So you’ve got your house all spookily ready for Halloween and have all your haunting trinkets. Now we turn our attention to Horrible Halloween food (which is actually really nice!) and some Halloween events happening!
The following recipes is from the happy egg co. and Masterchef winner Mat Follas.
Halloween Biscuits
PREPARE 10 MINUTES COOK 14 MINUTES (plus time for icing)
MAKES 20 BISCUITS
Ingredients
Biscuits
100g butter
1 cup of caster sugar
2 happy eggs
2 cups of plain flour
Zest & juice of 1 orange
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
Icing
250g icing sugar
120g butter
1-2 tbsp milk
Food colouring to suit
Method
Biscuits
Mix the butter and sugar together until they form a creamy paste. Continue mixing and add the flour, happy eggs, zest & juice, flour and spices
Mat’s top tip: If it’s too dry, add a little warm water.
Roll the mixture into 1 inch diameter balls. Place on a greased baking tray, with at least 1 inch space around them. Press the tops gently with a fork to flatten them slightly.
Place in a preheated oven at 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4 for 12-14 minutes.
The biscuits are ready when they have just started to brown around the edges. Leave to cool on a baking tray.
Icing
Mix the butter and icing sugar together in a bowl, adding the milk as needed to make a smooth paste
Mat’s top tip: It’s much easier if you warm the butter first.
To make the spider’s web pattern on your biscuits, first, spread uncoloured icing over the biscuit. Then, with a piping bag or an icing pen, draw concentric circles with the coloured icing. Quickly, while the icing is still wet, use a toothpick to drag a line from the centre of the circles to the outside edge, every 30° or so. Hey presto! A Spiders web!
Meringue Ghosts
PREPARE 20 MINUTES COOK 90 MINUTES
MAKES 20 GHOSTS
Ingredients
2 happy egg whites
100g caster sugar
Method
Whip the happy egg whites until soft peaks are formed. Adding the caster sugar, continue whipping until firm peaks are formed. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag.
Place a sheet of grease proof paper onto a baking tray and pipe the ghost shapes onto the grease proof paper.
Bake in a preheated oven at 80°C/176°F/Gas Mark ¼ for 1 ½ hours
Tip: If your oven doesn’t have a temperature setting this low, bake at 100°C/212°F/Gas Mark ¼ for 1 hour.
Leave to cool on a rack.
Melt a little chocolate and use a toothpick to draw eyes and mouths.
Jaffa Cakes Lemon and Slime
£1.00
This Halloween there will be less tricks and more treats for all Jaffa cake fans as the limited edition Lemon and slime flavour returns. Featuring a light sponge cake with dark crackly chocolate and a lemon and lime flavoured centre
Wilko Halloween Cupcake Holder Spider Black
£1.00
From Wilkinsons, these eerily lifelike halloween spider cupcake holder are a scream.
Halloween Chocolate Pots
Kids will love these simple chocolate pots with spooky tombstone cookies for Halloween
Ingredients:
200ml double cream
130g dark plain chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
70g milk chocolate
2 tbsp liquid glucose
2 egg yolks 20g butter
100g GREEK STYLE natural yogurt
To Decorate:
50g Oreo cookies crushed
Serves: 6 Preparation time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 10 – 15 minutes
Method for the Chocolate Pots:
1.Heat the cream, do not allow it to boil
2.Break the chocolate into a bowl and pour over the hot cream. Stir the chocolate until it melts and there is a smooth consistency
3.Add the liquid glucose, egg yolks and butter, and beat lightly to combine the ingredients into the chocolate mixture
4.Fold in the yogurt
5.Pour the mixture into the glasses and refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving
Biscuits:
50g Oreo cookies, crushed
180g unsalted butter, softened
112g caster sugar
1 large egg, beaten
Couple of drops vanilla extract
200g plain flour, sifted
1/2tsp baking powder
To Decorate:
100g dark chocolate, melted
Method for the Cookies:
1.Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2.Begin by crushing the Oreo cookies and then put them to one side
3.In a large bowl or using an electric mixer, beat the butter with the caster sugar until light and creamy. Beat in the egg and the vanilla extract. Add the flour and baking powder and blend until a soft dough is formed
4.Add the crushed Oreo cookies to the mixture and combine fully until you have a speckled looking dough
5.Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour (this will make it easier to roll out)
6.On a floured surface roll out the dough to ½ cm thickness. With a sharp knife, cut out tombstone shapes and place the cookies apart on the tray
7.Bake the cookies until the edges are slightly browned for approximately 10 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and cool completely before handling
8.Using a small piping bag with a small plain nozzle, fill with the melted chocolate and pipe the letters RIP
9.Leave once again for the chocolate to set
10.Place a RIP cookie in the centre of each glass and then sprinkle crushed Oreo cookie crumb around the biscuit to look like soil and stones
11.Serve immediately
Shloer Berry Punch
£2.75
As Halloween creeps ever closer, Shloer Berry Punch is the perfect chilling concoction for your fright-night festivities. Whether you’re planning a spooky soiree with the girls or a family fright fest, this sparkling alcohol alternative fits the bill if you want an atmospheric evening full of berry-based delights.
Limited edition Berry Punch gives a nod to traditional English flavours, combining blackberries and delicious seasonal fruits with grape juices, and a hint of spice, to warm the coldest of autumn nights.
It’s all in the serve. If you find yourself on apple bobbing duty or playing a spooky game of ‘pin the tail on the black cat’ with the little ones, you can still enjoy a sense of occasion with this hauntingly tasty drink by creating your very own pumpkin cauldron, and serving with a ghostly garnish of mandarin and orange slices with a handful of chilling ice. The sparkling alcohol alternative. Parent-friendly parties are the perfect occasion for Shloer Berry Punch, bringing a dash of devilish class to your Halloween gatherings.
Witches’ Fingers Breadsticks With Blood Dip
Makes: about 32
Preparation time: 15 minutes, plus 1 hour rising
Cooking time: 12-15 minutes
Ingredients:
225g strong plain white bread flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon caster sugar
½ teaspoon fast- action dried yeast
1 teaspoon Very Lazy Garlic Paste
1 tablespoon Very Lazy Basil Paste
1 tablespoon olive oil
150ml warm water
1 egg, lightly beaten
25g freshly grated Parmesan cheese
32 blanched almonds
Little paprika
For the dip:
125g soft cream cheese
150g roasted red peppers, from a jar, drained
1 tablespoon tomato purée
½ teaspoon Very Lazy Piri Piri chillies with oil, drained
Method:
1. Place the flour, salt, sugar, yeast and garlic and basil paste in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the centre. Using a wooden spoon stir in the olive oil and enough of the water to form a dough.
2. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for 7- 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
3. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with cling film and leave to rise in a warm place for 1-1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
4. Preheat the oven to 190ºC, Gas Mark 5. Line two large baking trays with baking paper.
5. Using your fist punch the dough to knock out the air bubbles. Knead on a lightly floured surface, then roll of the dough to a rectangle about 32 x 26 cm. Using a pizza wheel or sharp knife cut the dough in half horizontally, then into 2cm thick strips. Fold one strip of dough in half, so it is 1cm thick, then roll to make a thin finger about 12cm long. Repeat with remaining strips. Pinch the dough to form knuckles and mark with lines. Bend to make scraggy fingers. Place on the baking sheets and brush with the beaten egg. Sprinkle over the cheese.
6. Toss the almonds in a little paprika, then press into the end of the fingers. Bake for 12- 15 minutes.
7. Meanwhile make the dip. Place the roasted peppers in a food processor and blend until smooth. Stir into the cream cheese, tomato purée and chillies.
8. Serve the witches’ fingers with the dip.
Items available from Cake Craft World
Halloween Baking Kit
£9.00
Fantastic set to bake cupcakes & cookies for Halloween. The kit consists of 4 grippy cutters (cat, ghost, pumpkin and bat) which are perfect for little hands, pack of 20 Trick or Treat cellophane bags with ties, 36 cupcake cases (orange, party green & purple – 12 of each), 4 ‘Boo!’ picks, 4 ghost rings and 4 spider rings.
Size:
Cutters – approx. 7-9cm
Treat bags – approx. 10.16cm x 22.86cm
Cases – dia.of base: 50mm, height: 38mm, dia.across top: 70mm
Boo picks – approx. 34mm x 22mm
Ghost rings – approx. 45mm x 51mm
Spider rings – approx. 35mm x 53mm
Pack Of 12 Black & Orange ‘Boo’ Wafer Decorations
£1.75
Pack of 12 edible ‘boo’ wafer decorations; 6 black & 6 orange. These are perfect for cupcakes at a halloween tea.
Size:
Approx. 59mm (w) x 35mm (h)
Pombear
£1.00
NO SCARY ADDITIVES IN POM-BEAR’S HALLOWEEN SNACK
Mums struggling to find suitable themed snacks for their little monsters this Halloween need look no further with the return of Pom-Bears limited edition, pickled onion flavour multi-packs.
Pom-Bear’s pickled onion flavour will not give parents nightmares this Halloween as there are less than 100 calories per pack, they are gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and have no artificial colours, preservatives or scary additives!
Better still, the distinct pickled onion flavour is not over powering and has the light and airy texture that has become synonymous with Pom-Bear, meaning that they are suitable for the whole family – even Mum and Dad.
THE SPOOKS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE GUILTY PLEASURES POP-UP AT MARY JANES
This Halloween, the global phenomenon that is, Guilty Pleasures will be hosting an extra scary event on Thursday 31st October. Get set to experience an extra spooky Halloween, where guests will be transported to an environment reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, as the all-singing, all-dancing zombies get set to transport you to a sinners paradise.
Throughout the course of the evening, Guilty Pleasures’ unique blend of entertainment will be popping up with DJs, singers, dancers, acrobats and a whole troupe of kitsch characters guaranteed giving you a real hair raising evening.
This can be enjoyed whilst guests tuck into Mary Janes Naughty Hot Dogs; a platter of mini hot dogs with different toppings such as Chilli con Carne, American Mustard, Fried Onions and Melted Cheese, or can go to the dark side with Dirty Burgers; a selection of burger sliders with fillings including Pulled Pork, Chorizo, Chilli and Cheese.
THE SPOOKS HAVE ARRIVED – Guilty Pleasures at Mary Janes
Thursday 31st October – 7pm-1am
Mary Janes
124-127 Minories
London
EC3 1NT
Tel: 020 7481 8195
MR FOGG’S: Jack the Ripper at Mr Fogg’s
Harping back to the times of London’s first and most infamous serial killer, this Halloween will see Mr Fogg’s Victorian home become the harrowing site of one of Jack The Ripper’s terrifying tours.
From Thursday 31st October to Sunday 3rd November guests to Mr Fogg’s, temporarily not so humble abode, will be witness to a weekend full of immersive theatre and spine chilling skits and sketches. From abandoned and severed limbs discovered in trunks, to overly inquisitive surgeons at the bar and impoverished vagabonds skirting around the entrance, Phileas Fogg will indeed have his work cut out for him (literally) on this eerie adventure.
The weekend’s events will then culminate in a seated, theatrical spectacle on the Sunday evening, when 80 of Phileas’s nearest and dearest will be invited to watch the mystery of The Ripper unfold and Fogg himself will head up a Mayfair man hunt, in an attempt to apprehend Jack on his last jaunt, and save Bruton Lane from further fear of the night.
With groundbreaking discoveries and plot thickening theatrics it comes as no surprise that these terrifying tales will then of course also be reported directly from Mr Fogg’s by their daily, hand delivered paper, ‘The London News’.
The dress code naturally will be Victorian, and in this case best to stick to it as you wouldn’t want to stick out from the crowed and attract any unwanted attention…
JACK THE RIPPER at MR FOGG’S
DATES: Thursday 31st October – Sunday 3rd November 2013
PRICE: Thursday – Saturday: Free, Sunday’s Theatre Performance: £15 (Time??)
15 Bruton Lane
London
W1J 6JD
Tel: 020 7299 1200
www.mr-foggs.com
There will be some seriously spooky goings on in the woods at Weston this Halloween!
Bring your witches and wizards, goblins and ghouls for fun and frights – if you dare . . . .
There are two ways to travel to the Wild Woods this year; you can wrap up warm and climb aboard the Phantom Express for a train ride OR jump on the Haunted Hayride and join the Old Hag for a journey with a difference – you will then be dropped off to find your way back following the Pumpkin Lantern Trail.
After the scary walk, enjoy a sausage sizzle and a cup of warming pumpkin soup and children can take part in Halloween craft making activities and do the ‘monster mash’ at the spooky disco.
Children are encouraged to come in fancy dress, there will be prizes for the best, with all the little monsters leaving with a ghostly goody bag of Halloween treats.
Ticket Prices:
Family (2+2) £30.00
Adult £7.50
Child (4-14 years) £9.50
Adult + Child £16.00
Tickets include: Ride on the Phantom Express OR Haunted Hayride, spooky disco, craft making activities, sausage sizzle and pumpkin soup and a spooky goody bag for children.
Halloween and Bonfire & Fireworks Family Ticket
Family: £42 (2+2)
Tickets include: Ride on the Phantom Express OR Haunted Hayride, spooky disco, craft making activities, sausage sizzle and pumpkin soup and a spooky goody bag for children + entry for one car (up to 6 people) to our Bonfire & Fireworks Night on Sunday 3rd November
HALF TERM AND HALLOWEEN AT THE TREASURE HOUSES OF ENGLAND
For a happy Halloween and Half Term holiday, schedule in a spooky trip to the ever-spectacular Treasure Houses of England.
Beaulieu is one of Britain’s most haunted places and ghosts have often been seen and heard in the 13th century Abbey and at Palace House. So if you’re looking for something spooky to do for Half Term, don’t miss the strange goings on at Beaulieu’s Ghost and Ghouls Half Term Hauntings (26 October – 3 November). From a Halloween quiz trail starting in the Motor Museum and spooky stories in Palace House to tours with real ghost hunters in the haunted Abbey for a super-scary day of chilling entertainment. Throw into the magnificent mix, frightening face painting, a ride on the Moan-a-rail, and a Halloween lucky dip – and it’s a formidably frightening formula for a memorable and thrilling experience.
Blenheim Palace’s Halloween celebrations (26 October – 3 November) will cast a ghoulish spell of spooky entertainment and family fun for the half term week. Climb aboard the Halloween ghost train and travel through the haunted tunnel if you dare…
Wrap up warm and tread through crispy Autumn leaves on Burghley’s Pumpkin Trail (28 October – 3 November) around the Sculpture Garden and explore Burghley House’s spectacular surrounds to find the hidden pumpkins and receive a special treat. There’s also spooky family fun to be had by touring the state rooms by flickering candlelight – limited places please book in advance.
Sink into the delights of the season and admire Harewood in all of its Autumn Glory (26 October- 3 November) as a bevy of indoor and outdoor events celebrate the colourful season amongst beautifully inspiring scenery including trails, twilight tales and tasty treats, crafts and Hallowe’en fun.
Whilst on the farm at Hatfield you can enjoy their farm themed craft week and follow the Halloween Trails.
And don’t miss Holkham Hall where spooky spiders weave a magical web of fun and mystery! (27-31 October). Visitors can explore magical and mystical mayhem – where spidery facts and body parts abound in the hall, hunt for them all and create your very own breed of spider whilst discovering some scary arachnid factoids along the way. Count the creepy crawlies hidden on their webs in the walled gardens and find your way out of the webbed maze. At the Bygones Museum, home of Holkham’s largest spidery resident there’s more entangling frights and creepy craft activities, ghoulish face painting, pumpkin carving and frightfully delicious feasts to horrify your tastebuds will make your visit truly ‘spooktacular’!
Children will be enthralled and entertained to the max at Leeds Castle (26 October- 3 November) with a fantastic array of activities such as mask making and spooky themed crafts. Their ghoulish Ghost Tours (29, 30 & 31 October) will definitely stir the senses, as will the Fairfax Restaurant’s tasty store of Halloween themed food.
Or why not take a Bat Walk on Tuesday 29th October at Woburn Abbey where you can learn all about the species of bats living in the Abbey Gardens on an exclusive night-time tour.
www.treasurehouses.co.uk