyfriend's family usually goes all out for (i.e. glowing quinine, 10 foot bat props, trick bathroom mirrors, and real blood in the drinks--just joking about the last one.) is not happening this year, much to my dismay.

No worries though; I've resolved the most serious matters, and that is making something delicious. Last year Nick's mom and I made these mini chocolate cherry mice resting in a cage of toasted coconut shavings. They may make an appearance again this year. :)

I've also got a decent number of costume ideas lined up. Two years ago I was a cluster of purple grapes, and last year I was a mail order bride. This year I'm aiming to scare. I'll try to do a proper post once the date actually rolls around. 

What are all your plans? :) 

xo,
Margaret