It’s fall in Kentucky, and in Lexington that means horse racing, college sports… and HALLOWEEN! This holiday is a Pure Romance favorite. We love getting dressed up in costume, planning out some great parties, and cutting loose with some great friends… After all, we are all TREAT, no tricks here!
Here is one of my favorite party theme ideas I have seen this season- We call it Bite Night. It’s a vampire-themed party (I know some of you are team Jacob, but play along anyway.) And with the way that Hollywood is portraying vampires these days, costumes are sure to vary tremendously and EVERYONE can show up in costume!
Mix up a batch of some blood-red cherry punch. Add in some peeled grapes for a gory texture. Stir ¼ cup light corn syrup with 1 teaspoon molasses and ½ teaspoon red food coloring in a small bowl. Rub this mixture along the rim of the punchbowl, coating the rim and allowing the mixture to drip down the sides- SCARY!
Serve appetizers (garlic flavored, of course) on wooden stakes (tooth picks.) Use plastics vampire fangs as napkins holders. Complete the look by serving blood red velvet cake for desert!
Maybe you want to add a cocktail that isn’t so red? Mix up some witches brew:
Ingredients: 1 (6-ounce) package lime gelatin, 2 cups boiling water, 3 cups chilled pineapple juice, 1 (2 liter) bottle chilled lemon-lime soft drink or ginger ale, 2 cups chilled vodka, optional, Special equipment:1 large black plastic cauldron (available at party or craft stores), 1 punch bowl that fits inside the cauldron, 1 plastic hand (available at party supply stores), sterilized in hot water, 1 block dry ice (available at supermarkets, ice cream shops or ice companies)
Directions: Pour the gelatin mix into a large bowl. Slowly stir in the boiling water. Stir at least 2 minutes, until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in the pineapple juice. Let cool to room temperature. Wearing heavy duty gloves or using tongs, place the block of dry ice in the bottom of the cauldron. (Dry ice will burn skin, so handle it with gloves and tongs and keep it away from kids and pets!) Use an ice pick to break the block into smaller chunks, if necessary. Fill the cauldron with just enough water to cover the dry ice. It will begin to “steam.” Place the punch bowl inside the cauldron, on top of the dry ice. The cauldron will appear to be magically smoking. Entrap the sterilized rubber hand between the cauldron and the punch bowl, squeezing it tight so the hand appears to be reaching out of the mist for help. Hot-glue the hand to the cauldron, if necessary, to hold it in place. Carefully pour the drink mixture into the punch bowl. Slowly add the chilled vodka and lemon-lime soda or ginger ale. Stir gently to mix.
RACHEL TUSSEY 